DarthEnderX posted this comparison photo in a thread to point out model similarities, and I noticed the TIE/fo is completely lacking any form of wash: its block colours with none of the shading that made the other 39 released models in X-wing look so good. This image has a distinctly toy look about it rather than a miniature look, like a scaled down Hasbro. Even the original run X-wing models with their thick paint (anyone who's had this from the start probably still has a few of those TIEs) were better shaded.

Is this one a factory defect, or are all your TIE/fos like this? Is the T-70 similarly lacking?

I hope they're not all like this, otherwise I'm going to have to take a crash course in Nuln Oil.

You can't shade black color - only highlight it. Highlighting is more complicated process in mass production than shading.

The wash is lacking from the viewport too. That, and I'm fairly sure you could wash it in a darker shade of black (such as the one used for the TIE cockpit). Depends how dark the models are and whether the camera here is overbrightening it. The TIE next to it doesn't look overexposed though.

They look great imho.

And if it bothers you then a quick (and light) drybrush + wash will fix it in no time.

So how does the X-Wing look. As long as it still has the shading we are good generally. If they drop the process all togetherdue to saving cost im likely to stop buying X-Wing minis.

They look great imho.

And if it bothers you then a quick (and light) drybrush + wash will fix it in no time.

I take it from that the picture doesn't do them justice?

Perhaps these are newer models fresh off the assembly line. No dust, rust, dirt and no need for washing.

The paint is really dark so washing them won't really do much, you'd need to highlight the black or start with a dark grey and shade it.

that picture makes them look rubbish, but it could be the flash making them look flat, but yeah it's tricky to paint black things with depth anyway so I wouldn't expect the Chinese kiddies to be good at it.

exactly you cant shade black, thats why many of us miniature painters avoid black on block colour or large areas, instead we use very very dark green/blue/brown etc so you can shade it with black line/wash or just even darker green/blue/brown.

Personally i use dark brown for clothing, dark blue or grey for metal/plastic objects and dark green for alien gribblies/tyranids etc etc

The best way to give them 'depth' will be to incredibly lightly drybrush the NO TIEs with a light cream or grey which will adhere to the raised areas, this tends to make models look 'bigger' as it recreates light hitting hard edges on big machines.

I tend to give tank kits a light edging with off white to make them look less like toys.

They, like the old TIEs - look much better in person and preferably at a distance of 20+ cm, yes.

The other factor is the picture is like 3 times bigger than the actual model.

The TIE/ln still looks fine though.