I'm a beginner to modification on my models. I really want to paint my TIEs black with green cockpits. I have absolutely no clue what doing. Please help!

Web search/YouTube for tutorials and find a model to use as a test subject. Going back through this sub forum might be useful too. I don't paint X-Wing models but bigger Flames of War models, it took me awhile before I was happy with the results.

Yep. Don't be too hard on yourself. It takes years to develop a repertoire of painting techniques and practice to get to the level that some of these guys are able to produce!

For beginners, check the Warhammer TV Youtube channel. I know they aren't painting spaceships, but the techniques and color combinations are transferable.

For this simple paint job, buy a black primer paint (flat/matte finish) and spray down your model. Don't over do it or you'll gum up the details on your TIE. Once it's dry, you can paint the cockpit glass green. Pretty straight forward.

OR you can do this:

Well, obviously you're going to need paint and brushes. Get a bottle of flat black & green. Generally we suggest acrylic paints for their ease of use and clean-up.

If you have any friends that paint, maybe you can borrow some equipment & materials. Barring that, you'll have to shell out about $3-$5 per bottle depending on the color & manufacturer. Vallejo, Games Workshop & Army Painter are the most common ones. Testors will work too if that's all that's available to you. If you're really on the cheap, you can get by on a basic set of artist acrylics. They're inexpensive, roughly $10-$15 for about ten to a dozen different colors in a paint tube. Having said that, they're not going to be as good quality as the "named" brands.

As for brushes, I'd suggest buying a cheap starter set. If they get fouled up, at least you haven't invested too heavily. Months down the line, if you're still painting, you'll have a better idea of which of your brushes work best for you. That would be the time to upgrade to two or three better brushes.

Don't stick your brushes directly into the bottle, use a paint palate. That could be anything from a jar lid you're going tor a paper plate, to an actual painter's palate. When you paint, o build up the color in layers. Thin your paints (add a drop of water to them). If you don't, you're more likely to goop up the details on your ships, and they'll look bad.

Take your time, and have patience. But mostly, enjoy the process!

1) Buy stuff. Buy the good stuff, too. Purpose made miniatures paints and brushes are just plain out better for this. (But don't buy GW PVA glue ever. PVA is just normal white glue).

2) Water down your paints.

3) Paint. Accept that your first several attempts will probably be pretty poor and plan accordingly.

4) Keep a critical eye. Look at what the best painters do and try to learn from them; and stay honest with yourself. Learn from your mistakes.

Privateer Press has some really good painting videos too, and I'm sure there are tons of good things on youtube that I don't know about. This is a golden age for accessibility in the hobby, really. There are tons of good resources available to help you start out.

But the golden rule doesn't change: practice, experiment, look for opportunities to learn, ask questions, and have faith. It'll take a while. You'll get there. It'll be worth it.

Find some cheap toys and practice on them before trying it on your actual X-wing ships.

YouTube has some great videos on painting. For cockpit glass, look for how to's on painting gems. Here's a couple I like.

Warhammer tv

Buy painted

Jay did painting (series with a ton of info)

Dr faust painting clinic

Tabletop minions

You should find a slew of tips, tricks and info on these sites.

8 hours ago, Gullwind said:

Find some cheap toys and practice on them before trying it on your actual X-wing ships.

Vader: Nooooooo! Not the Nerf guns!