I am running out of ideas to make my Tie Aces different.
I have blood stripes for Saber Squadron, I love the look of those. I have some of the frames on the Tie bombers red for Major Rhymer or Jonus.
But besides some sort of stripe or just painting the frames a different color, I don't have many ideas that actually look somewhat Star Warsy, unique, and also unified with the rest of my imperials. What does everyone else do? I would love to see pictures also! Thanks!
I don't remember what your TIEs look like, but have you considered things like painting the panels a different color (Say, dark Green) with the frame (the bits that are normally grey) being another (in this case, Brown)? I don't paint, myself, but that's something I'd consider. Or custom paint jobs for each TIE model to indicate a unique (like Rogue Squadron in The Bacta War ). . .
. . . there isn't much else to differentiate squads. . . maybe a kill-count on the solar panels (how small can you paint?), maybe just different color stripes/frames, maybe checkered/diamond patterns? Patterns like waves on the panels? A unique crest (the Imperial one, or a symbol of the TIE squadron) on the panels, centered around the central hub?
I've done all of the above
I used to have a good pattern for doing the Empire Cogwheel on the Panels, but its been a while since I used it.
Essentially, I either put some small markings on the Eyeball, for unique "Pilot Custom" Markings, or I, essenitally, treat the External Solar Panel of the Squadron Leader as if it were a Heraldric shield, and do some markings based on that, (Primarily with Red, Yellow or White, as requested, as its Contrasty).
There's isn't a great deal of canon statements for customised TIEs after all - mostly, outside of Bloodstripes, inspiration is centered around the TIE-SF markings (Black/Reds/Whites) of the First Order.
I have had good luck with metallics on the solar panels. My favorites are the bronze ones. The other option I was thinking of was painting the eyeball windows odd colors for different cockpit lighting. I am thinking neon green and red would look sweet and stand out.
I inverted the colors to do First Order TIE's. Also looked for blues to do the ESB ones, and fully Red TIE's.
Yeah, normal looking ties are limited.
Edited by Stasy20 hours ago, GhostofNobodyInParticular said:I don't remember what your TIEs look like, but have you considered things like painting the panels a different color (Say, dark Green) with the frame (the bits that are normally grey) being another (in this case, Brown)? I don't paint, myself, but that's something I'd consider. Or custom paint jobs for each TIE model to indicate a unique (like Rogue Squadron in The Bacta War ). . .
. . . there isn't much else to differentiate squads. . . maybe a kill-count on the solar panels (how small can you paint?), maybe just different color stripes/frames, maybe checkered/diamond patterns? Patterns like waves on the panels? A unique crest (the Imperial one, or a symbol of the TIE squadron) on the panels, centered around the central hub?
I don't actually think I have posted mine yet, I will try to get them up soon. I just have so little patience with them that they only look ok. (Thank you by the way, @Drasnighta for the tutorial, the next time I paint Ties will go much better than the last time.) As far as kill-counts, I don't think I can paint that small!
Heraldic shield is a good idea for Aces, especially of Tie/F with the fairly flat surface. Does anyone know if tiny decals would work? Would they even stick on the raised frame? I assume probably not.
Metallics is a good idea. I was thinking about Metallic for Valen, as I want his to be a little flamboyant, seems to fit with his little smirk.
Also curious to all of you, what are the paint jobs of the specific aces you have done? And what is your reasoning behind the choices? Might give me some inspiration.
I paint mine purple and gold, against my usual white and gold. Really not much detail on the models to get much beyond a 2 colour scheme unless you start freedhanding.
How about painting the entire eyeball red, with standard-colored solar panels?
For aces, I have a set of TIE/FO (I use this stand exclusively for Valen Rudor) and from there I have two regular TIE/LN and an ESB blue-grey TIE/LN on center with the solar panel spokes painted in a different color than the rest of the TIE (red, white, blue, etc) to differentiate from Howlrunner or Mauler Mithil. Same concept for Saber and Soontir Fel, only Fel's interceptor is blue-grey with blood stripes. Haven't done Cienna Ree yet, but she'll probably be blue-grey with white or dark blue, to keep it from being too similar to Soontir Fel, or Royal Guard red. My Maarek Stele is two grey defenders with a Royal Guard red Defender, at least up until they introduce the Countess. Simple, yet effective measures that don't really take a lot outside of the normal, or require you to be @Drasnighta .
... I don't know how to take that... Being, y'know... Neither Normal
or
outside of Normal
Royal Guard Red is the #1 way that Maarek is differentiated... Same as Ciena Ree and Saber Squadron... On occasion, I'm asked to differentiate with a TIE fighter, but that's rarer.
Defenders and Interceptors, sure - the others... Well...
Although my personal favourite are Cloaking Phantoms for Whisper
1 minute ago, Drasnighta said:... I don't know how to take that... Being, y'know... Neither Normal or outside of Normal
Royal Guard Red is the #1 way that Maarek is differentiated... Same as Ciena Ree and Saber Squadron... On occasion, I'm asked to differentiate with a TIE fighter, but that's rarer.
Defenders and Interceptors, sure - the others... Well...
Although my personal favourite are Cloaking Phantoms for Whisper
I haven't even touched my phantoms yet, and dread it. Tempted to black those out, and use an old toothbrush with white paint to "spackle" them so it looks like they're "cloaked". On an X-Wing scale one? I could try a cloak effect, but I'm not that talented for Armada's tiny fighters.
Just now, Destraa said:I haven't even touched my phantoms yet, and dread it. Tempted to black those out, and use an old toothbrush with white paint to "spackle" them so it looks like they're "cloaked". On an X-Wing scale one? I could try a cloak effect, but I'm not that talented for Armada's tiny fighters.
It is *stupidly* easy in comparison to X-Wing Scale. I would recommend a smaller-than-usual brush... But its easy... 2 Colours at Bare Minimum, 4 at the "Crazy" Level.
I paint them Black, then Black-Wash them, so they're Stupid, stupid, stupidly black. Then I paint either the front half (decloaking) or rear half (cloaking) in the normal scheme...
Then its just Squiggle line...
Haphazard Squiggle line at best, too - because you want to get the colour down (which, for me, is a Light Blue or Turquoise)... Just make sure its touching the borderline where you stopped painting the Hull Colour.
If you're going 2 colours, then your next step is White, and its just a matter of painting
inside
the blue/turquoise.
If you're going multiple colours, then its just a gradiant of above, with thinner and thinner lines inside - blue / light blue / lighter blue / white.
This was 3-step, using:
1 minute ago, Drasnighta said:It is *stupidly* easy in comparison to X-Wing Scale. I would recommend a smaller-than-usual brush... But its easy... 2 Colours at Bare Minimum, 4 at the "Crazy" Level.
I paint them Black, then Black-Wash them, so they're Stupid, stupid, stupidly black. Then I paint either the front half (decloaking) or rear half (cloaking) in the normal scheme...
Then its just Squiggle line...Haphazard Squiggle line at best, too - because you want to get the colour down (which, for me, is a Light Blue or Turquoise)... Just make sure its touching the borderline where you stopped painting the Hull Colour.
If you're going 2 colours, then your next step is White, and its just a matter of painting inside the blue/turquoise.If you're going multiple colours, then its just a gradiant of above, with thinner and thinner lines inside - blue / light blue / lighter blue / white.
This was 3-step, using:
So, lure telling me my not so steady hands are good for painting cloaking phantoms? My blood stripes are certainly not great at eye level, but passable at 3ft.
Just now, Destraa said:So, lure telling me my not so steady hands are good for painting cloaking phantoms? My blood stripes are certainly not great at eye level, but passable at 3ft.
I'd almost guarantee my hands are less steady than yours
What between my Blood Pressure Shakes and an interfering Toddler
Just now, Drasnighta said:I'd almost guarantee my hands are less steady than yours
Certainly could fool me by your work!
Its what I tried to impress with the How-To.
You don't ned to have good Eyesight. (I struggle even with Glasses).
You don't need to have Steady Hands. (I have numerous reason why my hands shake, as well as whole body shakes).
You don't need a big chunk of time. (I typically paint in 10-20 minute bursts now and then while time and breaks permit)
You don't need a billion and one colours. (I use a handful of core ones, and because I look after my brushes and paints, they do last a while)
The only advantage I have is I learned Techniques to compensate... Even the good old: "Sit at the table, Elbows on the table at Shoulder Width, model in one hand, paintbrush in the other like a pen, Wrists touching to minimise shakes...
I color the cockpit hatches. They're raised so it's easy to hit with a brush and bright primary colors stand out pretty well. I'd say check out my posts but Photobucket wants money now haha.
12 minutes ago, WGNF911 said:I color the cockpit hatches. They're raised so it's easy to hit with a brush and bright primary colors stand out pretty well. I'd say check out my posts but Photobucket wants money now haha.
I use those as squad marking, 1-2-3 inside/outside, etc. Something for a flash of color really.
1 hour ago, Darthain said:I use those as squad marking, 1-2-3 inside/outside, etc. Something for a flash of color really.
Same here but I usually have all 3 on the same stand. Doing your way would be good for TIE swarms.
On 6/28/2017 at 7:41 PM, Drasnighta said:It is *stupidly* easy in comparison to X-Wing Scale. I would recommend a smaller-than-usual brush... But its easy... 2 Colours at Bare Minimum, 4 at the "Crazy" Level.
I paint them Black, then Black-Wash them, so they're Stupid, stupid, stupidly black. Then I paint either the front half (decloaking) or rear half (cloaking) in the normal scheme...
Then its just Squiggle line...Haphazard Squiggle line at best, too - because you want to get the colour down (which, for me, is a Light Blue or Turquoise)... Just make sure its touching the borderline where you stopped painting the Hull Colour.
If you're going 2 colours, then your next step is White, and its just a matter of painting inside the blue/turquoise.If you're going multiple colours, then its just a gradiant of above, with thinner and thinner lines inside - blue / light blue / lighter blue / white.
This was 3-step, using:
I wonder if anyone has committed to this idea so much that they actually cut off the cloaked part. It would be cool, but I don't think I'm that brave.