Hey all. Looking for some direction. I'm trying to get into commission work... But need to make sure that my work is as good as my fat fingers can manage.

So please, pull this apart. I did this piece specifically to push myself. Any and all criticisms please. I put a lot into it to make it look good, now I want to know what it needs to make it look great.

Specific details.

It's.... beautiful....

Really like the colour and shading! That weird thing behind the turret (no idea what it is but), I like it! Looks great!

Honestly, I'd totally fly this ship as it is, but since you're asking for suggestions, maybe some engine color? Not really sure what could make it better, not an experienced painter/modder myself and I really like it as it is (as I've said before).

52 minutes ago, DanteStorm said:

Really like the colour and shading! That weird thing behind the turret (no idea what it is but), I like it! Looks great!

Scavenger Crane?

6 hours ago, ge0rd1eb4lls said:

Any and all criticisms please.

Looks like it would fit right in, flying along side a C-ROC!

Suitably Scummy.

(more so than the factory scheme, for sure)

5 hours ago, ABXY said:

Looks like it would fit right in, flying along side a C-ROC!

Suitably Scummy.

(more so than the factory scheme, for sure)

I dislike many of the factory default colour schemes for this exact reason... they're not scummy enough!

17 hours ago, ge0rd1eb4lls said:

Hey all. Looking for some direction. I'm trying to get into commission work... But need to make sure that my work is as good as my fat fingers can manage.

So please, pull this apart. I did this piece specifically to push myself. Any and all criticisms please. I put a lot into it to make it look good, now I want to know what it needs to make it look great.

I think the weathering, paint job, and battle damage are really strong, but the conversion work throws me a bit off. The 40k bits are a bit jarring on the much-tinier X-Wing minis, and I think the strength of your painting makes conversions like that unneccesary. Incidentally, because it is specifically bothering me, does the turret sit high enough to shoot over the tacked-on Sentinel pelvis that it's pointing at? (That's right, I know that bit. I await the arrival of my rod and scepter as Sovereign of Dweebs...)

I like that scavenging crane add-on. I do enjoy the colors that you chose. As you sad, the original doesn't look 'scummy.' I think the only think that might be of place is the 40k double tank system. It almost is a bit big. Otherwise, I like it.

I like this too. The color tone and texture are nicely done. To my non-40k trained eye the add-ons just help with the scummy aesthetic, a touch steampunkish. The one critique I have, since you're asking, is the light splash around the scorch marks. They kinda stand out. I'm wondering if they would be better weathered down a bit.

3 hours ago, E Chu Ta said:

The 40k bits are a bit jarring on the much-tinier X-Wing minis... ...Incidentally, because it is specifically bothering me, does the turret sit high enough to shoot over the tacked-on Sentinel pelvis that it's pointing at? (That's right, I know that bit. I await the arrival of my rod and scepter as Sovereign of Dweebs...)

I defer to your superior knowledge haha.

I can see how with the 40K parts it could be a flowers-in-the-room scenario. Some is ok, but add more and it becomes too much. However, adding even more means there's waaaay too many and makes it look good again haha. It actually is high enough too!

2 hours ago, Bullox said:

The one critique I have, since you're asking, is the light splash around the scorch marks. They kinda stand out. I'm wondering if they would be better weathered down a bit.

I've been eyeing that too. I wanted the gleam of bare metal but it's come out a bit bright. Maybe an extra wash layer in a darker wash for those areas?

All the details are just mind blowingly amazing. Superb modding in my opinion.

Yet, reflecting my personal perspective only and althou the paintwork is great, it looks rather plain. Some oily looks, like the nose in front of the cockpit are just too much. Color wise I am missing some contrast and lighting effects.

It is some amazing piece of art! Congratulations!

PS: I am by no means an expert thou!

1 hour ago, ge0rd1eb4lls said:

It actually is high enough too!

Well done.

2 hours ago, SOLAR FLARE said:

All the details are just mind blowingly amazing. Superb modding in my opinion.

Yet, reflecting my personal perspective only and althou the paintwork is great, it looks rather plain. Some oily looks, like the nose in front of the cockpit are just too much. Color wise I am missing some contrast and lighting effects.

It is some amazing piece of art! Congratulations!

PS: I am by no means an expert thou!

I appreciate a lot is going to be down to personal opinion, but it doesn't mean I value input any less! Haha. I am considering how to light it better. With such an oily sheen I wonder whether edge highlights or drybrushing would be better?

Id definatly go with drybrushing. Its way more dirty.

I dislike edge highlighting cause it makes most panels look like mirrors. Which makes them look kind of out of place, considering the space dogfight theme.

Considering your scum SC, I thing dryybrushig is the way to go. Especially with two or even three different brush sizes.

I'd look into adding glow effects if at all possible, edge highlights and smaller wear and tear damage to really make it pop...

Ideally you want something to draw the eye and break up the model a bit.. rather than being the same colour all over, maybe some decal details like ship markings etc.

In terms of the conversion bits, less is more.. I like the sentinel pelvis as it suits the model, but the smoke launcher and fuel tanks just look odd and over sized. The power cells near the engines are good, and offer you more places to add highlights or glows etc.

Maybe paint gem effects or something similar in the cockpit glass to make it a focal point, maybe add a stripe of a striking colour across the ship down one side, that kinda thing..

Maybe try the sponge method for battle damage and wear and tear, it's easy and really effective.

look out for pooling on your washes, try to draw it away if it sits in any particular places so you don't get dark paches.

maybe try model masking tape, allows you to tape off areas and add your own designs and details to the model (Kirk blood stripes etc).

Tau decals from 40k also look decent on Star Wars ships or generic aircraft ones, just avoid anything that has writing on it (so just symbols and markings)

2 hours ago, Vindicare101 said:

Maybe try the sponge method for battle damage and wear and tear, it's easy and really effective.

look out for pooling on your washes, try to draw it away if it sits in any particular places so you don't get dark paches.

maybe try model masking tape, allows you to tape off areas and add your own designs and details to the model (Kirk blood stripes etc).

Tau decals from 40k also look decent on Star Wars ships or generic aircraft ones, just avoid anything that has writing on it (so just symbols and markings)

I do have a 12mm black sun logo stencil on order for the port shoulder flank, hopefully that could break it up a bit.

I do need to practice gemstone painting, I'm so crap at it haha.

Also look at a wet pallet, really helps

Looks great!

If I were to tweak it...

1. I use black as my undercoat. With battle damage, I leave a line of the original black between the silver and color as it makes the damage visually "pop" a bit more.

2. I think that it would be improved with a little more hodge-podgey aesthetic. Paint a panel or two a non-yellow color to make it look more like there are salvaged parts - only do a couple an be sure to emphasize asymetry or it looks too planned. I'd go for darker or muted colors so they are not visually dominant.

15 hours ago, Pewpewpew BOOM said:

Looks great!

If I were to tweak it...

1. I use black as my undercoat. With battle damage, I leave a line of the original black between the silver and color as it makes the damage visually "pop" a bit more.

Maybe it's the lighting in the pictures but I have done that here. Though it was a black streak afterwards rather than undercoat.

15 hours ago, Pewpewpew BOOM said:

I think that it would be improved with a little more hodge-podgey aesthetic. Paint a panel or two a non-yellow color to make it look more like there are salvaged parts - only do a couple an be sure to emphasize asymetry or it looks too planned. I'd go for darker or muted colors so they are not visually dominant.

Well theres my plan for tonight!

The additions work well, but to me the damage appears substantial. Those gashes look as long as a human is tall. Perhaps some thin plasticard or even aluminum foil patch plating with some of the damage peaking from under the repairs would indicate it' not recent damage.

I think your work is great. Too much? Too little? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your commissions will tell you what they want, so don't sweat the comments here. This is more of a portfolio piece anyways.

Here's a link to a tutorial I like to reference, concerning dents, scratches & blaster fire.

1 hour ago, Force Majeure said:

I think your work is great. Too much? Too little? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your commissions will tell you what they want, so don't sweat the comments here. This is more of a portfolio piece anyways.

Here's a link to a tutorial I like to reference, concerning dents, scratches & blaster fire.

That's precisely my aim with it - a portfolio piece to show everything I can do to the best of my own ability, and reference for my own improvement goals. Appreciate the link for blaster burn - I think I tried to do that with the scored scorch marks but I clearly missed out a few layers of paint colours. Shall have a new try when I get the LEDs in.