So I thought I'd start my own thread to get some feedback on my repaints and tweaks that I've been doing, though I still have lots to do. So far I've made some additions to the YT-1300 (making it dirtier, adding the engine, etc.) but haven't taken pics as its not a huge change. I've also done some work on my first Firespray, brightening up the colors and bringing it closer to the 'Slave I' Scheme (there is a picture at the bottom of this post).

However, my first big project was stripping and repainting my second Firespray. When planning/deciding on how to repaint I had considered doing the Andrasta, but it being a Rebel ship just didn't seem to fit. Of the other unique Firesprays I could find, only Kath Scarlets really popped out for me, and I think it looks much better than I thought it would (always a nice surprise).

Without further ado, my version of Kath Scarlet's Firespray-31;

I will admit it is not entirely done as there are a few details I'd like to add, though I am done for the night. I would love to hear some feedback about what you think it could use.

And finally, a picture of my two Firesprays together;

I will continue to update this thread as I complete some more projects, hope you enjoy!

Cheers,

Jordan

I really love the job you have done really nice and I love the way you have painted it so it looks old and worn I have never painted any miniatures and thus am not the best to give advise. But the only thing that caught my eye was the black cockpit. Maybe it should be more shiny? That's just a small detail though. Looks great anyway please keep posting your pint jobs

I like them!!!!

Been tweaking my own Firesprays (Jango colours on my second), but I like what you've done with yours. The weathering on Scarlet's is highly impressive!

On the normal one, you've change the grey to a dark olive green right? Been trying to get there on mine but haven't yet found the right shade. And did you alter the red part?

Lovely work. I've been looking to make my second Firespray like Kath's and searching for inspiration. I'm not familiar with the EU background and image searches mostly seem to be the picture on the card. It was hard to judge if the sharp colour contrast would work on this model, but you have definitely pulled it off.

So if it's all the same I think I'll leave your photos on screen during my painting session ... I think I'll try gloss varnishing the canopy when it is done, as the feature jumps out on the Slave 1 model. I've only added engine lights to that one.

Very nice!

If you could give a run down on the colors used and maybe some technique suggestions that would be most awesome!

Seriously, very nice.

The color scheme looks excelent, it was one I was tempted with. I like how you have done the wear on the panels too. It's looks pretty darn good

I really love the job you have done really nice and I love the way you have painted it so it looks old and worn I have never painted any miniatures and thus am not the best to give advise. But the only thing that caught my eye was the black cockpit. Maybe it should be more shiny? That's just a small detail though. Looks great anyway please keep posting your pint jobs

When I did mine I use paint on gloss varnish on the cockpit after I was finished. Just to make it pop a bit. It's fairly simple to do and I think it would pull the model together.

This looks great! Its a repaint I have been planning to do myself. What method did you use to strip the mini?

I have to agree with the second poster. Shiny cockpit too.

Very nice!

If you could give a run down on the colors used and maybe some technique suggestions that would be most awesome!

Seriously, very nice.

Second! Nice job on the repaints.

First off thanks everyone for the kind words! I'm glad it turned out this well, and look forward to doing some more repaints.

I will try my best to answer all questions, and feel free to ask more or for clarification if I'm making no sense!

I really love the job you have done really nice and I love the way you have painted it so it looks old and worn I have never painted any miniatures and thus am not the best to give advise. But the only thing that caught my eye was the black cockpit. Maybe it should be more shiny? That's just a small detail though. Looks great anyway please keep posting your pint jobs

Thanks for the kind words! In regards to the cockpit, I'm actually using Games Workshops Gloss Varnish (there's currently just 1 coat on the ships cockpit) but I definitely agree im going to need to gloss it up some more. Its especially noticeable in the last pic of the two ships, I will work on fixing that!

I like them!!!!

Been tweaking my own Firesprays (Jango colours on my second), but I like what you've done with yours. The weathering on Scarlet's is highly impressive!

On the normal one, you've change the grey to a dark olive green right? Been trying to get there on mine but haven't yet found the right shade. And did you alter the red part?

Glad you like it! In regards to the 'Slave I' version; For the green areas (which I found to be straight grey out of the box) were painted with Dark Angels Green. I'm not sure if that colour still exists in GW's line, as they redid things a few months ago but I'm sure there's a close match that replaced it.

In regards to the red, yes I did alter it. I used GW's Blood Red for that part, and then added the battle damage/paint chipping over top again with Codex Grey (Just the grey I had on hand).

After altering the colors though I washed the entire model with GW's Badab Black Wash, to dirty it up and darken it a little. I think the colors turned out pretty accurate!

Lovely work. I've been looking to make my second Firespray like Kath's and searching for inspiration. I'm not familiar with the EU background and image searches mostly seem to be the picture on the card. It was hard to judge if the sharp colour contrast would work on this model, but you have definitely pulled it off.

So if it's all the same I think I'll leave your photos on screen during my painting session ... I think I'll try gloss varnishing the canopy when it is done, as the feature jumps out on the Slave 1 model. I've only added engine lights to that one.

I know how you feel, there really are no pictures of Kath Scarlet's Firespray besides the one from the card (at least not that I could find. However, the link below definitely has the best quality of the original card art, and helps give a little more detail as to the scheme:

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Kath_Scarlet_Firespray-31_FFG.png

I am flattered to hear that my representation will be helpful, and I look forward to seeing your finished product!

Very nice!

If you could give a run down on the colors used and maybe some technique suggestions that would be most awesome!

Seriously, very nice.

Gladly!

I primed the model using 'The Army Painter's' Matte White Primer Spray (first time using a real model specific primer, and I will never go back, it was so smooth and applied so thinly to the model!)

The first step after priming was to add the red patterning. I used the above linked picture as my main reference, although I didn't replicate the scheme 100% to what the picture showed, but close enough and how I thought it would look good!

the cockpit was next and I used Charadon Granite and the Badab Black wash to darken up the edges.

After some touch-ups to the patterning, that I washed the entire thing haphazardly (as dirt always applies unevenly) with the Badab Black wash.

I then when back over the white areas and... dry stippled? (combination of stippling with a 'dry brush') with GW's Ceramite White base, to bring back some of the white through. I did the same to the red though to a much lower degree.

Lastly I added a little wear to the red paneling using the Ceramite White to show some paint chipping.

To be honest the wash did most of the work, but I think lightly stippling the white over top really made the ship pop!

I'm glad you like how it turned out though! let me know if you have any other questions about the process

The color scheme looks excelent, it was one I was tempted with. I like how you have done the wear on the panels too. It's looks pretty darn good

I really love the job you have done really nice and I love the way you have painted it so it looks old and worn I have never painted any miniatures and thus am not the best to give advise. But the only thing that caught my eye was the black cockpit. Maybe it should be more shiny? That's just a small detail though. Looks great anyway please keep posting your pint jobs

When I did mine I use paint on gloss varnish on the cockpit after I was finished. Just to make it pop a bit. It's fairly simple to do and I think it would pull the model together.

Yup, I will definitely be adding more gloss to the cockpit. In comparison to the 'Slave I' it really doesn't even look like I've done the 1 coat I did.

This looks great! Its a repaint I have been planning to do myself. What method did you use to strip the mini?

For stripping I used a cheap brake fluid, and let the mini bathe in it for ~30 minutes, and then scrubbed it with a tooth brush. This got most of the paint off, and after another 10 minute bathe and scrub it was nearly perfect in getting all the paint off.

Cheers,

Jordan

What does the back of it look like?

You ever think about making a youtube video for your repaints?

Nice work! Looking forward to seeing your future post.

Pretty good man! Keep at it!

The brake fluid didnt destroy any part of it by melting any of the plastic? Also did it become very soft when you removed it from the fluid?

What does the back of it look like?

Just need to finish up the back, will upload pictures in the next couple days.

You ever think about making a youtube video for your repaints?

Yes! I'm planning on both doing videos and articles for repaints among other things

Nice work! Looking forward to seeing your future post.

Thanks! I will be updating this thread with my continued projects.

The brake fluid didnt destroy any part of it by melting any of the plastic? Also did it become very soft when you removed it from the fluid?

The model was in perfect condition, no melting or details lost. The plastic was hard and perfectly as it came, minus the paint. I can't think of the brand it was but I will check and take a picture of it when I am home tonight.

Do you think Simple Green would strip as well? I'm a little hesitant to use brake fluid.

In my personal experience with simple green is that it didn't strip very well. I had tried it before I started using break fluid to strip paint. Although, I haven't tried simple green on the x-wing miniatures so I can't say exactly how it would work.

I've used brake fluid to strip paint for years and never had a problem. One time I had a model soaking in it for over a year, and the plastic was fine.

Its possible some plastics do soften in it, but I have yet to have an issue.

I've used brake fluid to strip paint for years and never had a problem. One time I had a model soaking in it for over a year, and the plastic was fine.

Its possible some plastics do soften in it, but I have yet to have an issue.

I've only ever had issues with Resin and Brake Fluid, and even then it just made the object go rubbery... Never any issues on plastic.

I'm using Simple Green on the Firespray and interceptors just now. Used it lots on metal and plastic before with no problem, I'll post how I got on. Never managed any success with brake fluid when I tried, maybe I was using the wrong type.

I used and posted my experience using simple green vs. brake fluid. I left an X wing soak for ~48hrs in pure simple green, and it only stripped the wash (which took about 20 min to strip). Brake fluid on the other hand, I brushed on, and within 20min of brushing all the paint was off.

what kind of break fluid do people use? Any brands or recommendations?

I don't think I've ever used anything but the cheap stuff. I honestly don't know of any difference.

what kind of break fluid do people use? Any brands or recommendations?

Prestone is the brand I use, just their basic cheapest one.

I got it at Canadian Tire... not that it helps anyone outside of Canada, sorry!

- Jordan