About this Blog

This is about the combination of two interests, Radio Control vehicles and Science Fiction models. This blog documents my science fiction spaceship and radio controlled vehicle projects.

Sunday 24 May 2020

Moon Bus part 8

The Moon Bus project has completed the primer stage.

The chassis was disassembled and the frames painted red, while the aluminium servos and various other parts were painted matte black after having been sprayed with etch primer.

Next up is to design a paint scheme and then tackle the final paint finish.

I always have some trepidation before starting the paint process having had a number of frustrating experiences at that stage, mostly from spray can valves failing and  putting on too thick a coat in one application, only to have it peel off with the masking tape. The thinner in the car paint spray cans I mostly use, if applied too heavily can dissolve the top surface of the styrene underneath making it smooth and glossy so once dried the paint can just be pulled right off with nothing to key to. The secret to most painting is many light coats, advice I wish I would adhere to and not get carried away trying to cover everything in one go.

It's fairly usual that I tend to keep putting off doing the paint and tend to find any excuse not to do it, like start a new project (SPACE BARGE). Once I get started its usually not so bad and it generally turns out OK. As with many things getting started is the hardest bit.

I also have to paint the cockpit interior and have a go at figure painting for the occupants.
I have been watching a number of figure painting tutorials on YouTube being greatly disappointed in my previous poor efforts. The tutorials I can recommend are Kujo Painting particularly his Porco Rosso series and Dana Howl who has a slightly different technique using Underpainting and Glazing delivered in a very dry and amusing style.

The current thinking is to go for a NASA style white, given that it is a Moon Bus, along with red accents to match the chassis.

Note that in the photos below the headlights and the tailights are much dimmer than normal as they are shining through a layer of masking tape.













Thanks for looking.
More soon...

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