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Post by soulsamurai on Jan 13, 2015 8:35:17 GMT
I was wondering how to paint to the Veritech cockpit glass. My initial thought was a blue gemstone-like effect since that's what I know. However, it occurred to me that it would be interesting to try to remove the molded-in canopy and replace it with clear plastic.
So my questions for you guys are:
1. What's a good way to paint the glass canopy? Links to tutorials would be much appreciated.
2. Any ideas where I can get some clear plastic that is appropriate for use for a replacement canopy? I'd rather not have to try to sand plastic rods to shape.
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Post by Thorfinn on Jan 13, 2015 13:56:59 GMT
Don't have any links, but I think that blue is the default/classic. Black would also be appropriate to represent space. If you are a great painter, you could paint tiny people in the cockpits.
Trying to do them clear is tricky. You're going to have to carve them from clear plastic. Plastic rod, like you mentioned, or the sprue for said plastic rod, or the sprue form clear canopies from larger scale models. Even small pieces of acrylic or plexiglass.
Keep in mind that when you sand/file the clear plastic, it will lose its transparency and be just translucent. I haven't tried it, but there are ways to use heat to fix that. Definitely, experiment before cutting into your models to remove the existing canopies.
Another, possibly more complicated option, is to make a mode of the top area of the fuselage. Then, remove the canopy, and probably drill a little into the cockpit. Then pour a tiny amount of clear resin into the model and press the fuselage back into the mold. If it works, you will force out the resin that isn't in the canopy, and it should leave a clear canopy fused to the fuselage. But you will probably have a fair bit of resin to clean up off the fuselage. It works on paper. I haven't tried it, especially on something so tiny.
...painting them blue isn't looking so bad now, is it?
Good luck, and post pictures. I'd like to see how that turns out.
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Post by popatachi on Jan 13, 2015 14:13:36 GMT
There was someone on the FB page that made a vacuum formed canopy from clear plastic. Then they cut out the entire canopy area and replaced it with the clear plastic piece.
I've also seen some veritechs with gold canopies.
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Post by montro898 on Jan 13, 2015 14:41:47 GMT
I would suggest using vacuum formed molds as well and the giving the inside a very thin spray of Tamiya tint, either smoke, brown, or brown orange for tinting.
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Post by ItsUncertainWho on Jan 13, 2015 16:27:17 GMT
While I applaud the insanity of wanting to make clear canopies, casting clear resin or vacuum forming is going to be very difficult for this scale. I would lean toward faking it with paint. Use a light grey base with a smoke grey or brown then add a gloss on top of the smoke.
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Post by Thorfinn on Jan 13, 2015 16:33:49 GMT
I would agree, but I'm not one to discourage anyone from entertaining insane projects - mostly because then I'd have people discouraging MY insane projects.
You're right on about the painting. If you seal the whole plane with a matt finish, then use a brush on clear gloss on the glass, it will look good.
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Post by ItsUncertainWho on Jan 13, 2015 17:05:12 GMT
I don't mean to discourage. I highly recommend experimenting with both other options. It all boils down to how much time and effort you want to put forth in the short term. You can always go back and modify a painted mini later. Once you chop a canopy off there is no going back.
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Post by soulsamurai on Jan 13, 2015 18:52:59 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I might try to sand some plastic rod that I have and see if I can get it to look good before I take a knife to any models, depends on when I can find time. In my experience you can get the clarity back with a coat of gloss varnish. In terms of painting I've been experimenting lately with the use of metallic gel ball point pens for adding details to minis (they will draw on the mini but the ink doesn't hold well at all, so you mustn't touch the area until after applying a spray varnish), perhaps a metallic blue would work well. There was someone on the FB page that made a vacuum formed canopy from clear plastic. Then they cut out the entire canopy area and replaced it with the clear plastic piece. I've also seen some veritechs with gold canopies. That's genius! I've not had much success in my own amateurish casting experiments, so that would be out of my league unfortunately. I can't seem to find any pictures though, do you know if he posted any? |
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Post by Sundowner on Jan 13, 2015 20:53:41 GMT
Far be it for me to say, anything is too crazy to attempt.
Do it if you want it..
But my question is, Is there any real reason to use a clear canopy if there wont be any cockpit or details to see inside?
Now if someone with an electron microscope did manage to produce a cockpit under a 1/285 clear canopy. I would be impressed and acknowledge the validity of the endeavor.
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Post by popatachi on Jan 13, 2015 21:06:18 GMT
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Post by soulsamurai on Jan 14, 2015 15:09:06 GMT
Far be it for me to say, anything is too crazy to attempt. Do it if you want it.. But my question is, Is there any real reason to use a clear canopy if there wont be any cockpit or details to see inside? Now if someone with an electron microscope did manage to produce a cockpit under a 1/285 clear canopy. I would be impressed and acknowledge the validity of the endeavor. My belief is that it would be possible to fabricate something that doesn't look too bad to sit under the glass; I don't really know if it would work better than just a coat of paint, so it's really just the desire to experiment and see what happens I suppose. Damn, it won't let me see it. Oh well, thanks for the link. |
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Post by daredevil22r on Jan 25, 2015 6:53:04 GMT
Wow, I just saw this thread and unlocked the photos.
I made a small vacuum forming jig at home that uses my vacuum cleaner. I'm still learning through all this.
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Post by soulsamurai on Jan 26, 2015 12:28:23 GMT
Wow, I just saw this thread and unlocked the photos. I made a small vacuum forming jig at home that uses my vacuum cleaner. I'm still learning through all this. That's great, I'm glad you found your way to this thread. I was hoping to see the photos but still can't seem to access them (at least not on the posted link), do you think you could post them here? Thanks! |
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Post by wargamer43210 on Jan 27, 2015 13:20:27 GMT
Wow, I just saw this thread and unlocked the photos. I made a small vacuum forming jig at home that uses my vacuum cleaner. I'm still learning through all this. Please post the photos if possible or maybe help us luddites figure out how to unlock them. |
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Post by daredevil22r on Jan 29, 2015 4:32:24 GMT
Sorry for taking so long to do it. Here are the pics. Keep in mind that I repainted the Valk. Sharper lines and brighter white. 
I cut out the solid canopy and using some putty, I made a helmet.  I made a DIY vacuum forming jig and made a copy of the cockpit.I'm not 100% happy since not all detail showed up, but, I am intending on fixing that come the weekend.  This is the final fit before I repainted it and glued it in place with Elmer's white glue. |
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Post by lordkhyron on Jan 29, 2015 5:33:41 GMT
daredevil22r - I thouht my friend John was hard core creating/casting new feet for all his valks. I have to say that your clear canopy and mods take the cake. Have you bought about casting/3d printing the interior so you don't have to recreate it over and over?
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Post by soulsamurai on Jan 29, 2015 10:42:27 GMT
Wow, that canopy looks great! It really is a big step up from the base model!
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Post by Sundowner on Jan 29, 2015 12:20:40 GMT
It does add something to the model, and is impressive at that scale.
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Post by wargamer43210 on Jan 29, 2015 13:13:50 GMT
Very nice work. The clear canopy looks great!
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Post by daredevil22r on Jan 31, 2015 0:59:56 GMT
Thanks for the compliments. I actually am working on a cockpit that I can recreate with simple casting methods. I borrowed a magnifying desk lamp to help me detail the cockpit a bit better. Make it a bit more believable.
I'm also working on poseable legs. That way when I assemble the guardians, I can pose the legs differently. I'm not too happy being stuck with the same 3 set of legs.
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Post by soulsamurai on Feb 1, 2015 9:09:39 GMT
Cool, keep us posted with your progress!
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Post by soulsamurai on Jun 15, 2016 18:37:31 GMT
Wow, it's been over a year since I started this thread and I've only just now gotten around to actually trying out my original idea. Well, in my defense, other games (plus, you know, LIFE) were keeping me busy. But I've finally tried my hand at putting together a clear canopy for a veritech, and the results were pretty decent I think:   I actually ended up making the canopy from plastic from a blister pack. I essentially created a two-part mold and used it to press a sheet of blister plastic (that had been softened with a heat gun) to shape. I'll post photos of the whole process on my blog at some point, probably after I actually get the model painted. Which will have to wait until I get some basing materials I ordered, so could be a little while. Anyway, feedback and suggestions welcome. |
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Post by Thorfinn on Jun 21, 2016 20:45:20 GMT
Obsessively awesome. Though I suppose you can be excused for not making the canopy hinged so it can open and have the pilot as a removable poseable figure.  |
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Post by soulsamurai on Jun 25, 2016 7:29:33 GMT
Hah, I know you're joking but... I actually like the idea, it would be a challenge to be sure! Maybe I'll try it someday. Well, the hinged part at least might be doable; considering how long it took me just to put together the pilot's helmet, there's no way I'm going to be able to sculpt anything more complex at that scale.
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Post by daredevil22r on Nov 9, 2016 16:26:13 GMT
Oh man. Life sure does put a lot of things on hold. I moved TWICE! things are still in boxes and this project got lost in the shuffle. I'm hoping to get on it again towards the end of December. I get a week off work so I should get things fully unpacked and organized.
Great work on the canopy. At that scale I didn't even try to sculpt too many details. Your work is 100 times better than mine.
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