Engine trails

So I wanted the exhaust trails to look different but also old and worn. I put some light rust brown and a darker brown into my already blackened paint pot. I didn't mix them as I wanted a subtle variety of dust/rust colours

Finishing the top

So I worked for a few hours finalising (most of) the top!

Same method as before. I tried to be a little lighter this time. I found that removing more of the acrylic paint after it had dried, then doing another quick coat and wiping whilst still wet gave the best results.

Before patch

After 

Top part part deux

Some of the chrome detailing comes through when the black filth is rubbed away. I didnt get the best photo here as it wasnt shiny..

Cockpit and tunnel drying ready...

And here it is after!

Rear panels started..

Rear panel after a little work.

Bare in mind this is "first wave" of the filthing'. I will be going back, detailing each section by hand, before adding in any additional paint work or weathering. I also need to do more wind/weathering on each panel.

Started the top

Started the topside today. Wanted slightly lighter version with less filth as opposed to the bottom.

So i started at the front. I am not really doing the sides yet, just working from the top down. I will later apply more layers to the very tip of the nose(s) to give it the forward section look.

God i love this method, it looks awesome!.

I also have some detailed chrome parts. I did this for all of the pipe sections on the body with a silver Sharpie.

More silver detail.

Then the front left panel. This is how i am doing it now. Giving it more random patches, this looks better than an all over filth monkey, in my opinion!

after : Lookin fresh! Ok well not so fresh, nicely filthy. Notice the edges of panels look dirtier than the center ;) alot more natural...

Gravity/wind weathering

I use a very dry almost empty brush and gently run it back across each panel section to create an old dripped/wind weather effect. 

It takes a while but I think it's worth it

This was the most annoying part yet. 

It gets really full of paint and it's hard to get out. Then it looks too dark!

Tip : use a different clean brush sprayed with your cleaning material and dab at it bristles facing towards it. This method removes it in random spats so you can choose how much remains, I found this gave a lot lighter weathering which looks better!

Underside progress

So I continued to do the underside today. I used a watered down mix first then quickly buffed it in to give a more dirty grey base, then applied the same weathering as before..

I filthed up the front more as expected

Not done any sides yet.

Tweaking the undercarriage

IOoh err naughty!

So I thought it would be best if I have a go underneath first. That way if it goes wrong no one will see ;)

I started off with some acrylic paint, which when applied was a little watery. Thats the last thing you want. It is actually better to apply a paint which is quite thick, almost like tooth paste density.

Firstly, I lather a section no bigger than about 4" squared, as you cant paint and dry more than that in one go. If it dries completely you wont be able to buff it off!

Ive found that you have to leave it long enough for the paint to dry enough that it is no longer shiny. The second it is, you get your towel and just start buffing away the paint you have applied.

What you are left with is the acrylic paint in all of the corners, crevices, etc but not on the main part of the body.

Here's my first attempt

This is a plain section

This is 10 minutes later after the procedure above

Then i did the same but detailed some rust/brown colour in

This is the result of approximately 2hrs work

Humble beginnings

This thing is big. But it lacks detail :-(

It has stickers on the front sides where there should be detailed panels. Poor show Hasbro! They have even detailed the inside of the fuselage which you can't even really see, yet missed the sides :-(

Here is how it begun on day 1.

Gathering tools..

So I am keeping my first attempt simple.

I needed 5 things..

1. Black acrylic paint 

2. Brown acrylic paint

3. Brush

4. Towel

5. Spray cleaner or cleaning chemical

Introduction

This blog was created to document my building/modification of the new Hasbro Millennium Falcon

Its a whopping 60cm+! I plan on a few modifications. First of all the paint work. It needs some serious War's weathering. This has commenced tonight...

Coming soon :

LED lights
Fiber optics
Clear cockpit glass, and interior with pilot(s)
Battle damage