ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (107)

Hi all,

thank you for the positive feedback :)

@ Malevengion  and Tuskar Schwarzhorn- thank you :)

Yes, I think it is time for the old lady to be finally completed. She survived 3 cats and began to think she was cursed. 

Currently we are without cats - so what better time ? ;)

Well I decided to experiment a bit more with the already painted part. Trying to tell more of the "painters" story. So one understands what is exactly happening.

So I took the challenge of doing the Dencara Cloud Pattern with a brush.

 

While that dried I completed the damage of the upper story of the body.

 

Wow, that damage stuff IS time consuming.

So maybe more already painted elements?

 

I also started the blue ornamental flag on the observation deck.

I still need a good Latin phrase - so if you can spare one :)

 

To provide more context on the paint process, I also provided a strip of bare metal in front of the rust resilient paint.

 

Uff!
The base for the body damage done.

It starts to tell a story of its own.

But it took my quite some hours to get all the damage painted on her.

So how could I continue with the upper decks?

More damage?

 

I decided to take the easier route :)

The upper and command deck is already painted. She is returning to Xantium after a successful campaign in the south and we want her to look representable when she returns for her parade.

Of course the command deck with the officers as well as the landing platform where first visitors are arriving, must be spit-shining sharp, right?

 

So I started to do the cloud pattern to the sides.

 

Here at the front some bare metal.

 

Then the lower deck left.

 

Not much new here.

 

And the right side lower deck.

 

Back to the front

 

Here you can see the instructions for the paint detail.

Indicating the two colors (Solarblau and Sturmgrau) as well as the transition line.

 

And this is how she looks :)

 

This will be the last post for the next two weeks.

 

I hope I will continue when I return from Scotland.

 

But right now I feel pretty confident I will :)

So, what do you think of the different paint versions and the story to it?

Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (106)

Hi all,

Well, so you like the idea of me finishing the ATHENA at last, huh?

Some seem not so confident - me neither :)

But well.

@ George Quail  - thanks Mate. I really look forward to it.

Could you do me a favour and turn up the heat a bit? We're having like 20-27°C here these days. I'll need my "Long-Johns" I suppose :)

Well, last night I decided to remove all the masking off the windows and stuff - or rather see if it still comes off after 3 years.

 

It was never intended to remain so long on the windows - and I don't think it was made for it.

But luckily the rubber mask from Vallejo came off pretty well.

 

First time in years these 3 guys see the light of day again :)

 

Another important part is the bridge.

 

After a battery recharge, the lights still work.

 

How would the Tamija Masking Tape come off?

 

Great!
No problems at all. No damage to the Goddess.

 

The large rear mural was covered in standard, no-brand masking tape...

Lots of paint ripped off :(

 

But well.

I already have an idea here.

So I checked the wiring and lights for the body area. Still working.

 

 Lower observation room too :)

And this morning she was still on my desk ;)

So I decided the first thing to fix was the rear area.

I simply changed the scene here, so that the two guys *should* actually be painting the rear are, but are taking a break and do some golf :)

Even added some spilled paint.

 

 Then it was time for some serious work.

Damages.

Like last time I started with the dark grey. Then Terracotta in the upper parts (simulating the rust resilient paint) and Fortress Grey for the lower highlights.

Then the dark grey with a sponge.

And finally Boltgun Metal for the deeper damage areas.

The top of the deck received a new paint coat to support the scene there, where a bunch of guys are in process of painting the deck.

You can also see the simulated color transition of the "cloud pattern" with the two colors.

Well, that's as far as I got.

Feels good to have the old lady back on the desk.

Cheers

Klaus

Look what's on my desk!

The last time she was seen, was September 2013 (ATHENASteampunk Airship - 105)

:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But honestly I'm not sure how far I will get this time.

By now the plastic is very brittle, and many pieces started to warp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She's still a beauty though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got some real spider webs :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So now I'm taking stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some pieces are broken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and she needs a good cleaning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheesh, probably a whole spider colony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I started to repair some of the broken pieces - a wheel on the STRIX VTOL aircraft and a blade on the propeller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As said, no promises.

I'm trying to enter her at the SMA Big Spring Contest as "Shelf Queen" for which she definately qualifies :)

But I will be out for two weeks - visiting Scottland - and then I'll see.

Cheers

Klaus

A Meeting of Scouts (8)

Hi all,

I hope you are all well :)

I'm currently a bit down with a cold - you know the one that's a sneeze to women, but life-threatening to men ;)

 

But luckily I was able to complete the diorama.

 

@ Malevengion - yes, you will see, the washes have toned down all the colors nicely and the blue of the lenses is now much better aligned with the rest of the colors.

 

So, here is the last shot of the PHRIKE and KAIROS in a "pristine" state. Already toned down with washes, but no paint chipping yet.

I started the weathering with my "damage mix" a dark blue-grey that I apply with a sponge.

Once I've completed the basic chipping I added some metal effects. The minor ones with a pencil, the larger one with Boltgun Metal - applied with a brush.

I think it works quite convincing.

Also on the PHRIKE.

And finally I painted the lenses and lights.

Done!

Oh wait!
There's the crew :(

They all get the Dencara Tiger Flash pattern.

Lots of details

Last image before the washes and highlights.

But now!

Too bad the auto-focus didn't agree with me.

But I think you get the idea :)

Even though I'm not 100% satisfied with the lady's face, I think I can live with it ;)

To bring it all together I applied some more pigments to the vehicles and the scene.

I think this makes it look a bit more realistic.

And the completed scene :D

I hope you like it.

I want to thank you very much for accompanying me on this little journey and I hope you enjoyed the ride.

Thank you for your feedback, suggestions and comments.

They lifted this project a bit higher and made it better.

THANKS!

 

Some HQ images to follow :)