WIP: Bandai Star Wars Tie Fighter

It has indeed been a while.  Real life gets in the way of fun.  I have been building, but NOT frequently at all.  After the end of February, I lost the spark and stopped some models I was working on DEAD in their tracks.  Around August I start to gain steam again.  Anyway, let me post some of the work I had finished and documented before I lost my MOJO.  Over the next few days I will upload. 

Masking the wings.  Real pain in the butt.

Panels painted.  I masked them so the paint doesn't get too think and the parts don't have a hard time snapping in. 

Pilot painted.

Cockpit painted and testing red LED.

Tie Fighter in his office.

painting the parts individually.  Adding decals.  Very small.

Such fine detail and now applying Tamiya panel line wash.....but I wasn't happy with it.  Too hard to wipe off.  So I made my own. 

I combined these two products and made my own wash.  I had that White Spirit since Mig owned AK! 

Washed and ready.  Now to finish the base, and deal with wires. 



FINISHED - Bandai A-Wing Star Fighter

Finished my A-Wing Star Fighter for the Face Book Group Build.  Only 3 people finished their entries.  My A-Wing, 3 droids; BB-8, R2-D2 and 3CPO and a Batmobile. All nice entries.  To be honest, mine had the most work, best paint and weathering.....BUT I didn't win in the polling.  Medal went to the Batmobile.  Oh well, sometimes the best do not win when there is a group vote.  All entries however were very cool.  Glad the modeler won his first "Basement Air Force " medal. 

Below is the finished model.  This Bandai kit was a joy to build, paint and loot at.  Red things in the cannons are
Lasers"

Enjoy. 

 Little Bit of engine glow

 Used Citadel shades to make the engine glow.

New WIP - Star Wars Models from Bandai

I always wanted to build a Star Wars model.  The Revell models available in the US SUCK.  I dislike them greatly.  So, I found out about the Bandai models available in Japan.  I found them on Amazon and order them regularly.  These things are amazing.  The engineering, the quality, the subjects.  Here are just some of them that I have.  Missing from the photo are a Tie Advanced and a Tie Interceptor. 

So I decided to build the A-Wing as my first model.  A FB group I belong to, The Basement Air Force is having a Sci-Fi Group Build, so I chose this model for that build.  This group is a fantastic group for model builders.  Great group of guys from around the world, no jerks, just friends.  The man who started the group, Ralph is a fantastic guy. 

 Pre shading

 All the parts pre shaded

 Final base coats down

Color is a Vallejo Model Air color, (need to get correct color).

 Love airbrushing with Tamiya paints.  Terrible to paint on with a brush, amazing by air brush.  Mixed in retarder (for self leveling) and yellow capped Lacquer Thinner for good mixing and flow. 

Here we are starting to piece the model together in prep for a clear coat to start weathering. 

 Pre shading really looks good, I am satisfied.  Pilot looks pretty good too. Might add some ore details to him.  I free handed the front office details.