Splash's Ho Ho Ho Green Giant ***finished***

[splash]

I prefer the SEA camo to the all black. Makes it more 'interesting' to look at.

I agree but I was finding it difficult to find a left/right & top colour profile to show how to paint it, remember this is a Starfix kit so the instructions don't come with any colour references.

I also think black is a challenge that I have always chicken out doing in the past.

Here it is with the sponson extensions and fueling probe removed and a coat of very dark grey added.

[Saxon]

Black can be a bit dull, I found this pic though of an overall black one which has a fair few stress marks on it which varies the look a bit.

http://fisthistory.org/delta.htm;

[splash]

Black can be a bit dull, I found this pic though of an overall black one which has a fair few stress marks on it which varies the look a bit.

http://fisthistory.org/delta.htm;

Cheers for the link Saxon, I did see one photo of the black a/c in the field with a lot of weathering, like any owner of a black car will tell you black does not stay black for long.

Regards Splash

[ShaunW]

Nice one Splash. Black is more difficult to get right than a lot of modellers imagine and requires the use of straight black and very dark greys such as anthracite or NATO Black to look convincing. I agree that black is a difficult colour to keep clean on cars and motorcycles. I had a black bike once and it was a real pain for showing streaks on the petrol tank and bodywork after I'd cleaned it. I've never owned a black vehicle since!

[splash]

Here we are after a light addition of streaking, I'm going to add some variation using oil paints followed by a dark exhaust staining to the rear as seen on all Seakings.

[thomastmcc]

looking great and sinister !! ..

she the black mamba ...

[ShaunW]

Great stuff Splash, that is an excellent looking black finish.

[splash]

I'm not sure if I have gone overboard with the weathering?

I will have to review it in daylight.



(Edit note image updated with daylight photo)

[Sissel]

Overboard or not, that looks fantastically used to me. Really like it.

[Saxon]

Wow, looks like it could go well in a crash diorama now, very used and abused!

[ShaunW]

It looks weathered all right and doesn't necessarily look overboard, though without photos of the full size in theatre it's hard to judge. How durable was the black finish on these things? The climate in Vietnam was notoriously harsh on paintwork and camo had to be regularly touched up. So it could be that your weathering is just right.

[splash]

I think I might just tone it down a touch as this image shows it weathered but not quite as bad as I have done

[Ian]

Don't worry about it, Splash. That looks to be a posed shot, so the heli may have been cleaned specially.

[thomastmcc]

splash it looks great ...

got the parts today too thanks..

thomas

[ShaunW]

The chopper in the pic looks pretty heavily weathered to me Splash, it's hardly in the custom car league for paintjobs So if Ian is right and they did give that a bit of a clean up for a posed shot, which is very possible, then yours is fine for a machine on more active duty.