Cloud Strife's WIP
- Thread starter Cloud Strife
- Start date
Thanks, Eddie! Just waiting on my order of new paints (I'm trying out Testors' Floquil line), before I start painting him. I'm also wanting to add some more stuff to his belt, along with adding the holster and gun to his web gear (or whatever you call what he's got going on).
If you find paints that are more durable, let us know the results. I've loved Tamiya paints so far, but I'm starting to get the feeling that they're not the best out there. I've got a ton of the damned things, too. Probably 50 jars or more.
Damn, is it? My two "go-to" small hobby shops have closed, and the remaining "big" one didn't have shit for Tamiya last time I was in. If they're available online and I already have the color in-hand, I can simply reorder. But I liked going into the store and picking out certain colors by eye. You don't get that online. 
Sadly, I think the days of having paints "in-store" to pick out are getting less and less. B&M stores don't seem interested in retaining stock except of very base colors due to on-line competition.
Factor in how easy it is for someone to shoplift a little bottle of paint...
Factor in how easy it is for someone to shoplift a little bottle of paint...
My order should be arriving sometime this week. I'll definitely let you guys know if they're good quality paints or not. I'm hopeful, as Alyosha and sith_fire30 highly recommend them. I'm also hopeful since they're made by Testors. Over 90% of the paints I use are Testors Model Master Acrylics and they're really good quality paints (I like them better than Tamiya, Games Workshop and Vallejo).
The cool thing about Testors' Floquil line is that they have a lot of paints specifically for military colors (more than their Model Master Acrylics line). The downside is that they're expensive! The military colors are between $4 and $5, while they're railroad themed colors are between $6 & $7! Their Model Master line is between $3 and $4, and I thought they were expensive...
Very true.
GOOD GAWD!!!...yeah, it hurt me too to pay $3-$4 for that tiny little jar, but twice that...think i need to get out of customising...sheesh!
Yeah, thankfully, their military colors aren't as expensive as the railroad colors in the Floquil line, but the good stuff ain't cheap, that's for sure. I think the only colors I've gone through multiple jars of paint are White, Black, Skin Tone Base Light, and Leather. That's in a 2 year period too and most of that's due to mixing paint and trying to match colors. So, once you get a nice palette in your possession, it lasts awhile. Well, it does for me anyway.
With my current 50 jars or so, I doubt I'll be replacing many colors that often. Mostly like you said, black, white, and some of the basic "flesh" tones like brown and tan/flesh.
And clear-coat. But I use Model Masters for that, not Tamiya. Saving mixed jars is nice and great for touchups, the problem is after a while sometimes they dry up if not sealed or stored properly (or they can separate) and their names start to all be the same. I've probably got 10 or more named "light flesh" or "light jungle green".
And clear-coat. But I use Model Masters for that, not Tamiya. Saving mixed jars is nice and great for touchups, the problem is after a while sometimes they dry up if not sealed or stored properly (or they can separate) and their names start to all be the same. I've probably got 10 or more named "light flesh" or "light jungle green".
I know exactly what you mean. I've gotten to where I put a dab of paint on each of the lids so that I can see what it looks like when it dries, but I do that with both mixed and non-mixed.
Well, Serpentor is on the back burner until I get what I need to make his cape. So, I've been working on a Roadblock figure. I have to give all the credit to Wry1 for the inspiration as his RB is the definitive RB to me now. Here are some WIP pics, but they're a little old. I've done more sculpting and started painting the figure since these were taken. Also, instead of the Tri-Color Desert camo that Wry1 gave his, I'm doing Woodland camo, and Olive Drab. I plan on making a Repeater custom and he'll be my desert machine gunner.
You and me both, man! As soon as I get the stuff for the cape, Serpentor will be priority 1.
Yeah, I believe I am. I thought about swapping out for the Broken Arrow one I previously used, but the Resolute sculpt just looks more like a seasoned soldier to me, if that makes any sense.
Haha... Yeah, I have to thank Meddatron for the sword. He hooked me up!
I'm going to post some more pics of RB tonight after the sculpt has cured some more. I've given him a drop-leg holster on his right leg and sculpted the folds of his pants around the straps, and I gave him a pouch on his left leg as well. I still need to sculpt the clips on the straps on his right leg, but the sculpt will have to cure before I do that. I plan on giving him a knife and a sheath for it, along with some 'nades.
Here the updated pics. I believe I'll paint his vest and pouches Olive Drab. You can see where I started painting the camo on part of his left leg to see how it's going to turn out (I've never painted Woodland camo before):
Haha... Yeah, I just got 25 more jars this past weekend. I haven't counted, but I'm probably closing in on 100 jars of paint. My wife actually surprised me by getting our brother in-law's dad to make me a small shelving unit for them that I can hang on the wall. I just have to get the hardware to put on it to hang it on the wall, and I never think of it when I'm out shopping.
Thanks, Med! I honestly think that if you have the right tools, a good sculpting compound and patience, it's not so hard to sculpt. Now sculpting faces is probably a whole other story. I haven't attempted that yet, but will probably give it a try some time.
that looks killer!...the added bulk to the legs looks great!...and even the bit of camo you did came out amazing too...thats one bada$$ looking RB man...
Thanks, Eddie!
I had to experiment with the paints until I found the colors I thought worked best for the camo. I've never attempted Woodland camo before. I think the colors I chose work ok.
I had to make the pants baggy around the straps of the holster since the other leg already had the look going on, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
I had to experiment with the paints until I found the colors I thought worked best for the camo. I've never attempted Woodland camo before. I think the colors I chose work ok.
I had to make the pants baggy around the straps of the holster since the other leg already had the look going on, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.
I started working on another Lt. Falcon custom yesterday. I decided to give him Tiger Stripe camo and here's my progress thus far:
This is my second attempt at Tiger Stripe camo and I think it's coming along a lot better than last time. Thoughts, critiques?
Also, I want to swap the arms out, but I haven't split a ST torso before. Has anyone split a ST torso, and if so, did you have any problems with it warping or cracking the torso?
This is my second attempt at Tiger Stripe camo and I think it's coming along a lot better than last time. Thoughts, critiques?
Also, I want to swap the arms out, but I haven't split a ST torso before. Has anyone split a ST torso, and if so, did you have any problems with it warping or cracking the torso?
I really like were this is going.
If I were you, I would have split the torso before painting. I haven't split a ST torso, but all the 30th/POC figures I have split, warped or cracked.
If I were you, I would have split the torso before painting. I haven't split a ST torso, but all the 30th/POC figures I have split, warped or cracked.
That's what I was afraid of.
I would have tried splitting the torso before painting it, but I figured I would just swap out the lower arms, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted the sleeves to be rolled up like the OG Falcon. I think I'm going to have to try and cut it open... yay.
I would have tried splitting the torso before painting it, but I figured I would just swap out the lower arms, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted the sleeves to be rolled up like the OG Falcon. I think I'm going to have to try and cut it open... yay.
Yeah cutting is bad news, the blades never react in the same way with the damn plastic.
I've cracked a few torsos and they didn't seem to worse for the wear, but I hadn't painted them first..
I've cracked a few torsos and they didn't seem to worse for the wear, but I hadn't painted them first..
Stupid RZA and him acting like Hard Master. He should know better.
Thanks, man!
Well, I was able to split the torso through a combination of the vice method and then wedging a screwdriver in to pry it apart. The torso doesn't seem to be warped. At least, not noticeably.
What makes that particular sculpt difficult is that the seam is slanted on the shoulders instead of going straight across.
Thanks, Fled! That's about 3 hrs of painting thus far (not including the base coat of green on the figure). I'm glad I was able to swap out the arms tonight for some short sleeves. Less paint and also more reminiscent of the ARAH Falcon.
Shit, saw this too late. I was gonna say, I can't believe that you painted it and then were going to crack it. Sounds like it worked out without any collateral damage, though, so I guess you're good.
I read that, and was like "oh shit, he just painted all that, too." and expected it to at least chip along the seams. Glad it didn't.
Camo looks awesome, btw. What other parts you planning on using for ol' Vinny Falcone?
Zing!
I read that, and was like "oh shit, he just painted all that, too." and expected it to at least chip along the seams. Glad it didn't.
Camo looks awesome, btw. What other parts you planning on using for ol' Vinny Falcone?
Zing!
Haha... Yeah, I hadn't planned on changing his upper arms out, but after I started working on the camo, I thought the Sgt. Stone upper arms would look better for what I'm wanting to do with this custom. I want to update Falcon, as I've already made an ARAH accurate Falcon, but I still want to incorporate some of the ARAH elements.
So, the recipe I'm leaning towards right now follow:
Head: Marauder Falcon
Torso: Shock Trooper
Legs: 30th Stalker
Upper Arms: Sgt. Stone
Lower Arms: Falcon
Web Gear: I'm leaning toward modifying the 25th Falcon web gear. I was originally going to use the Shock Trooper LBV and modify it some, but I hate to cover all the camo up on the torso, lol
I'm planning on giving him the new Marauder AA-12, when it's released. So, that would mean he would need some ammo drum pouches for it, and maybe some magazine pouches for the AA-12 as well. I'll give him a knife and some 'nades too.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
So, the recipe I'm leaning towards right now follow:
Head: Marauder Falcon
Torso: Shock Trooper
Legs: 30th Stalker
Upper Arms: Sgt. Stone
Lower Arms: Falcon
Web Gear: I'm leaning toward modifying the 25th Falcon web gear. I was originally going to use the Shock Trooper LBV and modify it some, but I hate to cover all the camo up on the torso, lol
I'm planning on giving him the new Marauder AA-12, when it's released. So, that would mean he would need some ammo drum pouches for it, and maybe some magazine pouches for the AA-12 as well. I'll give him a knife and some 'nades too.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
looks fantastic CS...your must still have good vision?
i've split the ST before...mine warped a little...got a stress mark out of it...but i applied a blow dryer to it and the mark went away...
i've split the ST before...mine warped a little...got a stress mark out of it...but i applied a blow dryer to it and the mark went away...
Well, I was able to w/out warping the torso, but it took a lot of work. I first attempted to do it with the vice but only managed to crack the bottom half of the upper torso. I then noticed that the seam runs at an angle along the shoulders/trap area. So, I used a screwdriver to pry it the rest of the way. In all honesty, I'm surprised that I didn't warp the torso, or crack it.