Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5) [complete]

[Scootypuffjunior]

I was commissioned by a friend of mine to build four models to recreate the trench run from Star Wars; Vader, two TIEs, and Luke's Red 5. I was excited about this because I wanted a chance to do another Red 5 X-wing after I completed my own last year and was never really happy with the final result.

I started out with the cockpit and Luke. The interior was painted in Tamiya Neutral Grey (XF-53) and given a couple of coats of Future for the decals. I'm not too happy with the decals on the control panels, but since you can barely see inside the cockpit when it was complete I decided to leave them. I then went around and picked out some details before painting Luke.



After giving everything a coat of grey Alcad II Primer/Microfiller, I went to work preshading all of the numerous panel lines over the model with heavily thinned Tamiya German Grey (XF-63), which turned out to be quite a tedious job!


After the preshading was complete, I began laying down the base color. In the past, I have used a 1:1 mix of Tamiya Flat White (XF-2) and Medium Grey (XF-20), which I think makes a fine color for Rebellion ships. However, I wanted to try something different so I picked up a couple of Vallejo mixing bottles at my FLGS and set to work mixing up a custom color. I mixed one 10mL jar of Tamiya Flat White (XF-2), 2/3 of a jar of Tamiya White (X-2), twelve drops of Tamiya Flat Earth (XF-52), and four drops of Tamiya Neutral Grey (XF-53). Overall, I was pleased with this color.


Although there is an extensive decal sheet provided with the kit, none of the decals have any of the typical weathering found on so many Star Wars vehicles. As nice as Bandai decals are, I prefer to use paint wherever possible for the most consistent finish. I used a combination of Tamiya masking tape and Humbrol Maskol applied with a torn piece of foam, trying to mimic the weathering on the filming miniature as best I can.


After a couple of hours, I had all of the panels on the fuselage complete. I tried to follow the studio model as best I could, but I took some liberties on various panels. I used twelve different colors on the different panels!The panels are rather stark right now, but I will go over everything with some fine grit sandpaper to give them a work look and then a combination of filters, washes, and pigments for weathering will tone them down.


I moved on to painting the S-foils, which is the most complicated part of the painting due to the squadron markings. Again, the kit is supplied with high quality decals, but I much prefer the finish of paint an it's easier to weather compared to the decals. Luckily, this is not my first time trying to mask X-wing squadron markings so it went pretty well overall. The hardest part is getting the hash marks properly spaced, but after a little trial and error I think I got it. The decal sheet has a medium grey colored decal for the lower wing panel around the cutout. I decided to use Tamiya Cockpit Green (XF-71) instead because it appears to be greenish in the reference photos I have of the studio model. Above all, I just wanted a little splash of color on the wings. I also used this time to insert the engines that I had previously painted. They were done with a basecoat of Tamiya Gun Metal (X-10) over a black primer and then highlighted with a misting of Flat Aluminum (XF-16). They were then given a light drybrushing with some Tamiya metallic weathering powder.


That's it for now! I am working on the second S-foil and then I have the candy cane stripes to do on the laser cannons before I put everything together and begin the fun part: weathering!

 

[PixelMagic]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Wow! Looking great!

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Thanks!

Both sets of S-foils and laser cannons are complete. For the engine nozzles, I sprayed them with Tamiya Dark Iron (XF-84). During the weathering process, they will get multiple drybrushes of various metallic pigments. The brownish panel on the starboard engine was painted with Tamiya Medium Grey (XF-20) and the panel on the port wing by the squadron markings was painted with Tamiya Buff (XF-57). The black squares on the lower wing were painted with Tamiya NATO Black (XF-69) and the bluish panels were painted with Vallejo Model Air US Blue Grey (71.114). The barber shop stripe was painted with a mix of Vallejo Model Air blues: French Blue, Dark Sea Blue, and Intermediate Blue. I don't remember the mix ratio; I just added the different paints until I got a color I like and that more or less matched the decal.




Now that all of the painting is complete, the next step will be to give the entire model a light rub with some high grit sandpaper to tone the boldness of the panels down, followed by an overall ocher filter to warm the entire model, and then begin work on the detailed weathering with oils and then pigments.

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

That X-wing is looking really good there.
Nicely done.
Loving the detail you packed into the cockpit

 

[Hagoth]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Nice start on this one. Looking sharp.

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Thanks everyone!

After giving the entire model a rubdown with a 3200 grit sanding sponge to fade the color panels a little, I applied a filter using 502 Abteilung German Ochre thinned excessively with odorless turpenoid. When I went to see if it was dried, I found this:




Other modelers have had problems with thinners reacting to Bandai plastic, specifically the AT-ST kit, but this is the first time I've seen it on an X-wing and the first time it's happened to me. While these few issues can be fixed with some cement and then hidden with weathering, it now has me worried that other areas of the model will be damaged by the turpenoid. Other than these issues, the filter worked great in toning the color down and warming the base color, so that's a positive.

After my first real setback with this model, I applied two coats of an ochre filter and allowed the model to dry for a couple of days. After it was dry, I went ahead and assembled the model completely. I was initially going to hold off on this step and weather each section of the model individually, but after some test fitting with another one of these models I have in pieces, I decided to go forward with assembly. I also think that it will be easier to get a more consistent finish in the weathering since I can do the entire model at once. This is how it looks completely assembled but prior to weathering:




The next step is to give the model a couple of coats of Future before applying an oil panel line wash across the entire model and a gunk wash in some selected areas such as the engines and droid trench. After the oil dries for a couple of days, I will seal it with some matte varnish and begin applying pigments, using the studio model as a reference. I would also like to note that the ochre filter is much more noticeable in person than compared to these pictures I snapped with my iPhone camera. Also, as you can see, the base is not yet painted. That will be a project for when I am waiting on oil paints to dry!

 

[jake]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

The force is with you!

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

I had my camera out to take glamour shots of the TIEs for the Star Wars commission so I decided to take a couple of nice pictures of the Luke for a before and after shot when the weathering is complete. The model is extra shiny because it has two coats of Future on it in preparation of oil paints. Personally, I think the model is gorgeous as is, but it would be an X-wing if it wasn't weathered to the nines!





I managed to disassemble the model even though I had originally intended on doing all of the weathering on the completed model. Taking it apart was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be and I'm happy I did it; it was a lot easier to work on without getting in my own way. I was planning on doing a panel line wash over the entire model, but I made a command decision to instead give the entire model a gunk wash. A gunk wash is a tried and true weathering technique that move model makes have relied on for years and I first learned about it after watching Adam Savage build models on the Tested YouTube channel. The process is very simple: put your desired oil color on a palette, apply generous amounts of oil paint on the model without thinning it, then wipe it off with a rag. This ends up discoloring the entire surface of the model and allows oil paint to build up in panel lines and recesses. This can be done over a matte or gloss varnish; matte leaves more oil on the surface compared to gloss, which may or may not be desired.



Now the oil paint sit for a couple of days to dry completely before I begin to add more oils of various colors to give the model some tonal variations. After that oil has dried, the oil will be sealed with matte varnish and then I will apply pigments for the final stage of weathering.

 

[PixelMagic]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

This is turning out just fantastic.

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

This is turning out just fantastic.

Thanks, man!

I put the X-wing back together to allow the oil to dry and I still have at least another two days before it is 100% dry. In the background you can see the bases have been painted. They were done in the same manner as the bases for the TIEs: Alclad II grey primer, preshaded, and then given a coat of Tamiya Light Grey (XF-66). However, this time I used Tamiya Lacquer Thinner to thin the paint instead of their X-20A thinner. I have read that the lacquer thinner gives the paint a little more bite and makes paint even smoother and so far I have found this to be true. I'll let the paint cure a little while longer and then give it a couple coats of Future before weathering the tiles.



I also like this picture because my hand gives a sense of scale, showing how small the model really is. I don't have particularly large hands and the entire model fits in my palm; from engines to nosecone, it's about 6-3/4" long with a wingspan of about 5-1/2".

 

[BenHobbie]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Awesome job on this one

 

[Hagoth]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

This is turning out awesome! I may just have to reconsider looking at 1:72 scale again. That size comparison picture is amazing. The detail makes it looks much bigger than it is.

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Excellent work

 

[noc5659]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Interesting about the plastic cracking. Do u think migs enamel washes would be ok

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Interesting about the plastic cracking. Do u think migs enamel washes would be ok

Probably not, but I would test it on some spare sprue first. The main issues seem to be where there is a press connection because the fight is very tight and puts the plastic under stress.


The oil on the X-wing is still drying so I started working on the bases. After some primer, preshade, and a coat of Tamiya Light Grey (XF-66), I started with some simple panel discoloration. This is one of my favorite techniques and is pretty easy to achieve.



Starting on a matte surface, dampen the panel with white spirits (it doesn't need to be soaked, just a barely visible sheen is enough). On your palette, mix your preferred oil paint with some thinner into a thin slurry (I used 502 Abteilung Faded UN White, Engine Grease, Faded Grey, and Faded Navy Blue). Get a little of the slurry on a clean brush (soft small flats work best) and apply it to the panel, working it over the surface making sure to leave no brush marks. Go around and pick out different panels with different colors for a nice mottled effect!

 

[LrdSatyr8]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Excellent work my friend... Can't wait to see how the ties come out!

 

[Hagoth]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

That base is looking very nice. I really like the different color shades you have used.

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Excellent work my friend... Can't wait to see how the ties come out!

Thanks! I just uploaded the TIEs to the forum this morning.

 

[Scootypuffjunior]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

I added the grey/black chipping on the S-foils and some other spots on the hull. I had forgotten to do this but luckily I caught it before I got any further on the weathering. It's a small detail but it's pretty distinctive and helps complete the model.



Working on some panel discoloration, primarily on the underside of the X-wing. I used some browns and greys to discolor a handful of panels using the studio model as a guide. The oil is very thin, almost a filter consistency, and will dry quickly. After it had dried, I'll protect it with a matte varnish and move on to some pigments.



This model is nearing completion and as soon as it's done, I'll begin working on the Death Star tiles for the the trench run. I have to buy a new workbench because my painting desk is nowhere larger enough to handle the volume of work that I will have making all of these tiles.

 

[Quaralane]

Re: Bandai 1/72 X-wing (Red 5)

Excellent looking bird there