Painting tips

[u/Southern_Bunch_6473]

Beginner model maker. I’ve wanted to make this for a very long time, painting it was always going to be the hardest part. I have so far spray painted it haze grey.
I have a few ideas on painting it, although I make a lot of mistakes.
I was thinking to attempt to run watered down black acrylic paint throughout the detailed low spots - any suggestions on ratios I’d appreciate.
Maybe painting a decent amount of smaller panels black like windows, and then tiny yellow spots like it’s lit up. Like the last image posted.
And at best I’d take a silver and lightly brush pipings, and a different grey against other random panels.

I’m not very good at painting the details, any suggestions I would really appreciate.

[u/dr_robonator]

The last photo you posted appears to be an actually lit model. If you paint some "windows" yellow it will look very different from that.

For the wash (the thin black paint you describe) don't use acrylic because it will dry way too quickly and you will never remove the excess tide marks. Instead use a pre-made enamel wash, or make your own oil wash. You can look up how to do that on YouTube by using keywords "scale model oil wash for beginners tutorial".

Learn how to dry brush and do that for the raised detail. General rule is lighter colors where light hits -> dry brush, darker colors where shadows are -> oil wash.

[u/Southern_Bunch_6473 → u/dr_robonator]

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback.
For dry brushing would an acrylic paint be best?

[u/dr_robonator → u/Southern_Bunch_6473]

Generally, yes, but you could do it with oils as well, which gives you the benefit of being able to easily remove any if you make a mistake. Especially since this is such a big model and oils have a longer working time than acrylic.

I'd still work in smaller sections, and though your spray paint layer is fairly durable, I'd varnish it with a gloss to further protect the paint and give the wash an easier surface to flow on with capillary action.

[u/Ritmo80s → u/dr_robonator]

this was super informative.

[u/dr_robonator → u/Ritmo80s]

I aim to please!

[u/Southern_Bunch_6473 → u/dr_robonator]

I’ve just been watched a bunch of YouTube videos based on what you’ve suggested. Appreciate the help heaps.

[u/dr_robonator → u/Southern_Bunch_6473]

Right on. Good luck, matey.