The following
is a guide to help you paint your training remote that you have built from
scratch, or from a kit. I hope you find it useful. I am in the process
of updating the information and photos, Besure to click on the links to
see the new pics as they become available.
PAINTING THE TRAINING REMOTE
The actual
ball has faded over the years. In fact, its actually yellowed.
If you have pictures from STAR WARS exhibit in DC, the colors may
differ from what can be seen on screen or in earlier photos.
The ball is basically an off white with weathering. You can
paint your ball with any technique you wish to try. Be creative!
If you have a resin
ball (there might still be a kit floating out there somewhere, but dont
write me and ask I dont have any more) be sure and wash the resin
ball to get all the mold release off. If you have
scratchbuilt your remote, it probably looks
like this. If you glued your SCOTCH-LITE
in your hatches, remember to stuff tissue paper into the hatches to
protect the SCOTCH-LITE from paint. I painted the ball with Model
Master's flat white as a primer coat.
Letting the paint dry in between coats, I used Gunze
Sangyo's H-316 ( Navy F-14, F-4) white as my base.
I like the way this paint airbrushes and this particular color is an off-white
that worked for me. I then dull coat the ball with two coats
of Gunze Sangyo clear flat.
Once dry,
I paint Polly S "red metal primer" ( # 500006, any RED OXIDE also
works ) in the recessed area around the truck
rim hole. There is also red between
the two "canons". I know it looks sloppy, but thats how
the real one was painted also.
On the top and bottom
of the ball there are Tank Treads.
The tank treads look rusted. I used Windsor & Newton's Yellow
Orchre to light wash the edge of the tread. Wash the Yellow first,
then go over again with a second wash using Windsor & Newton's Burnt
Sienna to add the red color to the rust. Use
the pattern shown here. Also refer to the photos of this
area.
Remember that post
that is above the Panther gun port? The top is painted silver,
leave the sides alone. The gun port
is painted metallic black, or gun metal. The three rectangles
below the gun port are gray. They look worn in my reference
photos, but evenly painted in the film. I used Polly-S Stone Gray
(#501415). I tried to match the worn look by using a wash letting
the under color show though in spots.
There are a series of
rectangles
that are along the "equator". The exact color I am not as sure
of as the other colors previously mentioned. In the film they
look light blue gray. In the pictures I have from the DC exhibit
they look even lighter gray. I can only suggest you use what
strikes you as correct depending on the reference you are using.
I used Polly-S light gray (#505061). The color looks very even
so I airbrushed it after masking the rectangles. After I paint all
the rectangles on the equator, I LIGHTLY airbrush the original off white
color over them to subdue them a bit.
The ball is now
ready for the FINAL weathering. I used Windsor & Newton's
Black giving my ball a nice black wash, dabbing it off with a rag here
and there. Letting the paint "sit" for different amounts of
time before you dabble off gives various intensities of stain.
The STAR WARS Universe has a dirty "used" look. Weather until
you think it looks right. Don't forget
the reference photos.
Once you are done with
your weathering spray another coat of dullcoat over the ball and let dry.
Now get your rims and add SCOTCHLITE to the center of them from behind.
Glue into place very carefully as you do not want to get GLUE all over
your red oxide paint. I usually insert them and then drip HOT
GLUE on them from the opposing open rim hole on teh opposite sie
of the sphere. When the rims are done your remote is
ready for display. Fishing line can be inserted through the center
tube and the remote can be hung from your ceiling
or in a case for a "realistic hovering
look". It can also be displayed in
a case next to your favorite lightsaber! Your version should
look something like this. Your
JEDI TRAINING may now begin!!