First time builder / battered paint help (BSG)

[Guest]

Hello. Last time I made a model was back when I was a teen. It was a model of the Bismark. I hand painted that with brushes. I was a kid and the detail really didn't matter to me back then.

Now... I've purchased a model that I'm really keen about doing a good job with. I just finished my second marathon viewing of the BSG remake and got a Moebius Battlestar Galactica on an impulse. I guess I'm comfortable putting it together. The real problem is that I want to do a good job painting it authentically. Any BSG fan will tell you, that baby sure did get dirty.

So I guess what I'm asking is what colors do you recommend, and is there a special technique to making this "old battered" look? Back when I was a teen I just used a brush and single coats of paint. But I'm guessing that it isn't that simple to do a great job.

Anyway, here is a link to the model, and a picture (a close up of the dirty battered look i'm talking about if that helps). I really do appreciate any advice that any of you more experience model makers have. Thanks a lot.

http://www.moebiusmodels.com/ourkits/kits/productpage-bg.html

[Guest]

I am not an expert by any means especially in sci-fi, but I would say gray or dark gray as a base paint then really weather it with dark wash. Maybe others from this forum might have a better suggestion for you. Hope that helps

[Alan 45]

I have made this kit but I've been looking to paint it battle damaged so not so long ago I tested out ways of doing it on an old futura kit of the USS Defiant this is what I came up with

[ATTACH]86856.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]86857.IPB[/ATTACH]

These blast marks were made by heating a thick piece of wire and just pushing it gently into the surface so it scores it , then I got an old brush and cut it nearly down to the base like this [ATTACH]86862.IPB[/ATTACH]

then I dipped it into some matt black and wiped most of the paint off and just dabbed it onto the area then I just got a small brush and dipped it into a steel paint wiped most of the paint off and lightly brushed over the raised area and that's it

[eddiesolo]

Welcome to the forum.

First job is to establish the base colour-what is its main colour-to me it looks a cross between a steel and grey. Once you have got that colour down it then seems to be slightly differing shades of grey on various panels. Once done it is then filters and washes to add some crud in-between panel lines etc. Once dry you then have to dirty her up, looks like blacks and dark browns-use your imagination on this. Add and use white-spirit to thin down and cotton buds or sponge to dab and smear.

Si

[Guest]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. I'll use all the advice. If I can get a good result from my first build I think I can make a good go at model building and make it my second main hobby. I've already got dozens on my wish list. Really thanks again to all of you for the super help.