Star Wars - A-Wing

This is one of the rebellion's most awesome weapons, fast enough to give even a Tie Interceptor a good run for it money and equipped with both lasers and torpedo's, it has the fire power to worry all but the largest of the Empires capital ships. But resources are scarce and this particular model bears the scars of battle and shows the wear and tare of constantly relocating from base to base. Pilots have to be prepared to fly these vehicles on the seat of their pants as the A-Wing can be most unkind to more timid pilots. However, it is the spirit of the men and women who maintain ships like this who are the real heroes, without them, these machines would still be on the drawing board somewhere, and the Empire would be even closer to victory.

This is another one of those little 'SNAP' models from a few years ago. I used no filler at all mainly because all the parts fit together so well, but this was before I started using filler. I used to just pipe extra glue between the cracks and paint over it when the glue was dry. This is okay until a few years later when the glue starts to discolour and the joins show through the paint again.

I practised on this model with various weathering techniques, some better than others. I think this has had half a dozen washes and paint smeared here and there to try and give the model a really well worn look.

I could do lots more with it including detailing the cockpit and pilot but you have got to decide when to stop fiddling sooner or later am trying a new photographic technique, instead of using a neutral background I am using a book with space images as a backdrop. This save on a lot of post production but with varying results.

(c) 1999 David Pagett - Birmingham, England

DLP Guitars - Handmade in Birmingham, England

Star Wars - Y-Wing Bomber

This is another of the little SNAP models I have built. There is loads of weathering to make it look really well used and maintained on a low budget as is true of most rebel ships. After finishing the model I used enamel paints to pick out the details and then used various shades of black and brown water colour paints to add wear and tear. Using this technique the water colour paints would not spread evenly but eventually dried giving the patchy, flaked paint effect.

As you can see from the un-touched photos, the Y-Wing has its landing gear down. I had to erase these for the final picture to give the illusion of space flight.

I quickly photographed the model on my window ledge with no other lighting other than daylight and the flash of the camera. This meant I had some balancing to do once the image was in the PC. I airbrushed the join from the back of the cockpit as this model was built before I discovered the art of filling, and I had to copy and paste one of the rear exhaust struts because it was over exposed by the flash. Then I added the engine glow and Blaster glow and overlaid it on a picture of the moon I found on the internet.

I would like to say this model is complete but it needs a coat of matt varnish just to seal all the different textures and finishes, the yellow decals are too shiny for starters.

(c) 1999 David Pagett - Birmingham, England