7 replies to this topic

[Kyp Durron]

How did I make it look awesome like that, you ask? Simple, I did it with this :



It's a Gundam Marker, #GM02, Dark Gray. It's not an ink pen, it's a fine point acrylic paint pen used to panel line Bandai's Gundam models and it used to panel line and detail other models as well.

All you need with this is a Q-Tip and some cotton balls and use some clear rubbing alcohol to remove any excess. Since acrylic paint thinner is basically the same thing, rubbing alcohol works just as well.

Just be sure to wipe off the excess as you're going along before it dries, and it's very easy to remove. I plan on getting an Enterprise E and doing the windows on it. I've also done this to my NX-01 and it turned out fantastic too. The dark gray seems to be very close to the color that AA/DST used to paint the windows in on the WOK refit and TOS Enterprises, which makes it perfect to use.

The markers are about $2.50-$3.50 depending on where you order them from, it's the shipping that raises the price, just one will cost a little over $10 with shipping, so if you're gonna get one, I'd recommend getting at least two. They come in many colors from Yellow to Red and even Brown.

So if you're wanting to update the looks of your older AA ships, this is a very easy way to do so and the results are well worth it, IMO. I posted this in the hopes that some of you would find this info useful.



-Kyp

[Jedigreedo]

Very awesome job! I may have to consider doing that at some point.

I'm quite curious about that stand; is it very sturdy? I was thinking about trying that stand for the Enterprises but was quite worried about the sturdiness, and also thought it would require a longer rod to get to spot underneath the shuttlebay. Looks like it can do it with the same size rods all the way around, though?

[Kyp Durron]

Very awesome job! I may have to consider doing that at some point.

I'm quite curious about that stand; is it very sturdy? I was thinking about trying that stand for the Enterprises but was quite worried about the sturdiness, and also thought it would require a longer rod to get to spot underneath the shuttlebay. Looks like it can do it with the same size rods all the way around, though?

It's fairly sturdy, it can of course, be knocked off if you happen to bump it, but if your going to use it for display and put it somewhere where it won't get bumped, it will do just fine. I've had my WOK refit on these stands for over 6 months now with no problems.

And yes, it uses the same size rods all the way around with no problems. Just make sure that the three screws that keep the rods in place are good and snug, but don't try to tighten them too tight, you'll strip them out. (Believe me, I know.)



-Kyp

[Scarlet Spider]

Awesome. That stand is amazing!

Simple and easy... Great work Kyp

SS

[pickard]

Where can I get a stand like that?

[Kyp Durron]

Where can I get a stand like that?

http://www.laftoys.c...8765749b3c59f51





-Kyp

[Alex]

Heh, I started doing the Windows on my 1701-A with a black .005 Micron Pen and a White ultra-fine paint pen, but never finished them for some reason. After seeing how the Gundam Marker looks on that ship though, I might have to add yet a third color into the mix (some "dark" windows, some "bright" windows and some "dim" windows,) to really give the look that the 1701-A had of being "alive" inside.

As far as Gundam Markers go, some of you might want to take a look at completed Gundam Model kits to see just what these markers can do for a model kit or a starship. Simply put, in the right hands they're totally amazing. What's more, because these are designed for Bandai's Gundam model kit lines (HGUC and Master Grade being two of the more common ones,) they have a wide variety of colors, including ones that are designed for weathering effects as well as ones that are relatively bright. I'd be curious to see if someone can find a Gundam marker that's closer to the "red/orange" used for hull markings than what AA/DST used on some ships, or in some cases, didn't use at all; (the NX-01 comes to mind,) any updates to hull markings with Gundam Markers would also be appreciated.

Kyp, I love your ship, the windows look amazing, and thanks for the link to the stand--I'm sure there's going to be high demand for them given the less-than-steller quality of the stands DST used for the 1701-A. Granted, the 1701-A stand seemed slightly better than the attempt to fix it for the 1701 in my book--my 1701-A never fell onto my head with a cracked stand; my 1701 did, so I'll let you figure out why I'm less critical of the 1701-A stand. In any case, awesome job on the windows.

[Stormfury_Echo]

I just used a mechanical pencil for both the windows and the panel lines. I think that does just as well, but just my two cents.