Aeronautica Imperialis Bases

After doing the prototype, it became apparent a few things required some changes.  The contrast paints are transparent, and thus the black primer made things dark.  Also desired to have radar sweep lines added.

Here is the production painting of the Aeronautica Imperialis bases.

First step was to mask off the dials and the number windows.  Second step prime the bases black (no picture).  Third step is to do a dusting or zenith painting of light tan colour.

Fourth step was to mask an area to the radar sweep using painter’s tape. Yellow paint was airbrushed on with an attempt to make a gradient of the yellow.  The paint was allow a few moments to dry before removing the painter’s tape.

The aft portion of the base was painted contrast red.  Attempts was to be neat, but later step will clean this up.  Light yellow lines radiating from the centre were painted in the yellow areas; again this was help simulate the radar sweep effect.  The lines where kept thin and start at the darkest part of the yellow area.  The forward portion of the base was painted with thinned contrast green paint.  The contrast medium was used as the thinner.  The contrast green should be thinned enough to see some of the yellow underneath.

Now for the details…  White paint was applied to the elevation.  The speed icon is made of three chevrons, the top chevron was painted white, the middle chevron was painted yellow and the bottom chevron was painted orange.  The Aeronautica Imperialis icon was painted in metallic; the “A” was painted silver and the sword painted gold.  The triangle in the forward section was also painted gold.

The frame between the windows was painted olive drab.  A light black wash was applied to the base; this was to help show the rivets and the gradients in the radar windows.

The finished bases where given a clear coat of varnish.  All the masking was removed.  Below is a picture of a finished base holding an Avenger Strike Fighter.