How to paint realistic Tie-fighter's solar panels?

June

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Aug 31, 2002, 9:24:14 AM8/31/02

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I am building a Finemold 1/72 Tie Fighter kit. I have tried to paint
the solar panels flat black and coated them with gloss (tried Futura
too). Still, the result is so-so. Anyone got a better idea?

Tom F. Cat

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Aug 31, 2002, 10:20:50 AM8/31/02

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Trade secret, I used both Marks-alot and sharpie black permament markers when I
build my Tie Interceptor, made the solar panels look real to me. But I never
clear coated them, so I dont know how the markers will react.

TFC

"Only the spiri of attack born in a brave heart will bring success to any
fighter aircratf, no matter how highly advanced it may be"
- Adolf
Galland

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Ken

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Aug 31, 2002, 12:53:50 PM8/31/02

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>enchant...@eudoramail.com (June) wrote:

I'm getting ready to paint mine, I'm thinking about making a tint of
Future and some purple and red and blue, and spray this over the
panels to give them that iridescent look that real solar panels have.

Ken
----------------
Ken Lilly
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When diplomacy fails, send in the B-52's

Pronk

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Aug 31, 2002, 5:07:25 PM8/31/02

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June <enchant...@eudoramail.com> wrote in message
news:fc621726.02083...@posting.google.com...

> I am building a Finemold 1/72 Tie Fighter kit. I have tried to paint
> the solar panels flat black and coated them with gloss (tried Futura
> too). Still, the result is so-so. Anyone got a better idea?

If it's any help the May 2002 edition of Finescale Modeler has an
"International Space Station modelers' guide" article. There's a good
section on painting the solar panels with photos. Beg, borrow or buy if you
can.

Rufus

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Sep 1, 2002, 10:13:21 PM9/1/02

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I'd spray them silver or gold and then overspray with Tamiya clear blue
acrylic...

Might want to practice on some scrap until you get the shades/tone you like.

--
- Rufus

John

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Sep 3, 2002, 8:09:18 AM9/3/02

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Just reading an article about Star wars TIE fighters, guess what??
apparently they are not solar panels but heat shields for the Ion engines.
Here is the web address ... http://www.theforce.net/swtc/tie.html ... not
sure if this helps or hinders but worth looking at. Lots more Star Wars
stuff there too. g'luck, John

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plasticmodeler

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Sep 3, 2002, 5:01:32 PM9/3/02

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Not heat shields but heat dissipating radiators for the internal reactor.

--
Scott A. Bregi

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Scott Truesdell

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Sep 3, 2002, 7:12:05 PM9/3/02

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If they are ideed solar panels, what about one of those color-shifting
metalics like the US$19 3-step kits from DupliColor? Use a purple/green
shift paint job. Might look pretty cool... Maybe darken it a little after
it has cured with some Tamiya Smoke clear acrylic flattened out with their
Flat Base...

--scott

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