Archive through March 26, 2021
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Shapeways Project: Painting Shapeways Minis:
Painting FUD (Frosted Ultra Detail):
Archive through March 26, 2021
Topic open
Having pretty good luck here with painting FUD. My process:
1. try to remove the white frosted areas with a brush, soaking in soapy water and lastly a light sanding overall avoiding phaser bumps.
2. coat of Tamiya fine grey primer from a spray can
3. another sanding if needed. I find this varies quite a bit between minis. I have a few larger minis that required very little sanding to others that needed quite a lot to remove the printing texture. Oddly some have been perfectly smooth on the undersurfaces but had a very pronounced print pattern on the top (Hyrdan Paladin I am lookin' at you...)
4. another coat of Tamiya primer
5. airbrush primary hull color (acrylics or laq used exclusively)
6. brush paint details (again acrylics, mostly Games Workshop with some Vallejo mixed in
7. use enamel wash to help bring out details and give a slightly weathered look, wipe off excess when dry. Mig Productions has a neutral wash and a dark wash that I have had for years. Enamel wash will not attack acrylic or laq paints
8. clear coat, gloss for decal application
9. apply decals
10. airbrush dull/matt coat, again I mostly use a lacquer for that...
There has been some questions on Facebook about the "sunlight cure" trick.
First off, it is never needed for any of the "Strong & Flexible", "Metallic Plastic", or "HP Nylon" (HP Jet Fusion) materials. Those are all sintered together from dry plastic powders by laser heating them to high temperatures. UV light is not involved in the process of creating them. Excesses of UV light can actually discolor them, like any plastic object.
The Shapeways materials that start as a liquid resin, "Fine Ultra Detail/FUD", "Fine Extreme Detail/FED", the Detail Acrylic family (white, black, clear), and "Hi-Def Black Acrylate" (no longer offered by ADB) are all cured to a solid state by a UV light frequency laser.
The majority of minis made with these materials show up just fine.
In some (uncommon) cases, there can be portions of the minis surface that weren't fully cured. These might have a sticky feel to them. There also cases were some excess liquid resin is on the mini (in the cases of a hollow mini and some didn't drain out or get cleaned out by Shapeways).
For them, definitely give them a soak and careful wash with some grease-cutting dish washing soap (not the "soft hands" kind with lotion in it) and light scrub with a nail brush or old toothbrush. Once cleaned of everything that will come off, at that point the mini can benefit from some time in the sun. Direct light from the sun, or a UV-light spectrum lamp over the course of several hours, or a day or two (depending on how much needs curing) will set the resin and harden it. This will often involve giving the mini a flip, to cure the other side, not unlike a sunbather on a beach.
Be sure to monitor the mini during this process to make sure it is not getting too warm as it could soften a bit and take a "set" and deform. If concerned about this, use whatever is handy (paper slips, coins, craft sticks) to prop up and otherwise support the mini in its proper shape.
FUD/FED and the acrylics also use a secondary "support" material to allow each subsequent layer with an overhang something to sit on. This waxy material is only partially cured by the laser and is washed away after the printing is complete, usually with a heated mineral oil spray (a very small pressure-washer/"Water-Pik" type of device).
In some cases, traces of this (usually white) material may still remain in tight corners or crevices in the mini. It is easily picked out with a hobby knife point or toothpick.
Occasionally, the way that Shapeways' technicians orient the miniature for printing leaves a noticeable slightly-rougher "white patch" where the support material was in direct contact with the mini. This can usually benefit from a good scrub with a nail brush or old toothbrush. In a case where this isn't sufficient, the patches can be lightly sanded or Shapeways can be contacted for a re-print with a different orientation.
I'm tested an air eraser for polishing those rough FUD prints (basking soda at 60 psi). I just got a new batch of prints so I hope to have some before and after pics soon.
Baking soda?
Mini-sandblaster version of an airbrush. Baking soda has enough grit to be mildly abrasive at high velocities, but light enough to bounce off of flat surfaces rather than digging a hole. The theory is that it will blow that white fuzz off the FUD parts without damaging the smooth spots.
Soooo, what's up with Basking Soda?
We did say we were leaving the models out in the sun. Right tool for the right job, they say.
Firstly, thank you for setting up these threads.
So far, I have six FUD minis from Shapeways I've been working on, all in 3125 scale; a Federation galactic survey cruiser; a Romulan DemonHawk dreadnought; a Mæsron dreadnought, heavy cruiser, and light cruiser; and a Vulpa blockade runner. This is how they looked unpainted, and this my current work-in-progress attempt at each.
Of the lot, I'd say that, thus far at least, I'm feeling relatively comfortable trying to work on the Mæsron and Vulpa ships.
In the case of the Mæsrons, I've been trying to follow the colour scheme shown in the cover art for SFB Module Omega 1, and particularly Adam Turner's cover art for Module Omega 5. I've painted the "city" sections of these hulls grey, with silver "buildings" and (on the CA and DN) black for the "recessed" sections. The "outer" hulls are painted red, with a clear red coating added - though it may not show all that clearly in my less-than-stellar picturing attempts.
For the Vulpa, I wanted to do something different, yet still reflecting their "post-Mæsron" status. So, I used the same colour pattern for the "city" portion of the blockade runner, as well as common weapon and engine colours. However, it took a while to figure out a half-decent alternate colour for the "outer" hull; by accident, I found that a coat of clear red over a layer of yellow produced a nice orange-ey look, which I feel helps distinguish the ship from its former Mæsron comrades. (As it happens, the relevant Omega hex maps show Vulpa territory in orange, as opposed to Mæsron red...)
In contrast, I'm much less happy with how the GSC and DMH are turning out thus far.
If I'm being honest, I've never been overly comfortable trying to paint the white (or very light grey) hulls on Star Fleet or Auroran Navy starships. In the case of the GSC, I made a mistake trying to figure out how to colour in the panel lines, and "doubled down" by trying to give the ship an overall "weathered" look, as if it has been away from a major fleet installation for a significant stretch of time - which, I suppose, would be an appropriate thing to say about the long-range survey missions your average GSC is liable to be sent out on.
In the case of the DMH, I wanted to go with a green colour, yet one which avoided looking too "Franchise-ey". One of my problems has been how to distinguish the SparrowHawk and SkyHawk modules, and other details such as the warp engines, without looking too garish relative to the main hull.
In all, I have much to do to try and tidy up even those minis I feel more comfortable with, let alone trying to salvage something out of the others. Oh well...
On a side note, I wonder how differently anyone has been handling the painting of "organic" FUD minis, be they for "living" monsters such as the Space Manta, or "bioships" such as the recently-uploaded Alunda Huntship. I'd imagine they would have a quite different set of options to make their paint schemes work relative to the more traditional "metal-hull" ships of other empires.
Nicely done, Gary! Can you send individual photos to Jean for the store?
Gary, how did you clean them up before you started painting??
Garth L. Getgen
Your work is really impressive, Gary. I love how the Maesron's and Vulpa turned out. The bright red and dashes of yellow on the Maesron ships look fantastic. The Green and Yellow on the Romulan Demonhawk work well together.
And then there's the Federation Survey Cruiser. My honest opinion is that the saucer section looks like it was battered real bad (dented) by going through an asteroid field. 
I know you were trying for a weathered look, but it just looks odd to me. Fortunately, you are not done with it yet. Perhaps it can be "fixed".
Personally, I have piles and boxes of ships that I just don't have time to paint. So I applaud anyone that actually sits down and takes the time to paint their ships. That fact alone puts you way ahead of me.
My comments are meant to be read in the most positive light, as you shared your pictures being open to feedback.
Overall, Wonderful Work, Gary!
For what it's worth, I have added various "before" and "during" pics for each of these six ships to this thread over on the FC forum.
I let the minis soak in lukewarm water after they arrived, but I didn't do any filing or sanding down on them. The only surfaces which I had a few early concerns about were some of the hull panels on the Mæsron CL and Vulpa VBR, but both ships turned out okay once I started painting them.
One thing I found was that it can be a bit on the awkward side trying to paint the gap between the Mæsron hulls and their "floating" platforms; just as well they are supposed to be the same colour, or things might get even more challenging.
My latest Shapeways batch has arrived.
That is a Bolosco Merchant Cruiser and an Iridani Galleon, both in 3125 scale, plus an Omni scale set of Mæsron fast patrol ships - all in Frosted Ultra DetailSmooth Fine Detail Plastic.
Note that the Mæsron PFs deploy in flotillas of four; the sprue has one PF leader, four standard PFs, a PF scout, and two missile PFs.
On a side note, now that Shapeways has re-branded the various materials they offer for mini use, should these two threads be re-named to match the new designations?
EDIT: Thanks to Nick for the gunboat flotilla correction.
Be careful with the Maesron PFs, the tachyon gun arms break very easily. And if you look carefully, one them is a scout with special sensors on the end of the TG "arms"; easy to overlook.
A new trio of ships arrived recently: a Federation Heavy War Destroyer, a Neo-Tholian Survey Cruiser, and a Zosman Heavy Cruiser; all in 3125 Smooth Fine Detail Plastic. I have posted individual ship pics on the FC forum thread linked to further up this thread.
Despite appearances, it is actually somewhat tricky to get the Fed HDW to sit up on its "hind legs", so to speak; the mini's centre of gravity is just far enough forward to oblige it to keep falling forward onto its sensor dish. Were there to be a Fed HWX mini at some point, could that be something to take a look at? (Although, you can have the ship stand on the ends of its four warp nacelles...) As Fed HDWs tend to be named after "guards" regiments according to the NCC list and the SFB Federation Master Starship Book, I was considering naming mine the USS Irish Guards, after the Regiment of Foot which represents one of the prominent political traditions found on the island of Ireland. (To represent another Irish political tradition, I might wish to name a would-be HWX mini the USS General Michael Collins, after the first commander-in-chief of the modern Irish state's armed forces.)
The Neo-Tholian NSR (well, NRV, with those fighters attached) is somewhat smaller than I might have expected; perhaps the Tholians ave more efficient systems they can fit into the same "box count" as most carbon-based life forms (or as the silicate Trobrin might manage). That said, it is not short of detail; even the outer edge of the slot for the flight stand is hexagonal! Name-wise, I would consider this ship to stand in for the Draco-Tholian survey ship Sojourner - or, at least, how said ship may appear after its arrival in Holdfast space in Y195, and once the Holdfast Tholians had a chance to consider installing certain technologies (such as "true" special sensors) to the hull.
As for the Zosman ship, it actually "sits" on its wing edges, though there are landing pads which would presumably be deployed when landing on planets, or perhaps when docking externally to a Zosman Syndicate base. It also has a second set of cargo bay doors, facing "down" towards the ground - all the better to transfer any ill-gotten gains, perhaps. I'm not sure on what to name it just yet, though I was considering something based on the Wokou pirates which once operated across maritime East Asia (if it were to be a ship from one of the "on-map" Marauder cells), or perhaps from one of the semi-legitimate sea kingdoms which emerged out of Wokou activities (were it to be a ship from the Zosman Collective navy over in the Phi Sector).
The Tholians are small, just the way it is. That goes back to the 90-meter PC hull which set the scale for everything else.
The stand-hole on the Fed HDW is as far forward as was practical. The lower hull was wedged further forward than the legacy metal mini (which is straight across) to accomplish that. That change was discussed in the development thread.
Indeed, it was discussed and approved, but few have the memory for past details and decisions that Will has.
Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of the warp nacelles, in that - depending on what kind of advanced warp engines were to be worked up for the Fed FFX (and thus for any other Fed X-ships which would make use of those same engines) - perhaps any would-be Fed HWX mini could have its nacelles placed in such a way so as to help the ship "sit up", so to speak.
But then, that is the kind of conversation best kept to one side until, or unless, the opportunity arises for first-generation X-ships to be considered for release on Shapeways. (And of course, the HWX is likely far down the list in terms of which Fed X-ships one may expect to appear, and in which order.) In any case, I did not intend to further derail this thread with such a side-track; my apologies.
A trio of first-generation X-ships warped in earlier this week: a Vincennes-class Federation CX, a Klingon DX, and an Andromedan Conquistador-X. All three are in Smooth Fine Detail Plastic, and in 3125 scale. As before, there are individual pics of each miniature over in the FC forum thread linked to further above.
The CX I consider to be NCC-1776 USS Bunker Hill, and the DX to be the Kumerian: the flagships for their respective empires' Operation Unity task forces. Not sure what name to assign to the Conquistador-X, though.
I just got a Fed tug but the rear part of the nacelles are canted toward the pods. At all angles the nacelles look warped.
Now if this was resin i could fix it with a hot air paint stripping gun. But this is the smooth fine detail plastic.
Has anyone here ever done this type of thing with the smooth plastic?
Yes, I used the hot water, bend into shape, cold water to hold it. Worked most of the time. If that doesn't work I would consider asking them to replace it.
I'll give it a shot Nlck. Ive done like you said with resin, but i've never had to do it with plastic.
My latest trio of Shapeways minis has arrived.
That's an Inter-Stellar Concordium Heavy War Cruiser, a Paravian Heavy Cruiser, and an Old Galaxy (M81) Pirate Raider. All are to 3125 scale and in Smooth Fine Detail Plastic.
The ISC HCW doesn't show up until Y190 in the "standard" timeline, but I could see it making an earlier entrance in one of the "lost empire" timelines from SFB Module C6.
The Paravian CA is good for both the "lost empire" Paravians in Module C6, as well as for the playtest "Omega's Lost Futures" antiproton variant in Captain's Log #54. Although, if this idea were ever to gain traction, the SFDP version of this mini could be left unpainted to count as a "cloaked" hull in Romulan service.
And in the case of the M81 OGR, it's good as-is for the High Pirate Band iteration previewed in SSD and Ship Card form in Captain's Log #40 - and, perhaps, could one day also count as a Nebuline hull type also.