Federation Commander

The Ghost · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:22 am Post subject: Question on Painting Fed CA

Quick question - What color should the very back of the Federation CA warp Nacelle be (looking for the color of the back portion when observed from directly behind the ship).

djdood · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:42 am Post subject:

The cowling is usually done in gray or silver. The "dome" is often done in an off-white or ivory (I go a bit more glowy and yellow on mine).

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Wolverin61 · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

djdood · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Well, that paint guide covers how I paint my Feds, but it's by no means "official". I just wanted to be consistent (even when I am inconsistent with Trek; things like the blue engine glow, etc.). It was also to give me something to look at when I decal, so I didn't repeat an expensive mistake (putting one of the underside NCC numbers on upside down; i.e. they both read the same way).
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Wolverin61 · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject:

I know it's not "official", but it's good and detailed and I like the looks of it. In TOS for example, the domes look to me like they're the same color as the cowling, but I like the contrast of them being colored.
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"His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking."

OGOPTIMUS · Captain Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 980

On my standard CA-type hulls I paint them the same color as the base hull (a light gray), while the cowlings are a dark gray.

I carry this over to most of my Fed ships so here's a DN as an example:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2431347569_deae2e2bf0_o.jpg

On my X-ships, they're a dark grey while the hull is white and the cowling is a lighter gray.

A DGX:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3313227546_d4a2baf736_b.jpg

djdood · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:17 pm Post subject:

The time I did put the ventral NCC numbers on upside down was when I was hurrying to finish my DDF for a contest. I only had the one set of custom numbered decals - I just about had a hissy-fit when I messed that up and the decal crumbled when I tried to re-float and flip it..

I ended up cobbling a replacement together from other decals on the same sheet (for a different destroyer), an "NCC-5" here, another "5" there, a "1" there... all of them a litlle over 1/16" tall and darn near impossible to wet and place. Maddening.

I got it done though, and made the guide sheet to make darn sure I never did it again.
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Scoutdad · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject:

My Feds are painted titanium white (none of that namby-pamby grey for these Federation shipyards...!)
The cowling is then painted Pewter grey.
The dome inside the cowling is then painted with ghost grey.

Although even that varies from ship to ship.
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raperm · Ensign Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 18

Bah, white is fer sissies! Razz

I do light grey for my feds, with charcoal grey for the cowling and a pale blue for the bulb. I find the combination of blues and greys appealing.
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djdood · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject:

As-on the paint guide that Wolverin61 pointed to, I do my Feds in very, very slightly green, very light gray (it's been called "concrete"), based on Paul Newwit's research into the color on the original Trek filming miniature. I custom-mix that color (and my blue-gray for Klingons) in gloss Testors Model Master enamels. All details are painted in Tamiya acrylics (some stock colors, a couple of custom-mixed colors).
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Wolverin61 · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:26 am Post subject:

I used Testors French light blue-gray as the base color on a lot of my Feds, but my friend uses Camo Gray for his and I've done a couple of mine in that too.

And that's a really good looking DGX, OG!
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"His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking."

The Ghost · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:20 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone for the info and the pictures. It helps alot.

OGOPTIMUS · Captain Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 980

The Master · Lieutenant SG Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 120 Location: SWF

hobbybob · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject: Another painting question

Please forgive me if this has been discussed before...

I'm finding my hands are a bit too shakey to use a 5/0 or 10/0 brush like I used to, so I've tried various colors of Testors paint pens. I wasn't particularly happy with the results. However, I recently got silver and gold pens at Walgreens (of all places) and have had exceptional luck with them. The paint goes on well and dries quickly. Since I paint the tail ends of my warp engines silver, as well as those tiny sensor receivers on the front of Fed saucers, my silver pen has made these odious chores much easier.

I'm just wondering what other people's experience has been with them.

Thanks!
Bob
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Those who can, paint.
Those who can't paint, decal.