Base colour advice needed

[havoc]

Hi All,

I hope I don't sound stupid with this one. I need a little help and advice on base colourings please people.

I'm doing a Hobbyboss RSOV that I'd like to use Vallejo Dark sea green as finish coat. Can someone give me so direction on a suitable base colour for it?

Before I've just done a white undercoat on everything and then just a top cost with a bit of weathering. I'd like to try and do it properly for a better finish. Can any one help please?

Is there a general rule for dark and light top costs ?

Thanks in advance,

Clive

[Jaykay]

Hi Clive, bet this is too late, but for what it's worth, I'd stock with the white as the V dark sea green is, well dark. I've had a dabble with using different shades of primer, which gives a good effect. Grey all over, white on the top surfaces and black for the shadows. As lond as your subtle with the green, the adding does come through. Watched a good vid by Mig Jiminez. It's easy to do to. Also had reasonable success using the same technique with the green, lighten on top surfaces and darken the bottom, but would go easy, as my first attempt looked like a cartoon version. Hope this helps,

Jk

[havoc]

Hi JK,

No mate, haven't started the paint yet as been a bit too busy with other things. Thank you very much indeed for taking the time to reply mate. Have taken your advice on board. Hopefully you may see it in the armour section soon. Tried the air brush but still a little hot at the moment. Thanks again mate, really very much appreciated.

All the best,

Clive

[SleeperService]

Hi Clive

Without knowing you or your skill level this is what I've found to work.

Light colours generally, any shade of sand and dayglo use whilte.

Reds use brown.

Everything else use medium grey.

The pre-shading technique JK refers to can be very effective but needs care so, adapting something I used to do in the body repair world, I'd suggest spraying up a test piece with stripes of the different colours (it need not be plastic) you've used as primer. Then spray the test piece with a first top coat. Once dry do the model and a second coat on the test piece. Once the test piece looks OK to you one more coat on the model and you are done.

If you're after a solid coat of colour on a car model or similar then do the same with black and white strips on a test piece. Once you can't see any difference the colour is solid. We used to have sticky strips of black and white stripes that we'd fix somewhere on a car where it was covered or hidden later, and stop when the stripes disappeared. An auto-finishing specialist would be your best bet if you want to try it.

I hope this is some help.