DONE +++ 1:50 Star Wars 'TIE/E' Escort Fighter (pics @ p.7)

[Gondor]

That cockpit keeps reminding me of a Ju-188

Gondor

[Dizzyfugu]

You are not the first to mention that! 

[Dizzyfugu]

BTW, some news from the dry dock, with WiP concerning the surfaces and weathering:


1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


..and with the panels experimentally dry-fitted again:


1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Even though I used a light grey as basis, the TIE/E still appears very light and white-ish? Well, in the movies, these things also appear very light, so I think it's O.K....

AFAIK, Imperial vehicles hardly carry any markings, so I will just add some roundels (need to be printed at home), stencils and some small pastel-colored panels and details here and there.

[zenrat]

 

[Caveman]

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What he said

[Snowtrooper]

Even though I used a light grey as basis, the TIE/E still appears very light and white-ish? Well, in the movies, these things also appear very light, so I think it's O.K....

All spaceships in the Original Trilogy look much lighter in the space shots than on the ground/in the hangar - might be that the space shots were deliberately "over-exposed" for a more realistic look (or to hide matte lines), or it's just the contrast against a black background creating an optical illusion (or a combination thereof).

Though, you do not need to worry too much, as even in the films themselves the colours are not consistent! A good example is the Star Destroyer. The studio models for the Original Trilogy were not painted white, not even off-white: the sources I've come across suggest that Light Gull Gray (or whatever modelling or craft paint they used to approximate it) would have been the colour. However, fast forward 40 years, and for Rogue One the effects department decided to interpret the colour as pure white, and as a result the Star Destroyers look markedly different even though they're supposed to be in the same timeframe and so probably in the same paint scheme (and for Vader's own Star Destroyer, it's supposed to be the exact same ship just hours before A New Hope).

It looks the part and that's all that matters

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank, and I think so, too. Went through the "which basic color" enigma when I built/converted a Star Destroyer, and eventually also ended up with RAL 7047, at least for the upper side, even though this was partly inspired by the Queen Mary 2 (which was a design benchmark, the thing was converted into a stellar cruise ship...). You see a wide range of greys and blue-greys for TIEs, but I let myself be guided by the Force, err, my impression from the "real" movies. Those designs had a certain NASA feel to them, so the very light grey should work.

[nighthunter]

The white of the ISD is explained. As ships come out off the Kuat Drive yards, they are "Imperial White". As they travel through space, they collect space dust and grime, there by becoming the grey we all know.

Imperial fighters, depending on how elite the squadron, have markings. The TIEs squadrons on the Death Star, were too new to have aquired squadron markings. The 501st (Vader's Own) has squadron markings, as do several other Expanded Universe squadrons. Just depends on how elaborate you want to be, Thomas.

[Dizzyfugu]

I'll probably add some simple geometrical shape. I've seen a TIE fighter (1:48 Fine Molds kit, IIRC) which comes with something that looks disturbingly like real world Indonesia Air Force markings, and I guess that the TIE/E will receive something similar. I want to keep it rather dull and simple, I am not the a fan of the more recent, over-decorated if not garish designs. I understand that Disney has to sell toys, but The Empire is a rather straightforward affair...

[nighthunter]

There's also always kill markings

[Dizzyfugu]

Spent yesterday evening with decals. Imperials roundels have been more or less successfully produced, and then I added a zillion die-punched, circular markings in various colors (yellow, orange, grey, silver, blue) plus a few stencils. The hatches received a thin, red trim. The fuselage itself appeared a bit colorful after a while, but with the panels in place the overall area becomes much bigger, and the markings literally fade away. I will also tone them down through some dry-brushing.

I also think that I will leave away any squadron marking. I feel that it would be too much and look like a quirky addition to a rather "clean" model. Anyway, there's a blank space on the front starboard fuselage (opposite of the pilot's hatch on port side), and I already thought about adding some nose art or kill markings. Since this ship type is rather intended for long-term operation (unlike the TIE Fighters), the crew could plausibly collect some trophies. Might tackle that today.

[Dizzyfugu]

1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:50 Sienar Fleet Systems "TIE/E" Escort Fighter, on board of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer 'Vehement' during the Battle of Endor (Whif/kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[PR19_Kit]

Those few splashes of colour bring it alive, nicely done Thomas.

[loupgarou]

Very interesting build to follow. Must be one of your longest builds, Thomas!

[PR19_Kit]

Very interesting build to follow. Must be one of your longest builds, Thomas!

I'll say so! The first plastic on this job was cut on July 14th so it's been 5.5 weeks so far! That's almost a modelling lifetime at the usual 'Dizzy Rate'.