When it comes to model painting, most modeler prefer to portrait the model historically accurate but with a hint of personal touch. How to best achieve that? Where shall I look to match the colour to the paint? Here are five points that could help you kick start the wonderful journey of painting your favorite model.
1. Conduct Historical or Contextual Research:
- Historical Models: Delve into archives, military records, or museum collections for accurate color references. Pay attention to variations caused by different manufacturers, regional usage, or field modifications. Google is your friend, use it to get the most out of the references available. Check similar model kits for inspiration. Do not be afraid to ask online!
- Fictional Models: Study the source material's artwork, concept designs, and creator's notes. For original creations, consider the fictional world's climate, technology, and culture to inform your color choices.
2. Apply Color Theory Principles:
- Balance and Contrast: Instead of historical or lore-accurate colours, from time to time we all want to be create our one and only colour scheme. Use complementary colors (opposites on the color wheel) for dynamic contrast, or analogous colors (adjacent on the wheel) for subtler, harmonious schemes. Triadic schemes (three evenly spaced colors on the wheel) can create a vibrant yet balanced look.
- Scale Effect: Lighter hues mimic the way light interacts with smaller objects, enhancing details and contours. Saturation can be slightly reduced to prevent colors from appearing too bold or unrealistic at a small scale.
3. Understand the Importance of Era and Environment:
- In addition to point 1, research the typical color palettes of the model's era and setting. For historical models, this might involve specific military paint schemes or civilian colors of the time. This is especially true of vehicle or airplanes serving across multiple decades. Official paint scheme may have changed several times during its service. For sci-fi or fantasy models, consider how the environment (e.g., space, underwater, desert) would influence color choice, such as reflective, matte, or camouflage patterns.
4. Incorporate Weathering and Aging Effects:
- Factor in how environmental conditions like sun exposure, moisture, and wear and tear would alter the original colors. There is nothing wrong wanting your model to appear new and shiny. But if you would like a sprinkle of time on your 3-days-old kit, apply some weathering. Techniques like dry brushing, washes, and filters can simulate these effects. For instance, a vehicle in a desert setting might have sun-bleached paint and dust accumulation, while a ship model might show signs of rust and salt damage.
5. Experiment and Test Before Application:
- Always test your chosen color scheme on a similar material or a less visible part of the model. This step is crucial for seeing how the paint adheres, how colors interact under different lighting conditions, and ensuring the overall effect matches your vision. If you get most of your reference from online, do remember the colour on your monitor is different from the colour of the actual pain. This alone makes testing absolutely necessary before your first brush.
Conclusion:
Mastering the art of color selection in scale model painting is a journey of learning and experimentation. By thoroughly researching, understanding color theory, considering environmental effects, and rigorously testing your choices, you can achieve stunning, realistic results that bring your models to life.