PDA

View Full Version : First attempt at 3D avatar



Bluedevil
03-13-2012, 07:03
I had a Reviresco HD1 lingering around on my desk waiting for me to finally do something with it.:hmm:

A couple of weeks ago Max Headroom was so kind to make me that very nice personal avatar that you can admire right above my name so I decided that was the thing to do...:thumbsup:

I am not entirely satisfied with it: the model was a real pain to put together and the upper wing was very close to being a "blob"... But as I regarded this project as a test I went for it.:p

After a couple of hours of fiddly work:hmm: I finally got something that looked more or less like an aircraft, and after a nice coat of white primer and a couple of layers of mithril silver (GW ) and picking out some details I just had to put the decals on it.

The devil decal was home-made but turned out to be a bit of a dissapointment ...probably due too the resolution of the original,...that and the fact that I am using an Inkjet printer to print the decals.

I am sure I am going to repeat this one using a Shapeways model as metal isn't really my "forte"

Anyway...here's the result ::surrender:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36415&d=1331646497

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36414&d=1331646478


http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=36413&d=1331646458

Nightbomber
03-13-2012, 07:15
I wouldn't mind the resolution. It's a personal plane and it's great to have one. The overall effect on a gaming table should be very good. You can be proud of your work done.:thumbsup:

Bluedevil
03-13-2012, 07:30
Just realized its sitting the wrong way around on the stand...:smack::embarass::erk:

Marechallannes
03-13-2012, 08:10
Nice model, Alex.:clap:

Jager
03-13-2012, 08:19
I think it's a nice job; the only thing I would question was the shine of the silver. Maybe it need to be dulled down a hair?
Karl

Bluedevil
03-13-2012, 08:42
@ I gave the model a coat of clear polyurethane varnish to make the decals go clear ( I use decal paper that looks "egg-shell" in color but once printed becomes clear after a coat of said varnish ...but it doesnt need a spray of clear varnish seal the color ink ).

I guess a coat of clear matt varnish would help.;)

Flying Officer Kyte
03-13-2012, 09:47
Not a bad effort. You are right about getting the larger size picture and reducing it but the resolution size is essential. With a really dense pixell, high quality picture even an ink jet should give a good result on high quality and photo glossy setting.
That is what I use.
Rob.

rote Flügel
03-13-2012, 10:10
Nice work.. oft times we beat ourselves up about the planes we paint.. what I like about this board.. we all appreciate the effort one puts into a paint job and/or build.. I think you have done a nice job here.. nothing to be ashamed of.. my first repaint was a simple job.. I overpainted some crosses and made the plane look very similar to the Red Barons old Albatros DIII.. threw on a swastika on the side for the good luck symbol and behold.. simple repaint.. well I got better.. lol.. and I repainted it recently and added new decals and it now is one of Jasta 11s crates.. and I have done a bunch now.. getting better all the time.. I just need to get into this decal making thing.. lol.. I have some paper an am getting antsy to make my own.. not sure about some but I think some simple ones might be good to start..

Anyways.. lol.. keep it up. this is a good job you've done and it'll look great on the table..

Bluedevil
03-13-2012, 11:19
@ Rob

Thanks for the tip...I am definitely going to try this one again. ;)


@ Rote Flugel


Thanks for the morale boost ;).. I was'nt even sure if I was going to show it here.
And you're right: practice is the only way to ( almost )perfection. :p

Blackronin
03-13-2012, 11:46
Very nice and creative idea. Beautiful plane.

gully_raker
03-13-2012, 17:48
Just realized its sitting the wrong way around on the stand...:smack::embarass::erk:

:D Not to worry he probably just flew an Immelmann!:cheezy::lol:

Rat of Vengence
03-13-2012, 17:51
Nice neat job mate, nothing to be ashamed of. I bet it looks great on the table :)

Dave

gully_raker
03-13-2012, 17:51
:D Nothing to be ashamed of there Alex. I reckon it looks good!
Decals can be a real hassle thats why I dont do them.:hmm:

Mveeder
03-13-2012, 18:35
I love the HD-1!!!! I think it looks fantastic, great job. I just built one as well (Coppens) and it was not easy. How do you make your own decals and were can I go on this site to find advice about it?

Pseudotheist
03-13-2012, 20:29
I love the HD-1!!!! I think it looks fantastic, great job. I just built one as well (Coppens) and it was not easy. How do you make your own decals and were can I go on this site to find advice about it?
I tried to start a thread on that here (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?7753-Decal-paper&highlight=decal+paper); it's not comprehensive, but it's a start. I'm still working on them but the only advice I can give right now on the subject is to be prepared for a giant PITA.
Here's a couple other threads with some more info:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?8688-Decals-1-144-how-to&highlight=decal+paper
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?8951-Making-your-own-Decals&highlight=decal+paper


@ I gave the model a coat of clear polyurethane varnish to make the decals go clear ( I use decal paper that looks "egg-shell" in color but once printed becomes clear after a coat of said varnish ...but it doesnt need a spray of clear varnish seal the color ink ).
So, it's a clear inkjet paper that doesn't need sealant? Do you have more info on that? Getting the sealant application to work properly has been my biggest headache.

I think you'll really appreciate the added detail that the wing ribbing on the Shapeways model will bring, assuming you can deal with the surface texture. If you're planning to go with WSF, I'd recommend spending the extra buck for Polished.

Oberst Hajj
03-13-2012, 23:17
Nice one. I'm just waiting for my Italian roundels to show up from Dom so I can finish off my own recently painted HD.1. Mine is a Shapeways printed in FD though.

In regards to the print quality of your little devils, any image you print that you wan to look "photo" good, you need to print at at lest 140dpi. Anything below that and the human eye can start to pick out lower quality. 300dpi is what most books and magazines are printed at.

One note of caution, you can't take a lower resolution image and just change it to 140dpi+ and get a good print. You really need to start off at a high resolution. If you find you only have a low resolution image to work with, you are better off enlarging the image size (not the resolution), then changing the resolution to 140dpi and resizing it yet again back down to the smaller, correct physical size needed. I hope that makes sense!

Bluedevil
03-14-2012, 00:08
@Pseudotheist

You find more info about the decalpaper here: http://www.lazertran.com

Its a white ( eggshell) paper that doesn't need sealant. After you've printed an image on the white, chalky side of the paper you can cut out the image and apply like any other decal.
It will dry, masking all background with the white color of the paper.
Once dry you can paint it with any oil/spirit based varnish ( I use a polyurethane varnish made in France and readily available in DIY markets all over Belgium ) and all non printed surfaces become clear and transparant.

You need to trim your images very close and it is a rather heavy and thick carrier film.

I ordered it because you don't have to seal it...mainly because I couldn't find a spray-can with the proper varnish to seal other brands of decal paper ( well not the ones I was sure would work).

I used this paper on the HD1 devil and on the Brownies on my Farman F40...

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27884&d=1322486405


@ Oberst Hajj


Your explanation makes perfect sense:thumbsup:
Thanks;)


P.S the Belgian roundels are from "DACO Products " a Belgian company : http://ultra.glo.be/daco/