First time builder

[jcalus]

Hi my name is Jon and a long time fan, first time builder. My aim is to get centurion status and am wondering about ab button painting. I've read that there are two colour's of blue used out there. Midnight blue - more of a traditional colour, and or French blue - current colour. Is that correct? And can I use the midnight blue for centurion?

 

Also, I had to add shims to my kidney and if there's any tips on filling in the ridge to make it look seamless would be great. Thank you.

 

 

Still needs to be trimmed to length. Will be about a 2" extension.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

While I am not sure about the midnight blue, Jon, the french blue will definitely get you to Centurion, (which I am glad to hear you are aiming for)!!  The two most popular are made by Testors (color #2715) and Humbrol (color #14).

 

For the seams on your shim additions, you will need to make up some ABS paste.  It's not as hard as it sounds, and it will make them almost invisible with a bit of work.  Take a glass jar, and add some small bits and shavings of ABS scraps.  Then you add Acetone in small amounts until it reaches a gooey, toothpaste-like consistency.  This can take a bit of time, and stir it often.  Using a popsicle stick, spread it along the seams, but not too heavy... just enough to cover them.  Once it dries you can sand it down using progressively smaller grits of sandpaper, them finish it off with a scratch removal product like Novus' 3-step system.  It takes a bit of time, but the efforts will be well worth it!

P.S.   Don't forget to put the notches back in the kidney.  Also, a quick word about acetone...  Use the full strength stuff, like you can find in the paint dept. of Lowe's.  Nail polish remover has acetone, but it is not nearly strong enough to melt the ABS.

Edited February 18, 2016 by justjoseph63

[jcalus]

Thanks for the advise! I actually did have my eye on my wife's nail polish remover... haha

I'll be cutting those notches later today.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[jcalus]

Thanks for the advise. This is what it looks like after the first coat.

A few pits and ridge to clean up with another coat before fine sanding. But it was it's going well so far.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[jcalus]

But it's going well so far....

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[Dark PWF[Staff]]

Nice work, Jon! Looking great!

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

Holy crow, Jon, you really took the ball and ran with it!  Looks great!!

[Sly11[Admin]]

Wow, fantastic job mate.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jcalus]

Thank you for the help and encouragement on my shims. I received my legion number today of TD84414. I'm extremely happy about it and will now be starting on my T-21 build so I can emulate TD tuck and roll. Then fieldpack, maybe a better E-11, some macro binoculars,..etc.. I have a feeling this will be a long and very enjoyable experience.

 

Here's a few pics.

And thanks again. The white armor site was invaluable.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk