1/12 Yamato Votoms 'Hell Hound' Custom

[Kinzoku]

Hi mecha lovers...

I'm after some modelling advice. I'm o.k when it comes to 'Normal models', vinyl, standard size stuff, but feel a bit apprehensive towards bigger stuff.

I recently bought far too many Yamato 1/12 Votoms. And have 2 Purple ones (Melquia Regular Force Color).



I've decided to customize one of them (the finish is a bit bare on the Yamato versions, compared to the Takara 1/18 for example)
Still I love them, they're just so..chunky (>_<)

I'd like if possible to repaint all the purple parts another color.I'm not after some weathering effects, panel lining etc for now, but a total repaint of most parts
(Going to dismantle the whole toy and separate all the purple parts from the rest.)

1st question:
Should I undercoat it in a white first? Or could I just spray paint all the parts in the desired color directly?(my airbrush died many years ago..so I'll have to use spray)
For vinyl stuff, I generally use a transparent primer spray coat and then paint over it. For smaller or Bandai type stuff,I usually paint the whole thing white 1st.(Obviously depending on the base color)
Thing is with that one, well for a start it's big. There is a lot of plain flat surface.
I'm thinking if I paint everything white, then over it whatever color I want to use, it might not be as smooth as painting directly on the plastic itself ?

2nd thing..well, I had loads of different colors schemes in mind, but now..I'm hesitating .
I thought: Bright shiny red (I saw a Bandai 1/20 kit painted like that on the web, it looked ace!), Flashy yellow, Light Grey, Dark blue, Metallic grey.
Just not sure which would come out best if I do decide to spray straight onto the original purple.
For example, bright red on top of purple might come out darker than intended (because of the purple underneath, same with all other bright colors)

Or am I going about it all the wrong way?

Yes,I could just try it on some small parts of the toy that you cannot see from the outside.But a small area is not going to come out the same than a big surface.
As they are not that cheap, I would like to avoid messing it up!!

Any advice,hints,tips would be appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance

[Mr. Ginrai]

For the first question, YES! It needs to be a light grey or white underneath.

If you use no base coat or too dark of a base, it won't matter what light or dark color you use as a top coat, because they will all look incredibly darker than they should.

For your color choice, pick whatever you like.

[Kinzoku]

Cheers Mr.G for confirming the undercoat part. It's just the amount of surface that worries me. Like recently I painted a PatLabor vinyl figure, and for most parts I did not use any undercoat, only, clear primer, but for the parts were undercoated in white, then painted green, they looks slightly 'thicker'.

I guess the only way to find out is go ahead with it. I just don't want to mess it up and end up having to resort transforming my Votom into a 'Battle Damaged' Version. (_ _);

Any more hints or tips/ dos/don't.. ?

[Kinzoku]

O.K so I know..it's not done yet, it's just taking me more time than expected.

Here are the latest updates for that Custom Yamato 1/12 Votoms that I am currently working on.

Partly dismantled:( I left my Lucky Strike on the floor too )


Mostly Dismantled . Majority of the body Primed and polished (80%, legs still need to be done). Notice a tiny square in the bottom right hand side painted using the Red scheme I'm thinking of using :



I'm still hesitating as to what color I want use on the main body parts. I initially wanted a Bright red version, but not too sure anymore...Anyway..as soon as I have time to work on it more I'll post the result.

If there are any Votoms fans out there with some suggestions regarding the color scheme, I'd welcome any ideas

[Kinzoku]

Right...as I could not make my mind up,and did not get any suggestions (granted, it's my decision anyway and I could've painted green with yellow spots but some ideas would've been nice  .)
So I decided to stick with my initial design and painted it red.
It'll be a 'Hell Hound Votoms'. Red all the way!! It's only partially painted, and appears slightly orange , but it is actually red. I'm getting there, slowly. It's definitely way cooler than the standard Melquiya purple it used to be!!
Can't wait to finish it up \(>_<)/

[nightmareb4macross]

Looking good. Are you going to place any markings for "Hell Hound", once it's done??

[xiombarg]

So did you brush paint these or use model paint from the can?

[Kinzoku]

Nope, I used spray it's too big for brushes, the finish would not be even (even with can it still needs work).

Anyway.Last update. Yes it looks weird now, but I just wanted to see most of it pieced back together, gives you a better idea of what is wrong (Like some purple parts which I covered with masking tape and forgot to paint..(inside the arms). Anyway, I've got to do the legs, but it's a pain...Loads of articulation s to be dismantled, much more than in the torso (;_;).

Here is a quick work in progress pic...weird looking lol but slowly getting there..I hope... as I'm starting to get impatient and that's never a good way to finish up a job....