Project Completion: Phoenix Bomber

As promised, here are some photos of the completed Phoenix Bomber. Sadly, I don't have my light box set up at this time, so we'll have to do with my painting light (direct fluorescent illumination).

Earlier, I had mentioned my worries about a lilac bloom on the white accents. At this point, I think the problem was poor cleaning of my airbrush. I've switched from a siphon-fed to a gravity-fed double action brush since that time, and I 'm very happy with the results. More on that tool in another post.

There were three different models I could have selected at the time I purchased the Phoenix; the other two are the Nightwing and the Vampire. The Vampire was quickly eliminated on a cost basis. Choosing between the Phoenix and the Nightwing was more difficult. Both were similar in price, and very dramatic models. In the end, I chose the Phoenix because of perceived utility (the Nightwing is an interceptor, and at the time no one I knew had any flyers), and because with two pilots, there would be more opportunity for the fine detail that is so compelling to me.

I'm fairly happy with the way it all turned out. I've noticed that on the rank-and-file infantry figures in my army, the main red color is considerably darker than it appears on my larger-scale miniatures. This is because the final stage of the red sections is a drybrush of Citadel Blood Red. On the infantry figures, the drybrushing only results in accents, particularly on the highlights on the armor. On vehicles, the lack of texture requires more time and pressure for a drybrush technique, so more paint gets applied. I've considered going back with a glaze to darken the tone and add detail, but that will wait for a later project.

Comments or questions are always welcome!