Quote Originally Posted by M-bot View Post
There's a perception in some segments of fandom that customs should be sold as cheaply as the original toys. .
That's an interesting perception, I never realised that was a common, or even uncommon thought. I'm probably not one to pay much for a custom paint job but that's mostly because i'd like to think I'd have a crack at it myself first (hahaha in all my spare time) but any decent custom obviously has hours of work involved and that time has to be worth something.

Quote Originally Posted by M-bot View Post
I think I said I wouldn't bore you with masking shots, but it's been such a huge part of the job, especially in the last few weeks. For some of the circular ports, I used a vinyl masking product I got from an airbrush supplier. It can be cut into strips as thin as 1-2mm, which can stretch and bend into curves. I used it around the edges of the ports and then masked around that with Tamiya masking tape and some low-tack painter's tape (for larger areas, since its cheaper). You can see the progression of the masking on this piece here:



Here's all the bits masked up, ready for the (infamous, since I can't stop mentioning them) 'glow effects':

DSC_0809 by M-bot2011

DSC_0821 by M-bot2011

Not to mention everything will also need a good gloss clear coat to protect and bring out the finish.
HOLY crapsticks, that is a hell of a lot of fiddly masking going on there. you spent 4 hours with the pinkish white paint, but how long did you spend doing all the masking?!?!?!?!

I don't quite see what's happening in the second last picture (I think it needs surrounding context) but I'm loving the visor in the last picture there.