The Ship Model Forum

I'm new to the forum. I'm mostly an aircraft modeler. What I've been seeing a lot lately in the aircraft arena is "black basing." Do ship modelers use this technique?

Thanks,
Michael

A black base, or black primer, is for pre-shading, but works better for armor and aircraft models as they are usually painted in dark colors. Ship models are usually base colored in a medium to very light gray, so coverage could be an issue, ie.; it will take more coats of a light color to cover a black base. Also aircraft and armor models are a much larger scale - ship models being smaller have correspondingly smaller details, so it could prove easier to use a dark, or black, wash (post-shading) to accentuate them. Although, when I get around to building my 1/144 Revell Fletcher, I definitely will use black pre-shading.

Soon, I'll be starting my Trumpeter 1/700 Zerstorer Z-25 1944. Most of the deck is to painted dark gray anyway so may go with black primer.

Welcome aboard, Skypainter, and happy Independence Day.

Bob M.

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Give me a fast ship, for I would like to get out of harm's way!

welcome aboard neighbor!

by black basing it appears you may follow Doog from out Texas way...he has a nice AC build forum out there in Web world. Many nice tech's based out of those concepts. I have tried it on ships befor and found it pleasing for a weathered base .