Merlin Models ATAT with an ILM style paint job

Hi there, welcome back to my channel. Here we have the second part of the Merlin Models AT-AT build. This time it's all about trying to emulate the ILM style painting. I'll take you through the way i work to get something close to the Original Models Incredible paint work.
Thanks for watching the videos, i hope the tips and tricks help out in your own modelling builds.

[@johnatsf1564]

You are a rare artist from a time ago! I love and miss practicle effects. Thanks for sharing your work!

[@APmodels]

Thank you, i try to do my best. :-)

[@artistar71]

Andy, the best AT-AT made by a third party, I've seen. You've restored my faith in post-shading. It looks so much better with the random streaks and splotches, relative too scale: an less is more approach. Thank you.

[@APmodels]

Thanks artistar71, much appreciated.

[@artistar71]

@@APmodels You're more than welcome. That AT-AT was so good, it made the importance of detail, a primary concern.

[@mackjsm7105]

YOU ARE CRAZY.. that is a BIG compliment.. I love this!

[@APmodels]

Crazy is as Crazy does :-). Thanks mackjsm

[@mackjsm7105]

@@APmodels HA!

[@albert710627]

AMAZING AMAZING JOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@APmodels]

Thank you, i try to keep it ILM looking. Stay tuned for more :-)

[@trevorblake9466]

Absolute spectacular job! Sir, you are a master of your craft! 👍🏽👍🏽

[@APmodels]

Thanks Trevor. I dont know about master, but i'll keep trying. :-)

[@telboy1965]

Spectacular job love your work 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@APmodels]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@nicksmith1415]

Top ranking Andy. You've inspired my reluctant R's to go and sand my free file for terrain. While Mr Mimeault has put in sterling work on modelling the file it's not quite as movie accurate as yours, close mind. I hope my builds and finish does them the justice that they deserve. I m going to b sending a good few hrs watching and re-watching your series under the delusion of light and magic (low & mushroom) that I can make it similar to this masterpiece. I think similar is a loose enough term.

[@APmodels]

Excellent, i hope you nail it and enjoy the process, and most of all the finished result. Thanks for checking it out.

[@sgtbenton8518]

Absolutely awesome

[@APmodels]

Thank you. :-)

[@billgalloway1799]

It’s an education. Thanks

[@APmodels]

Thanks Bill. Much appreciated.

[@RyanByrne999]

Stunning

[@APmodels]

Thank you Ryan.

[@natalebabbo-gunplaanddioramas]

Awesome job!

[@stellarscalemodels5690]

Heck yes, after that awesome build video you even topped that with this stunning paint job. Truly a masterpiece!

[@APmodels]

Thank you very much. I love the painting bit.

[@chrisbenware7876]

Brilliant

[@APmodels]

Cheers Chris.

[@williamheckman4597]

Very nice Build. I love the snow detail.

[@pfa2000]

Simple as that 😅 Great work!!

[@APmodels]

Thanks! 😃

[@chefhawk]

Great work and commitment. Looking forward to more.

[@EricWoodyVariety59]

Awesome looking job.

[@APmodels]

Thanks Eric, im much obliged :-)

[@67hughman]

Fantastic work!

[@EricWoodyVariety59]

Nice

[@chaucer44]

GREAT PAINT WORK! Super effective way to get those streaks on there. That bug at 19:00 crawled inside the model.

[@APmodels]

Thank you. Yes, my little hitch hiker seemed to find a nice spot inside a panel line . I never saw him again after that !

[@georgekochkessel5213]

Wonderfull ! That's ART !

[@APmodels]

Thank you very much. :-)

[@johnsimmonsscalemodelling5270]

Absolutely sublime mate, great AB work

[@APmodels]

Thank you so much John. I must admit, i do love an AT-AT paint job.

[@charranjitsingh6742]

Just came across your video, absolutely stunning work can’t wait for the next episode, keep up the good work 👍🤜🙌👏🔥🔥

[@APmodels]

Thank you very much!. I will do my best to keep them coming.

[@TheDjcarlos67]

Mint job AP

[@APmodels]

Cheers Carl. :-)

[@DoubleSupercool]

Very, very useful and a beautiful final result. Cheers, big ears!

[@APmodels]

No worries. I hope it helps out on your own creation. Later alligator. :-)

[@richardholborn]

Great work Andy - very detailed and accurate!

[@APmodels]

Thanks Richard. :-)

[@txwing99]

Amazing job! Enjoyed seeing your process. Thanks for sharing!

[@APmodels]

No worries. I hope it gave you some ideas. :-) Thank you for watching.

[@occamsrayzor]

Amazing detailed work!

[@APmodels]

Thank you.

[@Star1957-s5l]

Your model work is sublime sir.

[@APmodels]

Thank you for the comment, much appreciated.

[@zarnistastudios]

Absolutely fantastic work!! The attention to detail is incredible. I will try some of these techniques on a smaller AT-AT I have from the micro galaxy squadron.

[@APmodels]

Im sure they will look great. Just keep it small and not too dark to keep the scale. Thanks for checking it out :-)

[@deannorman9585]

That's a great video. Thanks Andy. I love that you made one (both?) of the guns movable.

[@APmodels]

Thanks for checking it out Dean. Yes, i did both guns, just saved you the tedium of watching it ;-)

[@eugenenolan3040]

You’re a frood dude. Brilliant as ever.

[@APmodels]

Cheers Eugene, ill get my other Zaphod head out next time. Thanks for checking out the vids :-)

[@spacedock873]

Hi Andy. Another stunning result. I learn something new and useful with every video of yours I watch. I really like your technique for doing the grime streaks with making tape. I will have a go at that at the earliest opportunity. Also, your way of doing the snow effects is very interesting and will come in handy for an Ardennes Panther tank I have in the works. The tank is currently built and painted but is "factory fresh" without weathering or snow - it didn't seem right doing whitewash and cold effects in spring/summer so I put it away until winter! What masking tape are you using? It seems a lot thinner than the yellow frog tape I have. I haven't had chance to try out your advice about using automotive paints yet but I have been trying out some MRP lacquer paints I have on a Vader TIE fighter I am knocking together for my great niece (she went to Eurodisney recently and loved the Star Wars stuff) and they are going on like a dream. No clogging or tip drying. Just a shame I have a coupe of hundred Vallejo bottles on the racks that I am now reluctant to use 😔

[@APmodels]

Thanks. Im thinking of doing much more in depth videos / live streams of the painting techniques. But i'm quite new to this you tube thing, so it could take a while before im ready. The masking tape is Selotape masking tape. Selotape being the brand. Its just from a DIY store. I use other special tapes for curved edges and compound surfaces. if you find a brand of paint which suits you, just run with it. The more you use it the more you learn about it.

[@chazsutherland]

Brilliant work! Beside the heart-stopping price, I couldn't find any info about this kit at the Merlin site. Understandably "studio scale" is varied and unmarshalled but I'm curious to the size of this kit..?

[@Gecco3d]

It’s about 18” high.

[@APmodels]

It is indeed about 18 inches high by 21 inches long. Its a great model, and the only one i know of which is actually "studio scale", ie, matching the original miniatures size.

[@Gecco3d]

btw ive let the makers of this kit know about your awesome videos of the build to see what they think....shame they didnt think about the mods you did withthe legs and chins during the creative process.

[@APmodels]

I'm sure they did. Considerations for production and costings are always a priority in the production of these models. I have an almost suicidal tendency to try and upgrade anything i can. Its my OCD i think :-). Thanks for checking it out Gecco3d. :-)

[@decadentdave]

Are you pre-shading the streaks with a clear smoke acryl?

[@APmodels]

HI there, thanks for checking out the video. No pre shading on any of this model. There are many layers of paint not featured in this video. Some Buff colour to get the warmer feel on the panels, a little smoke here and there, primer greys as you can see in the video, but the streaking is all the Red Brown/Black mix thinned right down and varied a little in colour by adding white..

[@Gecco3d]

Great video, as was the previous. I have the same kit. What did you use to paint the silicone neck? And what was used for the snow?

[@APmodels]

HI there, thanks for checking out the video. I used Silicone Dowsil 734, thinned using DI-Clean and colour matched using oil paints. Brushed on in three thin coats. Hope this helps out.

[@Gecco3d]

wow, thanks Andy for replying.....did you use the fake snow for model railways for the snow effect on the walker.... @@APmodels

[@APmodels]

Sorry, forgot to answer that. I used Tamia snow as it doesnt sparkle like some others do. @@Gecco3d

[@Gecco3d]

Thanks Andy.@@APmodels

[@boxcar_bret]

Another great example of less is more. What did you use for the snow?

[@APmodels]

Thank you. The snow is just Tamia snow. I liked it because it wasn't so reflective and sparkly as some other brands and it looked to be pretty much the correct scale when it clumped, hope that make sense :-) .

[@boxcar_bret]

I didn’t even know Tamiya made snow. It looked great going on. Thanks!

[@scograham]

What did you mix with the snow to make a paste please?

[@APmodels]

I just used distilled water. Its a water based medium so just thin to what you require.@@scograham

[@EricWoodyVariety59]

I want a large 4 ft ATAT model

[@APmodels]

Check out a guy called Lasse Henning on facebook. You'll notice who i mean. He is in the middle of a large ATAT build.

[@robert1056]

🙃 "Promo sm"

[@APmodels]

Thanks man :-)

[@OzzyMandias]

Makes me sorry to think Luke Skywalker will soon blow it up...good job tho

[@APmodels]

Thank you Ozzymandias. i have a guard on it to stop those pesky rebels.

[@stihlpoon5821]

Beautiful. What was your base color?

[@APmodels]

Base colour is one of my mixes in automotive solvent base, to try and get the same kind of hue as the old Floquil bleached grime colour. Sorry i cant be more specific as colour pigments and percentages can change a little between manufacturers. Thank you for checking out the videos.