[galaxy_jason]

Haven't posted here in a while...an update. I finally have a pearl finish on the engineering hull I am comfortable with.

The key was subtlety. To the eye she is almost white, but in the proper light the pearls pop...


First the pattern (Tetris anyone?)...
http://galaxyphoto.com/ent/pattern_final.jpg

This shows the subtlety (HOWEVER, it has even less contrast to the eye)..
http://galaxyphoto.com/ent/starboard_final.jpg

Above the bay..
http://galaxyphoto.com/ent/bay_top_final.jpg

I think this would look pretty good with a more direct light...
http://galaxyphoto.com/ent/approach_final.jpg

A B&W compare. Not an exact pattern match but certainly the "feel" (BE SURE to scroll down)...
http://galaxyphoto.com/ent/B&W_compare_final.jpg

Finally, Since I am building "A", she needs to be dirtied up a bit. I will be adding a very subtle overlay of non-pearl "L" panels, the little L shaped panel weathering that ILM did. I used the high res auction shots to lay out the approximate location of the L's and made a mask in Photoshop. The original is a bit dirtier, not sure if that is by design or from years of abuse.

Be sure to scroll down for the comparison...

http://galaxyphoto.com/ent/fan_tail_compare.jpg

 

[slcollis]

Great work. I really like the more subtle approach. I think it gives a better overall appearance to the model and also helps give it more scale.