Star Wars Speeder Bike [WIP - Assembly of, and Color Test for the Black Metal Parts]

 Calling the sub-assemblies on display as the "Black Metal Parts" is admittedly an oversimplification on my part. Technically speaking the said parts (generally from front-to-back) comprise the Speeder Bike's multi scanner array, outriggers, tracking sensor/comlink, steering linkages, guidance system electronics, power converter, structural bracing, repulsor block, power plant, and repulsor projection units. As you can see, that is a real mouthful of make-believe-techno-babble that is of no interest to anyone but the nerdiest fans (like myself). So I'm keeping it simple, hence "Black Metal Parts". 

1/12 scale Speeder Bike work-in-progress: Assembly of the Black Metal Parts

Assembled parts above form the black metal bits of the Speeder Bike's main structure

 Actually there are more black metal parts than the ones you see assembled above. Not shown here, the aforementioned parts extend outwards from the Speeder Bike's main structural block, and are slightly more complicated to put together. As such they will be dealt with at a later date. These yet-to-be-assembled outward extending black metal parts consist of handlebars and handgrips (that house the steering sensitivity adjuster as well as blaster cannon firing controls); rocker-pivoted footpads (that control speed and altitude); blaster cannon; and rear repulsor deflectors.

Plastic sprues containing the black metal parts of the Aratech 74-Z Speeder Bike

 Rather than painting all these parts with a pure metallic paint, I instead plan to mimic the Speeder Bike's futuristic metal alloy by painting as well as dry-brushing metallic paint (or maybe pastels) onto a black grey basecoat. This basecoat layer was created by airbrushing Gaia 075 Neutral Grey V onto a Mr.Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black primer coat and then sealing it with a protective Mr.Super Clear Semi-Gloss topcoat. While final results on the test spoons (see below) seem a tad too glossy, it might be just because of the spoon's curvature. If at the end the Black Metal Parts still look too glossy even after undergoing washes and metallic effects, then I could always apply a final flat clear coat.     

Color used to mimic black metal was the semi-gloss coated ...

... Gaia 075 Neutral Grey V lacquer paint on top of a black primer coat

Resulting color is darker than the molded plastic parts; perfect for my purposes

 To be clear, the painted black metal color was intentionally made to look darker than the original greys of the molded parts. Based on past experience, I believe the overall color scheme should lighten after application of the metallic/weathering effect. Time will tell for sure but for now my gut feeling is to go darker from the get-go. Meanwhile with the missus's birthday days away as I finish this post, I am going to leave you with this apt quote from what is fast becoming my new favorite show ....  “If soulmates do exist, they’re not found. They’re made.” – Michael, The Good Place.