Painting "Stealth" Armor?

[Black_Knyght]

I just recently bought a couple of Exterminators, a Grim Reaper, and a couple of other mechs that have "Stealth" armor versions, with the idea in mind of painting them to reflect that unique armor. But once I sat down at the painting desk, I suddenly was drawing a blank on where to start.

The most obvious track was to copy the paint scheme of the F-117 or the B-2, but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a more interesting approach. Then it occurred to me to open this thread here and see what suggestions you good folks might have on that idea.

The basic idea here is I need suggestions for a paint scheme that would reflect the use of "Stealth Armor" on a futuristic mech/vehicle.

[IAMCLANWOLF]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga-6ogjOSoo

[ColBosch]

There is nothing that suggests stealth armor is painted any differently from a unit's normal scheme. Even modern "black ball" paint can be made in any color, it's just that the USAF likes its blacks and dull grays.

[Lorcan Nagle]

Stealth armour seems to be an active ECM thing rather than anything else, so it doesn't need a particular colour scheme.  If you were painting a model with a Void Signature System or Chameleon Light Polarisation Shield you might want to paint the model to look like a particular background, but even then it'd be a lot of effort (though I've seen some very nice Infinity minis painted up with TO camo activated)

[worktroll]

As the others have said, Stealth only affects ECM - eyeball Mk I is not affected.

However, when doing stealth units for Tau Ceti Rangers - bronze & gold, hardly inconspicuous - I did think about adding a matt black panel on each location - arms/legs/torsos, representing dielectric panels as on modern aircraft.

W.

[IAMCLANWOLF]

Guys, I got the feeling he already acknowledged the above rules you all mention, but was asking for a "more interesting approach." Hence the share...
Sorry if I offended you, suggesting that stealth armor was anything more than "as stated."   

[Luciora]

Maybe a muted camo scheme with a pearlescent top?

[idea weenie]

Here's one person who painted Frodo wearing the One Ring, for the LotR tabletop game:
Here

 ;D

[mitchberthelson]

I just recently bought a couple of Exterminators, a Grim Reaper, and a couple of other mechs that have "Stealth" armor versions, with the idea in mind of painting them to reflect that unique armor. But once I sat down at the painting desk, I suddenly was drawing a blank on where to start.

The most obvious track was to copy the paint scheme of the F-117 or the B-2, but I couldn't help but wonder if there was a more interesting approach. Then it occurred to me to open this thread here and see what suggestions you good folks might have on that idea.

The basic idea here is I need suggestions for a paint scheme that would reflect the use of "Stealth Armor" on a futuristic mech/vehicle.

You might want to go with something highly reflective. The 1st Edition RPG shows reflective paint schemes designed to mimic the sky from the waist up, with "normal" foliage camo from the waist down.

Additionally, the Exterminator is mentioned in TRO 2750 as always being chrome because the reflective surface was a key component of its armor. Not necessarily for stealth, but that's one important look that's described for the 'Mech.

[glitterboy2098]

There is nothing that suggests stealth armor is painted any differently from a unit's normal scheme. Even modern "black ball" paint can be made in any color, it's just that the USAF likes its blacks and dull grays.

actually the USAF used black on the F-117 and B-2 because they originally operated only at night, and the black was meant to let them turn off formation lights and vanish into the dark. (turns out a better color would have been a very dark blue-grey, but they stuck to black.)
the F-22 and F-35 are the colors they are because experience with non-stealth planes has shown that the dark grey lets them blend in very well with both sky and ground in most conditions, at longer distances. helps prevent an enemy from getting visual confirmation before closing to within range of the planes. especially at night. adding that little bit of visual stealth gives the radar stealth planes that much extra edge.

my suggestion for the stealth armor mechs would be to pick a camouflage you like, and then use Low Visibility markings.

[SteelRaven]

Dark Grey/ Black seems to be popular for some reason
http://wordlesstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Stealth-helicopter-Boeing-Sikorsky-RAH-66-Comanche-10.jpg
http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/the-pl-01-stealth-tank-is-as-absurdly-cool-as-a-lamborghini-video-93482_1.jpg

Something more colorful, Iron Man Stealth figure was dark Blue...
https://www.sideshowtoy.com/assets/products/902550-iron-man-mark-iii-stealth-mode-version/lg/marvel-iron-man-mark-III-stealth-mode-version-sixth-scale-hot-toys-902550-10.jpg

...though there has been a more Tron looking trend lately:
http://img15.deviantart.net/5f30/i/2013/069/0/f/iron_man_stealth___concept_art_by_aztlann-d5xnfik.jpg

[Feenix74]

Well you could always paint the Exterminator like this:



To get the similar results, I use Tamiya XF-86 (Flat Clear) as a primer before hitting it with two coats of Tamiya X-35 (Semi-gloss Clear) and then a final coat of Tamiya X-22 (Gloss Clear) to give the paintjob a bit of depth and for it to "pop"  ^-^

[Natasha Kerensky]

You could do a two-piece paint scheme indicating that the mech is coming out of or going into stealth "mode".  Like a dull gray scheme on roughly half of the mini where the stealth is not yet active with a reflective silver, realistic camo, or other scheme where the stealth has become active.  The boundary between the two halves should be jagged, maybe with a bright yellow electric border where the stealth measures are just coming online (or going offline).

Arguably a little cartoony versus just copying a F-117 or B-2 scheme.  But for futuristic stealth measures like CLPS, it makes some sense, and it certainly differentiates the stealth units from other units on the board.

FWIW...

[Lorcan Nagle]

Here's an example of the Thermoptic camo effect, the equivalent tech in BattleTech being the aforementioned void signature or Chameleon Light Polarisation Shield:

[Black_Knyght]

Here's one person who painted Frodo wearing the One Ring, for the LotR tabletop game:
Here

 ;D

ROFLMAO !!!

VERY clever! O0

[Black_Knyght]

Well you could always paint the Exterminator like this:



To get the similar results, I use Tamiya XF-86 (Flat Clear) as a primer before hitting it with two coats of Tamiya X-35 (Semi-gloss Clear) and then a final coat of Tamiya X-22 (Gloss Clear) to give the paintjob a bit of depth and for it to "pop"  ^-^

LOL - If only! I've seen that once or twice, but have no clue where you'd find one.

[Black_Knyght]

Something more colorful, Iron Man Stealth figure was dark Blue...

A friend of mine sent me these pics last night suggesting that same idea O0

[Lorcan Nagle]

LOL - If only! I've seen that once or twice, but have no clue where you'd find one.

It was a Gencon Exclusive last year

[glitterboy2098]

You could do a two-piece paint scheme indicating that the mech is coming out of or going into stealth "mode".  Like a dull gray scheme on roughly half of the mini where the stealth is not yet active with a reflective silver, realistic camo, or other scheme where the stealth has become active.  The boundary between the two halves should be jagged, maybe with a bright yellow electric border where the stealth measures are just coming online (or going offline).

this is a popular approach for Tau players in WH40K..

[Black_Knyght]

That first Tau example has a slight partial resemblance to the Iron Man armor pics that were suggested.

Now, for the sake of clarification, isn't it CLPS that acts like a Predator's camo field and not stealth armor? I was under the impression Stealth armor was a sensor disruptive armor back by an ECM system, and not actually a camo force field.

[worktroll]

Yup - CLPS is predator armour, mimetic is similar. I've got some Purifiers painted up in "transition", but not mechs.

[Feenix74]

LOL - If only! I've seen that once or twice, but have no clue where you'd find one.

As Lorcan says, it was a Convention Exclusive last year - Exterminator EXT-4C Null Signature Variant [CE-008].

One "failed its PSR" during the Gencon combat drop and misdropped onto my location instead ;)

It now has pride of place in my Brian's Cache.

[SteelRaven]

Just found this on Camo Specs
http://camospecs.com/Miniature/Details/4625/exterminator-ext-4d

[DarkSpade]

Just found this on Camo Specs
http://camospecs.com/Miniature/Details/4625/exterminator-ext-4d

"The fluorescent panel lines were painted with Apple Barrel Green Glow-in-the-dark paint and lit with a blacklight, then lined over in black for the day shot."

So he repainted part of it after taking the night shot?

[ColBosch]

"The fluorescent panel lines were painted with Apple Barrel Green Glow-in-the-dark paint and lit with a blacklight, then lined over in black for the day shot."

So he repainted part of it after taking the night shot?

Looks like. Also, while it looks very cool, I'm not sure "glowing" is effective camo at night.

[Black_Knyght]

Just found this on Camo Specs
http://camospecs.com/Miniature/Details/4625/exterminator-ext-4d

That's both damn cool AND cleverly done!