Blue 2 X-wing Reference Pictures

With the release of Rogue One audiences and long time Star Wars fans were treated to what was one extinct Blue Squadron. Originally ILM painted the X-wings in A New Hope blue. However, this color didn't work against the blue screens they were filming against and was subsequently changed to the Red Squadron we all know today. 

With all the information on the internet today, I'm surprised that finding proper pictures of Blue Squadron X-wings is a difficult task. I've wanted to build Blue 2 for a while now and I couldn't find much of anything on this X-wing. So these are images I managed to capture of Blue 2 from the film.

Blue 2 wing, just as the shields went up.

Blue 2 making an attack on a Star Destroyer. It seems that some of Blue 2's markings were similar to Blue Leader/Blue1. However, the stripe down the hull is broken up in a similar style to Luke's Red 5 X-wing. Also noting that Blue 2 carries an R5 astromech droid.

The other side of the fuselage features 3 blue sections.

It appears that the main colors on this X-wing are Blue, Light Grey, and Yellow Tan panel sections. The engines look pretty clean and only painted a light grey.  In the original series the X-wings were painted with many different colors, it seems that Blue Squadron is kept to these three main colors.

I'm going to keep searching the film and internet for more pictures of Blue 2. I still haven't quite identified the color of the R5 unit, though I suspect it was white with red highlights as seen in ANH. But based on one picture it also looks silver?
 

Update

I found these other pictures, they are from earlier in the film, and I found a continuity error. This is Blue 2, and Blue Leader is in the X-wing behind it. The scene follows Blue 2 heading towards the shield opening, and then the camera focuses on Blue Leader. Both X-wings pass through the shield gate before it's closed. After it's closed 2 X-wings crash into the shield and then Blue 2 pulls up narrowly missing a similar fate. 

Also I'm more convinced now that the astromech is a standard R5 unit in the same markings at the ones seen in A New Hope.

Bandai 1:144 Death Star Turret

"But what about that tower"? - Wedge Antillies

 I got this turret as compensation for building the Bandai 1:72 A-wing for my brother. This Death Star Turret comes with the A-wing kit as an added bonus. It's 1:144th scale, and is a really nice addition for have. Personally I wish that I had a few more of these, it's a really great kit and adds a bit more to the scene.

This is a really simple kit, not much to it. And everything is on one sprue. The Laser Guns will hold the colored blaster beams, but this isn't mentioned in the instructions. On a side note these should be Green as they are Imperial.

I used Army Painter "Brush on Primer" This provided great coverage, and helped add some of the different shades of grey I needed for the panels.

Next was to add different Grey's to random panels. I began with Tamiya XF-24 Dark Grey

I wanted to add a bit of color to they grey structure to help it be less drab. I used XF-68 Nato Brown, and XF-84 Dark Iron. I tried to keep these colors very random and limited. As too much and it quickly becomes distracting.

Masking was very easy. I placed Tamiya tape on the surface, and then traced around the panel. Taking a sharp hobby knife I easily cut around each panel.

The overall color was Vallejo Mecha Color White Grey (69.002) These are airbrush ready paints. And if you need a basic white grey sci-fi color this is a good one to have in a hurry.

Tamiya XF-77 IJN Grey, was lightly painted on the tips of the barrels to simulate burnt areas.

With the maskings removed and painting completed I was now able to begin weathering this model. First I would add a few layer of Future. This will help protect the existing paint, and make weathering much easier.

I used various artist oils and cleaned them with Mineral Spirits. I wanted to create some streaking effects going down the turret. I dabbed a bit of Burnt Umber on the underside of some of the raised squares. And with a damp brush, I pulled the pant downwards. I also applied random streaks of black in the middle sections just to help dirty things more.

One thing I did not expect, on the few squares that I left as the primer, once the Mineral Spirits were added the primer was instantly removed. This did not affect any of the other acrylics, only the primer. I was really surprised by this effect, so I'll pay attention to this in the future.

I really enjoyed this mini kit, if I can call it that. This is a simple and sweet kit, and I had a lot of fun adding a few extra details to it. The details on it are great and I love seeing this next to my 1:144 X-wing.