Not really a tutorial...

[Clave]

...but I think it deserves a thread...

This is a breakdown of my 'method'

1: Background image - This needs to be good if the final result is to work. The IAR.80 is my subject, and this is the image I used:

 

[Clave]

2: Outlines - I have drawn all the edges and panel lines with major parts separated into their own layers:

 

[Clave]

3: Rivets added, again on more layers:

 

[Clave]

4: Colour - Basic fill in the background and camo on top. This layer is below the outline and rivet layers:

 

[Clave]

5: Markings - Added above the colour layers:

 

[wilbur1]

Cool stuff Clave

 

[Clave]

6: Mesh - This 'shapes' the whole thing, there are many meshes for all the different parts - only tiny items or things that are completely flat have no mesh. Here is the mesh(es) on their own:

 

[Clave]

6a: Mesh - As used:

 

[Clave]

7: Shadows: More layers - usually just the wings and tailpane, but sometimes other parts have shadows too:

 

[Clave]

That's it - There are 75 layers in total, and the final drawing is exported out as a jpg or psd file. I save it at 300dpi for my deviantART prints, and here's an idea of what that looks like:

 

[Gnomey]

Excellent Clave!

 

[mkloby]

Hey that's pretty interesting clave. Thanks!

 

[Njaco]

I wish I had a computer that was strong enough to do stuff like that! That is absolutely amzing work Clave! Color me green with envy!

 

[lesofprimus]

Alot of freakin work man, and this gives us an appreciation of just how hard it really is...

 

[Thorlifter]

Very nice Clave. I wondered how you did your work.

 

[Clave]

Thanks! 8)

I think it's because my proper job involves drawing and making a lot changes, I wanted to evolve something that could be changed fairly easily and scaled to any size...

 

[Wayne Little]

Clave thanks for sharing, fantastic work.

 

[Heinz]

I always wondered how you did it all.

Much respect some serious work in those

 

[Clave]

Thanks! 8)

It's been a long learning curve, but I hope it will be of some use one day..