Different greys on Interceptors

[Serpentarius 5]

Noticed few days ago when I got my copy of Imperial Aces that I own now 4 different Tie Interceptors. I had 2 regular bought earlier, but I haven't noticed before that they are painted with different greys.

 

Other Interceptor is painted with light grey, same as my Tie Fighters and Tie Advanced's, and the other with blueish shadow grey, like my Tie Bombers. In traditional GW:s paint colour schemes other is painted with Fortress grey and other with Shadow grey.

 

I just wonder, do these different grey colours appear in other Tie's too? Does someone have Tie Fighter painted in shadow grey (man that would be great model for Dark Curse), or Tie Bomber painted with light grey? Or Tie Advanced in shadow grey (that would definetly be Vader). If I assume right there is 5 different paints on Interceotors out there. Normal with light and shadow grey, Saber Squadron with light and shadow grey and the crimson red Royal guard.

 

Does someone know is this change in colour accidental or intentional? Does FFG have 2 different factorys that use different greys or is this change in grey difference between orginal print and reprint?

Edited April 2, 2014 by Serpentarius

[Shantipole 1]

I would assume that they are just different batches. My TIEs seem to be consistent.. But as I make some changes to the paintjob anyways, your Vader and Dark Curse suggestions are something to consider!

Thanks!

[Kyoss 6]

So far I didn't notice different colors, but I can tell from personal experience that the models DO have different quality.

 

First there ist the paint-job of course, which can vary a lot. I guess it depends on the painters' skill. I have some models (a B-Wing comes to mind) which is totally overladen with thick colors which hide a lot of the finer details on the model.

 

But sadly I also have an A-Wing which was molded badly. At first i thought it was only thick color, but after stripping the color the model was missing finer details (which also weren't visible with the colors on it...). 

 

Since then I only buy my miniatures in shops where I can look at the model through the blister to at least be able to make an educated guess about the model quality...

[lifter 17]

From what I can gather Fantasy Flight Games made the decision to paint the TIE Fighter and TIE Advanced in a more neutral grey than the blueish tone that's used for the TIE Interceptor and TIE Bomber.

This is because of the way they look in Star Wars Episode IV (for the TIE Fighter and TIE Advanced) and Star Wars Episode VI (for the TIE Interceptor and TIE Bomber). 

 

In ROTJ they use a bluer color temperature (white balance) for the space battles giving it a "colder" feel (read more about color temperature here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_balance). 

 

Here are some screenshot comparisons.

 

 

As for how the colors differ for the models, here's a comparison shot.

 

 

I can kind of understand the thought behind it, however I want my imperials to look uniform so I've done a simple repaint of all of mine. Most people won't care or even notice the color difference and I wish I didn't. But once seen, at least for me, it can't be unseen.

 

 

If you want to read more about it (in swedish) or see pictures of the painting process I used, here's the link: http://www.starfighters.se/hobby/om-farg/

 

Edit: I have not yet seen a neutral grey Interceptor. They differ a bit from batch to batch, but none were painted in the neutral grey. Just more or less blue.

Edited April 2, 2014 by lifter

[Hanu 132]

My Interceptors have the same hue, but X-Wings were easilly recognized between core set and expansion because of their color.

 

I don't like the Bomber's blue color. Interceptors are too, but lucklily they are less blue (not so blue as lifter's picture). I had to drybrush Bombers with Fortress gray because of this.

[Spaceman91 805]

All my stuff except my bomber and aces 181st squint are the same grey.

[Shantipole 1]

Very nice work on the bomber and interceptor there

[lifter 17]

Thanks! (If you are referring to my repaints).

 

Actually all the ships are repainted since the Interceptor and Bomber didn't match the TIE Fighter and TIE Advanced after repainting (I'm really picky about my greys)

[LeoHowler 475]

I'm okay with the bluish hue to be honest. I feel it makes them stand out more and they have more of a new look to them as opposed to the older TIE/Ln and Advanced/x1. I also feel it contrasts better with the red stripes of the 181st much more strongly and they look so much cooler and threatening. :3

[Hanu 132]

 I also feel it contrasts better with the red stripes of the 181st much more strongly and they look so much cooler and threatening. :3

 

I agree with this. It is one of the reasons why I havent bothered to repaint Interceptors as I tested Red stripes on them first and noticed the same.

[R2ShihTzu 1,867]

All kidding aside, if you are genuinely perturbed by the different shades of gray, send FFG the serial number on your Aces box and they'll make sure the Chinese kid being paid 9 cents an hour to paint your Interceptors is thoroughly caned for his loafing.

[Osoroshii 2,146]

I got two Imperial Aces packs and the Red Interceptors are very different shades of red. One had a lot more wash on it giving it a deep red while the other had almost no wash and is very bright.

[Introverdant 707]

I have a TIE Advanced in the blue-grey.

Looks very nice that way.

 

My interceptors are of the grey-grey sort.

[perniciousducks 711]

If you want to read more about it (in swedish) or see pictures of the painting process I used, here's the link: http://www.starfighters.se/hobby/om-farg/

Any chance of this being done in English? Google translate didn't do a great job unsurprisingly.

[lifter 17]

I'll take it under advisement, glad you're interested

[Hrathen 1,463]

My understanding is that in the movies the TIEs in Star Wars are a gray color, but in Empire and Jedi they shift their color to a blue grey.  It is hard to tell the difference in the movies, but just about every TIE interceptor model or toy I have ever seen (that was prepainted) was the blue gray, while the standard TIEs are usually a neutral grey, but I have seen some that are the blue gray from the later movies.

 

I have never seen Interceptors or Bombers for X-wing that weren't the blue gray.

[oneway 1,878]

If you want to read more about it (in swedish) or see pictures of the painting process I used, here's the link: http://www.starfighters.se/hobby/om-farg/

Any chance of this being done in English? Google translate didn't do a great job unsurprisingly.

odd that,

I had no trouble with it. Any translation program will have some small issues, but I was able to read it just fine through the google translation.

Good article, and some fine painting. I also have retouched or painted quite a few of my ships... it's part of the fun for me.

[Doc_H 21]

 

If you want to read more about it (in swedish) or see pictures of the painting process I used, here's the link: http://www.starfighters.se/hobby/om-farg/

 

 

Excellent article, thanks for posting the link. Google translate managed to let me read it too, rather than just look at the pictures. 

[Serpentarius 5]

I have a TIE Advanced in the blue-grey.

Looks very nice that way.

 

My interceptors are of the grey-grey sort.

 

Nice to know someone else has these "wrong" grey ships and that they exist in other Ties than Interceptor too. I envy your Tie Advanced.

 

 

All kidding aside, if you are genuinely perturbed by the different shades of gray, send FFG the serial number on your Aces box and they'll make sure the Chinese kid being paid 9 cents an hour to paint your Interceptors is thoroughly caned for his loafing.

 

Well my Saber squadron Interceptor is painted with this blue grey hue. And considering normal Interceptor; I think it is nice to have 2 different Interceptors. Not so many neutral-grey Interceptors out there. So I should thank the kid who got mixed up with all these greys. =)

[Ravncat 1,988]

That's the repaint that i'd like to have - neutral grey interceptors and bombers...

[Rhinoviru3 469]

I've noticed that, depending on when the item was made, there are differences in shade too. (I imagine it's all down to the factory process, I guess). Thankfully I have appeased my OCD by simply painting all of mine thus far :L