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I want to paint a hexagonal pattern on some vehicles but I can't seem to think of how.

I was thinking I could paint the whole thing light blue, then somehow cover up where the blue should be then airbrush the black and red on. But I'm not sure how.

As for the hexagonal patterns, maybe you can use something like this:
http://www.litko.net/categories/Stencils/

Do it once for the blue, then mask over everything you don't want red, then do it again.

Also, I'm pretty sure that pattern is from a variant of Jon Conway's Game of Life, and those things in the bottom of the image are glider guns (I've only really looked into the square-grid version)?

I don't know about the technique but you get hex templates:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warhammer-Necrons-Tanks-Gaurd-Imperial-Eldar-Painting-Stencil-/310807339947?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item485d8fa3ab

It's actually what the surface of Neuroi (Strike Witches anime) look like lol but thanks for the help

If you are trying to recreate the very complex pattern with a light blue grid containing black hexes that contain a miniature hex grid, with some red hexes that contain a pattern, it is a very complex job.

You could possibly do it by very careful masking for several layers, but really I think to do it on the scale needed to do 40K vehicles I don't think it is worth the trouble.

You would need the following layers.

1. Spray red overall. I don't know how to get the mottled effect, perhaps use an acrylic medium.
2. Mask off the red hexes and spray black overall.
3. Mask off all the mini hexes and spray grey (?)
4. Mask off the big hexes very neatly and spray light blue to get the edges.

Obviously it gets easier the larger you make the hexes, but at some point the overall effect will be lost. It would be best to use pre-cut stencils like the Litko ones, to avoid cutting a million hexes out of masking tape by hand.

If you pulled it off it would look totally awesome.

I would practice first on a flat sheet of plastic, before trying it on the complex curves of a vehicle. You might find it can be done in sections, using precut stencils, rather than masking the entire vehicle at one go.

OH NO lol no way am I gonna try to do the little ones, just the larger ones, and this is what I'm putting them on

and they are just goin on the hull, the turrets and legs will just be black with red parts picked out.

Would either of these stencils help? The cuutout hexes should be included with both so that it should be easy enough to have different coloured sections such as with this anarchy stencil. Both kickstarters have vids showing the use of the stencils, the snappy stencil vid you want to watch is in one of the last few updates.


Anarchy models stencils kickstarter (finished). Should be hitting retail soon.



Snappy Stencils kickstarter still running. Made from MDF so have problems such as overspray and difficulty getting a smooth join between different sections, but very cheap.

I saw the Anarchy stencils kickstarter but I didn't know that had that pattern, I'll just wait for that then since that is pretty much perfect.

Yeah I included in my pledge the hexagons in all available sizes since I think they can be used for a lot of awesome effects. Shouldn't have too much longer to wait I think. From the website here:
"Our exciting range of stencils from our very successful kickstarter. They are currently available to pre-order, but will be released for general sale once the kickstarter has shipped (The estimated Kickstarter ship date was December 2013, but has now been moved to late January).

These pre-orders are for a limited time only, and may be removed at any time."

Any shop that does window/car decals should be able to cut the shapes you want into transfer foil using their cutting plotter.

To do that they need a vector image. If you prepare a black and white image as crisp and clear as you can make it, they should be able to convert to a vector.

Transfer foil is transparent and is meant to be put on top of the foil that needs to go on the window/car to keep all elements in the right relative position after the unwanted bits are removed. Transfer foil is also meant to be removed, so it's sticky, but can be removed quite easily like masking tape.

Wow that stencil stuff looks awesome.... I remember years back in an old White Dwarf, they did a hex pattern and they suggeste d using the hex mesh fruitbags, like the ones you get onions or oranges in.

I use my Sihlouette Cameo to make mask and stencils. It can
do letters down to 10pts and any kind pattern such as a hex
pattern. It's not cheap but well worth the purchase.

They can get pretty expensive, but custom prints using Hydro Dipping can put whatever pattern you want on your models.

http://www.hydro-dip.com/

 dantay_xv wrote:
Wow that stencil stuff looks awesome.... I remember years back in an old White Dwarf, they did a hex pattern and they suggeste d using the hex mesh fruitbags, like the ones you get onions or oranges in.

I also saw a youtube video where the guy used window screens that keep bugs out that were hexagon pattern but I have not found such a product... But looking at my fish nets for my fish tank they are hexagon shaped, I may have to try that out...

If you use a hexagon mesh for a mask you will need to alter the order of paint layers.