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I'm painting up some SM and SM Scout bikes and i can't decide how exactly to colour the headlamps. I was thinking yellow as that is the colour shown on the box, but on box the image has been manipulated so it looks like the headlight is glowing, is there a technique anyone uses for them?

Thanks

I'd also be interested in other peoples thoughts on this. I really enjoy painting the SM bikes and have a lot in my army but struggle to make the headlight look as good as the rest of the model.

I do a white spot in the center so it looks brighter than the light yellow around it. I might be able to get a picture later if I can find a camera.

I usually cop out and paint them yellow, but headlights aren't actually yellow Maybe try a glowing blue colour like modern halogen? Alternatively a light silver to represent the reflector at the back?

I do mine blue on my raven wing and dark angel vehicles, necron abyss base coat, mixing in enchanted blue then white with a white spot to finish, it works nicely with the dark colour schemes of the armies.
What colour scheme are the bikes your painting?

Panit them yellow and fill it with pva glue. That works well.

Mazz wrote:
What colour scheme are the bikes your painting?

Dheneb Stone is their main colour.

I'm glad its not just me who struggles with them. I'm going to have a look on the gallery and see if i can see anyone elses.

White perhaps? I leave the lights white on my tanks.

Here is my advice, for lamps:

A mix of golden yellow and skull white for the lamps, add a dot of skull white for lens flare and finish with a coat of gloss varnish to give it a more realistic look.

Yea, I think the general concept in the box-art is to fade from white in the middle to yellow around the edge. Then go over with silver on the grating of the light.

So i'm going to get some yellow paint, but the question is now
Sunburst Yellow or Golden Yellow?

Paint them cool colors like blue or green.

I would do something similar to this:
http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/guestarticles/paintgems2.htm

Even better tutorial of the same topic:
http://www.nicolecadet.com/blog/painting-gems

Good luck