Angular

I love hearing about influences. If there’s one thing I’m fascinated by, it’s how influences impact style. Be that the style of a loadout, a blaster, or a paint job.

I remember while studying I dismissed some text as, “…style over content.” It was a lazy analysis on my part. The course tutor asked me if I’d considered that style is content: discursive, ideological content. I liked the sound of that. Looking back, it was one of the most influential teachings I absorbed and upon reflection it helped confirm to me that style has value in and of itself.

One of the positives about writing a blog is that not only do I get to document what influences the style of others, I also get to hear what people think influences me; normally with reference to my paint jobs.

Having just completed my latest paint job by spraying my mags, I’ve had time to think about what influenced me this time.

For V2.0, I kept the colours from V1.0 of the 416 paint job. These colours were influenced by pics of RAF Harriers in their Norwegian camo: dark sea grey bands over white. The white looks tatty in a lot of the pics. This is exactly what I’m after and what will come with use; the MTN94 Bone White won’t look bright for long.

After testing a few greens, I decided on Halfords Green. This is something of a feldgrau and is as grey as it is green. I also prefer the way Halfords paint goes on to any other brand.

To the Harrier-influenced colourway of grey-green and off-white, I also added Halfords Khaki. I’d seen pics of USAF F16s in three-tone Aggressor camo which I really liked, so decided to combine that aesthetic, too.

I decided against incorporating Humbrol Dark Brown 29. This has been fundamental in every paint job I’ve done up until now and whilst it’s an awesome colour I wanted to do something completely different.

So the colours were sorted and I’d already resolved not to use my usual cargo net to help the pattern along. Indeed, the pattern I decided on represents a complete schism with anything I’d done previously. It was influenced by naval Dazzle camouflage and Keith Ferris’ work for the US military.

So, I’ve ended up with something stark, angular, distinctive and quite removed from my ‘usual’ style. Pretty much what I set out to achieve. I just need to get it dirty.