Mixing Design Styles

[Bazookafied]

If theres one issue I've run into more than once, its clashing designs.  Its happened multiple times and I was wondering if theres a way around it.  To clarify the problem, I'll explain:

Say you've got a MS Design thats very curvy, like a traditional Zeonic Design.  You want to add these parts to it, but the parts themselves are more angular and boxy in design.  Is there a way to get them to mesh better?

[fugu]

It's that this hasn't gotten a reply so far.

The question seems a bit unclear to me. Are you refering to the general/overall design aesthetic or the "spirit" of how a mech of a faction is supposed to look?

By observation, especially in AOZ designs, it seems to me that most people use paint to make it all come togeather. An angular part connected to a curvier one painted the same color tend to look "natural" as opposed to them being in different colors. Of course there are exceptions and it does not work everytime  but unless you want a part to stand out I think paint would be easiest.

[Bazookafied]

Sorry if I'm not clear.  I should just post my problem out there:

My Dendrobium Project specifically is in some design trouble.  The curvy and sleek design of the Dendroibum Orchis unit doesn't seem to mesh well with the edgy and detailed design of the Hazel and its components. Normally, yess, curved and edged parts together in small surfaces can mesh okay with paint, but the Dendrobium and the Hazel-Rah Second Form are just so massive that its like trying to combine a Salamis Class Cruiser with a Musai.  

This is a problem I've seen on some other amateur custom builds and I figured it was something that could be addressed.

[FichtenFoo]

Well... take some cues from the Fiver. It's got curvy and hard-edged all mixed into one. You'll need a good bit of putty (I recommend Magic Sculpt) and styrene to achieve what you want. Perhaps just adding the hazel to the Dendro isn't the best way to go. Perhaps like Ashinomori you can chop it up and add things where YOU think they'll look good. Seperate the boosters from the weapons pods for example and add them to the backs of the legs. Use lots of gold bars and bits like I did on the Stutzer, etc... Colors will help as well. Also you're photos are pretty bad so that makes it difficult to see exactly what's going on.

[Bazookafied]

Seperate the boosters from the weapons pods for example and add them to the backs of the legs.

Are you under the impression that this is the 1/550th Dendroibum I'm working with?  I can't see how I would add booster or weapons pods to the back of the legs, as those are about the size of the MS anyways.  I'm working with a 1/144th HGUC Dendrobium Orchis and a HGUC Hazel Custom.

I think the aformentioned steryne sheets and putty can help.  Perhaps if I style the I-Field like the Fivers and relocate the weapons pods...  I need to make sure I make this as little like the Dendrobium as possible but still give it that feel... never said it would be easy.

For adding details, what do you guys use.  I know I can create boxy effects with the steryne to mesh the designs better, but are there details I can scratchbuild or maybe a set of detail pieces?

[FichtenFoo]

I know you're usin g the 1/144... I mean cut it up and make it "stand" on the rear boosters with the vents pointing downward. The "boxes" can be like the strum unit on the gaplant and face outward from eachother with their backs glued together. Add some more boosters to the back of the box and some more ailerons. Like a big-ass rear skirt. Etc...

As for the detail parts, scratch them or buy some from mechaskunk's store. http://www.mechaskunk.com/store.htm

HLJ and Rainbow10 carry the Wave and Kotobukiya option parts like thrusters, minus molds, etc....