Dear members,
I am a new member from Great Britain. Plastic modelling was one of my favourite hobbies when I was a youngster. Now after a hiatus of about 12 years I have returned to the hobby, and, like before, my favourite category are WW2 era airplanes. I am currently building Monogram's 1/48 scale Douglas Invader A26B. The kit offers a choice of two decal sets, both during the Second World War. I want to model the one that was called "Stinky", with the attractive smiling shark's (?) teeth painted on the nose. The overall color is natural metal. I find that this project is challenging enough even if I just build it straight from the box, and am experimenting seriously for the first time with techniques such as wash and drybrushing as well as using tools and equipment I han't used before. Moreover, this is the first model that I've used an airbrush on. Now I come to the point of my message.
I have airbrushed my model with two coats of Humbrol's metalcote polished aluminium no. 27002 - a paint which once dry can be polished to achieve a metal like finish. However, when I tried to gently polish the paint with a soft cloth I found the paint was coming off and that I was soon rubbing down to the plastic. The paintwork is sensitive enough to be tainted by fingermarks even though I handle the model with care wearing latex gloves. I wonder what causes this problem.
As a relative newcomer to plastic modelling and using an airbrush for the first time I experimented with a paint/thinner ratio of 2/1. Could it be that I have applied too much thinner to my paint?
I have also wondered whether I should have applied a primer first to help the gloss paint to adhere better. If so, then what type of undercoat would do? And as for how to strip off the gloss then obviously in this case I could do it by rubbing a soft cloth, but surely there must be a better and quicker way than that.
When I finally get the paintwork right, should I apply a coat of varnish to it? I have heard someone say that metallic paint and varnish react adversely.
I am prepared to experiment, yet of course I would dearly love to see myself turning out a good model of the Invader.
I would be very grateful to hear from anybody who are interested in the invader, and the more so if they can offer answers to my enquiry.
All the best, Haydn.