Finally finished this one

Good plane iam thinking about doing a jap plane myself.

For everything but the panel lines, I do a couple of dusting coats of Future, followed by a wetter one. From the first dust to the wet coat, I try to have it done within an hour or so ((you don't want the lower coats to start shrinking before the wetter coat),let that dry 24-48 hours. When you take the brush w/ thinner to it, start with it so dry that you don't think it will work, and experiment till it just removes it. Of course, do this on a test surface until you get a "feel" for it. It takes time, but I feel the results are worth it. The only thing that I do differently on the panel lines is that I don't apply the wetter coat. Instead, I build it up gradually with thinner coats. The panel lines are shallower than the recess around things like landing gear. Hope this helps, I think we're all looking forward to seein that 'Stang !

Wow...panel lines are awesome..very nicely done Pix
i tried to do use the wash on one of my bird's landing struts and it started to take the paint off and it got all sticky what did i do wrong and how many coats of future is a safe amount for the thinner not to take the paint off? or should i be asking what is the safe amount of thinner?

Thanks, everyone, for the positive responses. A word of caution about removing the wash, though - too much thinner on the paper towel may eat through the Future. If you want the panel lines over the decals, as I prefer, make sure they are snuggled down. Cut them, if necessary, and apply more solution. Make sure they are covered in Future, as the thinner will destroy them (voice of experience ?)

Nice work.

Pixilater,
Thanks for the weathering information.
fuzzy

Very nice Hayate!
I built the Arii (ex-Otaki) Hayate about 10 years ago, and man, what a struggle that was! And those rivets...ah well, I was happy with it in the end!

After all the decals are applied & dried (waiting a day for each), I shoot the plane with another coat of Future. The next day, I mix some of the base coat with black (both enamel) and thin it with thinner. I apply it with a #OOO brush, letting the capillary action draw it along the recesses and ridges. the next day, I load an eyedropper with thinner and touch the end (don't squeeze the bulb) to a paper towel, and blot it with another to remove more thinner. It should be almost dry. I then wipe it across the plane, folling the airflow, for one or two swipes. Then I repeat this process until I'm finished. Then, under magnification, I use the #OOO brush, dipped in thinner and blotted out, to clean up and define areas that don't look realistic. The natural metal was given a wash if watercolor (after coating with Future) and dry-brushed with Testors Chrome Silver. Now, if I can only find a reversable way of replicating chipped paint . . .

Thanks for sharing and the recommendation.
Wow, after posting I saw an enlarged picture.
Nice weathering. How did you weather your panel lines?
fuzzy

Hey Pix,
I take it that your a man on a mission
Flaps up, Mike

Very nicely done, especially with the weathering. Keep posting the finished ones! And yes, you are not alone. I also have several unfinished that are just breaking my heart...

demono69