Secret Santa GB 2019/2020

Sailing_Dutchman

After two weeks of decaling I sprayed the clear coat and this happened:

Time to strip down to the plastic do it all over again. This time I will mask and paint instead of using the decals.

 

BK

Sailing_Dutchman

After two weeks of decaling I sprayed the clear coat and this happened:

Time to strip down to the plastic do it all over again. This time I will mask and paint instead of using the decals.

 

Ouch!

The F-35 production now has the same color RAM tape as the base color. You may not need to paint the tape a diffrent color.

Boy, this thread has been quiet this year. Well, I have finally managed to make some progess on the Dicker Max. Knowing that it is an open top tank, I realized I needed to paint and assemble the crew area first, assemble the body and then paint the outer. So, I have most of the work done on the crew area, including the engine and driver area. Which will 95% disappear when I attach the upper to lower hull. Oh well, I know its painted up. Here is where I stand at the moment.

Now I've taken some liberties on the painting. I am sure, and photos support this, that these were all panzer grey inside, and that means everything. BUT, if I did that you would not be able to see anything. SO, since we know some panzers had off white interiors, I used that to paint the seat frames, and main gun that way. This allows some interest for the eye and allows you to make out some more details that would be lost to a monotone scheme. This particular unit also only saw about 3-4 months action before being destroyed. It is unlikely it was weathered or chipped up in that time frame. But, again, for visual interest I've taken some liberties to make it more appealing to look at. I hope you all are safe and having fun.

BK

I'm all-in for the visually appealing paint scheme BK. Looking fantastic. 
will have to get to my sci-fi Enterprise after I finish my BIG E over in the American Flag Ships GB. That's taking all my mo jo right now as there's so much to do.

That crew compartment is the size of a small apartment!

The Max is looking good!

I really need to get back to decaling the Leopard...I've been sidetracked with a Korean War build lately.  Shame on me!

I just pulled my Secret Santa Kit out of the stash - 1/48 Eduarad Taifun so I'll be on the board shortly

Starting on the 1/48 Eduard Bf-108 Taifun ProfiPACK.  Looks like a really nice kit.  Comes with a PE fret, canopy masks and a whole bunch of options for markings.  Not sure which markings I'm going to do.  3 sprues - I'm guessing a quick build but we will see.

Nice kit, John. I just added this one to my stash this last winter. I am looking forward to seeing it build up. It's interesting that such a good looking plane doesn't get more attention from builders. I can't say that I've seen anyone else do one, that I can recall anyway.

BK

Oh dear, this is slipping too far down the GB thread list!

I am hoping to return to the Leopard over the long 4th weekend, and get it decalled up.  For some reason, I just keep putting off wrapping up this build, and I don't know why.  7 months into 2020, started 4 projects, and haven't finished a single one...  

Glamdring

7 months into 2020, started 4 projects, and haven't finished a single one...  

I hear you loud and clear. I too have been working sparingly on my kits. I have 3 going and none done. I do have the Max base painted and just got the modulation paint to finish the paint work. But, in the mean time I have gone back to working on my 1/700 carrier jets and heli's. Those things are making me go blind. I am trying to wrap both of them up in the next few weeks and then on to other kits, but the motivation this year has been lacking. I am more motivated now that I can see the finish line on both. Carry on and get'r done.

BK

Update on the Dickermax. I painted this in the Vallejo Panzer grey and it was super monotone and you couldn't make out any shape or seperate parts, it all blended together. SO I went to Youtube and watched a video from AK showing how they paint Panzer grey using a 6 part modulation set to bring out shapes and details. I was sold. SO, after getting the set I went and painted this up using the set which is basically 6 shades of grey. Working from bottom to top in dark to light I was able to bring out the shape of the Max and show off some details. It now looks like its sitting in the sun, much better. I will begin to use filters and paint the tools, then begin to weather and beat it up some. I hope everyone is safe and enjoying themselves.

BK

Definitely the way to go is layering. I will start with black basing, then the base color lightening it up as I go.

That is a great job on that Max...I may have to look into that paint set as well for a couple blah pieces collecting dust on the shelf of doom.

Time for me to stop ogling your excellent builds and contribute something myself. Usually I'm on these early in the year but I started a couple major ones in 2020 so this one has sat on the sidelines. Going to try and finish it up to go with her namesake the USS Enterprise CVN-65 by August. Here's my starting point

TheMongoose

So this is my 1st sci-fi style kit. Funnything to me is, my first comment is dang this is some funny smelling plant, what galaxy is it from? Seriously.

Hmmm, the USS Kelvin had a lethal smell that I traced to the instruction sheet.  It was so bad I got a headache every time I opened the box!  I left the box open and aired out the instructions for a week.  The smell is mostly gone now.

Real G

 

 

TheMongoose

So this is my 1st sci-fi style kit. Funnything to me is, my first comment is dang this is some funny smelling plant, what galaxy is it from? Seriously.

 

 

 

Hmmm, the USS Kelvin had a lethal smell that I traced to the instruction sheet.  It was so bad I got a headache every time I opened the box!  I left the box open and aired out the instructions for a week.  The smell is mostly gone now.

 

Hah, and i just noticed that autocorrect is a Little Shop of Horrors sci-fi fan as it turned plastic into plant  funnier that way me thinks 

Nice, looking forward to it Ben.

If I didn't make it more complicated the actual assembly would go pretty quick. I'd say a day for painting clear parts and the next day assembling. I feel these are all about the paint and details...and in my case the lights. 'Cause that's what I m into right now 

For the warp engines I put an over all coat of clear blue on, then went across the engines to make the darker blue lines, then went on each side of those lines and sprayed some grimey black to add some shadows. With the light behind it I believe you can get an idea of how it will look. The finished warp engine will have aluminum foil inside toreflect the light so hopefully it doesn't look like a single source.

Now for the impulse engines this is where I discovered the value of the aluminum foil. The nano led's made a beam style light that didn't look right. So i pointed them down and that looked better. Then i had the foil idea. I left the lights pointing down so they'd reflect back out the engines. In this pic the left one has foil and the right one doesn't. Looks like a big difference right?

Now, you know that looks awesome right?

Holy crap!! That looks AWESOME!! Now I am totally stoked to see this more than ever.

BK

Dang guys thanks! Excited that it garners such positive comments. Definitely will continue to study pics of the show. now the pressure's on to keep the build level high  

I posted it up in scifi as well now to get some advice as I go. 

Very nice work there. I am still trying to strip the paint off mine. Normally I would simply use some Purple Power or Easy-Off, by I can not find either here. I have ordered the ingredients to make my own but they will not arrive for several weeks 

Sailing_Dutchman

Very nice work there. I am still trying to strip the paint off mine. Normally I would simply use some Purple Power or Easy-Off, by I can not find either here. I have ordered the ingredients to make my own but they will not arrive for several weeks 

 

BK

Finally got cranking on the decals, after a coat of Future on the panels, and some MicroSol, they went down just fine:

Not really sure what the bumper sticker is denoting, but it was only called for on this vehicle and not the other 3 options.

You can't really tell, but the little characters looks like "I heart Illinois Longhorns." 

Had some frosting one two of the decals, both on this side of the tank, oddly enough  I am hoping that it resolve itself and go away overnight.

Any ideas what would cause this, or how to fix if it doesn't clear up?  I am thinking maybe another coat of Future?  Failing that, I just may mask the decal and repaint the surrounding area.

Next up, after the frosting is fixed, a clear coat, some filters to tie it all the great tones together, and the long awaited weathering.

It's coming along nicely and looking very good. The bumper sticker has me scratching my head too. As far as that decal, I would use some tape and pull it off. As easy a shape as that is I would just go and paint it on instead. I find decals lift very easy with tape as long as you haven't cleared them over yet. Good luck.

BK

Glamdring did you put the decals down over flat paint? If so it may just be trapped air under there. If you don't want to remove them and paint them on then You can try poking the edge in a few places lightly with a pin. Then brush a little microsol in that area. It will wick under the Carrier film and pull your decal down, removing the air. try it and see. If it works do the whole thing.

TheMongoose

Glamdring did you put the decals down over flat paint? If so it may just be trapped air under there. If you don't want to remove them and paint them on then You can try poking the edge in a few places lightly with a pin. Then brush a little microsol in that area. It will wick under the Carrier film and pull your decal down, removing the air. try it and see. If it works do the whole thing.

 

No, the odd thing was that I put Future floor polish, or whatever they rebranded it now, on all the panels, and let it cure overnight.  The decal itself and the carrier film turned out fine, the frosted areas aren't covered by the decal. 

It is just as if the Microsol reacted with either the the Future, our tap water that I used on the brush to position the decal, or there was something on my wetted finger.  (which was also used to position the decal after dipping in tap water)

I scrubbed with more tap water and my thumb tip tonight, and most of the frost went away, so something funky went on with the Microsol on just on the two decals!  Either way, any remaining traces will hopefully disappear with the filters and dust washes.

Well that's great to hear! You could definitely see it.