Red Baron stearman

Looking good Don.  Red and white look so good together, but always pose challenges for us modelers.  How much of the scheme is decals vs required paint? 

The Red Baron logos of course will be inkjet decals.  Almost all fuselage except for front ring of cowl will be decals.  I have the logos done, and am working on stripes.  these have pinstriping borders, so will do these with decals too.  Wing leading edge, center section and tips will be painted.  Stars, name Red Baron, and logos will be decals.

I am concerned about matching colors between decals and paint, but have some ideas.  I am using Testors just plain Red enamel (small square jar).  I will be making a test print of stripes with slight variations, to see which one matches paint best- sort of like test strips in printing photographs for those who have done photo printing.

Don Stauffer

I am concerned about matching colors between decals and paint, but have some ideas. I am using Testors just plain Red enamel (small square jar). I will be making a test print of stripes with slight variations, to see which one matches paint best- sort of like test strips in printing photographs for those who have done photo printing.

I still love those old square-bottle enamels!

Looking at the photo, my guess is you'll need to add a drop or two of yellow...depending on how your color prints out.

Following with much interest.

Closed up fuselage, added lower wing.  Have that assembly primed now.  Upper wing has been primed and one coat of Testors gloss classic white- in drying box now.  Testors gloss enamel takes forever to dry so I built a drying box several years ago.

While paint was drying, I had been working on decal sheet.  Tried to post an image of the sheet yesterday- it would not load to Postimage site!  Only thing I can figure is that maybe they have some sort of software that recognizes logos (Red Baron), and it is probably copyright.

Had a mini-disaster yesterday.  In an attempt to speed up drying, I raised the temp in my drying box- bad idea.  Warped both upper wing and lower wings.  I jigged them up straight and put them back in box.  It worked. Took them out this morning.  Will be dailing back on the temperature of the box :-(

Don Stauffer

Had a mini-disaster yesterday. In an attempt to speed up drying, I raised the temp in my drying box- bad idea. Warped both upper wing and lower wings. I jigged them up straight and put them back in box. It worked. Took them out this morning. Will be dailing back on the temperature of the box :-(

Glad to hear you dodged the bullet on that one, Don!

Build is looking most excellent. Can't wait to see her with her colors on!

sort of like test strips in printing photographs for those who have done photo printing.

Now that brings back fun times memories!

Enjoy watching your builds.

Cool build!  I've been thinking of getting one of these myself!

Fly-n-hi

Cool build!  I've been thinking of getting one of these myself!

 

They are a real bargain.  Really good detail and fit (internal fuselage steel tubing for full length of fuselage).  And I believe price is about 18 bucks! You'll love it.  There are two version on hobby shop shelves now- the original military trainer, and a modified plane used in airshows- popular mods with a 450 Wasp replacing the Lycoming 220, a cowl for engine, and wheel pants.  My Red Baron versioin doesn't use the pants.

Don't often see a WIP from you, Don.

Thanks for sharing this one. Looking good so far. Glad you were able to correct the mishap.

Got the red trim paint on- a few minor flaws but I think I will live with them or touch them up with small brush or toothpick.  Got a few decals on.  I was anxious to do this to see how well the color of the decals matched the red Testors paint.  Top wing is just sitting on, to see what it looks like.

Had a few problems with the decal sheet.  Forgot the logo on the upper wing goes over the red center section, rather than white, like the rest of the logos, so need to do a white underlay decal.  Also, two squadron logos on either side of the vertical stab were the wrong size, will need to resize and reprint those.  Other than that, decaling is going well.

Warning!  If you intend to duplicate the Red Baron plane, do not use the airscoops on the right side,nor drill out the holes for them!  I found the big logo decal would not fit properly over the scoops.  When I checked my photos of the plane, I noticed... no scoops there!

I ruined that decal, but I always print duplicates of all of them, so hope to finish up the residue from pulling off the scoops, touch up the paint, and try again with a new decal today!

It's done!  On the other hand, I made some goofs along the way, and on fixing those I blemished a few spots.  I like the results well enough, however, that I have ordered a second kit, and will do it over again, using lessons learned in the first build.  Quite a few inches of snow in my back yard, so not photo-backdrop shots, just the eBay style photo.

Darn nice. Don!  Not an easy paint scheme.

Very nice work Don, red and white are always tough to work with, especially on rigid surfaces and then trying to match decals.

Wow, Don, that's quite a stunner. Can't wait to see it in daylight.

Well done!

Just beautiful, Don.

Yes, she's a real beauty.  I have the Revell Aerobatic Stearman release and now want to move it up the queue.  Thanks for the fantastic inspiration.  Is that rigging EZ line ?

SteveFL

Yes, she's a real beauty.  I have the Revell Aerobatic Stearman release and now want to move it up the queue.  Thanks for the fantastic inspiration.  Is that rigging EZ line ?

 

No, the rigging is fine stainless wire.  A friend did that on his.  I had on hand some 0.015 piano wire, and used that.  It is a bit too big.  I have ordered 0.007 wire and will use that on my re-do.  The wires on the Stearman, and most aircraft from classic era of thirties and early forties were not stranded cable but forged single piece rods, with an airfoil cross section.  I know of no easy way to get that cross section, but I don't think most people will notice the round versus airfoil shaped cross section on wire that small.  It is very shiny, however, not gray oxidize like stranded wire.  On the tail I used monofilament nylon, colored with one of those new chrome pens.

Spring has finally arrived, and I set up my photographic stuff in back yard, and got some photobackdrop shots

Wow! You've tricked me again Don. This thing looks real! Good job on the concept and realistic photography!

Max

Hodakamax

Wow! You've tricked me again Don. This thing looks real! Good job on the concept and realistic photography!

Max 

+1 - me too