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replicating a silver doped fabric finish

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Chicago, IL
replicating a silver doped fabric finish
Posted by mike_espo on Thursday, April 29, 2010 11:31 AM

I am working on a Accurate Miniatures 1/48 F3F-1. I am painting the wings and the reference material says the wings were silver doped fabricConfused

Any advice on how to replicate this finish? I have a number of Golden age biplane kits, so I will definately need a technique to replicate this....

 

thanks!!!

On the workbench:

Trumpeter 148 MiG -21F 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Thursday, April 29, 2010 11:35 AM

Yes, you could use what I use, Tamiya or Testors gloss aluminum in a rattle can.  An additional coat of clear acrylic is optional.

You might even be able to use non-hobby silver paints in rattlecans, like Krylon or Rust-o-leum.

Hope that helps!

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Chicago, IL
Posted by mike_espo on Thursday, April 29, 2010 12:34 PM

Thanks. Is there a way to use airbrush paints and not the spraycans??

On the workbench:

Trumpeter 148 MiG -21F 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, April 30, 2010 7:54 AM

I use either the Testors Aluminum enamel or their Metallic Silver.  Depends on what prototype.  Aircraft varied.  Ordinary aluminum doped are not super glossy, but some special planes (racing and aerobatic) have pretty nice finishes, sanded, rubbed, polished and clear doped.  For these I use the Metallic Silver which seems to provide a higher gloss but is a trickier finish to apply.  Again, for most, though- like production finish- I use the aluminum.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Friday, April 30, 2010 8:08 AM

Model Master non-buffing Aluminum enamel or, better yet, Floquil Bright Silver enamel will give a good replication.

Regards,  Rick 

RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Chicago, IL
Posted by mike_espo on Saturday, May 1, 2010 3:46 PM

I used the Testors non-buffing metalizer for the fuselage of the F3F. The instructions say the wings were silver doped fabric, and that the finish was more "reflective" than the fuselage.

Im thinking of using Tamiya Chrome Silver, or the Polyscale ATSF silver, check the results and see then if I should apply any satin or gloss coat. The Floquils enamels may be another option....

On the workbench:

Trumpeter 148 MiG -21F 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 11:42 AM

SnJ Spray Metal or Talon Acrylic

 

SnJ

Talon:

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Chicago, IL
Posted by mike_espo on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 6:14 PM

Wow!! The Nieuport looks great!!  ToastI used the pollyscale ATSF bright silver then buffed with SnJ metal flakes....looks pretty good.

Im trying to get a doped look. Not too shiny like metal, but so it looks like painted fabric.

On the workbench:

Trumpeter 148 MiG -21F 

  • Member since
    April 2010
Posted by Theuns on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 12:18 PM

Hi Mike.

Just as a matter of interest for some of your future "dope" projects. "silver" dope is purlely a clear butrate or nitrate dope with alluminium powder or paste mixed in to form a UV base.

It is only "semi" shiny when brand new and tends to go a little dull when exposed to the elements.On your WW1 and some WW2 planes the tipe of finnish you might look at is to brush on the silver (Tamiya X-11 works well) on to the surface.The production planes had the dope , even the colloured dope aplied with a brush ,it wastes less dope and any unskilled person could do it.The planes I have seen has quite a streaky look to it.

I aply silver dope to the planes I rebuild for folks with a spraygun only because it gives a nicer finnish.

With regaurds to the fabrick being more shiny than the metal painted aluu fuselarge I find confusing.The paint on the allu would most likely have been an enamel or similar ,wich is usually more shiny than the dope.

Good luck witrh your plane

 

Theuns

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