Never masking with play-doh again

I have not had that happen to me before... but I have had it leave an oily residue. It is good to see that yu got it off alright in the end.  BTW I like the green on grey scheme, mine is grey on grey and t is a bit boring. That is the Yak kit from Eduard right?  Looking good.

I too stay away from play-doh as it leaves a residue, and they dry out eventually. I find silly putty to work much better - they aren't as 'crumply' as play dough and I've been using the same blob of silly putty for over a year now.

Yeah I just masked the La-5 with silly putty following this misadventure - MUCH better. 

As for this bird, yep, it's the Eduard Yak-3. A bit on the simple side, but a solid kit. The only really nasty part, IMO, is the landing gear and wheels.

The paint is actually White Ensign's AMT-11 and AMT-12, but the dark gray certainly has a greenish hue to it. 

Note to self: Play-doh is only for eating!

I've got a 1/72 in gray over gray too, but it's brightened up a bit with some artwork near the cockpit. I like your green (gray??) over gray too. though, nice contrast.

The colors are way diferent from the Floquil ones I used. I really like the green tint better than the gray one I used. I will have to post a picture...once I figure out how...but mine is nowhere close to yours in quality.

Hercmech

The colors are way diferent from the Floquil ones I used. I really like the green tint better than the gray one I used. I will have to post a picture...once I figure out how...but mine is nowhere close to yours in quality.

From what I understand, White Ensign's VVS colors are the best-researched and closest-to-accurate paints available. As accurate as you can get with WWII Soviet colors, at any rate...

Depending on the images I've dug up, the lighter gray seems a dead match. The darker gray is a bit more complex. In some pics it looks more bluish, and in others more green. Either way, it definitely has more complexity than just light and dark gray.

The dark green that the Russians used, I've read in several places, was often tractor paint, whatever batch they could get their hands on!

I've never tried using play-doh for a mask...or in this case, play D'OH!.....ha, see what I did there? Come on, it was a little funny....

Any how, if I ever need to mask in a similar fashion, I use a kneaded eraser. You know, those putty-like erasers that are usually blue or gray in color. It can be pulled apart and shaped in exactly the same way. It leaves no residue that I've seen and isn't sticky.

VanceCrozier

The dark green that the Russians used, I've read in several places, was often tractor paint, whatever batch they could get their hands on!

Yep, WEM makes a shade of it, too!

http://store.midtennhobbies.com/wem-colourcoats-wwii-soviet-vvs-tractor-green---acs13-p2681.aspx

oddmanrush

I've never tried using play-doh for a mask...or in this case, play D'OH!.....ha, see what I did there? Come on, it was a little funny....

Any how, if I ever need to mask in a similar fashion, I use a kneaded eraser. You know, those putty-like erasers that are usually blue or gray in color. It can be pulled apart and shaped in exactly the same way. It leaves no residue that I've seen and isn't sticky.

Believe me, d'oh was very much on the timid side of things I was saying!

Great suggested on the kneaded eraser! Might have to try that next time! 

OK Going to try a picture of the color I got on mine. Bear in mind by no means am a a fantastic builder but here goes.

Hercmech, I love the red nose & tail on that one.

Well, why do you think it's called Play-DOH!?

I said BREAD-doug, NOT Play-Doh!!! 

Luckily you saved it or you would have been out some DOUGH on that build...

DOH not use that stuff again...

DOUGHn't you know better?

VanceCrozier

Hercmech, I love the red nose & tail on that one.

Thanks! The Testors Russian Marker Red nose came out realy well but the decals for the flag were a bit faded and a little pink. But I still like the green tinted pgray Dogg got on his. Oh well it was a fun kit to build and next time I will go for the White Ensign paint shade.

Hercmech - don't know why you're being so hard on yourself - your Yak looks great! Love the weathering. Paintwise, the only thing I can see is that the AMT-11 (the light gray) is too warm. It's supposed to be more of a blue-gray, almost with a violet tint to it. But that could also be the lighting/white balance/weathering throwing things off, too.

I was going to go with those same markings, but after fighting with the atrocious IP decal, I ordered some aftermarket decals. Don't get to do the cool red nose, but I do get a red spinner with NMF backplate!

Took some new pics of the Yak last night against a gray background for better color accuracy. There's still a greenish tint to the AMT-12, but nowhere near as saturated as it appears in earlier photos.

I love your Yak and want to marry it...

Doogs,

Thanks for the compliment. It does suck you dont get to do the red nose,. That was the one thing that really drew me to that kit. It was my first Eduard kit, and I found the kit just like you... simple but solid, just wish the decals were not so thick and hard to work with. But I liked the kit enough to buy several more Eduard kits and I am glad I did.

Manny,

You can marry my Yak but it will cost you two cows, and a camel

Hercmech

Manny,

You can marry my Yak but it will cost you two cows, and a camel

...one hump or two?

Hercmech

I liked the kit enough to buy several more Eduard kits and I am glad I did.

Yeah I've enjoyed the kit enough that I went out and got the La-7 profi-pack. I've read that there are severe accuracy issues with the fuselage aft of the cockpit, but I'm no rivet counter, and 100% of people who see my models in person will never spot the difference.

I've also got their F6F-3 in the stash and their Hellcat Mk. I/II Dual Combo on my Christmas list. Two awesome Hellcats with PE, masks and cool Fleet Air Arm markings for like $40? Sold.

I wonder if this is the same moulding as the Accurate Miniatures kit?

Hercmech and Doogs, the putty really does give you a nice soft edge.  That looks much easier than rolled masking tape for edges.  Herc, did you paint a thin brown line to edge your camo patterns?  It looks like it, and it looks good.  The red dirtied up looks great.  Nice looking work for the both of you.  Doogs, you are becoming an aircraft factory, keep em coming.  Hey, are the Wildcats still standing on all three?  I know little guys can bring a lot of wear and tear if they get their hands on them.  Rick.

Wabashwheels

 Herc, did you paint a thin brown line to edge your camo patterns?  It looks like it, and it looks good.  The red dirtied up looks great.  Nice looking work for the both of you. 

Yeah I did, I think it was a very thinned Vallejo smoke, but it may have been a mix...I have slept since I did it so I can’t really recall.  I also did my first time trying vertical streaking with it I think it gave a bit of a slight varation to the scheme that to my eyes looks alright.

Thanks for the comment on the red, that was my favorite part of the build and it came out way better than expected.

Manny - I don't think so. I know AM has a Yak-1, but this kit's plastic feels different, if that makes any sense. It's relatively hard, thick and shiny. That and there aren't any locator pins and, at least judging by the AM kits I've encountered, the parts count is too low by a factor of at least 3...

Rick - Man, I've got nothing on Kermit! Think he's pumped out four kits since I started on these birds! Hoping to wrap these guys up in the next week or two, then it's on to the P-38 and P-47. After that, I think I might set the wingy things aside and take a crack at my first armor kit in 17 years. Got a Tamiya M4 early production that I think'll make a perfect reintroduction. If I can keep my hands of the AFV Club Achilles and Tasca M4A3(76) I've added to the stash!

As for the Wildcats, they're still alive and well. They're currently crashing with the Mustang and Dauntless in my office until I can get off my duff and hang some shelves in the kids' rooms. Fall activities have been swallowing my weekends whole the past few weeks...

Also...the Yak's lines are freehand. Started with the play-doh mask, but the wiping and wet sanding messed with the fresh paint in areas, so I went back over it at the end of the session.