Painting a Blackbird SR-71...What finish of color Black is best? Flat, Satin or gloss?

Would Tamiya Rubber Black (TS-82) be a better color for the '71?  It would be a little grayish-black, and, of course, a flat finish.  Don't forget that these things seeped fuel when parked on the ramp, so a little darker, perhaps semigloss finish would be appropriate for the undersides of the wings.  

Gene Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

One thing that complicates a discussion about relative quality of brands is changing molding technology.  Many mfgs have new technology that makes their latest kits big improvement in molding quality- Revell included.  The last two Revell kits I have done were absolutely top notch. I did both versions (Offie and Ford) of their midget racing car, and then the PT-17 Stearman.  The molding on engine parts of all three kits were as good as any resin I have seen.  Airfix and Zvezda have this kind of molding on their latest releases.  There may be others, but those three are the ones I have personally done kits of.

BTW, on scale accuracy, those KK midget kits are absolutely the most accurate KK models I have ever built.  Not as familiar with all the details of the Stearman- it has been about fifty years since I was in one- but it sure looked good- had a complete tubular frame inside of fuselage.

Cadet Chuck, if this doesn't change your mind, then I don't know what would:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/134679.aspx

Cadet Chuck -

Why do you say to avoid all Revell kits? I did a P-47 Thunderbolt kit last year and it was a joy to build. Never had issues of fit, etc, whatsoever. In fact I do have another Revel kit in my stash - the recent Stearman kit.

I don't think Revell kits are all that terrible. I've done quite a few in my youth and even those weren't all that bad as you make them out to be.

Thanks everyone. I believe I may go with the satin finish with Dullcoat overcoat after decals. That may be the best way for me to go.

I wish I could do the kind of work so many on this site display so proudly. I realized after trying my dead level best for three years, that my models will never be entered into any contests, never be seen by anyone who could actually judge my efforts, and therefore are only important to myself. I  have been disabled from several injuries in the mid '90's to 2001, and working on models is a GREAT distraction from my chronic pain. So, thank you all for giving me goals too lofty to achieve, but providing me with a genuine respect for those who have mastered this hobby. I salute and thank you ALL!!!

patrick206

Sensational job on the 101, thanks.

Patrick

You're welcome, and thank you Patrick.

Gary

On the whole, I avoid any kits made by Revell.

Don above is right, age, slobbered fuel, sun and the washing process all take a toll on flat black finishes. Over the years I've seen '71's with age, flight hours, cleaning and sun deterioration damage to the finish, while a '71 just coming out of heavy maintenance checks and finish refurbishment did actually look like a pristine flat black. As they age it seems they do get a bit more of a SLIGHTLY semi-gloss appearance

Sensational job on the 101, thanks.

Patrick

The blackbirds I have seen seem to be a satin or semi-gloss. I expect the environment will give some reflectance to a really flat paint over a fairly short time.  Testors makes a paint called "Black Chrome" which is a nice semi-matt/semi-gloss.  I have been a bit disappointed in some of the semi-gloss from Krylon, though I use Krylon a lot for other things.  Also, I would gray up the black a bit too, as nothing seems to stay really black once you roll it out into the real world.

Bob, it is a bit of a challenge, I found, to do an all-black aircraft.   I painted my Monogram RF-101B Voodoo in a pseudo-Blackbird scheme a few years back.  I used flat, gloss and satin black, and then used the same three "shades(?)" of clear acrylic as finish coats, accenting panels and different areas that way.  Here's a pic of that build:

and a slide show with several more pictures:

HI Bob!

Sorry to hear about the fit issues with your Revell kit.  I built their 1/72 kit about a year and a half ago and had a real good time with it.  No issues that I can recall.  In fact, my modeling time is very limited and I was so happy to have an inexpensive kit with a low part count and good fit.  I know there's the gap around most of the bottom of the plane along the leading edge of the wings and chines but it was a pretty straightforward when it came to puttying and sanding.

I painted mine gloss black, applied the decals and then hit it with Dullcote to seal it all up.  As Rob stated above, and based on the photos I took while visiting the SAC Museum in Omaha, the plane seems to be an overall dull finish.

I didn't do this to my Blackbird but I have heard of others mixing in a few drops of blue in with their black paint.  Come to think of it, that reminds me of something I did a while ago on one of my P-61s.  I mixed gloss black with flat black using a 1/1 ratio.  That way the finished coat came out not exactly flat but not exactly glossy either.  It was somewhere in between.  Maybe something to consider.

Hope that helps!

Eric

Based on the one at the Smithsonian Dulles museum (you hould be able to find good pictures online), go with flat.

Groot