Revell Ar 555 Complete page 5

Thanks Steve. I hope to have some more soon.

That thing looks great! Stunning work on the pit and gear. Did you use tape to hold the lines in place? I've been using CA with limited success. I need another way to attach hydraulic hoses.

BK

Thanks BK. I used thin strips of lead foil to replicate the straps use on real aircrat to hold the brake lines in place. I use a black craft wire and find that CA holds that fine. I used the same type of wire, just a bit thicker, for the wiring to the IP and thats held with CA glue.

Stunning work in that small scale Bish. The gears and office look fantabulous.

Cheers PJ.

Love the way you did the seats Bish.  And your subjects appear to get stranger and stranger each time. 

Thanks allan. And if you think this is strange, you wait until you see whats up next. Its British, how weird is that

Thnaks Bob. As i always say, its what i am used to so doesn't seem that special to me.

The Arao has been coming on slwly but i am really happy with how its going and its nice not to be rushing things. With everything else done, it was time to add the vertical tails and close up and mask the pit.

And also masked the bomb bay and wheel wells.

I have decided to try out the Black bashing method as used by a few other members of the forum. So after looking at several builds, and bending a few ears with question, i decided to go for it. I like to try new things if i think they will give me the look i want, but at the same time i don't want just one look as i like to approach each build differantly as to the finish as it will all depend on a number of factors. This being a Luft 46 build, i felt it was a good one to try out something new.

So first of all, it got an overall coat of Black Alclad primer. Some may have seen my thread where i asked about an issue i ha with the primer blistering where it was over some enamel overspray fom the unit and Eastern front markings. That was an easy fix but somthing i will look at to avoid in future.

But the rest of the aircraft was fine and i do like the finish Alclad gives.

Is it just me, or does anyone else thinks this looks like something Batman would have.

Next up was a random dotting of RLM 76 on the underside. I am useing the new colourcoats, first time i have tried these since WEM closed down. They go down really nice, typical Enamel's. I did have a bit of splattering at first, but after a drop more thinner, it was fine.

After leaving that to dry, i have it several thing coats over all of the same RLM 76. I really like this approach as you can build it up until you achieve the level you want. If its not subtle enough, add another layer. I wanted a finish more on the subtle side and am really happy with how it turned out.

I have also been working on the vehciles this wek, the Kubelwagen and truck are now ready for primer, no pics of those yet. But yesterday my SS100 arrived from Kora.

But clearly i had misread the box when i ordered it. The otehr bomb i have is a 4ton device, this is a 4.5 ton and is some what bigger.

Kora left, Antares right.

So, not only is the Kora bomb to heavy at 4.5 ton, it won't fit in the bomb bay. I kow its a What If subject and the bomb won't actually be in the bay, but i like to be some what realistic. So the plan is to use the Anters bomb and just scratchbuild the cradle the bombs sits in on the trolley.

Thats all for now folks.

LOL Bish, that freaking Arado reminds me of the Martian spacecraft from War of the Worlds (original film). It's shaping up very nicely.

That blackbasing technique is kind of similar to what I did on my Tomcat for the Gul War GB. I preshaded most of the panel lines in black then shot random areas in black and tan enamels to get a dirty look on the paint then covered up most of it with the top coat just leaving a hint. 

That's good you were able to recover from the peeling paint issue. This looks like a very interesting and unique dio.

Thanks PJ. ye, i can see what you mean about the Martian ship.

I am not going to go to heavy with weathering on this, this method seems to be giving me the sort of result i want. The trick will be on top as i will be addign 3 colours, so will see how that works.

It wasn't to much of a drama, but certainly one i would rather avoid. I need to get the Kora truck done now as i need to find out if it will fit uner the bomber, or the dio layout may have to change a bit.

Bish

If the trailer/bomb combo doesn't fit under he Martian ship then how about a sunken pit like the ones that were used to fix cars some years back before the lift came into use? The trailer can be backed into the loading pit right under the bay area.

Ye, i have thought about that option. I know thats what they did for the US A-Bombs to be loaded into the B-29's. I am just going to get the truck together enough so i can check. I was also palnning on a laddr up to the access hatch, as long as its not in the way.

Hey Bish,

I like your first layers of paint.  If I can ever get some bench time, I want to give the black basing technique a try.  I like where you're going with the Diorama.

Steve

Thnaks Steve, and ye, give it a try. And if you don't like it, its easy to cover.

Wow Bish, everything from the attention to detail in the cockpit to the paint scheme is just amazing.  I realy like the way you're moving forward with this build, this is one unique (Martian) aircraft!  LOL!

Toshi

Thanks Toshi, glad you like it. And this Martian thing might catch on.

That thing looks bad @$$ even without the engines.

BK

It does don't it.

The undersides came out really well.  Looks like youre getting that black basing groove, Bish.

Thanks allan. Just got the doting sprayed onto the top side. I'll be able to get the over all grey added on wed. It is really good practice for mottling.

Okay, since you have a little experience with this, do you think this would work with a dark green base with a tan color over the top? I've been considering this idea for my P-40. Perhaps a dark brown under tan?

Obviously the results are worth the effort judging from your build.

Mike, i am not sure. I would always go with a light colour first and darker ones on top. From what i have sene in other builds, the effect is less obvious on the darker shads. I am doing the top all over RLM 77 and then two darker colours on top, so going to see what the result of that is.

Nice work on the black basing Bish. Knowing how it's hard to get a photo that shows the effect I have a good idea of how good that looks i the 1:1 by the amount that can be seen in your photo.  

Thanks Marc, and thanks for the adivice if your Spit build. Ye, it is hard to get the efefct to show in the photo, especially when its really subtle. I may go a touch less subtle on the top coat, and will see how it looks on the darker areas.

I finally got all the painting done on the arado, and i am really pleased with it. A couple of years ago i did my first German pre war scheme with the 3 colours on top, on a Ju 87. I really like that scheme and used it for inspiration on a Do 335 build and decided to do so again, but with colours that are even more like the pre war ones. But i used late war colours and went for a flowing soft edge scheme rather than the pre war hard edged jaggered scheme.

I first applied RLM 77 useing the same approach as underneath. I then drew the scheme on with a pencil and applied some black spotting and the RLM 81, and i managed to find an 81 thats brown and not the green version. Soon as that was applied, i added the black spots for the third colour, and here is where i remembered i should be taking photo's.

With that dry, i added the RLM 82. The black baseing has not worked as well as i had hoped. In some areas i had to tidy thing up wth more paint and this has blocked out some of the black showing through. It is ther ein some areas, but very very subtle. I don't mind to much as i had not planed to use the method when i started the build, but its certainly something i will work on in future.

So next up, my favorite bit, the decals.

I have also been working on the vehicles. I checke and the SS-100 tractor does not fit under the aircrfat, so i had to re think the dio. PJ had suggested adding a pit under the aircrfat for the bomb to be lwered into as the Americans did to load the A-Bombs under the B-29's. But i thnik that would be over doing it as the bomb and trolley do fit underneath, but it has given me an idea for another German aircraft in the stash. But it got me thinking about bringing the aircraft to the bomb rather than the otehr way round, so i needed a towing vehicle. The only one that would tow an aircrfat of this weight is an Sd.Kfz 9 Famo, and i just happene to have one that was intended for a He 177 which is heavier than the 555 would have been. So i ditched the other truck, the Famo will serve a dual role of towing and carrying the ground crew and equipment. I had to re jig the lay out and make a new base, but i thnik its going to work fine. I have also had to scratch build a tow bar. So here are the vehciles after painting and some dry brushing.

Famo on left, SS-100 and tractor on right and Kubelwagen front and centre.

People often ask about about making bases, so i thogut i would post some pics of that as i go alng as well. Only one for now. An old bit of chip board with some 18mm MDF to make it thicker and the first piece of balsa added to one side.

And thats it. Now to get those decals on.

very very nice camo there. I love it.

Thanks cnq, glad you like it. But i do have to try and not get carried away with this type of scheme, i do like it and could end up painting all my aircraft like this lol.

Those are some real sharp edges, Bish. Takes a really steady hand and the perfect paint mix to do that. Excellent!  I think this is the first time Ive seen a scheme like that.