1/48 Hasegawa Arado 234 Blitz-After 3 years..Finally Completed

Thanks Joe for the great compliment. What looks like a seam line there is actually a line I think for exhaust temperature measurement but will be able to identify it properly in the coming days during the engine assembly.

Up to this point its been a lot of body work but I think we're getting into the "meat and potatoes" of the build now. I was going to go for primer stage this week but it's been raining and cool out so I'll wait until fairer weather hits us. That'll take us to the engine build up stage. Folks I just can't express enough how much I enjoy building up resin engines from Aires. I mean you've gotta watch 'em and plan out the build around 'em as some times they'll throw a "curve ball" at you in regards to fit but you just can't beat them for the "wow factor" as a builder as they pack a punch in terms of detail.

I black based the compressor section and ignitor sections and then shot them with Testors Aluminum enamel but it was waaaay too grainy for my tastes. So I was in search of a more smooth and true aluminum look without it having that automotive aluminum intake manifold texture to it. What I found next was by pure (and a lot of us run into this in modeling) accident. My wife is a mosaic artist and uses all kinds of paints and things of that nature in her "builds". She was working with some letter decorations last night and was showing off this neat acrylic silver paint that she had and once I saw it there was a "ding" .

 So I used her silver paint over the enamel that I had already sprayed on and after that had dried I used some Mig Dark Wash (which folks, I haven't found  a better wash out there yet for coverage and bringing the most out of details) and the results were mind blowing to me:

 Here are the materials:

and here are the results on my Junkers Jumo 004 engine. I've still got a lot of detail work and detail painting to do but THIS.........is gonna WORK.

lawdog114

Awesome work! Mig Dark Wash eh? I may have to look into that stuff.

 

Mustang

Great looking engine. Is the Mig wash any different than a home made oil paint and thinner wash?

Boy! You aren't kidding when it comes to the quality of detail. The quality is indeed quite eye popping. Nice "stumble" on to the paint. It appears to work wonderfully. I did not realize that it was a gloss acylic. That in itself was a bonus in itself in that you did not need a gloss coat for the Mig wash. You have a really fine base to work off of now Joe. Let the detailing begin!!!!

I've been thinking looooong and hard about this one as of late. It has stayed, for the last 5 years, in plane....er plain sight at the right hand side of my work bench behind glass.



While it's true that I stopped building aircraft models 5 years ago in favor of my interest in automotive subjects, I had also reached a point where I started wanting more out of my paint jobs on aircraft. I consider my D-9 to be somewhat of a success story for me but I wanted even more than that. When I took on this 234 I had fears of it being "just another paint job". You know what I'm talking about, one that looked like it just rolled out of 1:1 paint shop and I just couldn't have that. I have recently watched paint jobs come together with processes that have been untried by me on aircraft such as marbling and black basing and feel that I am ready to "tip in" so to speak. I feel really comfortable (and perhaps too comfortable) with the mirror like automotive finishes that I set out on learning how to pull off some 5 years ago now and am ready for my next challenge in modeling.







After finally learning how to get consistent results with a shiny paint job I feel that I am now ready for the next challenge of learning how to master a war/ weather worn aircraft finish. I've got a lot of catching up to do on this build and it IS going to have to wait until the completion of my holy grail Silverado 454 SS build but I think we may be giving this one a "GO" next. Stay tuned........

Tojo72

I can't believe its been that long since you left off on the 234

 

tempestjohnny

Finally

 

mustang1989

 

 

Tojo72

I can't believe its been that long since you left off on the 234

 

 

 

 

LOL! They say that time goes faster the older we get.

 

 

You got that rigt. Surely it must be nearly Xmas again.

Will be good to see this one back.

Glory Be and Hallalujah! The world is now as it should be.

Good to see you back at the Arado Bro.

mustang1989

I've been thinking looooong and hard about this one as of late. It has stayed, for the last 5 years, in plane....er plain sight at the right hand side of my work bench behind glass.



While it's true that I stopped building aircraft models 5 years ago in favor of my interest in automotive subjects, I had also reached a point where I started wanting more out of my paint jobs on aircraft. I consider my D-9 to be somewhat of a success story for me but I wanted even more than that. When I took on this 234 I had fears of it being "just another paint job". You know what I'm talking about, one that looked like it just rolled out of 1:1 paint shop and I just couldn't have that. I have recently watched paint jobs come together with processes that have been untried by me on aircraft such as marbling and black basing and feel that I am ready to "tip in" so to speak. I feel really comfortable (and perhaps too comfortable) with the mirror like automotive finishes that I set out on learning how to pull off some 5 years ago now and am ready for my next challenge in modeling.







After finally learning how to get consistent results with a shiny paint job I feel that I am now ready for the next challenge of learning how to master a war/ weather worn aircraft finish. I've got a lot of catching up to do on this build and it IS going to have to wait until the completion of my holy grail Silverado 454 SS build but I think we may be giving this one a "GO" next. Stay tuned........

 

Aahhhemmm,... most people put their models in the display case after they’re finished?

Thanks fellas.

Nate.....Nate......Nate......It used to be a display case....now it's my paint drying booth. lol

This build is awesome,

Your friend,

Tosh

Those are some beautiful show room finishes for sure! I really need to get over my fear of creating a nice automotive finish. There are a lot of nice automotive kits out there that are begging to be built! 

Glad you’re jumping back into this. I go back and forth between wanting to do cars and planes. I feel like I don’t have the required patience or touch to make a perfect paint job, but racing is my first love and there’s a lot of cars I’d like to do...

Anyway, looking forward to seeing you wrap this one up!

Thank you guys for the good comments. Still working my way through my holy grail build but will be back in business with this one soon.

Well......after a couple and a half years here we are where I left off. I had installed the engine mount bosses and had test fitted the engine only to find that the engine was not centered in the engine nacelle. WOW!!

It was at that point that I had totally lost heart in the build. However …………..today I picked it back up and it came so easily to me. I cut off the locating pins that protruded out of the wing for the engine (getting those in there in the first place AFTER I had assembled the wing was a true nightmare BTW as they were supposed to be mounted in place from the back side before the wing halves were assembled. It took great pains to install those locating pins after the wings were assembled. Hindsight is a true beeeeyatch) . Cutting them off 2+ years after installing them wasn't near as painful as it would've been back then. I simply drilled new holes and made new locating pins out of cut off bobby pins to move the engine to the right a smidgen. Here we are now with the engine test fitted with it centered in the nacelle. Somebody break out tha friggin BEER!! There's gonna be a dang party!!!!

LOL Joe, 2 years is nottin'. I just recently reworked an Esci 1/9th BMW R75 that I built in 1974ish. I completely tore it down and repainted everything.

The cars are gorgeus specially that Chevy, man what gloss. Hey looks like the Arado will finally get assembled and it's looking pretty sweet. 

Sure glad to see you back at this, Joe. Some of us have been holding our breath all this time. Relief!

Will you be able to resist a shiny gloss finish?

It is absolutely fantastic to see you back at the Arado. It always amazes me the effect of stepping away from a kit for awhile when "stuck" only to return and have an epiphany of an easy or motivated fix. Outstanding remedy to the engine issue my friend. Steady as she goes and continue the wonderful work.

Thanks Steve, Greg and Joe.

Thanks fellas. Feels different switching back to aircraft. I had adapted the pinning method to autos when attaching the side rear view mirrors. Rule #1 in auto modeling--NEVER mount side rearview mirrors directly onto the car body without pinning. You're just begging for a blemished paint job and the mirrors falling off later.

Just drill a hole just large enough for the pin, test fit.....



Then cut the excess off....



drill a same sized hole in the mirror body and mount it with super glue...



Same goes for here. Just look at how far off it was. I swear I wanted to initially throw the whole build in the trash.

But...…………..here we are.

That is a pretty significant offset! On a sidenote, any chance we can get a completed shot of that beautiful ‘70 T/A?

I hear ya MM. Waaay off! It was enough that I shelved the build for the last few years.

As for my Challenger, I was pretty happy with that one as it was my first true all out auto build ever. Funny thing about the paint is that it is the molded body color with a clear that was shot from a spray can. It was pure dumb luck that it turned out as well as it did and there wasn't a single bit of sanding or polishing that needed to be done. It would be another 3 years of chasing that same beginners luck shine till I got it down pat on subsequent builds and then it still involves a TON of wet sanding and polishing.

My all time favorite build (and 5 time award winner at the shows) the Revell 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A:

That 440 Six Pack! Ok, that is some good luck. That molded plastic looks to be a great match for Dodge Bright Red! I’ve never built a car model, I think it’s the finish that scares me off.  She’s got a wicked stance too! 

Thanks MM. It's actually a 340 Six Pack.

I should have done this a long time ago but I acquired an Eduard canopy mask for this bad boy today so I can put the front end on it and commence with the paint work. Progress within the foreseeable future you guys.

Ok gang. I got the elevators/ stabilizers mounted up this morning, will do the necessary body work at the joints and then I'm going to shoot an automotive style semi gloss black paint job on this one to black base it. After that I'm going to try this whole marble pattern out for the first time to see just how well that system works.

Any how here we are all masked off (except for the landing gear struts) and ready for the black base.

Good to see the jet on the bench again.