Squadron Products/Encore Models 1/48 F-84F THUNDERSTREAK

Probably classified, as it was during the height of the Cold War.

Yes sir, 

I have a bottle on my bench.  I'll be trying it on my next project.  It's a NMF Mig-21.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it applies to the model, but I'm still working construction at the moment.    

For a good acrylic primer check out Stynylrez brand. You can view the appliction on Will Pattison's you tube vid episode 54.

That one sounds interesting.  I wonder what documents he was delivering.  

Chris,

Great looking Thunderstreak! 

If you, or any other Thunderstreak fans, haven't read Richard Bach's great book Stranger to the Ground, about his document-pouch-delivering night flight from England to Germany to France in a New Jersey Air National Guard F-84F during a European deployment in the early '60s, you owe it yourself to do so. It's the most detail-oriented book I've ever read about flying.    

1943Mike

Two questions:

1) To me it looks like the NMF turned out great! Do you like them? I realize you have issues with the primer, but the paints in general?

2) Looking at the bio you posted you were a helicopter mechanic. I've never built one but my brother was in Viet Nam (1968-1969) (I was drafted in the spring of '65 but found to be 4F because of an infected pilonidal cyst ) so I thought I might build a Huey for him one day. The only helicopter model I now have in my stash is Kitty Hawk's Huey. There was an article on it in FineScale in the February 2018 issue. I would think it will be OK. Any comments on that particular kit? 

I like the paints themselves.  It's like anything new.  I have to learn how to use it.  I'm learning, and the process was much easier on my Mig today than it was on the Thunderstreak.  It's good stuff, but I've experimented on a couple of pieces of Evergreen stock before I sprayed my model. 

I don't know much about the Kitty Hawk kit.  KH has a bad reputation, but the newer kits are said to be better than the old ones.  I've never built a KH kit myself.  They do produce interesting subjects.  I think this new Huey is supposed to be one of their better kits.  

Don Stauffer

 

 

fotofrank

Chris, I read your thread with great interest! I'm a real fan of natural metal finishes. The first one I did was a Monogram T-6 done as a Korean War LT-6G Mosquito using Alclad metallic lacquer. It came out so-so. I have a few kits under construction right now that are slated for NMF. A Monogram USAF T-28A, a Hobbycraft P-36A, and a Monogram P-51B (F-6B actually). These Vallejo acrylics seem much easier to use than the Alclad lacquer. I'm going to get more information on these colors. Thanks for sharing your build with us. Very informative.

P.S.: What about using Mr. Color Leveling Thinner with these paints?

 

 

 

 

I have used the Vallejo and the Alclad both.  I figured enamel is a doomed product and I'd better learn to use acrylics.  I do NOT like the Vallejo black undercoat.  However, I did use the Vallejo aluminum over gloss black enamel and it worked fine. I will continue to use Alclad for now, because I like their choice of three shades of sheen.

 

 

Yeah, that primer is horrible!  It was the worst stuff I've ever put in my airbrush.  

fotofrank

Chris, I read your thread with great interest! I'm a real fan of natural metal finishes. The first one I did was a Monogram T-6 done as a Korean War LT-6G Mosquito using Alclad metallic lacquer. It came out so-so. I have a few kits under construction right now that are slated for NMF. A Monogram USAF T-28A, a Hobbycraft P-36A, and a Monogram P-51B (F-6B actually). These Vallejo acrylics seem much easier to use than the Alclad lacquer. I'm going to get more information on these colors. Thanks for sharing your build with us. Very informative.

P.S.: What about using Mr. Color Leveling Thinner with these paints?

 

I found some videos from Flory Models on youtube.  One was a good review of the paints.  The reviewer sprayed the various colors side-by-side on a paint mule model.  I've been watching Flory Model videos a great deal lately.    

I did some metallic spraying today on my Mig without thinner.  The pressure was a little higher, and they worked fine without thinner.  I can't advise on Mr. Color Leveling thinner.  I've only tried that thinner once with non-metallic paint.  

Chris,

I have the same two Badgers as you. I also have the Iwata HP-C Plus for finer detail work.

About a month ago I bought some of the Vallejo metallic color acrylic paints.

Two questions:

1) To me it looks like the NMF turned out great! Do you like them? I realize you have issues with the primer, but the paints in general?

2) Looking at the bio you posted you were a helicopter mechanic. I've never built one but my brother was in Viet Nam (1968-1969) (I was drafted in the spring of '65 but found to be 4F because of an infected pilonidal cyst ) so I thought I might build a Huey for him one day. The only helicopter model I now have in my stash is Kitty Hawk's Huey. There was an article on it in FineScale in the February 2018 issue. I would think it will be OK. Any comments on that particular kit?

fotofrank

Chris, I read your thread with great interest! I'm a real fan of natural metal finishes. The first one I did was a Monogram T-6 done as a Korean War LT-6G Mosquito using Alclad metallic lacquer. It came out so-so. I have a few kits under construction right now that are slated for NMF. A Monogram USAF T-28A, a Hobbycraft P-36A, and a Monogram P-51B (F-6B actually). These Vallejo acrylics seem much easier to use than the Alclad lacquer. I'm going to get more information on these colors. Thanks for sharing your build with us. Very informative.

P.S.: What about using Mr. Color Leveling Thinner with these paints?

 

I have used the Vallejo and the Alclad both.  I figured enamel is a doomed product and I'd better learn to use acrylics.  I do NOT like the Vallejo black undercoat.  However, I did use the Vallejo aluminum over gloss black enamel and it worked fine. I will continue to use Alclad for now, because I like their choice of three shades of sheen.

Chris, I read your thread with great interest! I'm a real fan of natural metal finishes. The first one I did was a Monogram T-6 done as a Korean War LT-6G Mosquito using Alclad metallic lacquer. It came out so-so. I have a few kits under construction right now that are slated for NMF. A Monogram USAF T-28A, a Hobbycraft P-36A, and a Monogram P-51B (F-6B actually). These Vallejo acrylics seem much easier to use than the Alclad lacquer. I'm going to get more information on these colors. Thanks for sharing your build with us. Very informative.

P.S.: What about using Mr. Color Leveling Thinner with these paints?

Next up is Eduard's Polish MIG-21 PFM.  It's a "Weekend Edition."  I have no idea why they call it a "Weekend Edition."  The box has several weekends in it.  

ridleusmc

  

Thanks Bruce!  I'm so enthused about metallic finishes, that I'm doing another straight away.  I do have to admit, Vallejo's Metal Color range is just shy of $10 a bottle.   

 

Ok, inquiring minds want to know, which aircraft is next? LOL

Don Stauffer

Looks great!  Yeah, the new NMF finishes are great.  Better than any paint, and easier than foil!

 

 

Thank you Don!  

I can believe they are easier than foil.  I can't wrap a sandwich without making a mess. 

hogfanfs

Chris, 

Great finish on this Thunderstreak. The NMF turned out fantastic! 

 

Thanks Bruce!  I'm so enthused about metallic finishes, that I'm doing another straight away.  I do have to admit, Vallejo's Metal Color range is just shy of $10 a bottle.   

Looks great!  Yeah, the new NMF finishes are great.  Better than any paint, and easier than foil!

Chris, 

Great finish on this Thunderstreak. The NMF turned out fantastic! 

keavdog

Really nice build.  The NMF turned out great.  I have the ancient monogram kit of this subject and I'm considering upgrading.  Do you have any comparison? 

 

Thank you John, 

No, I never really considered the Monogram kit.  I did read a review from modeling madness:

http://www.modelingmadness.com/scott/korean/84fpreview.htm

I like the newer kits.  I'm a little spoiled with the recessed panel lines and rivet detail.  

jeaton01

Slick looking model!

Very brave masking that antiglare panel, glad you got away with that.

 

I made sure I put a good coat of Future down, and I let it dry for a day before I tried it.  I also applied the masking tape to my hand a few times to wear down its tackyness.  After I was done applying paint, I peeled the tape away as gingerly as possible. 

Thank you jeaton!

1943Mike

Ended up as an excellent build! Kudos.

Noticed that you use the same A/B I use for 95% of my painting - Badger 105 Patriot.

 

Thank you Mike.  I have two Badgers.  I've gotten use to using my 155 Anthem for most color applications.  I find the 105 Patriot is great for the Vallejo Metal Color range.  Vallejo recommends high pressure for the metallic acrylics, but I've sided with the reviewers.  They advocate for low pressure, and the gravity feed of the 105 Patriot works great for the stuff at low pressure.  

Really nice build.  The NMF turned out great.  I have the ancient monogram kit of this subject and I'm considering upgrading.  Do you have any comparison? 

tempestjohnny

Great build Chris. Now you need a Thunderjet next to it.

 

Thank you tempestjohnny, 

I really like the Tamiya Thunderjet kit.  You're right, a Thunderjet would look great next to the Thunderstreak.  Maybe I can fit a Thunderflash in there too.  

RadMax8

Wow this turned out really nice! The detail of your documentation is fantastic as well. 

I feel your pain with acrylic primers... I recently started using some paints from Mission Models and figured I’d give their primer a go. My biggest problem was that it was a nightmare to clean out of my airbrush! The thinner provided by Mission Models didnt even touch it. Had to use lacquer thinner, which kind of defeated the purpose.

Anyway, thanks for sharing! You did a great job. 

 

Thank you Max, 

These thinners are a pain.  I think next time, I'll just prime it with Tamiya X-1.  

Mopar Madness

Very cool!   I’m not brave enough to try a metallic finish, yours looks outstanding! 

 

Thank you Chad.  Honestly, I wasn't that brave either.  I started watching videos and that boosted my confidence.  Then, I started spraying metal colors on a piece of Evergreen stock, and that boosted my confidence further.  

Slick looking model!

Very brave masking that antiglare panel, glad you got away with that.

Ended up as an excellent build! Kudos.

Noticed that you use the same A/B I use for 95% of my painting - Badger 105 Patriot.

Wow this turned out really nice! The detail of your documentation is fantastic as well. 

I feel your pain with acrylic primers... I recently started using some paints from Mission Models and figured I’d give their primer a go. My biggest problem was that it was a nightmare to clean out of my airbrush! The thinner provided by Mission Models didnt even touch it. Had to use lacquer thinner, which kind of defeated the purpose.

Anyway, thanks for sharing! You did a great job. 

Very cool!   I’m not brave enough to try a metallic finish, yours looks outstanding!