Revell 1:32 BAe Hawk T1.A Red Arrows.......Finished!

Tubosteve

Build is going to be OTB,

I had not looked before, but given the scads of AM for the thing, that makes a tone of sense.

Looks like it' well on the way to a great build.  And having one occuppied and one empty seat in the cockpit does allow showing off the fine work there.

So, a few more days down the road and all the bodywork is done. Last of the flaps has gone on, just wait 'til this evening for that to dry and then I'll start misting the red on 

So, this little baby now has it's red coat and the first clear coat. Once that's gone off then will remove the canopy and address the rear seat cover....and maybe the clipboard. Was sent a real cool pic showing the seat cover. Will then close her back up, another clear coat and then go for decals.

Hi Steve - another lovely job so far.  How are you going to make the seat cover for the back, and what's that gadget holding the Hawk for painting?

Thanks Hutch,

The seat cover is just going to be some toilet paper (to give a little texture) and watered down PVA glue. Should do the trick. We'll see.

The 'gadget' is just a cheap airbrush holder with a marker pen (which goes up the tailpipe!), nothing special!!!!! "Necessity is the mother of all invention". I actually put an old scalpel thingy up the tailpipe to hold when painting then stick it on the marker pen to dry.

Cheers, Steve, thanks for the quick reply & pics!  I don't build many jets, but that's certainly a good tip - I'll keep it in mind.

Just wanted to say that I’m really enjoying the thread.  Great job, and thanks for posting. 

Thankyou kindly Knox.

A bit more progress last night and this morning. Have 'made' a seat cover for the rear seat, bit of toilet paper and pva glue. Also masked and painted the light grey det cord around the large canopy. 

Will fix it all back in place later, then second coat of clear................and then on to the decals. Here's hoping they don't let the red grin through and go pink on me!

Nice seat cover, and a fantastic job on the det cord!

Cheers Hutch.

Just got the 2nd clear coat on (Humbrol Clear Gloss), will give it the night to cure off. Missus is at work tomorrow so should be able to get some/all of the decals done.

Worryingly, the canopy seems to have gone a bit hazy. Canopy was dipped in future previously and this is the first gloss coat on top of it. Fingers firmly that the cloudiness disappears as it dries, else I've just s****** it up.

Oh man, my heart would sink. Hope it works out!

Right then, had a bit of a disaster and am reaching out to the 'collective mind' of FSM for some guidance/assistance.

Put the first decal on my Hawk a short time ago and after 10 minutes or so found this:

I'm using:

 and

This is all going over Humbrol Clear Gloss and so there seems to have been a reaction of some kind. Anyone else come a cropper with this combination? Was sprayed yesterday evening so had some 14 hours to dry.......and it certainly feels dry and not at all sticky.

Luckily, I have just put the one on so everything has come to a grinding halt until I get this sorted. I have tried washing and gently using a cotton bud/warm water combination to rub this off............but doesn't work and still have the ring:

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a way forward? And know how to fix this? I'm thinking to let this dry off properly and then put gloss back over the top. Guess I could mask off the roundel and respray the area.

I have Microset/sol here as well so maybe that works OK with Humbrol?  

I usually use Alclad gloss and have never had this whitening issue before, maybe I just fix this one and then spray the Alclad over everything.

All suggestions/help/fixes will be greatly received!!!!! as I'm mightily p****d off just now.

Mopar..............Didn't turn out too bad, the cloudiness has gone but the clarity of the canopy has been affected a little. It's nowhere near as clear as it was before with just the future over it. Strange because I've seen people who use Humbol Clear to dip canopies. Oh well, I think I will have to polish it up some and dip in future again. Could have been so much worse so I guess thank heaven for small mercies.

So, things are a little better. I've calmed down a bit now, finished the 'bad word' stage. Sprayed back over the offending area with Humbrol Clear Gloss. It has taken away 'most' of the white bloom/ring. 

Thinking I'm just going to have to carefully touch up the red......or mask the roundel off and spray the red back over.

Trouble is.........suggestions on next step. think I should go spray it all with Alclad Gloss before doing more decals (as not had issues with Alclad/setting solution.............or............just found some Humbrol Decalfix in the drawers and I'm guessing that the decalfix/clear, both being Humbrol, should not have this bad interaction?

Tubosteve

I'm guessing that the decalfix/clear, both being Humbrol, should not have this bad interaction?

Time to experiment on a paint mule, I think - please don't risk that paint job!

Seeing as on the one decal I've managed to get on so far, the infamous roundel, has got the damm red grinning through the white, I'm dubious to put the other decals on and have them pink on me. I'm experimenting on a mule to see if decalfix is ok.....but that won't solve the pinking issue.

So.....I made the rash decision to mask off the underside and attempt the white arrow. Only got a couple of thin coats on so far so is still pink but hoping that a couple more coats will make it turn out OK. just have to keep remembering to push down the tape in a few places to make it conform to the curves!

Not sure how I'm gonna deal with the top side yet as there is text and not just lines/flashes...............any suggestions?

Even if I say so myself, pretty chuffed at the results. Way better than 'pinking' decals:

Roundel has been saved with some careful painting................but you can clearly see the 'pinking' when compared to the sprayed white. Guess the only way round this is to paint over the white part?!?!?!?

WRT to the other remaining roundels (3), I figure on painting a white 'disc' shape under where the decal will go so it comes up white.

Whilst this 'may' work out OK for the roundels, how do I deal with the wording on the sides?  Anyone have any suggestions. Does anyone have a spare/unused decal set for this model that they would be willing to sell (or know where I can buy) then I could piggy-back the decals.......figure double thick would get rid of the pinking?

More masking today, along with putting the roundels on. Sprayed a white disc prior to putting decal on and that worked out just fine..........no damm pinking 

Also masked off the 'stripes' down one side. Not so easy to do......but got lovely white stripes. just got to cut a couple of Union Jacks and a badge off the original decal to stick on the model.

She's looking great Steve!  As for your lettering problem, I was going to suggest an aftermarket set of letters or perhaps an aftermarket set of decals but there are no letter sets in the correct font or decals for the Red Arrows.  If you have or know someone with a Cricket (a small home printer sized device that cuts vinyl stencils and masks for diy projects), you could import the image of the letters and create a mask.  You could also go old school and create a mask yourself by tracing the letters onto a piece Kabuki tape, and then transfer it to the model.  There are several good videos on YouTube showing you how to do this.

Tubosteve

More masking today

Blimey - you don't need any help in that department, that's for sure!  Do you use the narrow bendy masking tape for the curves or cut them from wider stuff?

I can't offer any thoughts on the lettering - sorry.

Hi Lewbud, thanks for the kind words and suggestions.

Unfortunatley, I neither have nor know of anyone who has one of those cricut machines. Neither do I have the know-how or software that I have seen/heard be used by others.

The old school method you mention, a kabuki mask...........that sounds like REALLY hard work!!  Can you share/suggest youtube link.....I tried a few search in YT but just seem to find good old face masks!! Might not be as bad as I imagine if I can see someone doing it 

Hutch6390

Blimey - you don't need any help in that department, that's for sure!  Do you use the narrow bendy masking tape for the curves or cut them from wider stuff?

Hey Hutch,

I use the bendy vinyl like stuff from Tamiya. I have 3 different sizes, 2,3 & 5mm. I use the 2mm to mask the lines then fill in with regular masking tape to prevent overspray (though some always seems to get thru somewhere!!)

Have actually just come in from the shed having masked off the other side, hopefully get that sprayed tomorrow.

Schools still out on the lettering....

Steve,

Try this.  https://youtu.be/oAPlXs7pD3E

I thought of another idea, buy another kit and stack the decals. Probably not an optimal solution, but it is an option.

Tubosteve

I use the bendy vinyl like stuff from Tamiya. I have 3 different sizes, 2,3 & 5mm. I use the 2mm to mask the lines then fill in with regular masking tape to prevent overspray (though some always seems to get thru somewhere!!)

Thanks, Steve - I may invest in some of that, e.g. for the camo on my V-bombers (if & when I ever get round to them!) - overspray's a b****r, isn't it?

Cheers,

          Hutch

Hi Lewbud,

I had already thought about double stacking the decals, just that I couldn't find another set anywhere (except buying a new kit). However, I found a kind soul on another forum (BM) who is going to send me the decals as he hasn't used them on his build.....what a great result...........and a VERY kind soul.

Also, thanks for the link, suddenly doesn't seem like such a hard thing to do, but certainly not easy 

Hutch6390

 overspray's a b****r, isn't it?

Cheers,

          Hutch

It certainly is!

Steve,

Glad to hear that a kind soul came to your rescue.  I haven't tried it either, but kind of want to give it a shot. I look forward to seeing your finished build.

First lot of decals on, just need the second set to go on top of the 'Royal Air Force'. Thanks a bunch to a fellow modeller on another forum, I received a second set in the post this morning.

Unfortunately, they will have to wait for a few weeks as I have to go to Poland for business for 3 weeks tomorrow. Not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not, this is my first work trip since March!!

Anyhoo............will try get a clear coat over the top later today if I can, need to seal the decals before I put the second ones over the top. I figure it won't work well for me if I just put them straight over the top as I expect the decalfix will affect the underlying decal.

Most all of the decals have worked out just fine, but you will see that the Royal Air Force is 'pinking'......hence the second ones to go over the top which I am sincerely hoping will end up proper white!

also, the wooden base I have ordered will have arrived and I can mount the clear acrylid rod (in 1st pic) so I can display it in flight.