Hi gents,

Very slow progress on this one (as I promised). 

Nothing special done but I just wanted to share a small tip about tackling a slight canopy misalignment with those who are yet to build this one. I am generally not happy with the quality of the clear parts. Among some other issues, the windshield is slightly deformed meaning that it is slightly narrower that the fuselage and shorter by a millimetre. The bubble canopy has deformations within the ''plexiglass'' part (I will post some pics later).

I couldn't avoid the gap between the windshield and the cowling but regarding the joint with the fuselage luckily there is a way to keep filling and sanding to a minimum as there is space to insert a piece of toothpick fixed with CA which will not be seen later and keep the windshield at the proper width until glued to the canopy:

Cool tip, that looks perfect.

Hio Guys, concerning Model Photographie.... Please look at my Models in the Air. Model Aircraft Photos by Heinz Johannsen. Most 1/32 and 1/48 and 1/24. If you would like to get infos How I did it, come back to me  Get more out of your Models !!! Make them look real !! Put them in the Air !  stay healthy   Heinz Johannsen

Hio Guys, concerning Model Photographie.... Please look at my Models in the Air. Model Aircraft Photos by Heinz Johannsen. Most 1/32 and 1/48 and 1/24. If you would like to get infos How I did it, come back to me  Get more out of your Models !!! Make them look real !! Put them in the Air !  stay healthy   Heinz Johannsen Look at Galleries Nr. 5--7--8--13--43--28--38--48--62--63--67--73--77-- on Readers Gallerie.Thanks for reading

She is finally ready for priming! 

I had to do some windshield-cowling gap filling, and panel line and tire threads re-scribing, added some rivets where I thought appropriate...

I will go with white Tamiya Liquid Primer or white Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500, followed by desert yellow shades, my complementary pre-shading using various reds and aluminium where appropriate for future chipping. Then goes the OD base coat. I chose to go with white primer since it will require less coats to achieve good OD coverage without it looking too dark.

Best,

Nikola

Looks like you blended that canopy in really nice! Definitely on the way to being a beautiful Mustang 

Hi gents,

White primer and complementary pre-shading done 

Well, here is some contradictory information for you:

The painting instructions say that the checkered pattern only goes to the front end of the exhaust stack:

The decal disagrees since it has a cutout to go around the stack past the front end of it:

And if I see it correctly the truth is somewhere in the middle as the pattern only slightly goes past the stack front end:

So, I painted the nose yellow and will either bite the bullet and paint the damn thing or cut out only the red squares of the decal and apply them to the painted yellow (this should make the decal easier to conform to the shape as well. I'll see.

Neutral Grey base over blue pre-shading on the belly finished. I try to keep the pre-shading effect very subtle initially and then modify where required with post-shading afterwards.

OD finished.

My phone camera and the dining room light bulb just can't capture the subtle differences and tonal variations that well, but they are there, trust me. 

Oh well, pics below. 

Wow! That looks great!. Awesome work, Nicola!

I can see some of the variation in paint you've built in, looks great!

And a few more where the effect of complementary pre-shading can be seen slightly better:

Best,

Nikola

Now I can see it better. I sure do like an olive drab Mustang.

Mopar Madness

Now I can see it better. I sure do like an olive drab Mustang.

 

The hardest part for me now is judging how much to cover initially knowing that weathering and subsequent coats will affect it. It's just like regular pre-shading only more difficult because if it is with black, no risk of too much of it showing through since it only gives a darker tone of the base color with no hue modulation. Still long way to go until I master this one.

In reality, the red is more subtle but it's very hard to get it right with phone camera and regular room lighting conditions so you guys can see it properly. I'll keep trying to take better shots without all the fancy setup. 

Best,

Nikola

This is I think as close to reality as I could get with phone camera. I guess we'll have to wait until proper photos in the end. :)

lawdog114

Coming along nicely Nikola. Interesting preshading color choices. Are you planning on painting on the red nose checkers?

 

Thanks LD! Glad you like it so far. Yes, I am planning on painting the checkers. It's going to be a b#&ch but nowhere near as complicated as you had it on your P47. :)

Any tips for that?

As for my pre-shading, I started experimenting with complementary colours some time ago. If you are interested here is the link to the thread that I started in 2019:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/183439.aspx

Best,

Nikola

I love how she's coming along!

That's a nice looking Mustang you have going!

Also apologies for not chiming in on your complimentary color preshading technique that you have been developing in the other forum. I have found it very interesting and it has made me realize I need to start learning some basics about how color works. Looking forward to your next photos.

Back to the bench

That's a nice looking Mustang you have going!

Also apologies for not chiming in on your complimentary color preshading technique that you have been developing in the other forum. I have found it very interesting and it has made me realize I need to start learning some basics about how color works. Looking forward to your next photos.

 

Thank you! Appreciated. Glad that you like it so far. :)

Colours are very fun for me to work and experiment with in any medium, especially in scale modelling. :)

Best,

Nikola

I know that I might be boring you but as this is a very slow progress I am posting every little step.  

Invasion fuselage stripes done. Next are the wing and horizontal stabilizer white stripes. Then the clear coat and on to the decals. Yay!

Ah, yes, and the red checkers on the yellow... 

Looking great.  Starting to come to life!  Love the invasion stripes. 

All invasion stripes done, with some test weathering just for fun at the wing and horizontal stabilizer tips. 

"I know that I might be boring you but as this is a very slow progress I am posting every little step.  "

I follow a similar approach. Gives me a chance to stopand look at what ive done, slow down a little and see what the critical eye of the camera shows. Have found a number of goofs that i could fix easier during the build rather than after. The other thing I like is thinking about where to go next when i post a wip. Post away Nikola we all enjoy it I bet!

Hi gents,

Finally got some free time (when I am not too tired) to continue working on the pony.

My first checkerboard pattern masking and painting done. I screwed up in one place but it's an easy fix.

Next is painting the exhausts, then a gloss coat and then decals. 

Best,

Nikola

Nikola

Hi gents,

 

Finally got some free time (when I am not too tired) to continue working on the pony.

My first checkerboard pattern masking and painting done. I screwed up in one place but it's an easy fix.

 

Next is painting the exhausts, then a gloss coat and then decals. 

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

THAT is an awesome looking checkerboard. Sooo awesome it deserved to be quoted and shown again! 

Hi gents,

Gloss coat on.

Exhausts painted with the first and main weathering pass complete.

Apologies for s%#ty photos.

Finally on to the decals 

Best,

Nikola

TheMongoose

THAT is an awesome looking checkerboard. Sooo awesome it deserved to be quoted and shown again! 

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