CallSignOWL

hey  all!  Ive not abandoned my mustang, I've just been busy the past couple of weeks.  Ive gotten this fella masked and ready for the paint booth. I'll be applying the invasion stripes next! I hope I dont have as much trouble as I did with the previous paint jobs 

OWL

EDIT: oops!! Ive done and forgot the picture! Doh!

Here ya go! take time to admire my awesome masking skillz  

Back tracked a couple of replies and see (GASP!) common yellow-white masking tape! A few mentioned using blue or green tape instead, excellent suggestions! Also realize the adhesive can be a bit strong so try weakening it a bit by applying it to glass first or by simply dabbing it with your thumb. Only the edge separating the colors needs to be on snug, the rest can 'float' over the model. 

A good rule with masking tape is quick on, quick off. Only mask, paint & remove mask when it can all be done in the same session.

If no acrylic paint or future is applied isopropyle  alcohol (rubbing alcohol) will soften the tapes adhesive helping remove it. Any gobs of adhisive left should be removed with a toothpick as to not mar or scratch the finish. Silver or aluminum finish is very delicate & will mark easily, best to lay this coat down last. 

I hope a tip or two helps, I fear silver paint to the point toiling with aluminum foil is preferred for simple shapes where it will go on flat.

well....yeah. 

peeled off the masking and had some issues.      :(

looks sharp from here, right?

not really.

the spot on the tail was where the tape definitely peeled up some chrome paint.

but the largest areas had some imparted tape-texture. i dont really know how to describe it. the paint is much less shiney. I hope you can see what I am talking about in this picture. oh and there was a little bit of paint bleeding under the tape too.

in some areas the tape did not actually peel up the under lying paint, but took off some of the newer white paint...

and on the other areas I got tape residue.. but all these problems were only on the enamel aluminum chrome areas. the Acrylic silver parts were not much affected at all. 

would I have to repaint the chrome, or can it be saved at all???  I am definately going to apply a future coate befre I do the black stripes, due to the tape lifting the white up off the chrome areas. I pressed it back down in some spots but... 

yeah...I guess I know better now! 

OWL

Owl, looks good so far....The masking looks accurate but i hope you don't have problems when removing it....Peel it off real slow...

CallSignOWL

EDIT: oops!! Ive done and forgot the picture! Doh

 

CallSignOwl no no no one cant forget the pictures I am happy to see you back too, was worried maybe you gave up on the project. 

I have to tell you it looks like you did some work on your NMF, and you brought it back to life beautifully, no orange peeling at all, in fact I cant see that grainy look some painted natural metal finishes have. Well done If I recall correctly you futured over the NMF sanded then futured again. When I use the tan masking tape over a couple of coats of future and carefully remove the tape I havent had any problems with tape lifting the paint underneath it. To mask the stripes though I would highly recommend the blue painters tape unless you are going to clear coat with future between masking the white and painting the black.

Again I am happy to see you back and your build progressing.  Believe me, your next NMF will be much easier for you as you are beating the gremlins on this build, cant wait to see more from you.

Scorpiomikey hey no problem your build is changed.  I am sorry you lost the Jug though, as they really look good all shiny and stuff. Lookin forward to your Super Sabre for sure.

Owl: ditto what SoulCrusher said!

The blue painter's tape is great stuff, dunno how I got along without it.

I like using the Tamiya tape for the edges and then filling in the middle with the cheaper blue tape.

soulcrusher

Glad to see you giving it another try Owl. I see you are using the standard tan masking tape. This stuff is way to tacky to mask over painted areas. It's almost a guarantee it will pull any type of paint right of of the plastic. Tamiya masking tape is the best but if you can not get you hands on it the next best thing is the low tack blue masking tape sold by 3M. You should be able to pick it up at any store that sells household paints. It is about twice the price of a roll of the tan tape but it is specificly made to not lift paint. Also do'nt forget to give the model a good wipe down with a Windex dampened paper towl or alcohol right before you start painting to make sure that the plastic is nice and clean!

Soulcrusher

...well....    The paint has just been sprayed...so...I guess I see how it goes?

if It does get messed up, I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience, I guess. That is what this whole darn build has been so far! 

fingers crossed!

OWL

IM BAAAACK i scored myself a tamiya 1:72 F100D Super Sabre yesterday so can i change my entry to that? the jug got busted lol

Glad to see you giving it another try Owl. I see you are using the standard tan masking tape. This stuff is way to tacky to mask over painted areas. It's almost a guarantee it will pull any type of paint right of of the plastic. Tamiya masking tape is the best but if you can not get you hands on it the next best thing is the low tack blue masking tape sold by 3M. You should be able to pick it up at any store that sells household paints. It is about twice the price of a roll of the tan tape but it is specificly made to not lift paint. Also do'nt forget to give the model a good wipe down with a Windex dampened paper towl or alcohol right before you start painting to make sure that the plastic is nice and clean!

Soulcrusher

hey  all!  Ive not abandoned my mustang, I've just been busy the past couple of weeks.  Ive gotten this fella masked and ready for the paint booth. I'll be applying the invasion stripes next! I hope I dont have as much trouble as I did with the previous paint jobs 

OWL

EDIT: oops!! Ive done and forgot the picture! Doh!

Here ya go! take time to admire my awesome masking skillz  

simpilot34

That chrome paint really looks great!!! I think chroming a B-29 would actually just make it easier to see farther away. Really all they would have to do rather than shoot is to flip a panel up at the right angle!!

Sorry, just joking! If the USAAF chomed the B-29 you could see it about five light-years away

Randy: yes the Alclad is lacquer. Normally I hate the stuff but Alclad is pretty easy to work with. The big problem is I don't have an exhaust fan and I need to buy a respirator. I'd hate to see what the interior of my lungs look like.

Nice line of airliners! thanks for sharing... must try one some day

vetteman42

B-17Pilot great start on the 757, looks like it took a pound of putty but its all smoothed out now. BTW night I ask what that is in the back ground ? Looks huge !!

Yea I don't know what it is with this Minicraft 757, the fit just bad.  I've done their 737 kit and it fits just fine, so I don't know what's up with their 757. It still needs more putty!

The plane in the background is a 1/144 Revell A380, with Qantas livery.  The build thread is over in the Airliners and Civil Aviation forum, or in the 2010 Airliner GB thread.  I was masking off the openings for paint today.

vetteman42

Hey Alclad paints are Lacquer right ?

Yeah Randy.....

That chrome paint really looks great!!! I think chroming a B-29 would actually just make it easier to see farther away. Really all they would have to do rather than shoot is to flip a panel up at the right angle!!

B-17Pilot great start on the 757, looks like it took a pound of putty but its all smoothed out now. BTW night I ask what that is in the back ground ? Looks huge !!

Gamera now I gotta say that Alclad Chrome ROCKS on that engine ! It really makes the detail pop out and grab your eye. Thanks for sharing the pictures of it here Hey Alclad paints are Lacquer right ?

Nice work guys I like the look of that Chrome...

Awesome 757 B-17!

Ok maybe it's not the B-29 but the other day I went by the local hobby shop and was seduced into picking up 'Rommel's Rod'. I'm not a car guy but I guess I could consider it armour right? Just for kicks I decided to try out some Alclad Chrome on the engine.

Parts cleaned up:

Painted with Model Master Acrylic gloss black:

Results:

I apologize for the photos not being clearer the parts came out very shiny and 'chrome-like' in real life.

Now I'm tempted to chrome the whole friggin' Superfortress! It's a defense!  Any pilot trying to shoot at it would be instantly blinded by the sun striking the chrome!!!

Well after finally tracking down a set of winglets (most of the stores I found online where out of stock) got them in the mail yesterday, I pulled out my 757.  I guess after a couple of moves I've forgotten that I'd started this kit.  No biggie, just the fuselodge and wings where together.  Gave the fuselodge a coat of putty and sanded it a little.  The wings need to be modified to allow the winglets to be added.  Engine nacelles where put together and have a coat of putty on that needs to be sanded.

All the major components needing attention:

The body all sanded, but not quite ready to be painted

Richard/Kermit – very nice pit mate; nice detailing! Look forward to the rest

Thanks Randy!   As soon as I receive the cockpit and wheels from the mailman, I'll post some pictures of what I'll be working with. 

Kermit - Your Hellcat is coming together nicely. I have the Tamiya kit at home but I haven't built it like Randy has.

Gamera - I somewhat feel your pain with those bombs!   I'm currently building an A-10 as a surprise gift to a friend and that thing has 14 hunks of explosive devices hanging from the wings! Clean them up, glue them together, sand the seams, paint, paint, paint, future, decals, flat coat, aaarrrggghhh!!!   If I had to do 20, I might have gone insane!

I'm afraid of leaving someone out so I'll just say - great work all around guys!

I just finished cleaning up about 20-30 bombs for the B-29. Talk about carpet-bombing- I wished at first that they'd included a handful of 'large' bombs but looking at them again I noticed that each 'small' bomb was about the same size as a 1/72nd scale human. That's what I call firepower!

Well hopefully I'll get her closed up soon. Hopefully I've gotten the orange peel problem licked and will be able to start painting soon.

Jmabx, I've never seen one either....It's gonna be cool watching yours come together...

Richard, Nice looking office i'm always impressed by your brush work...Your doing the yellow wing right???

Richard the office area is looking good!!!

Nicefit me passing you building ? Not to worry about that, as I am slower than running molasses in winter time  Your T-6 is coming along nicely and looking good so far, and yup I am keeping all your notes, thanks for posting them.

Bocks Suv Hawkeyehobbies has a great tutorial on his website about applying and polishing his paints and powders. I think this is his addy

www.hawkeyehobbies.com

I havent tried the paints or powders yet but will be using them very soon.

Jmabx if I dont mind you ask ? Naw I dont mind, in fact I am quite excited by the idea of your build. One doesnt see a P-59 everyday ya know, I for one have never seen one. So your build is listed on the front page in a few minutes.

Kermit your pit is lookin really good and coming along quickly too. It does appear from your pictures that your kit might be a bit easier than the Tamiya kit I built not too long ago. It also looks to have a bit more detail in it too.

Sorry guys I have been around in a couple of days have been a bit under the weather but am feeling better now.

Jmabx,

Oooh, that's a pretty rare subject you are going to build there. I'm gonna enjoy this one... Keep posting

Just thought to put in a one pic update. The cockpit and engine housing are merged to the lower fuselage (pretty neat oob innit?)  and i am about to work on closing it all up. That would be the one and only tricky thing about this particular kit imho but nothing too difficult for someone with patience and brains lol. Hey at least i score a one out of two there

Thanks for looking fella's

Richard

EDIT: woops forgot the pic LOL

Thanks guys for the kind words, i hope to have the Mirage done in a couple of weeks....

I have to say WOW with this GB, it's just powering along and it's great to watch all these builds come together....

You guys are inspirational so keep it coming

BockSuv, I havn't tried Hawkeyes products yet but i'm planning to use them on my current build....If you go to Hawkeyes website you'll find some tutorials on how to get the best results from the products...If you have questions you can find Hawkeyes profile here in FSM and start a conversation...I found Gerald to be quite willing and very helpful in answering my questions...

Sorry I haven't posted any progress lately, but the XF-91 got put on the back burner while I'm trying to finish up a couple of other builds.

If you don't mind Randy, I would like to build a Hobbycraft 1/48 P-59A... in natural metal of course! I will also be building it for Mike's early jet group build if that's okay. Don't count out the XF-91 though. I still plan on getting her done. I've ordered a resin cockpit and wheels for the P-59 so I won't get it started for a week or two.

Please let me know if this is okay with you!

Ok, as promised a lil intro and the stuff i have done sofar:

The intended finish and the decalsheet. Note the blue yellow and red spinner tip decals; thought it was kinda neat. Second pic shows the second finish option. The instructions say silver as the main color on this one but i believe these prewar wildcats were grey? Anyways, will do the colourful one myself...

The pit as it sits on my bench now:

And the double wasp:

Still have to age the whole bunch with some washes and stuff though.... Hope you like it and thanks for looking

Richard

Not sure how you all finished your Stangs, but how do I polish Hawkeye metal powders to make them look more mirrory and less like silver paint? And how do you seal it (Future I assume. Seems to be the answer for everything.)  

Kermit/Richard – Very well done and congrats on the finish!

Julez72 – Pit looks good and sharp; look forward to the rest of the build!