Official Natural Metal Finish Group Build II

Thanks Owl

Well,... to be honest i started out wanting to make this mig the same shade all over but somehow it turned out the way it did. Mostly due to the fact that i never held the foil the same way round (i DID use the dull side out at all times). Also i guess that some panels turned out a different shade because they took more or less burnishing/ wiping than others did.

To keep a long story short: it was not intentionally planned out this way. I just applied the foil, concentrating on getting it on smooth.

Tnx again,

Richard

P.s. Hey Randy. Remember i asked you all those questions on how the glue behaved? Turned out i just didn't wait long enough for it to settle on the foil before applying. After 5 mins or so it turns completely colorless and i simply didn't wait for that at the time LOL.

Hmmm...

Done a bit of thinkwork (quite exceptional for me....) and as much as i'd like to announce starting on my P38 i think it might be smarter to familiarize myself with the Alclad on a cheap but nevertheless great little kit in 1/72.

When i first started out doing NMF subjects i built Revell's P47-D-30 "Balls out". It is one of their newer molds and for the price you pay (6,50 in euro's, around 8 US dollars) you get a delightful, easy to build jug. I kinda had it reserved for the upcoming weekend madness GB but i can always do the second option the kit offers which is a french jug in OD.

So... cheap kit, great detail, would look great in Alclad but doesn't really hurt the wallet in case of scr*wing it up..... Seems to me like i can't go wrong there

Put me down for one 1/72 P47D Randy! Ill get started on it riiiight now LOL.

Richard

kermit

Hmmm...

Done a bit of thinkwork (quite exceptional for me....) and as much as i'd like to announce starting on my P38 i think it might be smarter to familiarize myself with the Alclad on a cheap but nevertheless great little kit in 1/72.

You should follow up the Jug with the P-38 anyway! There's that P-38 GB kicking off in November...

Hi everyone, I recently finished my Panther for this GB.  I thought I'd share my latest build with as it is a NMF bird, a Monogram P-82G Twin Mustang.

Hey everybody! Remember me?   I've been absent here for some time but I'm getting back up to speed. The trials and tribulations of life can get in the way of some good modeling sometimes.

Playing catch-up is overwhelming and I have to say that I'm really impressed with all the completed and in progress builds so far. Sorry to be so general but I'm afraid I'll write a small book of congrats and praise for all the nice work!

I just popped in for a quick update on the P-59. Alclad is on and she's looking okay. I'm a little disappointed with the fact that, despite my best efforts, I have lots of dust and crud in the paint. I don't know whether to leave it be or try again!? I suppose I'll ponder on it awhile. Here's a quick show.

I sure love the look of Alclad!

Aggieman,

Gorgeous twin pony there! Love the look on the weathering too!

Jmabx,

See!!?? That's why i wanna play with the big boys too and use alclad.

Dust in your paint or not (really can't tell from the pics to be honest), i simply adore the shine of alclad. Gor-ge-ous! You can be proud of this as far as i am concerned!

Well,.... it was getting pretty late last night and so i didn't post my first pics but here they are. As i intend to use this kit for the weekend GB too i wanted to work swiftly as a sort of dress rehearsal LOL:

Pit (had to use flash):

Fuselage:

And had time to do some wheelwell work too:

All ready to join stuff up and work on the engine while the glue is drying up

Richard

Beautiful double mustang, Aggieman!

I really like the look of the Alcad as well, jmabx. I still need to get me some of that stuff to try out.

Kermit, im looking foward to the little Thunderbolt!

The break allowed me to get a few more steps accomplished: foiling the canopy and the external fuel tanks (which Ive decided to leave shiny, for contrast to the dull-metal MiG) and attaching the gear!  It can stand on its own now!

OWL

Well,... im about 24 hours into the build now and just about ready to start the big painting adventure.

Some WIP's:

this morning i joined the fuselage, glued the wings together and sanded/ filled any seams that needed sanding/ filling:

And after all the assembly and initial masking it looks like this right now:

So.... Alclad time it is!

Reading about the subject i learned awhile ago that the ordinary aluminum paint doesn't need the gloss black undercoat. It does however need a primer.

At swanny's models website i read that there a quite a few options to use as primer. Among those options is future. After some thinking about the subject i am going to try to use my ordinary primer:

This is revells standard priming paint and enamel based. After a coat of this i intend to spray a layer of future as an inbetween layer and then move on to the alclad. Really hope my logic and assumptions will pay off...

Richard

Kermit a very very nice MiG-15 you have finished there, I find it hard to believe it was your first foil build. The contrasting panels may have been an accident as you claim, but that really made the build along with a very smooth foiling job

Now Richard my friend on to other business, your P-47 build is listed on the front page along with your finished MiG. However, I just can not get over the speed at which you are able to build, I get the 47 listed and its already 70% finished, or is it that I am slow with my updates. I do envy your talents.

Aggieman WOW!!!! that is one nice P-82, the finish is beautiful Is that the Monogram 1/72 ? What paints did you use ? Come on give us some info man

Jmabx back stranger I cant find a thing wrong with the finish on your P-59, it looks flawless from here. Even the masking on the canopy is neat as he!!, much better than my masking.

CallSignOwl what can I say you just keep amazing me, the most difficult parts to foil have got to be drop tanks and a prop. Your work on the drop tanks is awesome to say the least, I am really looking forward to the finish on your build.

Randy,

Thanks my friend, and i am sorry to drive you nuts with my pace LOL. I told the guys already that it not only a firsdt try on alclad NMF but also a bit of a dress rehearsal for the weekend madness gb... So i am trying to work as swiftly as i can without compromising quality too much. Believe me it's fun

Oh btw, the jug is primed and futured now. I will let it sit overnight before i attempt the NMF:

Yes, it might be fun to note that this priming coat is indeed bright white. I have never seen it being used as a base layer for NMF and stubborn as i am i simply wanna know what happens if you do Besides, it is the only stuff i have that is not in a rattlecan.... Fingers crossed.

Yes, Owl... i am so sorry i was so busy with my own stuff that i hardly noticed not commenting on the splendid job you did on your foiling! Great job on those tanks. I must admit i have painted mine... You are so fearles.....dammit! LOL...joke Did you ponder over a possible next build yet? I must say i am kind of a fan, seeing someone so fresh into the hobby do stuff that the big boys walk away from

Richard

Steven - The P-82 is awesome! Such a cool looking bird!

Owl - The MiG is shaping up nicely! I'm looking forward to seeing decals on it.

Kermit - You sure made short work of that Jug! The lighter base coat will give the metal finish a lighter look to it. If you built another one with a dark basecoat and put them next to each other, you could see the difference the base color makes. As long as the finish is smooth it will look fine. When I removed the black from the P-59, I was out of more so I used a gloss green as the base coat.

Randy - Thanks! Cool thing about this kit is that the canopy framing is in the form of recessed panel lines just like the rest of the kit. I just laid a large piece of tape over each window and followed the panel lines with a razor blade. Easiest canopy to mask that I've even done!

good to see everyones progress. My builds started spreading this morning. Ive now completely used up my model desk with builds and now they're spreading to the dining room table. Hopefully i should have my f-100 done sometime in the next couple days, the release of Fallout New Vegas today has kinda put a damper on my builds atm tho lol

Aggieman WOW!!!! that is one nice P-82, the finish is beautiful Is that the Monogram 1/72 ? What paints did you use ? Come on give us some info man

Thanks everyone!  It is the 72nd scale Monogram kit from way back when, although this is the newest re-release.  It was actually in my stash for a grand total of a couple of weeks.  It's Alclad airframe aluminum with Alclad dark aluminum, Tamiya flat red and Tamiya flat black, and MM interior green and burnt metal (for the exhaust stacks).  I used Tamiya weathering compounds (oil stain and blue burnt metal) as well as a dark gray wash to bring out the raised panel line details.

It was a fun and relaxing little build, and even with the NMF it was relaxing.  I guess I didn't get enough NMF with that monster B-36!

kermit

Yes, Owl... i am so sorry i was so busy with my own stuff that i hardly noticed not commenting on the splendid job you did on your foiling! Great job on those tanks. I must admit i have painted mine... You are so fearles.....dammit! LOL...joke Did you ponder over a possible next build yet? I must say i am kind of a fan, seeing someone so fresh into the hobby do stuff that the big boys walk away from

Richard

Thanks Kermit (is it OK if I call you Richard?)   I am liking this foiling, but Im not perfect. There are a few wrinkles that pop up from time to time!   I love trying new things!!

I dont know if I am going to to another NMF, but I have to say I am hooked on the shiny-stuff!  I am planning an F-16 for the Viper GB soon.

Vetteman: the tanks weren't really too hard. I just used thin strips of foil. I used an FSM article for reference (it was about foiling a P-38) and it was very helpful.

The decals should be coming soon! They are nothing too special, just a generic Czech bird.

OWL

ITS FINISHED...but i left the photos at home lol. Ill upload some tommorow.

...(is it OK if I call you Richard?) ...

Ok,... on to business.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!!!! It actually worked my friends. I am an "alclad user" now too:

And some bits and bobs... turned out just as baby butt smooth:

I had to look at my best NMF spraying job i ever done (revell airbrush ready painted mig 21) and the difference is extraordinary! Love it and hope you guys like it too.

Richard

EDIT: oops... i was so exited i posted the same pic twice LOL. It has been corrected Sorry.

Owl its a good thing you havent heard what I call Kermi sometimes

Kermit Nice finish buddy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am gonna have a hard time keeping up with you and the BIG BOYS now.

...Owl its a good thing you havent heard what I call Kermi sometimes

Well, i like it when you say "baby cakes".... Always makes me feel so special when you do.

Richard

Hey "baby cakes" Outstanding finish buddy it looks great, well done

Jeremy, Mate don't touch that finish ok, it looks superb to me...Just get her done so we can drool over it

Owl, looks to me as if your nearing the finish line, i'm looking forward to seeing your foiled mig all decaled

Aggie, Love the twin ponies, i guess i'll have to do one of those myself one day

You guys are seriously making me want to crack open the box for my next NMF job but i gotta get some nasty german freehand camo done on a couple more yet...but i will be back with another one soon...

Now this is not an NMF finish but i just wanted you guys to see how much i have NMF on the brain, i can't keep away from it.....

Can't see any NMF right, but if you turn it over.....

thanks guys!  The work here is superb, Julez--I love that German plane there, very nice!

Richard/Kermit , you are moving very fast on that thunderbolt. It seems to me that 1/72 scale is very nice for a quick build!

Ive gotten most of the decals on now, and am going to apply a bit of weathering next. Here is the painted exhaust area: MM enamels (Steel mixed with a bit of blue or brown) for the exterior bits and MM Acryls (Gunmetal mixed with steel) for teh inside.

this MiG-21 really is not that big. Here it is compared to a P-51, both in 1/48 scale.

I bent up the nose pitot really bad and just cut it off. I replaced it with a lenght of paper clip cut to length.

and a quick shot of the decals before the weathering:

OWL

man Kermit you are building that P-47 fast.  I can't build that fast if I tried.  Don't know if its me or not, but I just can't seem to want to touch newly painted things for at least 12 hrs.  I definitely would not do to well in the weekend GB, cause I allow an overnight dry time before I touch anything.

B17Pilot,

It's not that hard really...

Just make sure the missus has stuff to do or gives you permission to do whatever you wanna do

To be honest, if i wanted to do this NMF job for the weekend gig, i would have used my revell acrylics and not the alclad. These paints dry thoroghly within 4 hours and i found out that a future coat will be very forgiving within two hours after applying (usually i even brush paint future, it has amazing self levelling characteristics...); makes masking that much more easy. Just be sure to refuture after each coat and apply a dull coat when neccessary afterwards (that is, after all paintwork).

With that in mind it also pays off big time to read through a given manual before starting a build. I usually plan spraying jobs by determining what parts need a given colour before i even start. Why fire up (and clean) your airbrush two or even three times for interior green when you can do all the parts in one go...?

And for my own work: tonight i have sprayed on the anti glare OD colour, brush painted the canopy with gloss red after curing and painted the propeller and wheels with black... I will not reach the 48 hour rule but i fully intend to be done with this one tomorrow... The Mostly underside grey and OD uppersides french build option will be far more suitable for the weekend GB anyways.

Richard

Rcih,

Had a good chuckle when I read your comment, "Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!!!! It actually worked my friends. I am an "alclad user" now too".

That's how I felt on my first use.

Aggieman,

That turned out nice.

heres the completed shots.

iv always liked the f100 it just looks right and that 1 looks great :)

kermit

Well, i like it when you say "baby cakes".... Always makes me feel so special when you do.

Richard

 

Baby Cakes ??????? Baby Cakes ? Figures you would get it wrong geeze, it was "sweet cakes"

Julez72 saw your 190 build in the 190 group build and gotta say I love it, I only hope mine comes out close to as well as yours did.

CallSignOwl oh my that looks just like a MiG-21 I cant wait to see her all finished.

Scorpiopmikey Wow is all I can say, that is what a F-100 should look all shiny and very colorful. A truly sweet build. Your build does come with I hope will be a small request, can you take a better picture of it so I can show the model off on the front page ? The stuff in the background really takes away from the build.

Ok the MiG is finally finished and the AT-6 is back on the bench, if things go well should have some paint on her Monday, cant wait to try the Talon paints on a full build instead of small parts.

lol sorry about that, ill sort something out tonight.

Well,... it was to late last night to do a photoshoot but here they are... I am not to happy with the canopy myself as it turned out a bit foggy but i simply adore the alclad!

So...  i guess i have no more excuses and have to start on a bigger and more demanding project: my first ever P38 build. Randy, could you put me down for Academy's offering in 1/48th scale?

Richard

Kemit man I gotta say this is your best NMF build yet Love the finish Richard. Not to worry about the canopy, I have seen them on the real thing yellowed and in much worse condition so your is not out of line by a long shot. In fact I once flew a Cessna 120 with such a yellowed windscreen that I almost didn't need sunglasses. I will get the front page updated in the morning with your finished build and the P-38, cant wait to see this one Richard.

Scorpiomikey no need to be sorry, I just want to do your build justice showing it off. Its really a nice one.

Owl