Hunting After Dark, 2011-2012 Night Fighter Group Build

Herchmech yes modelmaster enamel

Trey,

I like it...pure black can be very hard to cover with lighter colors. I will have to use your mix. I assume you are using enamels???

Hercmech thanks, I used model master flat black cut about 30% with model master leather then thinned 50% with mineral spirits

Fellas,

Some nice work going on here.

Trey what color did you use for your preshading?

Wow! some great working going on guys!

 Greif8, Nice work on the Aeries pit.

 Trey, Fantastic! You've done a great job on the fit and the paint work is looking good too! Closing in on the home stretch.

 P38, That Horten is coming along nicely!

 Nathan, The Ju88 looks great!

 Looking forward to seeing updates from everyone!

 Hope I didn't miss anyone, Keep posting the updates All!

 Mo

Trey, your 110 looks great!

The Horten is coming along great too.

I've got some done on the P-70.  I added a little bit of detail in the gunner's compartment.  Now I need to get some ammo cans since I made the rack for them....Hmm....  How HVH talks about Monday kits, well, I have a variation of that.  AMT decided to cut costs by moving production to Mexico in the '90s.  I had heard the Mexican kits weren't as good.  So far, that is very true.  Lots more flash, no biggie there, but some of the parts aren't completely formed, as they didn't fill the molds completely.  I have to source an engine now, and one prop is mishapen. 

Cheers,

Greg

Nathan yes the primer is impossible to shoot through an airbrush unless you thin it 75%. Thanks for sharing the paint mixes appreciate it! I can see the pic now looking good!

nice work Fellas ! Keep it up..

Next progress report from me...wings are on... seems being cleaned up.. air-air missles are a pain,, but gaining...Nasty seems on the tires..[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0][View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0][View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0][View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0][View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Sounds like that primer might be tough for me to airbrush with my finer tip, i'm still learning how to use it. Hope my mr. surfacer gets here soon. my tire black is a custom mix with flat black and and tamiya deck tan mixed in to lighten it abit. then i mix in more deck tan and mist it on to fade the tires. the rims are just gloss black. the prop blades are tamiya nato black, looks good for rlm 70. Heres the last pic, i'll try again.

Nathan

Nathan thanks, I use an HB Automotive MS primer thinned down. I find it works good as it is designed to go over urethane bumpers so it has an etching as well as flex properties already in it. The problem is its high solids and needs to be thinned quite a bit to use on models or it just fills in too much and you loose details easily. You parts are looking great,what color do you use on your props and tires? The last pic is not showing for some reason

Trey thats some great work. What did you use for primer? i'm waiting for a batch of mr. surfacer to come in the mail, so i've been doing some other details like wheels, gear legs and props. Great job pre shading. i'm not looking forward to doing it on my bird simply cause of its size and my hand is bound to cramp up, but it is necessary as it gives it a good subtle look, especially under something so light as rlm 76. your mottling looks real good too.

Nightfighter nut, you got some pretty fine tuned skills there...

h

got the control surfaces posed, and warmed up for alittle mottling

Nathan

Greg thanks and you're right thats been the only fit problem so far

Ernest that cockpit just keeps getting better ,color looks spot on

Night Fighter Nut like what you did with the seats,nicely done

Made some more forward progress got the primer on

this is my first attempt at preshading and it was a little nerve wracking

then a base of RLM76 modelmaster enamel

then I used acrylic for the RLM75 mottle,I like using the acrylic when doing complex freehand airbrush work due to the ease of fixing mistakes,just keep a clean cloth on hand damp with denatured alcohol and wipe away the errant paint

Thanks, I find that very helpful.  :)

Night Fighter Nut

I don't understand what you mean by filters.   What are filters in the weathering sense?

 

Hi Night Fighter Nut, filters are used to subtely change the tone or hue a paint.  Used correctly and in conjuction with washes and dry brushing give a paint job more depth and contrast.  Armor modellers often use filters to give paint a faded look or to replicate fuel stains.  Filters can be used by aircraft modellers to do the above and to give different panels on a plane slightly varied hues, to name a couple of common applications.

One can buy premade filters, such as those sold by MIG Productions, or you can make your own.  Both acrylics and enamels can be used to make a filter.  Filters made from colors such as red or yellow give a warm tone to the base paint.  Blues and greens give a cooler tone or hue.  Thin the paint to a ratio of about 95% thinner to 5% paint using a mild thinner like water or turpentine depending on the paint.   I normally make my own filters from enamels or oils, because I use acrylics almost exclusively and I dont have to worry as much about taking the base coat off. 

The technique is pretty simple.  Dip a broad soft brush, broadness depending on how large an area to want the filter effect on, into the filter and wipe most of the excess off until the brush is damp.  Brush one uniform coat on the area.  Matt surfaces cause the paint to spread across and seemingly work into the surface.  The beauty to this technique is that it is simple and almost impossible to mess up.   The effect is very very subtle, and you may not notice anything after the first coat is dry in 30-45 minutes.  Carefully build up coats until you have achieved the effect you want.  It is important to make sure the brush is just damp and does not leave residue filter, because it will then behave much like a wash.   

I don't understand what you mean by filters.   What are filters in the weathering sense?

Hi Greg, thanks for the kind comments!  To answer your question, I use acrylic based filters and apply them over matt surfaces, which is the best method, IMHO that is.  I use both oil and acrylic based washes and always apply them over a gloss surface, usually Future.

Ernest   

Greg,

I don't usually do overall washes with oils but I use them for pin washes, and when I do I use zippo lighter fluid. I find it dries really quick and has great capillary action. I have used it over sealed and not sealed paint jobs. The sealed ones tend to work better as they flow better on the smooth surface, but i am by no means an expert.

P-38, that Horten is a neat kit.  I like what you've done with it already.  It looks great!  I am going to have to drop in and take a look at the Horten GB.

Trey, your 110 is cruising.  I had heard that the nacelles were one of the few bad spots on that kit.  You made it look good.

Ernest, the detail on the Uhu is just great!  I will be using your pictures as reference when I get around to building mine.

Nightfighternut, your scratch building skills are awesome.  Those seats came out great.

Question for those of you who use oils for washes and filters.  Do you use mineral spirits or turpentine?  Can I use it over enamels, or do I have to put a clear coat over it?  The articles that I have read were armor based, so any info or suggestions for aircraft would be welcome. 

Thanks again for all the participation.

Cheers,

Greg

One last photo of the finished gunner and R/O chairs.  :)

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Here is how I made the  chairs for my P61A  :)

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Hercmech

p38jl:

thanks Guys...

Herm,, there is a HO-229 GB going on... if ya wanna see more 229's... ( this one is a cross-over )..

 

Yeah I was part of the discussion with Manny when he was contemplating the GB. I had just finished my 229, so I didnt join the GB, but I do love the A/C

Herm.... ah... yes.. I remember now... lol..

Nathan,, I'm going to try to replicate the scheme on the box art..

p38jl

thanks Guys...

Herm,, there is a HO-229 GB going on... if ya wanna see more 229's... ( this one is a cross-over )..

Yeah I was part of the discussion with Manny when he was contemplating the GB. I had just finished my 229, so I didnt join the GB, but I do love the A/C

Ernest, thats some awesome pit detail, you got the right look for sure.

P38- nice start, can't wait to see the finished model. Whats the paint scheme going to look like?

I ordered some Aims decals for the Ju88 G-6. it comes with lots of marking options? Anyone used these decals before? they seem like good quality.

Nathan

Hercmech

P38JL,

 

I love the wiring and I love that 229. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

thanks Guys...

Herm,, there is a HO-229 GB going on... if ya wanna see more 229's... ( this one is a cross-over )..

P38JL,

I love the wiring and I love that 229. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

Wow, there are some very nice birds being built in this GB.  The eye candy is almost as good as on one of the beachs on the island of Mallorca! 

Following are a few pictures of the weathered cockpit.  I used a brown toned wash, a light filter and lots of drybrushing to get both a used look and get the shade close to RLM66.  Turned out ok overall.  I'll be slowing down on the build for a few days.  I was returning from a night model building mission and was jumped by a "Honey-Do" nightfighter.  Should have that little task complete by the weekend and can get back to work on the Uhu.

Ernest

Mo thanks, the build will slow down now that I'm off vacation

p38jl awesome start on a great subject! Wiring and office looking great,man this gb just keeps getting better!

Hello.. I have some WIP pics...

Sprue shots...:550:0]

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[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0][  cockpit and IP.. my belts and buckles came out a bit heavy handed... :550:0][View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

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I took a few liberties with the wiring,, not to many good cockpit pics to go by...

Nice work everyone!

 Trey, You are screaming on that 110! Nice work fitting the wings and engine nacelles. 

 Keep up the excellent work all!

Mo

Greg thanks ,nice start you got going there looks sharp

Ernest you said it just have fun! This is my first group build and I'm wondering why I waited so long to get involved in one ,geuss I was also more worried that my skills were'nt up to standard. Nice to see its more about the fun . That cockpit is looking outstanding btw

Nathan hang in there its looking great,I had the same exact problems with my Ju88 dragon kit . The canopy was'nt too bad just lots of dry fitting sanding and filling.

I got the last of the office pe goodies ,except for the ones that go on the underside of the canopy saving that for after the painting for obvious reasons

went ahead and filled the gaps around the nacelle/ wing area it just seemed excessive.

anybody know what this is? My cutaway ref  does'nt say,geussing some sort of muzzle flash shield?