Hey Doogs.. I have a question; your 1/48 P51 .. did you paint the wings a different colour to the fuselage? If so what colour plse?  I need to find a good bare metal silver for the body but stuffed if I can find a decent different silver for the wings as they were slightly different irl.  What did you do???

The wings were aluminum lacquer in real life - so yeah I used a different color (Alclad Dull Aluminum vs. Aluminum and Duraluminum on the fuselage). Next time around, I'm planning to use Tamiya AS-12 on the wings. 

Tadaaaa!

Ok, pants down time... it is not an early cowling but it fits like a glove and quite frankly given the speed and pricetag i really don't mind it. I am back in the game and happy about that.

Richard

DoogsATX

The wings were aluminum lacquer in real life - so yeah I used a different color (Alclad Dull Aluminum vs. Aluminum and Duraluminum on the fuselage). Next time around, I'm planning to use Tamiya AS-12 on the wings. 

Thanks.. hmmm AS-12 is what Tamiya is saying to use on the fuselage, but the wings were a different colour slightly (they say use that item there as well). I might just give the wings an extra coating of darker prep then spray over with the AS12 (bare metal silver). Yeah yours do look a slightly different colour.  Hey also plse tell me the best way to get the curve on the blue nose colour.. did you use masking tape or putty???  Thanks again =)

Kemit: Good stuff, glad you got it sussed.

Richard: Wow, that was quick! Even if it's not the exact part -looks good to me. And btw nice new avatar

Furyan: I think the aluminum lacquer they painted on the wings would be a little more grey and a little less metallic looking than than the actual aluminum parts of the plane.

yeah Ive filled the panel joins Doogs suggested so I think I might just give the wing tops an extra going over with 1/800 or 1000 grit paper and paint them bare metal silver like the body.

Just need to know how to get the blue nose curve done properly >_<

Furyan

yeah Ive filled the panel joins Doogs suggested so I think I might just give the wing tops an extra going over with 1/800 or 1000 grit paper and paint them bare metal silver like the body.

Just need to know how to get the blue nose curve done properly >_<

Ok, duh- looking back Doogs already answered your question- sorry.

As to the nose, you can use a french curve to get the right shape, big problem will be to get both sides symmetrical. You might try tracing it out on a piece of paper and then using the paper to transfer the design to a piece of tape stuck to glass. Then flip the paper to get an opposite piece of tape for the other side of the nose. My two cents anyhow.

Furyan

Just need to know how to get the blue nose curve done properly >_<

Yeah I've got a pretty foolproof way to do it - I'll post later this evening after I've got the kids in bed and asleep.

Awesome, sweet, cheers Doog  

Alright, here goes! 

First up - masking the 352nd's blue nose. I agonized over how to do this for some time, so I totally feel your pain!

First - scan or copy/enlarge the profile in the instructions so they're 1/32 scale. Cut out just the nose. Doesn't have to be exact, because the main concern is the curve.

Second - put Tamiya tape on wax paper. Put cut out over Tamiya tape. Tape it down.

Third - with a decent pair of scissors, cut the curve. I've found it's a LOT easier to cut curves with scissors than with xactos.

Fourth - put mask on the plane.

Next - the wing/fuselage thing. Guess I should clarify - next time around I would/will use AS-12 for the wings and Alclad for the fuselage. After the various clears, Alclad Aluminum and Dull Aluminum look similar-ish...I think the lacquered wings need a different tonal quality. Hence the AS-12...

Thanks Doogs, next time I'm in such a situation I'll give this a whirl. Looks lots easier than mucking around with a french curve trying to find the correct shape.

I don't know what I did, but pulling up tape to mask for OD anti-glare panel and noticed this when a bit more tape came off than expected

I waited just over 24 hrs before masking that panel.  This is the only one that did this.    Thought this stuff was suppose to be tough!

B17: Argh... should be easy to fix yeah?  I wait ages for  paint to dry before applying the mask. Never had a prob with Tamiya masking tape. Hope its sorted ok for you =)

Doogs: Outstanding mate, thanks so much, great idea. Will totally bookmark and print that post out and do what you suggested. Thanks again!

K sorry forgot to add, filled the wings last night. These may look over board but trust me they are now as smooth as a babies bottoms  =]

Ok for anyone that may want it in the future heres a 1/32scale profile (308mm long) of the Petie II.  Do what Doogs suggested a few posts back re the blue nose curve, by far the best suggestion Ive read.

(expand for printing)

B-17: Ouch! Yeah I've seen Alclad do that sometimes. It's rare but it does happen sometimes, I don't think it's much worse for peeling up than regular paint though. Did you wash your model before painting? I think that's my problem so I've tried to be more careful.

Cliff

I agree with Gamera, you should be able to mask alclad without a problem. It usually comes down to surface prep that went wrong... Personally i always use demakeup pads with a touch of alcohol on them as well as the kind of disposable paper towels to clean your glasses before i hhit the booth with any model.

During assembly you handle the model alot so even with sprues that have been cleansed before commencing a build some grease and stuff will always be on the model if you take it into the booth without any cleaning.

Richard

And oh btw: great job Furyan- those ammo belts look fantastic!

I've shaded some different panels varying shades of grey to help break up the Alclad when that goes on. The exhaust will be done in Alclad magnesium so the shades should help the look of jet exhaust.

Cheers

I decided to use the Alclad chrome just to make the surface 'pop' a bit. Alclad usually is a darker metallic than standard so I thought at this scale it helps to exaggerate the look of the jet and give it more. I've sprayed the chrome and when fully dry will mask off the rear and lay down the jet exhaust tones.

Cheers

Casper,

Your trumpy is coming along very nice and i really like your approach with the preshading for the exhausts and various panels. It will be a delight to follow your progress!. Everytime i have tried an extreme high shine finish like chrome it didn't turn out for me this well but that is mostly due to my skills or lack thereof Looking great!

As for my trumpy cat....

Assembly was completed yesterday and i have already sprayed and post shaded the green tail. 

I have secured the gun and ammo hatches on the port wing but used microscale's micro liquitape on the starboard ones so i can pose em open once finished. I really love this stuff; just like liquid post it notes in a bottle

For masking off the engine and wheelbays i have used a wet kitchen towel technique which has worked tremendously nice for me in the past.

Next up, and as soon as i finish writing this i am going to take a deep breath and continue on to mask off the tail and preshade the fuselage and wings with thinned black acrylics. Wish me luck

Richard

Since there are two odd months left please sign me up for and old ESCI 1/72 F-104c Starfighter in Bare metal sceeme.

Theuns

Having a hard time getting my canopy masked off.It's a 1/72 F84 tamiya kit.Tried bmf but couldn't hold my hand steady enough to cut the straight lines  Gonna give cutting small strips of tamiya tape a shot.What I get for working in 72nd scale I guess Really wanna get this build painted.

A Super Sabre with a super finish! Such a great little kit, these high end Trumpeter 1/72 kits are certainly worth the money and are highly detailed.

I'm happy with the way the Alclad chrome/magnesium/jet exhaust came out. These decals are possibly the best I have ever worked with, settling down into the panel lines beautifully.

Cheers

Hey Casper- terrific!!!

Gamera

Hey Casper- terrific!!!

 

And the Talon strikes again. It so delivers every single time i use it...

Hope you guys like her too. Hope to mask and spray the yellow wings tonight

Richard

Casper and Kermit - great work, guys!! 

Ken

Gamera

B-17: Ouch! Yeah I've seen Alclad do that sometimes. It's rare but it does happen sometimes, I don't think it's much worse for peeling up than regular paint though. Did you wash your model before painting? I think that's my problem so I've tried to be more careful.

Cliff

Yea I washed it down with Windex before painting.  Let it sit for more than 5 minutes before applying paint.  Always had good results doing that, with no problems till now.

Halfpint I have the same troubles with shaky hands even in 1/48, what works for me is a brand new blade in the hobby knife and I use a rocking motion instead of pulling the knife where I want to make a straight cut masking canopys. Only works with a brand new very sharp knife.

Theuns your F-104 is in and welcome back to the group.

B17 bummer about the paint lifting man. I think some paints are a bit less prone to lifting than others and surface prep is important for sure. However in some cases it is how you hold your mouth when painting and masking that does the trick it seems. I am sure you can fix the problem and end up with a nice finish.

Casper wow ! Another very nice build is added to the front page, and shiny too Very well done sir That Trumpy did build up nice in your skilled hands.

Kermit oh my but you saved it being able to get the new cowl and are on the way to a stellar finish. That Talon is good stuff isnt it Hey are you going to be able to remove the cowl to show off that engine ??

To all, I feel obligated to tell you why I havent been here as I should have been, or building much this past year, and to maybe offer a little advise to those of you who have kids around. We, my sister and I, have been battling drug addiction in the house, my 22 year old niece for a bit over a year now. Numerous trips to rehab have happened to no avail, she would get herself kicked out each time we sent her, and go right back to the drugs. I dont want to get into the ugly details of things that have happened, as it hasn't been pretty at all. Kind of like seeing what bad thing is going to happen next sorta thing. There have been 10 OD deaths here where we live from the first of the year alone so I know the problem is a serious one, not just in this house.

So my advise, please, if you have kids or grand kids or any kids around. Step back and watch them with your gut and not your heart, see what they are doing. And if something just doesn't feel right, no matter how small it seems find out what is going on with them. Don't make the mistake of thinking it cant or wont happen, because it just might.

Vetteman,

For what it's worth... I know all about the destruction that addiction brings to a family and i guess i can say on behalf of everybody that knows you on here symphatizes with you im sure and personally i hope that in time everything will turn out for the best. Ill be keeping an eye out for ya buddy!

B17

My apologies for assuming it must have been something like cleaning... Stuff like this happens sometimes and it is very annoying to say the least. I hope a retry will solve everything for you

Halfpint

I must say that i totally missed your post but as i understand it you have trouble masking canopies? Vettemans tip on the sharp blade is certainly golden. And most canopies have raised edges. Just go as slow as any shakyness on your part requires and use those edges as guides while you make your cut. 

Contrary to most i actually enjoy masking canopies while enjoying a dvd or some music. Patience, a sharp blade and a state of zen like concentration is the name of the game here... Oh and if you have trouble seeing the edges under the masking tape, try raising it to a lamp; it will show em very clearly.

Richard

P.s.: I kinda scr*wed up the yellow wings last night so i sanded the gritty sandpaper like finish i had and resprayed tonight. Looks like it went better now but i sprayed enamel so im not touching it for 24 hours... Yellow paint sucks...