Lol, I'm going to sound like Richard's echo chamber here! Any NM finish should be shiny enough I wouldn't put any gloss finish on it. Only case I'd do it would be if the model has matte finish paint on it like the anti-glare panels on say a P-47 or P-51. On this P-47 I got a little silvering around the lady's head where the decal overlapped the matte OD green. If I did the model again I'd spray or brush a little gloss under where the decal goes and then hit it with a little matte when finished.

Ok thanx guys. I will go for a decal directly over the alclad thing.

The decals on the sheet are not seperate like we are used to from kits but actually printed onto a large piece of flim. SO I will try to cut them off the sheet with as little or no carrierfilm edge atall.......stay tuned!

Theuns

i sprayed the lightning with alclad light sheen, not quite gloss, not quite flat. a good compromise but it still alters the alclad finish a bit.

Hi guys........

@Gamera:what beautiful piece you've done!!!Put on more pics.....!

@Theuns:your Mirage is coming a beauty!in my stash there's one that is waiting me........it have the David's star.......

Here same up dates.....I've tyed to paint the chequered yellow-black tail.....I 've cut  more of 180 5mmx5mm pieces from vinilic tape......same retouch are necessary but i like the result.....What do you think about??Ciao from Italy,Enrico.

Enrico: Wow that checkered tail is stunning!!! 180 tiny squares must have driven you mad but the results are worth it. That's just fantastic!!!

And thanks, I'm close to being done with P-47D for this GB and figured I'd post them both on the aircraft forum together so she's only been on Doog's P-47 GB right now. Anyway here is a link to the page on the P-47 GB, just scroll to the bottom. Btw you can check out B-17pilot's awesome P-47D just above mine too.

Here is a sneak peak of my South African Air Force Mirage 3 cz in 1963 deliviry sceeme from France.

I bought aftermarket decals, but used only the castles and a few others with the kit decals.

Some touchups and bits todo then I will be very happy to call it done!

Theuns

Done at last!     more pix here - http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/153178.aspx

Theuns

Ok the link seems not to work so here are a few pix

SAAF's first mirage 3 cz 1963

Theuns

Beautiful work on the Mirage!

all of these builds are bloody good!!

im starting a triboom spitfire in nmf would that be eligable?

Vetteman42-

I started a 1/48th Revell/Monogram B-29 Jan.15 in the Gift GB with Bish and crew. Since you are allowing crossovers...may I join the roster here as well since I am going to Alclad her?

WIP of the 29 build:

I am at the polishing stage on the 29 build currently and about to go to alclad and customized decaling to make her Z Square 8.

Let me know if your GB is or my build is too far along to join the roster. Thanks!

WOW that is a big fortress! Exelent interior. You might have to buy the Alclad in bulk LOL!

Theuns

Wow, that looks great, Starfighter!

Just keeps getting better n better!

yep...big is an understatement...gets a bit crowded on the small table for work! (no need for a paint booth build, just some heavy mil plastic sheeting to protect floor and walls). She will have a wingspan of 3' and length of 2' when done.

...on the Alclad bulk. It'll be a first for Alclad for me, so it should be interesting/fun. Seems I'm spending more time reading about HOW to use it on the FSM site and Swanny's site than my build time recently!

I have some things in mind as detail work after the core assembly is painted and decaled like removing and striping the bombs, possible cutouts in the fuselage to show the hand-painted interior details, etc...we'll see how the final stages go...been over 20+ years since a build.

The few things I have learned about alclad is that you need a good quality masking that willnot lift the paint from the base black. I used Tamiya tape for the first time on the mirage and it worked very well.

I also spray at a low pressure, set the airbrush to as wide a fan as I can and lastly spray at a low angle (about 30-40 degrees or so) to the model where I can, this makes for a larger spray coveridge area.

It tends to lesten the streaky effect

The other thing is to get yourslf some cotton gloves when working with the painted model, although the sales pitch says it is very tough paint it still rubs off in places where you handle it allot.

I used no future or any setting solution for the decals, there was not even a gloss claercoat over the alclad before dacaling. I have used the pollished allu on 2 models now and both times the decals showed no silvering at all.

Hope it helps, but I am sure the experts here will be able to give some great advice you need.

Theuns

the high shine alclads are delicate, the other finishes are much tougher.

What is airframe alluminium? Highshine or normal?  I need some for my Mustang and Sabre.

Theuns

high shine but it seems to be a bit tougher to me than the chrome and polished aluminium  probably as you can put it on thicker than the other two without losing the effect too much

Ohhhhhh Theuns, love how she came out!!! Just great job all around! That's how a NM bird should look!

BTW: Airframe aluminum is shiny - not so much as chrome but much more so than normal aluminum. What did you use on your Mirage there? It looks a lot like airframe aluminum to me.

Z: That's one awesome Fortress! Hope you can join us, I'd like to follow along with your build.

Actually it was pollished allu, but I think all the handling of it and the panel wash has toned it down to look like airframe allu.

So If I one day use airframe allu it will look like normal allu LOL!

Theuns

Lol, you may be right there! I think the airframe is about halfway in shine between the regular aluminum and the polished! The chrome is super insanely shiny- almost like a mirror. 

Thanks Theuns and Gamera...

quick background:

Would classify myself as "rusty at best" when it comes to skill level. Last build I can recall was the USS Constitution and Cutty Sark w/full rigging and sails back in the late '80's. My challenges are "experience in executing" what I see and read with modeling. Enjoying it.

Will be doing the kit as Z Square 8, S/N 42-24849, "Mission to Albuquerque" in honor of my wife's uncle who was radar operator on her and KIA 17 March 1945 over Kobe.

If I am able to pull off a "bombing" good job on the build, (pardon the pun), she will be the centerpiece of a revamped loft area theme.

My avatar is the Z-8 and I'm already in progress on making the custom decal to recreate her nose art and 7 credited bombing missions...she was the third Z-8 of four during the campaign in the pacific. She was lost on her 8th mission with the Fitzgerald crew. Tribute site for the uncle and the 29er's in signature below.

Working her with Bish and crew in the Gift GB, so there are far more WIP images there to date.

I just stumbled across the NMF GB as I am new to the FSM forums. I think I can still complete her by the June 1 deadline...famous last words right?? 

It is always interesting to get some history to a build like you are doing, I am also getting the pilot who flew this actual Mirage I did to sign the display base . He flew the plane in France (1962) before being delivered to the SAAF. I also have another guy who logged some 22 hours on her.

I think it would make for an interesting talking point to have the guys's signatures with the plane.

Theuns

Thanks for the story behind the B-29 and your connection with her Z Square 8. That's fascinating stuff!

Theuns: Sounds cool, getting his autograph is just plain awesome!

BTW: Finished the Tamiya P-47D last week. Unfortunately the photos I took turned out with the yellow nose looking really funny, not sure it was because the day was overcast or because I used my Droid phone instead of my camera. Anyway I'm going to try to get some better photos in better lighting conditions. Here is one of the better photos: 

Theuns-

the Mirage is awesome...getting even one of the pilots autograph would be outstanding!...Getting both, well, that would be top shelf stuff. 

note...picked up some Tamiya tape based on what I have read and your suggestion today (along with another Alclad silver shade-Magnesium)

Gamera-

love the P-47's, especially the razorback version. I think your effort there is excellent. Love the detail on the bomb striping and the engine exhaust staining. How did you do your stripes on the bombs and is that a wash on the exhaust? Really liking the oil dripping base for the pose!

This whole site is chock full of very accomplished modelers! Great stuff!

Rich: Thanks! Sorry didn't do any washes except on the yellow nose and the bombs were done with the decals from the kit. Funny you can see the black on the leading edge of the wing where I rubbed off the aluminum from handling it.

Cliff

Well Cliff, you handled her in the right places! She looks incredible!

not gonna be anything like as good as everybody elses but here we go anyway

gloss black (some of it anyway!) coat on both builds

Hey guys I see its been party time here and I have been missing it My notifies were going to my junk mail, got that fixed I thought last month. Well I still wasnt getting them for some reason and thought nothing was going on here, until I popped in yesterday. Anyway I went through and reset everything and started getting notifies today.

I have updated the front page with our newest builders and I wish to welcome Z Square 8  and I think Eatthis has also joined us.

Theuns as I recall this was your first time using Alclad. You have done some beautiful work on that Mirage buddy !!!!

Gamera love your Jug man !!!! Cant wait to see the better pictures the cell cams just dont do justice. Although the neon green stripes are interestin.

That yellow checkertail P-51 wow !!!! Painting that the hard way sure paid off big I went cross eyed just thinking about doing that.

Eatthis !!!! I need scale and manufacturer info on your builds man !!!!

I know I missed a few builds please let me get caught up with them all.