US CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD 2013

Why is Gunze Aqueous Color not available in the states anymore? I can't get any Model Master paint here, but I think I'll stick to Gunze anyway after seeing your problems with MM paints, Greg.

That canopy turned out really good! I'll post some pics of the canopy I painted with Gunze paints if you want (the one I destroyed...)

Greg- those canopies look great for the troubles you've been having!   You can always use a new #11 blade to lightly cut the paint surface around the mask so they come off cleanly.  (nice to know after the fact, yes?)

Keep plugging away as that's the only way to progress.

And thanks everyone for the (back) support!

Canopy masking takes a bit of time to master, even if you use pre cut masks, they still have to be applied properly. And if you're frugal like me and use masking tape, well get ready for a true exercise in patience. Paint choice is also quite impprtant. Gunze Aqueous WAS the  best acrylic around- excellent properties and color selection. It is a huge shame you cant get it here in the states anymore. While their Mr Color stuff is quite similar in properties, except for NOT being an acrylic, I would only recomend it for airbrushing. But with time and experience you will get better Greg. It looks to me like your biggest problem in this case is edge chipping whe you remove the masks. Which is mostly a paint adhesion issue, not the masking.

Thanks gents. I've never seen a masked canopy in person. I can only guess what a 'good job' is at this point, and I post the below to help me establish a reasonable expectation. (Also, I'd prefer folks didn't think I am putting down my own work, whilst actually fishing for praise. I don't do that).

Though there are lines/sections that look fine to me (ie, the bottom most horizontal here), others don't. Am I correct in assuming that with experience (and perhaps a better bonding paint and/or technique) that I can set my expectations higher than this? I actually hope so.

And Clemens, I didn't forget that you use Gunze and don't have pull-up problems! :)

Greg,

  Don't sell yourself short.  I think those canopies look great.  I'm always having to use a toothpick around the frame after I take off the mask off to sharpen up the lines, looks like you did a great job.

John

Dre

My laziness mostly stems from blowing out my c5 vertebral disc for the 3rd. time (yay!) in less than a decade

Dre,

   Sorry to here about your back, I hope it gets better soon.  I'll have to qualify the TV statement,  I don't very often watch the shows on regular tv, I'm usually watching something on satellite or something from my DVD collection, war movie or a series,  right now I'm watching Babylon 5 the whole five year run,  so i't's mainly a distraction while I'm working.

   I hope to finish the viking this weekend.

John

I like the canopy, Greg! Looks nice to me...

As far as other products go: I use Gunze paint almost exclusively and I never had any issues with paint peeling off. I never prime my canopies and the Gunze paint sticks to the surface without any problems...

falconmod

I hate to be a nag, but someone needs to post some pictures, of something, anything.

John

I'll bite.

But first and more importantly, Dre, I hope you get some relief regarding your back soon!

Lazy seems to be going around? I've had that, plus due to some unrelated stuff, my attention span is about 15 minutes if I'm lucky.

Anyway, no progress on my fuselage repair, but I've worked off and on with the canopy peel-off repair. I gotta say, in all honesty, I used absolutely every piece of advice y'all gave me, so a big THANK YOU.

First, I can't resist posting this shot of me giving Tony's alum foil for masking idea a go. I just wanted to seal off the middle panes, without risking pulling more paint up. Worked like a charm (worked at very low pressure, stayed focused and had no overspray problems.

Thanks again, Tony!

So anyway, this has been frustrating. Re-mask, repaint, pull more paint off, start again. Decided I'm as done as I'm going to get (I'm thinking quit whilst I'm ahead here :) )

Not what I'd hoped for, certainly not up to standards of this crowd, but for my first mask job and a not too easy canopy, I'm cool with it. I  really don't want to throw stones at Model Master paint online, but I'm really hoping some other product adheres somewhat better or I'm really going to dread canopies.

I should note that the canopy pieces look better in the photograph than they do in person.

Thanks for looking and for all the help. Next up, the fuselage. First, sleep. :)

My new motto for this build is "Progress, not perfection". :)

Thanks for the tipp, Shiv! It didn't work though... The guys from PB said they are working on it... I hope they manage to sort that out untill the end of this week...

haven't made any progress on my Cutlass. Been trying to get my kit done for the world war 1 GB.

For those of you having trouble with Photobucket, I got it to work after hitting the reload a couple times.

TarnShip

the MPC aircraft kits were Airfix kits, boxed for sale in the USA,,,,,,,that was how we got them after Airfix Craftmaster stopped selling here,,,,,,,Airfix had about 4 or 5 different packaging formats here in the USA over the years, before the latest two types

MPC was one of the best packages back in the day, especially if you could get the kit in a Profile series boxing, all of those had 3 markings schemes, and included all three profiles on the boxtops

Dre: That must suck indeed... I hope you feel better soon...

If there were only something on TV worth watching, I'd agree.   My laziness mostly stems from blowing out my c5 vertebral disc for the 3rd. time (yay!) in less than a decade.  Sitting at the bench causes too much discomfort for me to focus on anything more than 15 minutes.   I tell ya, this blows...   I hope it'll subside a little so I can get back to work on the 'Cat because I really want to finish it.

Dre

I'd be happy to post pics if I had made any progress on the F-14D in the last 2 weeks, but I've been lazy..

I know what you mean, sometimes it's easier to watch the tv on my bench than work on a plane.

John

TarnShip

MPC was one of the best packages back in the day, especially if you could get the kit in a Profile series boxing, all of those had 3 markings schemes, and included all three profiles on the boxtops

I remember those  kits white MPC boxes with the three side view pictures of the planes, I bought alot of those when I was kid, I still have some of them  and some of the FROG kits.

John

You know I haven't posted any thing lately either. Gotta wrap this 190 up and get started again.

I'd be happy to post pics if I had made any progress on the F-14D in the last 2 weeks, but I've been lazy..

TarnShip

the MPC aircraft kits were Airfix kits, boxed for sale in the USA,,,,,,,that was how we got them after Airfix Craftmaster stopped selling here,,,,,,,Airfix had about 4 or 5 different packaging formats here in the USA over the years, before the latest two types

MPC was one of the best packages back in the day, especially if you could get the kit in a Profile series boxing, all of those had 3 markings schemes, and included all three profiles on the boxtops

That's cool!  So it is an Airfix kit?  Like I said, the exterior is great!  The interior, not much there at all.  I think I posted this earlier (not getting much sleep and everything is a fog), but they had you cut out a little piece of the instructions for the panel!  It is just black and white, but you cut it out and glue it to the panel!  I laughed when I saw that.  And then proceeded to cut out the tiny piece!

Eagle90

the MPC aircraft kits were Airfix kits, boxed for sale in the USA,,,,,,,that was how we got them after Airfix Craftmaster stopped selling here,,,,,,,Airfix had about 4 or 5 different packaging formats here in the USA over the years, before the latest two types

MPC was one of the best packages back in the day, especially if you could get the kit in a Profile series boxing, all of those had 3 markings schemes, and included all three profiles on the boxtops

checkmateking02

I wonder if that's an Airfix mold, then, Eagle reboxed by MPC.  I didn't know anyone did a Dauntless in 1/72, except Airfix, and an old Hawk version, still available and boxed by Testors.  Maybe it's that one.

Whatever it is, you've done it up very nicely.  

Hey Checkmate, here she is.  I'll have to look closer at the fine print on the box tonight.  Maybe it will tell us something.  The date printed on the box is 1982.  

Eagle90

Here ya go John.  Here is the little guy I'm talking about.

Here is the bottom....I just noticed I forgot to mask the tail hook and tail wheel! 

And the top side.

Eagle90

Nope, but I wrote them an E-Mail already...

That stinks. Any idea what's wrong with it?

John

John: Believe me, I'd love to post some, but PB won't let me upload any pics...

I wonder if that's an Airfix mold, then, Eagle reboxed by MPC.  I didn't know anyone did a Dauntless in 1/72, except Airfix, and an old Hawk version, still available and boxed by Testors.  Maybe it's that one.

Whatever it is, you've done it up very nicely.  

I hate to be a nag, but someone needs to post some pictures, of something, anything.

John

SchattenSpartan

That thing is 1/72? I thought it was 1/48 as well! Great work!

Thank you.  It pops out at you.  I think it might not be true scale, but it was what they had on the model for the size hole and that is what I drilled.  Got cramps in my hands using the pin vise to do it! 

Eagle90

That thing is 1/72? I thought it was 1/48 as well! Great work!