AIRCRAFT - Natural metal finish group build (ends 10/31/04)

ok i am having major problems with my ftp site. if some else will host the badge that would be great. dont know when i will get it fixed.

gethochild ,I'll be glad to host the NMF group build logo.

Thanks fightnjoe , shrikes and wibhi2.

shrikes ,I will not underestimate the power of the darkside
when spraying on the NMF.This will be my first NMF build(Pearl Habour
torpedo excluded) since the 'stang I did in1992! And that was with
a spray can.
So I will take yoda's advice "Control ,control! You must learn control."

everyone please note obiwan is now hosting the badge. everyone that was using it needs to make the change.

QUOTE: Originally posted by obiwan shrikes ,I will not underestimate the power of the darkside when spraying on the NMF.This will be my first NMF build(Pearl Habour torpedo excluded) since the 'stang I did in1992! And that was with a spray can. So I will take yoda's advice "Control ,control! You must learn control."

I'm using rattlecans this time around... and what REALLY helps is if you keep the can in hot water for 15 mins before spraying! It really does go on easier. Unfortunatly, i couldn't follow yoda's advice about "do or do not. there is no try." because it took quite a while for me to figure out that this hot water trick was worth the hassle!

Oh, and thanks to ghettochild and Obiwan thanks for making and hosting the badge (respectively)!

I will try the "hot water method" the next time I spray mettalic
from a spray can.
meanwhile...."judge me by shine do you?"

here is a little update.
she has been sanded and primed and been painted
semi gloss black in prep for the Alcald2

can any of you guys help?. i have painted the underside of my lightning with Humbrol metalcote polished aluminium. trouble is i painted it 2 hours ago and it ain't going dry. when i have used this stuff before it has been touch dry after 40 mins!!! any ideas?. it was stirred well, not thinned - it dont need it and i have sprayed and brushed it before with good results. please help cos i am stuck at he moment and i can't do anything till i get it off my model bench. cheers in advance.
Greg

You might have to set it some place warm for the next 24 hours. I have a sunny (but not too sunny) window where I set parts waiting to dry. The humidity is terrible here and I run into that problem quite a bit.

cheers Woody, hadn't thought of humidity. normally it wont affect paint until it reaches about 70% but you never know.
thanks for the prompt reply.
Greg

you guys got it easy ,the normal humidity here is 80 to 90%.
thats why I mainly use acrylics for glossy finishes.

Probably too late to join the build? I just discovered the forums the other day...

Knight667: No, no... I don't think it's ever too late. Just as long as you're done by the deadline (Oct. 31, 2004)... What do you plan on building? Oh, and Shoot an E-mail to Jimz66 with what you want to build and in what scale, so he can include you! Welcome to the forum and to the NMF Group Build!

QUOTE: Originally posted by shrikes Knight667: No, no... I don't think it's ever too late. Just as long as you're done by the deadline (Oct. 31, 2004)... What do you plan on building? Oh, and Shoot an E-mail to Jimz66 with what you want to build and in what scale, so he can include you! Welcome to the forum and to the NMF Group Build!

Excellent!! I'm working on the 1/48 Monogram B-29 (this thing is a monster!). Doing Aeromaster after-market decals (didn't care for any that came with the kit) so it'll build up as serial # 42-24628 "Special Delivery" (WWII).

Thanks for the welcome, and I'll get cranking on that plane!

glad you joined. cant wait to see some pics.

joe

Hey Knight667, welcome to the forum and welcome onboard the group build too.
Greg

QUOTE: Originally posted by fightnjoe glad you joined. cant wait to see some pics. joe

No digital camera, so I'll have to use my 35mm and scan the photos in. Try to do that soon!

They make digital throw aways now too don't forget. I don't know how they work or what they cost. you can also get your images on CD Rom. Welcome to the GB and the Forum.

What do you think guys should I let him in? Well I guess so.

Just kidding knight welcome aboard. Great to have new faces from new places here.

For anyone working on a 1/48 B-29...I have a set of Aeromaster "B-29's Over Korea Pt. I " decals if anyone wants to buy/trade them (not sure if this is the right forum for this, but since most B-29s were NMF...).

You can see the sheet here

QUOTE: Originally posted by knight667 QUOTE: Originally posted by fightnjoe glad you joined. cant wait to see some pics. joe No digital camera, so I'll have to use my 35mm and scan the photos in. Try to do that soon!

i still look forward to them. should be a fantastic group build. so many members so much plastic.

joe

Can I "cheat" and throw in my 1/48 Monogram B-29 I just finished even though it was not built by the intent of this group build? I took the re-issued kit and built it to the instructions of the original issue to make "Enola Gay". Probably a dead horse subject, but if it motivated me to get through this, then it was the right one for me. I found an original set of decals and photocopied them to make frisket stencils for the circle R fin insignia and the large 82 on the aft portion of the fuse. Then I searched out the USAAF stencils so I could make up the small 82 on the nose, the "No Smoking Within 100 Ft." stencil for the nose gear doors. I used a scan of the original decals to make "Enola Gay" nose art and the remainder of the decals came from the kit supplied version except the stars and bars, they came from the Aeromaster B-29 insigina set (The reissue decals of the stars and bars were to dark for my liking. Was fun making an old subject with scarce decals. NMF was done via SnJ and a lot of tamiy atape and polishing with Q-tips. I had to add the weighted tires from True Details, being a heavy bomber and all. Found a gentelman out west who sells the molded nose weights so I didn't have to use the clear sprue crutch to keep her on her feet correctly. The seams are far from perfect, but they look good after you back off a few inches, which is what you really have to do with a model this big anyway. The inerior is all there, but tough to see, such is life. NMF are my favorite subject and always produce infinte challenges it seems. Keep polishing, eventually all the paint will come off.....................

Hi scotsman and welcome to the groupbuild .I am sure
everyone will be delighted with you NMF addition and
such an important aircraft too.

As for my progress here it is.All buffed up and showing
a little blemish on the port wing root that looks like it needs to be fixed.
The paint is Alcald2 "Polished alluminium"
hope you like it.

12-05-04
Guys, the LHS here in Ireland has just got some Alcald2. Can someone please advise exactly how to use this? I have heard it ca nbe a nightmare to work with with regard to masking and decals and sealing afterwards. Where can I get a run-down, step by step, blow by blow tutorial on how to use this?

Just wanna try it.
Liam

i am sorry liam, i have never used the stuff.

obiwan looking very good.

joe

Hmmm... too bad i haven't found any of that stuff here. By the looks of Obiwan's P-38, Alclad2 is fantastic stuff!! I guess I'm stuck with gloss aluminium.

Update: I'm 99% done with my B-29. I just need to do one final coat of Testors Dull Coat over the engine nacelle's where I touched them up after attaching (bugger to fit, that's for sure...thank goodness for CA). Taking pictures, but probably won't have them back until next week. Will post when I do.

yeehah12001,

I haven't found a true blow by blow for Alclad application, but here are 2 links I'm sure you will find of interest.

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/tips/MikeMcLeod/NMF/nmf.htm

http://www.alclad2.com/

From my own experience, I'll add that NMF's require the best seam work you can muster up. I've found the CA glues to be the best filler when required, and that means hitting the glue joint with some kicker and then working with sanding sticks from coarse to polishing stick withina half hour of gluing. As for Alclad in particular, it is really designed to be applied over a primer since it is strongly lacquer based. And it is designed to get varying shades by using the various colors they sell and taping off individual panels and spraying as you choose the colors. I have read of people using the SnJ polishing powder to achieve varying hues and shades of the same base color which is like using the SnJ technique with Alclad. I'm sure it would work, but I have never done it myself. As to the durability of the finish, Alcad is very durable adn can be fully taped over. I swear by Tamiya tape, but any low tack drafting tape should work just fine. The tough finishing system to work with is the metallizer line sold by Testors in their Model Master line. They are impossible to tape over without sealing and I have neve been happy with how the shades change when you clear coat it, so I use Alclad and SnJ. Personally SnJ is my favorite for airframes and I use ALclad Aluminum for landing gear struts that were painted silver laquer at the factory. Hope this helps and a few web searches will probably bring up a few more site for reference. Maybe Obiwan can charm in here, by te looks of his P-38 he knows a few tricks..........Good luck and have fune!!

I think I am about halfway through doing BMF on my 1/72 Constellation. I love how the stuff looks, but boy one has to be careful to do pieces that are from panel line to panel line. I'm using Q-tips to burnish the stuff in, really makes it look like polished aluminum as oppose to chrome. As I have never used BMF before, this was a honker of project to start with, but an hour here and there during the week and it slowly comes together. I would hazard a guess, though, that it is so time consuming I doubt I'd ever do this again. I DO think this is gonna look trick, however...

Thanks shrikes and fightnjoe.glad you liked it.I have just sprayed the wheel wells.
The olive drab anti glare panels are next.

I am going to build my 1/48 Tamiya P-51D mustang "big beautiful doll" for this nmf build. Whilst on the subject, how does this group build thing work ? i never done one before!
I am using Alclad2 for nmf very succesfully.

Mike

Welcome onboard Mike!
how does it work?? discuss ,build ,paint ,share...but not necessary in that order.
most of all enjoy!