PACIFIC CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD

Joe: The paintwork on your Hellcat looks fantastic!

Craig: The pin wash turned out really well! It really brings out all the surface details Eduard packed into that kit!

Flyer: Great looking Hellcat you got there!

Craig, I wish my washes looked that OK ha....I think it turned out great

Wow Craig!  What a job!!!! Looks awesome.

Thanks guys.  I did the topside last night.  Once I get it cleaned up, I'll post photos.

Craig

Fantastic results with the panel lines, Craig.  Looks really good.

Gentleman, 

Some fantastic modeling going on. Most impressive.

I finally have started on my AM SB2U. The kit has lots of detail, and should build into a very nice example. But, the kit does have many flaws which have been difficult to fix. Plus, some of my own mistakes have added to the difficulty. 

Sink holes are all over this kit. I managed to fix most, but did miss a few.

Even the fuselage has some sink holes, which I found out is very common for this kit.

I'm not happy that the IP had no detail and was a decal. Then when I added the bottom decal, then put the fist coat of Micro Sol, the decal shifted. Not to big of a deal, but, I'm used to being better at this.

But I was successful at getting the front and rear cockpits painted, here they are waiting for a gloss coat prior to a wash. 

I also noticed a few sink holes that I missed during the prime coat but decided to leave them.

Lookin great, Bruce!

I don't mind you missing the deadline. Take your time and don't rush things.

Actually, I thought about extending this GB for a couple of months (I was thinking March 1st?). What do you guys think? There are still quite a few of you working on their builds and that should give you some extra time to get them done...

Bruce, Sweet looking cockpit. You're doing a nice piece of work on it.

I'm going to be close with mine Clemens. Yet, if others might be needin' a tad more time I'd support it.

Clemens, I would not be a opposed to an extension!  

Despite the challenges, nice work, Bruce.  It looks good!

Hey Clemens,

As one of those guys runnin' behind on this group build, I'd love to have a bit of an extension.  I could probably finish by the end of the month, but if given a bit more time, I think I could turn out a higher quality build.....thanks for the consideration guys.

TAD

SchattenSpartan

Lookin great, Bruce!

I don't mind you missing the deadline. Take your time and don't rush things.

Actually, I thought about extending this GB for a couple of months (I was thinking March 1st?). What do you guys think? There are still quite a few of you working on their builds and that should give you some extra time to get them done...

Hey Gang, Spent today applying a touch of fading effect to the Hellcat. I gradually lightened the dark sea blue with some light gray. Just trying to simulate some light fading on the upper exposed surfaces. It was kind of slow going as i did not wish to over do it. I did end up having to tone down some spots with some additional straight dark blue. I went a little heavier along the wing root to represent foot traffic and exhaust effect. Any comments or critiques are welcome.

That looks really nice Joe.  I should probably do that with my Hellcat, but I don't  want to run the risk of screwing it up now that I'm so close to finishing.

Craig

JOE RIX

Hey Gang, Spent today applying a touch of fading effect to the Hellcat. I gradually lightened the dark sea blue with some light gray. Just trying to simulate some light fading on the upper exposed surfaces. It was kind of slow going as i did not wish to over do it. I did end up having to tone down some spots with some additional straight dark blue. I went a little heavier along the wing root to represent foot traffic and exhaust effect. Any comments or critiques are welcome.

Lookin' good there Joe !

Gentlemen, Thank you for your comments! I'll get more pictures posted later this week.

@Joe Rix, the fading effect looks very realistic, great job! Looking forward to seeing this finished!

flyerduke

That looks really nice Joe.  I should probably do that with my Hellcat, but I don't  want to run the risk of screwing it up now that I'm so close to finishing.

Craig

@flyerduke, you can get the same effects by using a wash/filter. With this technique, if you don't like what you have, you can wash it off and start over. This is what I'll do with the SB2U when I get to that point.

Well, Wouldn't you know it. Just when things were going along smoothly Murphy raised his ugly head. Applied the Tamiya gloss coat to the upper surface last night just watch it orange peel on the wings and tail planes.. I have never had this issue before with Tamiya gloss coat which I have used religiously for years. But, it's there none the less. So, a healthy sanding session is now in my future. 

Hey Clemens, About that extension.....

Damn. Joe, very sorry to hear that. Odd that Tamiya gloss would do that.

Joe, she's a real beauty! I love the fading effects! I'm sure you'll get that orange peel issue sorted out, especially after watching that perfect repair job you did on your 190!

Ok, guys, consider this GB officially extended untill March 31st. And in case that's not enough time, you can always drag your project over into the next round.

Joe--it looks good.  Sorry to hear that about the clear though.  That would be very disheartening. It is good that you have a recovery plan though.  

Clemens--thanks for the extension.  I for one appreciate it.   I think that I have my AB problem solved and I should be getting back on track soon.  Only if my luck changes!  :)  There is always hope--and that is what I am sticking with.

Later.

Bruce - I may give it a try.

JR - Sucks about the gloss coat.  I actually tested the two flat/matte paints I have.  I've got a Tamiya and Vallejo Air Model.  The Vallejo went on nice and clean.  The Tamiya left a white haze on my test plane.  Looks like I will be using the Vallejo.  To be honest, I haven't had much luck spraying the Tamiya paint.  I'm still trying to find time to finish my plane.  I've only got about an hour or so left.

Craig

Thanks for the positive encouragement gentlemen. It may take some time but I'll endeavor to be triumphant. As Clemens pointed out, this ain't my first rodeo. Although I would not mind it being my last.

Thanks for the extension Clemens. I'm going to need it now.

Well, crap!  I think I dropped the ball on this one.  I actually did the pin wash on the topside of the plane over the weekend.  I finally attempted to wipe the plane down and clean it up this evening.  It didn't go as planned.  I think I waited too long to wipe the plane down.  I just couldn't get all the excess off.  I think part of the problem was I didn't have a real smooth finish.  I'm afraid if I keep working it I'm going to damage the decals.  So I'm going to spray the acrylic matte finish and be done with it.  I think I may pick up a bottle of Mr. Color Leveling thinner next time I use Mr. Color paints.  Also, I problably won't wait 4 days to wipe the excess wash off.  Lesson learned.  Here's a couple picks.  Don't laugh to hard.  

Craig

From the photos, it looks good.  Appears to be a very nice job weathering..

If you haven't done anything yet, you could try some windex-type-blue window cleaner to remove the wash.  Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't (and I don't know why); but it might be worth a shot.

Decant some on to a paper towel or rag, and give it a wipe-down.

I'll give it a try.  Thanks.

checkmateking02

From the photos, it looks good.  Appears to be a very nice job weathering..

If you haven't done anything yet, you could try some windex-type-blue window cleaner to remove the wash.  Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't (and I don't know why); but it might be worth a shot.

Decant some on to a paper towel or rag, and give it a wipe-down.

Maybe its the pics, but it doesn't look bad to me. The panel lines detailed well, I think it looks quite good!

Hope it works for you, Craig.  It doesn't always.  It seems even a water-based acrylic wash reaches a point where it won't come off--no way, no how.

There was an article or a tip in FSM a few months ago that recommended using a lot of dish detergent as a wetting agent, with a water based and thinned out wash; then when just barely dried, you wiped it off with a dry q-tip.

That seems to work pretty well when I tried it.  I think the trick is to clean it up just as soon as possible.  Of course, if you wipe it off too soon, then too much comes off.  It's sort of an art-form.

Craig my friend, let me tell you something. That panel wash looks excellent. In fact, when wiping washes you wipe off with the direction of airflow in order to create more of an effect. In my opinion, having some smudging of light gray only enhances a fading effect. Nope, I'd say the ball is still firmly in your hands. Now, with that said, CMK is indeed correct in pointing out that the wiping of washes is all about timing in conjunction with what type of wash you are using. But, the one thing is important is that you not leave any of them on too long. The thinner will evaporate leaving only paint. Thus, it is very difficult to wipe off at that point. This is one of the main reasons that I thin my oil washes quite a bit. This enables me to do a pin wash where the wash simply runs into the panel lines via capillary action, and leaving me little to wipe off.

If I may, I'd suggest adding some exhaust staining to your Hellcat. This tends to be a rather prominent feature, especially a USN aircraft where they seemed to run the R2800 a bit richer than normal. Thus you get that cream colored exhaust staining you see on them. This is of course only a suggestion. Again, if you're happy with it then so am I.

The bottom line here is that you have done a marvelous job on your Hellcat so far.

Thanks again guys for the kudos.  I got most of the excess wiped off.  I shot the plane with a matte finish this evening.  I have a lot of little stuff to do now.  Joe-I plan on applying some exhaust to the plane.  I have a couple of the Tamiya weathering master sets (C and D).  I don't have the cream color you mentioned.  It does have a burnt blue though.  Maybe if I blend some of the burnt blue and silver together, that might work.  Gonna have to practice.

Craig