"Century series Jets" GB 2014-2015 * CLOSED *

Ok, that 101 is magnificent, eh? Lovin' it plastic!! Keep up the good work. I'm learning tons from this build

Thanks Theuns!

Dang that looks good! Love the bold red and decals on the NMF, well done  :-)

Theuns

Finally all the decals went on and they look really good. Several applications of Solvaset snuggled them down. I have to shoot some clear flat over the grey walkways and some minor scuffing will represent foot travel on the area.

Next will come some oil paint washes to pop the details on the wheel wells, internal flap area and gear struts and rims.

Shall I put you down for a 106 or two then ;-)

Theuns

I have a few Monogram F-106s to build.

You can also either use different colors on the panels for the primer then shoot one single Alclad shade but the different colored primers will yield subtle changes in panel colors. You can make a ton of different colors by say using aluminum and adding several drops of steel to darken it.

Thanks guys...This product line has to become my thing and I will look into getting into it soon. I will also look at their website for more info as well. Thanks!!

I have also used microsol over bare alclad airframe allu....just be very carefull to work only on the decals and not to flood the surounding area.

Remember that the alclad range of clearcoats need to be (just like the alclads) put on in thin coats. Just till it looks wet then I stop.

I actually use the same clear as my gloss coat over enamels for decaling.

Usually 2-3 coats then I sand with 6000 to get a very smooth surface.

The same alclad semi matt clear is then used as my final coat for all other models over decals.

I am a cheap scate when it comes to models! I got 2 bottles of alclad clear semi matt.

If youleave the stuff for a few days the matting base sinks down.

I then carefully decanted the clear gloss to have a few ranges of clears from matt , semi matt, sheen amd totally gloss.

This stuff goes really far if used correctly.

Here in SA it is rather expensive, about the same as a nice 1/72 kit, so I can not afford to have a whole string of different paints, I mix my own.

Even the Alclad for the airframes .I only have airframe, pollished and dark allu.

I use a gloss enamel for the base and then the airframe allu gives a really nice , but not chrome looking shine. I shoot 3 coats to get an overall dark allu appearence, mask off some pannels and then shoot 3 more coats.

This gives a nice tone /shade without being to "over the top"......all for the price of 1 bottle :-)

Theuns

Rob

Alclad instructions on their web site states that high polish finishes as in Chrome, polished alum and airframe alum have to be sealed if a decal solution is used otherwise the finish may get damaged. I sprayed Alclad Aqua Gloss which is acrylic and it slightly diminished the polished look of the paint.

Theuns  says he has used the Alclad Klear Kote gloss which is lacquer based over the high shine paints and did not alter the paint tone. With that said, I will use the lacquer based Klear Kote next time. The none high shine paints do not require sealing.

A while back I did a 1/48 Sea Fury in 1950's Cuban Air Force marking and used polished aluminum as the finish. I carefully used Solvaset on the decals being careful not to put any on the Alclad and it worked just fine.

Sorry about the confusion but It's really not that difficult to work with Alclad. Just takes a little more prep time.

Plastic...stellar work, man, just awesome. I do have question marks in my mind, cuz, I have NO experience with Alcad. You say, Microscale products (sol, set) damage the Alcad surface IF  you do not treat the surface prior? I'm having trouble following your progress as I don't understand Alcad use ...

Thanks Theuns. I contacted Alclad prior to using Aqua Gloss Acrylic and asked about this concern but was told it was ok to use it. Unfortunately it did diminish the shine just a small tad but a tad no less.

I will use their lacquer Klear Kote gloss next time as you just verified it does not alter the polished sheen.

Did you use the Aqua gloss acrylic over the pollished allu?

The Alclad clear coats are from what I understand also a form of lacure (by the smell of it)

I have tried different clearcoats over alcald, only the clear gloss and semi sheen did not effect the shine.

BTW. those exhausts look very cool!

Theuns

Theuns

I have used the range of Alclad clears over airframe and pollished allu. It did not affect the level of shine atall.

Theuns

It did on my model. Not too much but it did diminish the shine.

I have used the range of Alclad clears over airframe and pollished allu. It did not affect the level of shine atall.

Theuns

Here's another update. Shot the Voodoo with Aqua Gloss as recommended for high shine Alclad when using decal setting solution. The Aqua Gloss killed some of the nice polished look. Next time I will try out their clear gloss lacquer base one instead. I took a 12,000 girt Micromesh pad and lightly polished the plane which produced a smoother surface and restored a little of the shine back. It actually looks pretty good and the Voodoo is ready for decals.

The interior green and red are on the wells.

The cans and heat/exhaust area were shot with several shades of dark Alclad and Tamiya clear blue was lightly sprayed to show heat discoloration on the metal.

Now for the decals and landing gear.

Thanks lewbud, gonna add that one to my 'to do' list for sure.

Josiah,

The only thing I remember was I didn't like the way the intakes fit.  I also tried to do too much and attempted to do a full photo etch pit, got hung up on the seats.  Get the mask from Eduard at least (the front wheels are TINY!) although the zoom pe set from Eduard is nice.

Rob,

It's a Hobby Boss kit.  Probably the best Rafael B out there.

Rob

I somehow missed your beautiful Thud. That is one sharp looking 105. Love how the camo came out.

B-1, same thing on your 106, great job!

I haven't been able to do much as I was delegated the task of painting a couple of rooms in the house but that's all done now. I'm sure the wife will delegate another home improvement task shortly LOL.

Lewbud...you are giving that old Hasegawa 106 a good go...my hats off to you for your excellent patience..I caved in on that one and had to move to the MENG (glad I did, BUT, I NEED to own a 106 and  Hasegawa is the only game in town for that old plane).

That Rafale...Tiger meet?  Rafale is on my 'to do' list for sure.

Beautiful job everyone...lewbud I just got that Rafale in the mail...gonna do the other decals though. I know it's not part of this build but how did yours go together? any pitfalls? decals give you any trouble?

Rob your 102 is beautiful!

The oil wash looks really nice, as does the pitot tube.

Very cool! I like the barber pole pitot tube  :-)

Theuns

This MENG F-102A Case XX is done. I really enjoyed MENG. A few issues: The FRONT landing wheel support was poorly molded so I had to glue the tire directly to the shaft of the support. It worked out, but, the wheel is crooked. If this was a plane to be judged, which it is not, I would have contacted them for a replacement part. The open canopy poses ok, but, it's not 'open' enough. After the fact, I actually wished I had fixed it in place. BIG plus was the AM pitot tube: Air Master Series - this will become a staple for all my jets. Going to go back and get the proper one for the 105!! The final finish was decanted flat lacquer as I wanted it to have a 'used' look, but, not completely dull/flat. It has a slight sheen in the right light, so, I was happy with the final coat. Can't say enough about Cartograph - excellent as usual. Anyway...done!!

Some painting WIP pics.

Realized I forgot to paint the inner fences red:

This pic tried to show the light oil wash weathering effect. Dunno if it can be seen well enough:

Inner fence rail:

this was a masking challenge - the yellow frame of the canopy:

Little forest of AIM-4C Falcons:

Here's the bitter/sweet part of these planes...all that work on the missiles, and, they are hidden inside!!!

Completion pics coming up next!!

Well lew, hope they work out.

Rob, I'm partial to the Bicentennial markings, I just don't know if they are any good.  The tanks had markings on them as well, maybe I'll try them first.  I never realized how huge this bird is.  It will be the biggest plane on the lot when she's done.  Just waiting for some putty touch up on the missile bay to dry,and then she'll be ready for primer.

......just something sexy and deadly about those delta wings............lookin' good guys!

Rob, your dagger is looking great. I really like your paint so far.