Justin - Man that looks really nice !

Chris

Exceptional Lancaster, Justin.  I really like the results of your work with the camouflage!

Great to watch your Hurricane build, Doug.  I've got the same kit, and it's helpful seeing yours go together.  Good work; very useful photos.

Greg

Your Future coat pic reminds me that I'm trying to train myself to stop going for a super duper gloss finish for pre-decal and weathering. It makes things to darned slipper, and your finish with the brushed-on Future looks about perfect.

Hi Greg, Yeah - the slightly pebbly finish is partly the brushed on future and partly the brushed on MM acrylics that are underneath it. (and probably partly due to dust)  Most of that pebbly finish becomes less visible when I spray the final Testor's Dullcoat to finish it off - but its never totally gone.

I guess I've never experienced a surface being so smooth that it was actually a hinderance by being so slippery - ha !  an advantage of brush painting I never knew about.   The disadvantage I'm well aware of . . .   Put this next to a nicely airbrushed surface - and it looks kindof,  I dunno . . .  thick ?

Chris

That is a very nicely painted Hurricane, Chris.  Outstanding painting.  

Well-done installation of the pods, Steve.  Looking good!

Sleek Beaufighter, Eric.  Nice paintwork.

Rigidrider - The hurri is clmming alomg really well.

Bossman - Excellent work with the camo, really sharp. What method did you imploy to do it?

Justin - Mighty fine Lancaster you have there. I need to add one to me collection one day, but as I build in 1/48 it would take up a very large area.

checkmateking02

Despite the tribulations, I think you did a highly commendable job of painting and decaling the Mosquito, Damian.  the grey/green camouflage looks excellent.

 

Thanks CM, i hope I get some bench time soon before it ends up in a box unfinished.

Steve, She is coming along really nicely, can't wait too see this one finished.

Thanks Dougie, I've been wondering where to shop for clamps.

I'm one of those guys who has trouble with clamps (for some reason, they seem to cause more problems than they solve**), I usually use my fingers as a clamp and count to whatever. But I'm always game to try!

**operator error, most likely.

Justin, the Lancaster is looking great. I've read good things about using Future as a setting solution. I'm not a big Future fan so haven't tried it, but is certainly looks to have worked the treat, didn't it?

I haven't been to Harbor Freight in ages. you and Doug have just prodded me to a visit, even if it's just to look.

My last visit was several years back, bought an ultrasonic cleaner that I use for my airbrushes when I want a deep clean, amongst other things. Still working like a charm.

Rigidrider

Greg... lol... Harbor freight tools, 6, or maybe it was 8 for a dollar on special!  Got a bunch of them and use the soup out of them on other things too! lol...

Thanks Bud...

Doug

 

Harbor freight is great for hobby tools, and some of their other tools are good, if they are not a "use them every day" kinda tool!  I picked up one of those magnifier with alligator clip holdy thingys for 5 bucks, and a few other tools perfect for little plastic models for very few of my u.s. dollars....

Great looking builds guys!  Eric, ever since you mentioned Doogs' videos, I've been studying up on the technique. ..unfortunately,  it came after I had already camoed my Lanc.  Well, I have a partial built 1/72 hasegawa intruder that I can try that stuff out on!

Finally,  after about two weeks, my schedule cleared a bit, and I was able to get some stuff done to the Lanc!  I applied the black paint to her lower portions, gloss coated her, and applied all the "deckles".  Lol

I didn't realize I was out...or rather, I misplaced my decal setting solution, so I tried some stuff....and let me tell you, Tamiya's x-20a thinner works great as a decal solvent!  Just be sure your top coat/gloss coat is compatible! 

I tried cider vinegar as a setting solution,  but I wasn't pleased with it, so instead, I actually used future!  It worked great!

Anyway....here's some pics:

Lancaster Dambusters build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

 Lancaster Dambusters build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

 Lancaster dambusters build by Justin Ryan, on Flickr

...now to work on the daunting task that is masking the various canopies and windscreens. ....

Greg... lol... Harbor freight tools, 6, or maybe it was 8 for a dollar on special!  Got a bunch of them and use the soup out of them on other things too! lol...

Thanks Bud...

Doug

Steve, those FLIR pods look neat.

Eric, your Beaufighter is looking very good.

Chris, the Hurricane is looking mighty fine, and thanks for the better pics. Good camo work and I like the subtle panel-line detailing.

Your Future coat pic reminds me that I'm trying to train myself to stop going for a super duper gloss finish for pre-decal and weathering. It makes things to darned slipper, and your finish with the brushed-on Future looks about perfect.

Doug, that's pretty neat about the wing-root gap (rather the lack thereof), and an interesting idea about removing the locator pins to deal with overhang. Those clamps are very colorful.

Bossman

Must be Hurricane Season !

That's what I was thinking LOL

Doug,  Thanks - and your's is coming along nicely as well.

Must be Hurricane Season !

Chris

Morning all!

Chris... Very nice! That finish should take decals nicley. Like the way the underside looks.

OK, a little more from me, The kit is coming along quiclly being a 72nd, paint and detail will likely take as long at the build.

OK, this was the step I was dreading, where the controls mounted to the upper wing fit and the wing root gap.   NONE! There was no gap at all, that has to be a first for me. Matter of fact, I had to file just a smidge to  get it to mate smoothly without pressuring into place... Impressive! Airfix has vindicated itself in my eyes!

No problem with lower wing fit either, All the clips are there because I often remove the locating pins just to allow a little flex if I see any over hang of the mated pieces. This did have just the slightest over hang and it would have damaged a difficult to repair panel line to sand it out. Well , That can sit and dry for awhile ...Take care all! 

Doug

Hello All,

Nice "Badbeau" Eric.

Check, The old Hampden has some rough spots, but I'm sure you'll find a way to bring her up to date and make her look a stunner !

Steve, The resin pods look good. 

Well - The stars, planets, atmopheric conditions, my build progress, and  a major topic of discussion have all alligned.  

I was finally able to get some pics in good lighting - just after applying my brush coat of "Pledge with future shine" (^{_{or whatever it is called now}}) gloss coat.  I agree with PJ - this has been my choice for gloss coat for a long time.  and definitely make sure you give it a day or two to cure. 

Interior detail shows up here.  But after looking at the clear parts the other day - I'm not sure if the kit canopy can be posed open.  May need to try something else.  I don't want a closed cockpit with this one.

Subtle panel line wash with slightly darkened base colors.  

Hopefully decals will go on this week.

Chris

Coming on nice there Eric, looking forward to seeing the paint go down.

Looking good Steve.

I received the FLIR pods today and installed them. I'll continue on with it now that I'm done with the Kate and Thunderbolt.

Despite the tribulations, I think you did a highly commendable job of painting and decaling the Mosquito, Damian.  the grey/green camouflage looks excellent.

I just wont to say a final word on my experience with Alclad Aqua Gloss (The Acrylic) variant of the Alclad range. As the acrylic floor cleaner "Future" is no longer available in Australia which is way I purchased Alclad's Aqua Gloss product. Other modellers may like this clear gloss and get excellent results and my experiences are just that, but I would rather throw away all my panel washes that are not compatible with a lacquer based varnish than use the acrylic gloss again, pure and simple.

I dont want this to become a distraction from the great builds here.

Now, onto some more great builds.

Gamera

Right now I use it <Future> for dipping canopies and clear parts and that's it.

Me too, and oft times don't even bother with that.

Ernie (Plasticjunkie) said: "......but Aqua Gloss sprays beautifully. The problem mentioned with Aqua Gloss may be a bad bottle or batch like their gloss black paint"

That's been my experience with the Aqua Gloss too, Ernie. Could be re a bad batch, maybe.

If I get a vote, bad ass it is. The finish from the Photo is just brilliant, leaving excellent panel line and general definition. Well done!

+1 on Paul, his in depth explination and the hours he spent in preparing his videos is just top notch. I personally went the laquer AB primer route and was able, for my skill level, to acheive a smooth finish. I got small araes of pebbling around the wing routes, but thats my lack of skill. 

You have done a brilliant job, I look forawrd to seeing her finished.

Damian

plasticjunkie

Gamera

Spray Aqua Gloss straight from the bottle and do not shake it to avoid bubbles. It sprays really smooth and apply in several light coats to build up the gloss. You can decal within a couple of hours if you want unlike Future. As Bish posted its acrylic and works just like Future.

 

Oh thanks Steve! That's how I apply the Alclad matte so I shouldn't have any issues. I'm going to have to look at the bottle of it. It has a 'chemical' sorta smell to it so I've been using paint thinner to clean it up. 

Eric: She does look badass! Thanks for the tips, I'll have to give them a try.

Aqua Gloss has serious fans. I've used it on clear parts, but don't quite see its huge superiority over Future. Phil Foley recommends AK Interactive's Gauzy for an acrylic clear coat over metallic colors. I've got some and will try it out.

Assembly on the Beaufighter is close to done. The kit built up splendidly, although there were a few bumps. The late 90s -early 2000s Tamiya planes were a very good bunch and this is one of them. It does not have the part count or precision of the items appearing after about 2010 like their "Zekes", IL-2, Storch or any of the 1/32s that folk rave about. So I didn't get to try many fillers - Golden Hard Molding Paste works the same as an acrylic putty like Vallejo Plastic Putty but is better - very hard but easily sandable. (It's made to create little statues with among other things.) I did have a little problem on the rear wing root that I didn't notice and wanted a quick fix. I used Tamiya Light Curing Putty and it's very good stuff. It's odd (actually a dental resin): you put it on and it cures within a minute or two under bright light - maybe three under a normal flourescent bulb. Sands great. Gotta keep it covered though.

Above is the body pre primed: note all of the smudges etc. Below is the kit primed with Duplicolor automotive filler-primer lacquer. The stuff is excellent. (This is a Paul Budzik technique. If you don't know his videos go to You Tube or check his web site in the next thirty seconds. Guy's a genius although having skills I can't even imagine.) It applies with a fan cap which creates a splendid spray pattern. There isn't a hint of runs, dribbles or anything - it lays down perfecto. (I did it in three coats - two would work.) It smothers errors but leaves panels lines etc perfectly clear. Not sure whether I'll sand it before painting or not. Doog, the big inspiration behind "Black Basing" says one nice thing about it is that you get a "bad ass" look to the primed kit. Judge for yourself.

Eric