♠ Allied Aces GB (WW1 -WW2) April 2006 Start - Sept 2006 Finish

Thanks Karl and Dave.  The decal that wrinkled was the star and bar on the bottom wing, luckily.  It developed a couple of wrinkles in the white star and they never went away like wrinkles normally do after applying microsol.  I have no idea why.  But if there was a decal for it to happen too, that was the best one.

The Stang looks great from here.

I certainly can't see any wrinkles in your decals.

Karl

Great job on the Alcad from what I can see!

Thanks Rick.  I think I might be brave enough to tackle a 1/48 BMF after this. 

Nice looking Stang.  Well done.

Regards,  Rick

Well, I took a chance and just put the decals over the Alclad.  Even though they are Tamiya decals, I figured what the hay.  They actually did pretty well.  A couple decided to keep a few of their wrinkles after the first application of mircrosol, grrr, but luckily they aren't noticable.  I'm still trying to decide whether or not to do some weathering or just leave it be.

Looking very nice.

Haven't used Alclad, but I've heard others use Future over the top without detriment to the look of the finish.

Karl

Here is the progress so far.  Now I'm trying to decide whether to try and put the decals on the Alclad, or put a coat of future first.  I've heard varying opinions on the issue.  I just gotta decide.  I really want to keep the finish I have, but I don't want to get any silvering either.

I sprayed it at about 15 psi at about 4-6 inches.  Perhaps I tried to get too much of a coat right from the start, but it seemed to take several passes to cover well (I could see the black underneath).  This is a 1/72 scale, however, perhaps that explains why it seems a bit rough since it's a small scale.  I'm not sure. 

Dave,  I've never had a problem with Alclad2 clogging.  Not sure what would cause that other than using a wrong thinner.  Personally,   I spray it straight from the bottle with no thinner added.  It's a Lacquer, so if you do thin it, only use Lacquer thinner.  If you are getting a gritty surface, you're probably spraying from too far away, allowing some of the atomized paint to dry before it hits the model surface.  Try spraying closer to the model at lower psi setting on your compressor.  Alclad works best with applying several light mist coats rather than heavy spray, so you could also be spraying it too heavy.  Let it build up gradually with a few minutes between coats.  You should get a smooth metallic finish, but not what I would describe as a gloss finish. 

Hope this helps.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks guys.  Some more questions about Alclad:

I had a problem with it clogging up the tip very fast when I stopped spraying for a few seconds.  Is that normal?  All it required was for me to point it in a different direction and spray until it smoothed out a bit, but I definately had to wait a few seconds before I started back on the model.  I know you shouldn't start your spray over the model anyway, but it took longer than normal to start free flowing again. 

Once it dried, it seemed gritty to the touch but looks pretty smooth.  I probably didn't have it clean enough before spraying the Alclad, but I was expecting more of a smooth, glossy finish.  It has very flat feel. 

On that note, how well do decals settle on Alclad?  I've heard you don't future over Alclad, so I hope that the decals go on ok.  And what about using washes for the panel lines?  Do I need to be real careful using the same techniques for panels lines I normally use on coats of future?  And if I don't seal in the decals with future before applying a wash, how do I keep the wash from accidentally getting underneath the decal?

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for the help.

Dave

Oh, here was a before pic and tonight I'll take a picture of it with the Alclad on.

Alclad2 is a hot lacquer & dries quickly to the touch, but that doesn't mean it's cured.  If I'm doing other shades of Alclad on panels, I let it dry for an hour or so before masking.  But if I'm using a different type of paint, such as enamels or acrylics over the Alclad, I let it cure at least overnight.  I don't believe in tempting fate .

Regards,  Rick

TryintoModel wrote:

I'll be using the Alclad for the first time tonight.  A question about Alclad, I heard that it dries pretty quick, how fast can I mask it after it's sprayed?  Dave

Dave, Alclad dries almost immediately and can be masked over in about 15mins.

Cheers

Just a little update on my John Meyer's P-51D Petie 2nd:  I got the cockpit done, fuselage together, wings on, etc.  I sprayed the base semi-gloss black base coat in preperation for the Alclad II.  I'll be using the Alclad for the first time tonight.  A question about Alclad, I heard that it dries pretty quick, how fast can I mask it after it's sprayed? 

Sorry, no pictures.  Perhaps tonight I'll take some before and after pictures of the Alclad.

Dave

WHOOOOPIEE My kit arrived from Jules today so I can start in on it, Jules says he may be without a computer for a bit but he is still building away MANY THANKS JULES I hope you can get back soon

Jay,

Great deal on the grandparents coming in to lend a hand!  I remember when my mom and mom-in-law came down when my son was born.  Fantastic!  My wife could truly relax.  One problem though, we were convinced that as soon as the last one here left the boy would start to cry and not stop until well into his teens...  Never happened but wacky stuff like that races through your mind as a parent, and it gets wackier the older they get too!

I am almost finished hand painting the clean up on my 'stang's invasion stripes.  Slow going when you are correcting 1mm errors!  I can not say enough about Tamiya, the kit the masking tape and the paint.

The kit went together by just a simple thought.  The masking tape is easy to use, I have the 10mm and 6mm size.  White paint is one of my Achilles heels...the Tamiya flat white was wonderful!  Covered in two sprays and took very little thinning.  Not so great for brushing but with some air behind it I figure it is the deal for me.

I have said this a hundered times but this weekend is it to finish her...I plan to fully take advantage of Father's Day!  No games to coach or play in (retired for good now, shoulder will need surgery after all) No major projects around the house and the Honeydo is done!

Whoo hoo! I was able to get an hour last night to play with the plastic!  While mom and son were sleeping I was painting the cockpit pieces. 

Now, I just have to add a wash to accent shadows and then I can glue the CP together, install it and close up the fuselage halves!  WOW does the ultracast seat look fabulous! No idea when I'll get around to it again, I guess I gotta appreciate the little times I do get.  It's been over three weeks since I last touched my models, sure feels good!

BTW congrats to our friends from down under in their victory over Japan in the World Cup!  I have been watching bits of ever game so far.  I am really enjoying the matches!

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

The little blue Nieuport 11 is ready for decals, I'll post pics later, while the fuselage and lower wing are together on the 17.

All the struts and engines etc, are already painted, so I'm hoping to wrap these two up next weekend.

Karl

Karl: your builds are looking great!

Jay, Glad to hear evryone is doing well! The spitfire will still be waiting for you when you're ready. For now just enjoy the experience.

Jay Glad to hear all is well with the family.  I thought thats what Grand Ma & Grand Pa are for to give Dadda some styrene time Take care.

 

Cheers

Bear

Yuppers, little Matthew is doing well and gaining weight, his birth weight was 7lbs and after two weeks he is up to 7 lbs 14 oz.  Since all babies lose some weight just after birth, he has gained over a pound since birth!  right on schedule!   Momma is also doing better with breast feeding, she was getting stressed out last week but things are looking up for them, each day is a new learning experience! 

I am really itching to get back into my Spitfire! it's just with grandparents over all the time I feel I shouldn't go down to the basement and play with the models.  Besides, I want to spend time with my boy!  I just love asking him "who's your daddy!". 

Waikong, I was planning on using stretched sprue, as I don't fancy the idea using monofilament, and tying all those little knots. That and the thought of filling all those little holes in my beautiful paintwork and touching them in........

Bob, these Eduard kits are a great intro to WW1 AC, as they are very detailed, but also very quick to build.

Karl

 

 

 

 

Bob Thanks for the tip I'll look for some when I go to Wally World this week.  Even though it is a cheep airfix kit I would like to save it.

Jay I really screwed it up, repriming it wont help unfortunately,  striping the paint off is the only alternative.  I hate learning experiances  So how is fatherhood treating you so far, I trurst your wife and the little one are doing well.

 

Cheers

Bear

 

Karl-Your build is looking great!  Looking forward to seeing the finished product.  Might even have to try a WWI plane myself someday.

Karl, your build is looking very nice. I'll be very interested in seeing how you do the rigging, I'm still trying to find the 'best' technique in doing this.

Marc, sorry to hear of your troubles. is there any way you could spray a light grey primer over everything and start again? or is it much worse that a simple cover up won't work. 

Bear-soaking the entire assembly in Castrol's Super Clean should work. I've also shot Windex thru my airbrush at a model done in acrylic, so I'm wondering if shooting Super Clean would have the same effect (in case you didn't want to soak the entire thing)....just a thought.... 

Karl looks good keep up the good work.

Joe I second Karl's coment that sucks!!! looking fwd to some pics though.

I seriously screwed up the paint job on my spit.  I may have to scrap it.  Can anybody tell me, can you strip MM enamels if so, how any  hints would be greatly appreciated.  I started work on a back up build I found an Italeri Mk Vb in my stash so all is not lost (until its time to paint it anyway).

 

Cheers

Bear

Karl,

Yup...tried toothpicks, tried the gum massager from a toothbrush...tried everything...well I need the practice with the brush any way.

 

Nice string bag!

Looking good Karl.

Regards,  Rick