The RCAF Group Build Birthday Party

razordws wrote:

I also use model master acrylics mostly and polyscale acrylics (awesome paints) ----- Going to try some of the Polyscale Acrylics just so I can discover any differences and to open up a new palette------------  Normally I only add a drop or two of tamiya thinner (more if its a big job) to help prevent tip dry -------- I've been using Testor's Acryl Thinner - I wouldn't know if I'm getting good results or not as the're all the same to me. Funny laugh on me: I wasn't looking one day last week and picked up the bottle of Testors Universal Acrylic Cleaner, and put a few drops in the old cup. Would you believe that for some reason all my paint ran down the side of my model? Took me hours to figure it out.  In my own defence, both bottles are identical in size and squeeze operation - I just picked up and squeezed and never read the lablel.  Gosh, sometimes I impress myself SOooo MUuuch!!!   and I spray at about 20psi with the brush 4-6" away.  --------- We're together on that - I seem to be about 6" away.  With the Paasche you can control the amount of paint flowing through the nozzle ------- you can with the Aztec too I just don't know 'how much is too much' - gotta practice and keep working that part out.     so I adjust it to get a nice flow so that the paint is still damp when it hits the model--------Therein lies the key, I think, to my 'coarse as a 4 day beard' finish. I think my paint is drying between the tip and the plastic. Question I kept asking was, how to prevent that. Now I think I know.......the answer probably lies in the right amount of thinner.   The key I found is the Name brand thinner.  It contains retardants that help prevent the tip dry which in turns creates all kinds of problems.  Until I started using the Tamiya thinner I could never keep a consistant flow in my airbrush because the tip would keep clogging up and I would have to keep unplugging it which was very frustrating.  I tried using other stuff for thinners thinking I would save money over the name brand thinners but they didn't work and since I only need a drop or two each time one bottle of thinner lasts for quite awhile...............I think I'm going to invest in a bottle of Tamiya thinner just to try it out. I use primarily Testors Acryl but I do throw in a bit of Tamiya paints as well. Here's a recent example of my work.  This is 1/72 scale with a single action syphon fed airbrush with polyscale acrylics on the upper camo and model master acrylic rlm 76 (light blue) on the undersides.  You don't need a real expensive double action airbrush to get good results - though some day I'd like to see what I could do with one of those ................Gosh Dave, that's a beautiful looking plane. You guys make it sound so easy and I find it so frustrating sometimes.  I admit that I truly enjoy the assembly part of our hobby, the mechanical end, and the artistic aspects do attract me, but, I do find the AB tasks quite daunting.  Thanks for posting the pic. I really enjoyed going over it with a large magnifier Someday though, I'm going to be posting pics that look like the ones you guys are posting and better. Heck, fellas, I'm retired and have all day, 6 days a week to read up on, and practice up on, my hobby. I guys just gotta get better.

Poppie wrote:

Thanks for the info Dave, and yes, We'd always like to see what words cannot express. If you wouldn't mind, pop up a pic (a close up if you can) so we can see what kind of a finish your talking about.  I gather your mostly using acrylics as well?

Hey Poppie :)

Yep, using acrylics - I can't bring myself (yet) to use enamels again.  I used them back when I was using propellants and while there seems to be a vastly wider range in enamels, I can't handle the type of clean up for them and/or the fumes.

With the lack of Gunze in my neck of the woods (and, basically for everyone now that Gunze are no longer importing into North America) I've been sticking with Model Master acrylics or Tamiya acrylics.

I'll try to take some photos this evening for you all.

Cheers,
Dave

DaveCS wrote:

I'll try to take some photos this evening for you all. Cheers, Dave

Dave looking forward to your pics also !

HAPPY "WE LOVE YOU POPPY"

WHAT A SURPRISE!!!!!!! Several of my family 'popped in' un-announced for lunch today and did they bring me a surprise. My wife came home for lunch with them. At first I thought something was wrong then I saw they were all grinning like silly fools and my youngest g/daug (4) was hugging me around the leg saying "We lub you Poppie".  Well, to make a short, beautiful story, shorter, my buddy has been telling my family about my frustrations with my airbrush.  My son, the stonemason, who loves beautiful craftsmanship, spoke to some friends who are members of the Dofasco modellers club and they apparently recommended that they get me a different airbrush. So, they did!!!  They pooled their money, even Nat & Nate, the comic book twins, pooled their allowances, and they brought me a Badger 155-7!!!!!!!!!

BEAT THAT! I asked them "What for" and "How Come" and they said "It's an 'We love you' gift Poppie" No special reason." Now go have fun!"   My hands were shaking so much I could barely break through the cellophane.  The kit comes with everything except experience and talent.  Oh God! What'll I do if I can't get this one to work!!!!!  No excuses then for me, guys.  I'm on cloud nine. I've got to go read up on how to clean this thing. It looks awfully complicated compared to the Aztek. Makes the Aztek look like a toy.  Feels real nice in my hand though. Nice balance.  I'll be up all night playing with this thing. May take me awhile to get back to my Spitfire Build guys. If I sound like a kid with a new toy, its because, I'm a kid with a new toy. God, I've got the most fantastic family in the world.  Talk about supporting a guy in his hobby. WOW!  Just had to share.

DaveCS wrote:

Hey Poppie :) Yep, using acrylics - I can't bring myself (yet) to use enamels again.  I used them back when I was using propellants and while there seems to be a vastly wider range in enamels, I can't handle the type of clean up for them and/or the fumes. I'll try to take some photos this evening for you all. Cheers, Dave

OOPS, Sorry Dave, didn't mean to ignore you in the excitement.  I have the feeling that we're going to see more and more modellers turn to acrylics because of environmental issues and ease of use. Just compare cleaning up with a wet or damp rag vs paint thinners, and the dangers involved at all levels.  I think that even if my wife didn't have asthma, I'd still be opting for Acrylics. The mfg's are putting more and more money into research with acrylics every year and coming up with more and better colours. Just look at the difference in availalble acrylics over the last 10 - 15 years.

Poppie, you are Lucky to Have such a Caring Family. So how about it, is there any thinner left in a 50 km radious ? Painted the Family Sedan yet or are you Painting Flames on the local Motorcycle Clubs Bikes ?

Great news on my end also the Pavla Tiger Moth arrived in todays mail and it even has resin ski's

Summit wrote:

Great news on my end also the Pavla Tiger Moth arrived in todays mail and it even has resin ski's

That is great news Sean - I didn't expect it to have things like ski's and such.  What's the condition of the cast? Much in the way of 'bubbles and holes' for you to have to repair before you can actually start work on the plane?  I haven't seen any of the Pavla stuff before. This is my first experience with a Pavla kit - anxious to see how the 'fit' works out and so on. Keep us posted. Pic's would be great. Sean, I neglected to get the specs on this build from you. Are you in 1/48 or 1/72. Please don't tell me you have a set of ski's in 1/24 sitting in your living room!!!! Wouldn't that be a handful! Poppie

BTW - I sure am lucky to have such a caring, loving, family. We never could have guessed what giant Oaks grow from such small acorns when we first planted em.  I don't know what knocks me over most - the idea that they got it for me or the idea that they got together and everyone chipped in a few dollars.  They encouraged the 6 g/kids to contribute, and remember, these kids are just 9,8,7,6,5, & 4 years old.  They asked all the little gaffers if they wanted to 'go in' on buying a 'I love you' present for Poppie. Natalie's Dad (the 4 year old) told me she went to her bank and picked out a Loonie, not for its value, but because "It's the bigger 'I love you, for my Poppie".  This silly old koot had tears in his eyes for hours this afternoon. Not because I got a present, but for what it stands for. Man, how can a man not feel loved and appreciated when they (his family) pull off a stunt like this?  To be honest, I still haven't really opened up the package except to make a slit in it bit enough to wiggle out the instruction forms. This is just too much - here I go again - Please pass the Kleenex and the Tenax, Sean, I'm leaking.

Alaine,

Sorry you have to work that Saturday guy, but we can sure work out another day. How are you for week-days? I'll be going up to Ottawa during the summer just to laze around with my son and g/kids. He's working workdays, but I could sneak out weekdays to go on a 'shoot' with you.  I think we could have some fun and do a good thing for the rest of the guys in the build. What kind of camera do you use? Digital or film?  I use both - got a Minolta 5000 with a 70-210 mm lens that is kinda just collecting dust as I've gotten pretty lazy now that I have a digital - SONY with a X 12 Zoom.  Between the two of them I should be able to get whatever shots the guys want (and we want)(mostly what I want). Just trying to be honest here Alaine, just trying. I almost gave up after the first 60 years but then, someone convinced me to give it another try, so here I am - just trying.

As promised - here's some quicky pics shot with the lenses and flash I have available (I don't have a macro lens anymore or a macro ring flash - I sold both of them a while back in order to fund more camera gear for my wedding business) - I hope to actually take the time to get better ones in the future.

The kit is the Hasegawa AP42 Spitfire Mk. IX built as a Mk. IX c (I think) from No. 421 Squadron (Red Indian Squadron) 1945.

The WWII history of the Squadron taken from RCAF.com:

The last RCAF fighter squadron to formed in the UK, the squadron was established at Digby in April 1942 with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk Va's, moving to Fairwood Common in May and receiving Spitfire Mk Vb's. Operations in the 10 Group area continued until early 1943, using Warmwell, Bolt Head, Ibsley, Zeals and Charmy Down amongst other airfields. In January 1943 the squadron joined the Canadian Wing at Kenley using Redhill as a forward base. In May Spitfire Mk IX's replaced the Mk V's, operations continuing until August when the unit became part of No. 127 Airfield (later No. 127 Wing) of the 2nd TAF (Tactical Air Force). Operations in preparation for the Normandy invasion continued until May 1944. With the landing achieved the unit moved to French soil on the 16th of June, becoming involved in air superiority patrols over the beachhead until the breakout. The rapid advance into Belgium brought the Squadron to airfields there by October, Evere becoming a fairly permanent base late in the year. In December re-equipping with the Spitfire XIV's took place, followed by a move into Holland in March and then into Germany. With the ending of hostilities the unit had claimed 92 1/2 victories. The squadrons aircraft carried the unit code AU during this period.

I added the Eduard cockpit kit and a Squadron Vac Form canopy - I wish the photos would show the paint job better than they do.. 

Cheers,
Dave
 

Summit wrote:

Poppie my Pavla Moth is 1/72 , the resin looked realy great upon first inspection, but then again I was not wearing my opti -visor. BTW did you get the photos I PM'ed  you earlier today ?

Sean, 

I've got that kit as well; it's not too bad - trust me, compared to the Airfix moth - this one's a millenia ahead

Dave 

DaveCS wrote:

As promised - here's some quicky pics shot with the lenses and flash I have available (I don't have a macro lens anymore or a macro ring flash - I sold both of them a while back in order to fund more camera gear for my wedding business) - I hope to actually take the time to get better ones in the future. The kit is the Hasegawa AP42 Spitfire Mk. IX built as a Mk. IX c (I think) from No. 421 Squadron (Red Indian Squadron) 1945. The WWII history of the Squadron taken from RCAF.com: The last RCAF fighter squadron to formed in the UK, the squadron was established at Digby in April 1942 with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk Va's, moving to Fairwood Common in May and receiving Spitfire Mk Vb's. Operations in the 10 Group area continued until early 1943, using Warmwell, Bolt Head, Ibsley, Zeals and Charmy Down amongst other airfields. In January 1943 the squadron joined the Canadian Wing at Kenley using Redhill as a forward base. In May Spitfire Mk IX's replaced the Mk V's, operations continuing until August when the unit became part of No. 127 Airfield (later No. 127 Wing) of the 2nd TAF (Tactical Air Force). Operations in preparation for the Normandy invasion continued until May 1944. With the landing achieved the unit moved to French soil on the 16th of June, becoming involved in air superiority patrols over the beachhead until the breakout. The rapid advance into Belgium brought the Squadron to airfields there by October, Evere becoming a fairly permanent base late in the year. In December re-equipping with the Spitfire XIV's took place, followed by a move into Holland in March and then into Germany. With the ending of hostilities the unit had claimed 92 1/2 victories. The squadrons aircraft carried the unit code AU during this period. I added the Eduard cockpit kit and a Squadron Vac Form canopy - I wish the photos would show the paint job better than they do..    Cheers, Dave

Dave, thats mighty nice work at 1/72 - I just cannot work at that scale anymore and am envious of people who can. The Eduard accessories add a nice touch, but can you point out what all you have done that can be called 'scratchbuilt'?  I really like the way you've brought out the panel lines, especially the underside - I get a real sense of the plane having fought the 'airflow'. (Also wish I could do photography the way you do, but, hey, maybe in another lifetime).  Nice short touch of Sqn history. Thanks for showing the pics.  Comments guys?

BTW - Anybody know just exactly what it meant to be a pilot in a TAC (Tactical Air Command) Sqn.? What made them 'special'?

Dave, just a question on technique, how did you do the camo on this plane? It looks pretty exacting to be freehand.  I'd like to know how you did it.  Poppie

DaveCS wrote:

As promised - here's some quicky pics shot with the lenses and flash I have available  Cheers, Dave

CAMOFLAGUE TECHNIQUES: HOW DO YOU DO THEM?

Can I instigate a discussion here. Dave sent me some patterns for some Spitfire Camo that are sure going to come in handy for me as I have a long range project to do a complete Squadron of Spitfire Mk Vb's (I have 7 kits now in my stash) but, as I say, that's a long range project. I'd really like to 'tighten up' my camo jobs on the individual planes I do. Can we share some techniques.

The easiest I've found so far is to mark of the colours using "Silly Putty" - I subsequently found a one page article in an old FSM magazine outlining the "Silly Putty" technique.

Poppie, I use "blue tack" available at most hardware stores.  Roll it out to 1/4 inch lines and place it on the area you are painting.  I back fill the open space with card stock to prevent overspray.  For tiny areas or mottling style I use high pressure 25psi or better and get in close with a tight pattern.  My KH*R is due for the paint shop soon.  I will do one more update before the primer coat.

Jeff

jssel wrote:

Poppie, I use "blue tack" available at most hardware stores.

Just ran down to the bench and found that my package is now devoid of the label.  It comes in about 6-8 two inch strips and is blue in color.  Acts just like silly putty.  I mentioned hardware stores but office supply stores also carry it.  At any rate is is easy to use and even after it gets paint on it can be re-kneaded and used again before the "stickiness" is gone. 

I might add that I have used card stock slightly elevated off the part with rolls of masking tape.  The cardstock is cut to the pattern before hand.  This is labor intensive however.

Does this make any sense?

Jeff

jssel wrote:

Roll it out to 1/4 inch lines and place it on the area you are painting.  I back fill the open space with card stock to prevent overspray.  Jeff

I'm a little slow here today - been sniffing the cleaning fluid for the new badger. What a different machine!!!

Hi again guys..

Been busy today with work, the dog, and we had the IPMS Toronto meeting this evening.  Seems like the Spit was quite a hit - not nearly as good as some of the other kits on the table (Bernie Hengst has a wicked looking CMR resin Seafire done up in Canadian colours and decals !!) but it was nice to know that my first kit in decades is "good"

Poppie, the kit is, basically, out of the box. The only additions are the Eduard cockpit kit and a Squadron vac formed canopy (meant for the Airfix kit but it works just dandy on this one). The kit that has some scratchbuilding involved is my current fixation - the Airfix Avro Anson Mk1 which I'm converting to a Mk V (Plywood Annie).

The camo was done by enlarging the painting section of the kit instructions and then masking the sections off with that "blu tac" stuff that you can use to tack up papers on your wall or such - it's kind of like "Silly Putty" but it's not - same concept though. It's easy to apply and easily comes off too; like "Brylcreem".. a little dab'll do ya

The airbrush used is my Iwata Revolution CS - some of the "touching up" to camo was done freehand - I could go freehand on the next kit if I have enough confidence to attempt camo like that.

Cheers,
Dave

CAMO WORK:  I've come to the conclusion, from our previous discussion(s) that the best way to do the camo work is to make a 'bead' of some sort of material (blue tack, silly putty) that will hold an outline of your camo slightly off  the plastic. For a 'crisp' edge, I like the pure 'silly putty' approach-guess because I'm basically lazy. 

All in all, you guys have taught me a lot. thanks.  Now we'll see what I can do with it. I'm still playing around with the new Badger and I do have to admit that I get a much better spray with it than I do with the Aztec.  I think once I get the stitches out of my hand tomorrow and my hand and fingers loosen up a bit, I'll have a bit more control of the the 'dual action button'. But, from what I've been able to do today, just in terms of drawing, fine lines, dots, fills, etcs, the Badger wins hands down. I'll keep the Aztec for quick, small jobs, like doing the cockpit area but I think the major work is going to the Badger. It just gives a better, overall finish.

I'm just finishing up a 1/32 CF-188. S/N 188711 which I have done as the 2006 demo jet. Unfortunately it's 99% complete so I won't be joining this GB (even though 1/32 isn't allowed!)

I mention this because I'll be posting pics likely on the weekend so keep your eyes out! I'm very proud of her.

MaxPower wrote:

I'm just finishing up a 1/32 CF-188. S/N 188711 which I have done as the 2006 demo jet. Unfortunately it's 99% complete so I won't be joining this GB (even though 1/32 isn't allowed!) I mention this because I'll be posting pics likely on the weekend so keep your eyes out! I'm very proud of her.

This GB goes for two years Max.  I'm sure you can think of something else to build for this GB in that time frame.  Come on in, the more the merrier

Poppie, Dave explained the use of "blue tack" better than me.  Just roll out a dab and make a long snake of it.  Place it on along the camo line on the model fill in the gap so you do not get overspray and shoot on the paint.  Sorry for the confusion. 

If I get the chance today I will mask off the canopy of KH*R so you can see my system of using little squares of tape for masking straight lines.

Jeff

Max Power, I'm so sorry that the wording of the 'blurb' outlining the build gave the impressionthat it was restricted to 1/48 and 1/72. Man, your 1/32 plane is more than welcome. Please, grab a badge, pull up a seat, and tell us about the CF-188. That's one of the requirements of the build - that we do a little educational stuff ie something about the plane, or the sqn, its inception, honours, awards, noteable pilots, etc.

I'll be fixing the recruitment call today.  Please accept our apology and come join us. We'd love to to have your plane shown as part of the RCAF tradition.

Poppie

jssel wrote:

If I get the chance today I will mask off the canopy of KH*R so you can see my system of using little squares of tape for masking straight lines. Jeff

OK Guys, time for Poppie to update.

First, I'm playing with the new Badger.

Report:  It's a completely different gun than the Aztec. The spray is 'finer', it handles acrylics no matter what thickness I seem to throw  at them - I've thrown everything at it right out of the bottle. My wife is hiding her Royal Daulton figurines as I've been casting a longing look at trying to refresh the colours for her! - she doesn't look pleased.  Now to business. 

I have done a bit of work on the cockpit.  I've been doing a bit of work on the IP and I think it's coming along. Having these stitches in my hand is really slowing me down  but that will change in a few hours - I hope)  Hopefully today, I will get the cockpit area painted and the first wash put in and start 'highlighting' this evening. I'll try and get some pics of wip by tomorrow morning. I'm just not sure exactly how today is going to go what with waiting in Dr.s offices and such, then my first bit of physio. I'm hoping I'll not be left stiff and sore - I'd like to get caught up.

WOW! Stitches out. Plastic Surgeons do a wonderful job - barely a closure line. Physio was a breeze. No follow up - just do gentle squeezing of a soft rubber ball. Good ability to pick up small objects now that the bandage is off.  I'm in business guys!

I was able to find the equivilant of "Blue Tack" at the local Staples (used to be 'Office Depot') store under their own brand name - cost a measly $2.69 a pack of 8 sticks.  I tried it out first thing when I got home - secret seems to be to make sure you warm it up first - hard as heck to work with when cold and not sticky. But, once a 'worked' with it a while, it softened, got a bit 'sticky' and I tried sticking a piece of card stock onto a model I had already painted. It works just fine.  Thanks you, thank you, thank you. Thanks to all you kind hearted souls. It's going to look nice to see 12 planes with all the same camo pattern but different numbers. I'm debating  whether I should show them 'scrubbed up' and newly painted as 'on parade' for inspection, or try and do the work and show them how they might have looked during the BoB when they didn't have time to wipe the mud off their shoes. I think the BoB 'look' appeals to me more, but I've got more to learn about weathering. By the way guys, if anybody comes across a Hasegawa 1/48 Spitfire Mk Vb kit # JT4:2000 please let me know. I need 4 more to make up my Sqn. I've got one on ebay right now.

DECAL SOURCE:

SHARING SOURCE INFO: I've found a great Canadian 'cottage industry' source for decals. They'll do any size, any plane, any pilot (just about). They have a catalogue worth browsing through for all RCAF Group Build members  -  they are not expensive either as these things go: Give them a look-see at http://www.canmilair.com/index.htm   CanMilAir  Decals

CANADIAN MODEL RELATED COMPANIES:

I foiund this website that gives a list of about a dozen (or less) Canadian Companies that do some resin work, some decal work, some full kits, etc.  Hope you can find what your looking for here: Canadian Model Related Companies http://hedgehoghollow.com/buzz/cdn_model_companies.html#Arrow

enjoy, Poppie