xmh53wrench Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Totally agree - the silver paint to the NMF looks right on the money Keep 'em coming Peter OK, I know this is more of the same, but with a bit of humility I think I have stumbled upon the perfect Aluminum Paste finish.....LOL Soooo......If you have buried in your paint stash some spray bomb Chrome Aluminum (mine is Ace #17006), Testors Dull Coat #1260, and Rustoleum 7701 Crystal Clear....here is what I did. Layed down a few coats of the Chrome Aluminum with a quick scotch bright (red) scuff in between the coats. After drying, 2 light coats of the Dull Coat. This totally kills that mirror finish and provides a very very soft silver color (see my drop tanks). Now if you believe the paste did not have any sort of sheen to it, then stop here. But I am inclined to believe that the varnish liquid that the aluminum paste was mixed with was bound to have some sort of gloss, besides any Crew Chief worth his salt would have those wings waxed nice and smooth for his "stick". So I then put a couple medium coats over the Dull Coat and wait for your jaw to drop......now put this part against something NMF....and smile.... I decided to re-do my elevators using this method, and am much happier with the outcome. But, now I am wondering if I shouldnt have filled all the rivits to look more like the rudder (what are your thoughts????) NOW, for a big question. In your folks opinion, are the INSIGNIA/wing stripes colors (red, blue, white, black) gloss, semi, or matte? This is so hard to tell in photos. I am contemplating spraying my insignias rather than going with decals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Bit more fiddling about. Some assembly of the fuselage finally, and some paint work on the engine cowling. I need to fab a bulkhead at the empannage seam and behind the tail wheel well. Its also going to take some modifying of the tail gear and pivot to put it in a somewhat proper gear in transit position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 25, 2014 Author Share Posted January 25, 2014 WooHoo!! Looky what I got First time messing with resin, correct me if I am wrong, CA glue only on this stuff, correct? Whether attaching to other resin or styrene? Thanks in advance.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Yes, but best I have found is "Gorilla Supper Glue". It has a bit of rubber base so it has much better shear strength. I buy mine at Lowes stores.......Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks a heap Harv!! Well buttoned up the pit, put Lt. Dickmeyer in his place, and proceeded to close up the fuselage. Also did a test fit of the canopy, not too shabby, but does need a bit of work. How does the OOB profile of this canopy look to you Geoff? ....Although I did forget to modify the canopy latch to an early latch....DOH!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 Well more playing with paints for my NMF. I have a set of wings that are my continuous test bed. Also the shelf on my model bench is natural mill finished .063 aluminum, so probably a pretty good sample of what I am trying to match. So here is a couple of coats of my Ace Hardware Chrome Aluminum paint on the wing vs, my aluminum shelf. Note the reflection. Now to see how it will stand up to masking and decals in a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Nice progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Lou Wonderful technique for the Aluminum Paste finish .. definitely going to have to give it a try. Harv is absolutely correct, the best way to glue resin to platsic or metal is with CCA. Recently, I switched from Gorilla CCA to Loctite Profesional Liquid and Loctite Liquid - both Super Glues. They set up very quickly and the bond is extremely strong and clean. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks guys. Chipping away, more sanding and smoothing on the wings prior to gluing them up, so then all I have to deal with is the leading edge. Trying to be humble but my cheesy phone camera pics arent doing the paint colors justice. Silver is so hard to photograph. Also, contemplating swiping an Airfix Merlin to replace the OOB powerplant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Well buttoned up the wings, and sanded down my elevators and put a coat of primer on them in the hopes of making them appear to be covered in fabric. And just before hanging it up for tonight, did a bit of visualizing.....oh ya, and whacked off the dorsal fin, guess I am all in now for an early D. Seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel....but still a ways to go. Also dug out an Airfix Merlin and going to glue it up to see what its going to take to fit it to the H/C engine cradle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironwing Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Lou, Like I said, you're doing the old girl justice. There isn't much you can do with this kit or the Airfix unless you're ready to spend lots of time making corrections...lots of them. I've looked at the Trumpeter kit. It bares a striking resemblance to my big Mustang in its dimensions and out line; right down to the oddly shaped canopy assembly. You're doing quite nicely with something that's difficult, at best, to make right. Keep up the good work. You're doing just fine. Cheers, Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Lou Your 'Stang is looking awesome - can't wait to see her all dressed up in a NMF and markings. Keep 'em coming Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Thank you guys, very very humbled by your remarks. I am really enjoying this after my bit of a break. Not even that bothered by the canopy any longer. Thanks!!!! PS Geoff....what are your thoughts on what was painted and not painted in the gun bays and access panels??? Edited January 28, 2014 by xmh53wrench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Just like the real thing boys..... .....well maybe not exactly, but I am going to be concentrating my primer coats on the forward 40% of the wing and blending back as I go. The plan is smooth up front with some remnant detail toward the trailing edge after the silver paste process is done....we will see how it goes. And put together the basic engine, and since it seems to fit under the engine cowling I went ahead and shot some 37038 black on it. Boy the Airfix engine is an incredible improvement over the H/C one. It is going to take a bit of modifying of course to get it in the cradle, but I think it will be totally worth it in the end. I also plugged up the square gun camera hole, and will turn it into a round hole that I believe what was common on the -5 Mustangs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmh53wrench Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Well another quick update. I finished the modifying of the elevators, to more resemble fabric covered ones. I had also been applying a few coats of primer with some sanding in between. Did a final sand tonight, and put down 3 coats of the Ace Chrome aluminum. Fairly please at the outcome. From the spar forward is pretty smooth and there is a hint of rivet detail on the trailing edge just forward of the ailerons and flaps. I will let it sit overnight and start the clearing process tomorrow. There is alot of reflectiveness in the paint right now that is not being captured by my phone's camera.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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