LSP_Kevin Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 Time for another update! Even though it seems like I'm racing through this, it still somehow feels like slow progress. Anyway, I decided to experiment with using the kit decals for the panelling effects, and while they were OK, I'd definitely mask and paint them next time. For starters, the printing is surprisingly coarse, with the dot pattern quite visible close up. They're also quite thick, and I'm still trying to deal with some residual tenting issues around raised details. And the last issue, one of my own making, is that I misplaced some of the underside panels, creating gaps and misalignments along the way. I decided not to apply two of them at all in the end, as there was no way they were going down over the raised details in those areas (I did try with one of them). Here are the photos: I've started to weather the rear panel, ready to be inserted later: I've also started to paint the pilots, base-coating with Fire Orange from the new Infinite Colour range from SMS: They'll need another coat before I can move on. Lastly, I prepared the kit stand with a simple black-and-white finish: I should have taken that photo against a blue background, as there's no hope of seeing anything against a white one! Anyway, once I can get the decals to all fully settle down, I'll seal them in with a clear gloss coat, paint the dark nose panel (oddly missing from the decal sheet), and begin the weathering process. Should be fun! Kev scvrobeson, dodgem37, patricksparks and 12 others 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 Great show Kev! I love these kits and looks like this one is going together well despite any difficulties you had. LSP_Kevin and GreyGhost 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 5 hours ago, Out2gtcha said: Great show Kev! I love these kits and looks like this one is going together well despite any difficulties you had. Thanks, Brian. The difficulties were all of my own making - including seemingly having lost the ability to lay down a decent gloss coat! But my aim with this build is to practise some weathering and end up with a decent shelf-sitter. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockie Yarwood Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 Really enjoying your work on this one Kev! I can see in the photos what you mean about the decals, they almost look a like non-slip texture coating until you enlarge the image then they look more like the print in a comic book illustration. LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 11 Author Share Posted May 11 22 minutes ago, Rockie Yarwood said: Really enjoying your work on this one Kev! I can see in the photos what you mean about the decals, they almost look a like non-slip texture coating until you enlarge the image then they look more like the print in a comic book illustration. Thanks, Rockie. I'm hoping the decals will blend in better with some weathering and clear coats, but I think they'll look OK at normal viewing distances anyway. We'll find out soon enough, I guess! Kev Rockie Yarwood 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 Gloss coats can be tricky at times depending on temperature and humidity levels. This is coming along very nicely Kevin!! GreyGhost and LSP_Kevin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 11 Author Share Posted May 11 1 minute ago, mustang1989 said: Gloss coats can be tricky at times depending on temperature and humidity levels. This is coming along very nicely Kevin!! I'm just really out of practise, and seem to have reverted to spraying it on like a fire hose! So my panel lines are all a bit pillowy now. And of course, this just attracts every hair and speck of dust in the room. It doesn't help that my trusty Iwata HP-C Plus is playing up at the moment, so I've switched to my standby H&S Evolution airbrush, which has a larger needle/nozzle combination, and I have far less control with it. It's amazing what flat coats and weathering can hide, though! Let's hope I don't screw that up, too... Kev GreyGhost 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 More out-of-practise modelling from me, as I continue to make mincemeat of the world's easiest build! The wee Snowspeeder has just received a panel line wash: This is actually the second attempt at the panel line wash, as my first attempt with oils (my usual approach) all but wiped right off completely during clean up. I had to fall back to some AK Interactive Panel Liner, and even then, it's still pretty patchy, and I'm far from completely happy with it. Even so, I think it'll be fine as the basis for further weathering. I must remember to paint that panel in the nose, however! Kev Out2gtcha, Whitey, Alain Gadbois and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 I've come to suspect that my difficulties with the initial oil wash were partly down to thinning it with Tamiya X-20 enamel thinner - something I've never done before. The rest of the issue was caused by my poorly applied gloss coat. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 13 Author Share Posted May 13 I've now rescribed some of the panel lines that weren't holding the wash, and reapplied it in those areas. Seems better now. Photos in the next update! Kev Out2gtcha and Rockie Yarwood 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 (edited) You're gonna laugh or say "no way" when I tell you this....every one does....but this is what I use for my gloss coats whether it be one for decaling purposes or for a gloss finish on an auto build. Painlessly easy to use and clean and gets perfect results every time. Edited May 14 by mustang1989 LSP_Kevin and RadBaron 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 14 Author Share Posted May 14 45 minutes ago, mustang1989 said: You're gonna laugh or say "no way" when I tell you this....every one does....but this is what I use for my gloss coats whether it be one for decaling purposes or for a gloss finish on an auto build. Painlessly easy to use and clean and gets perfect results every time. Oddly enough, I actually have a no-name version of that stuffed in a drawer somewhere! Kev mustang1989 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 Try it once on a side project and see if you like it. My dollars on you liking it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 5 hours ago, mustang1989 said: You're gonna laugh or say "no way" when I tell you this....every one does....but this is what I use for my gloss coats whether it be one for decaling purposes or for a gloss finish on an auto build. Painlessly easy to use and clean and gets perfect results every time. I used a Badger 350 for years and years, never had a bad thing to say about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 15 Author Share Posted May 15 Nearing the finish line now, with the weathering and assembly mostly complete: Not sure how I feel about the weathering to be honest, but I'll sleep on it and take a fresh look tomorrow. My current to-do list: finishing painting the pilots and install; paint and install rear gun; add any final weathering; final flat coat; remove and paint inside of canopy; demask and install canopy parts; mount on stand; buy another one! Kev LSP_Ray, Greg W, Iain and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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