Hi everyone,
Sometimes I never know just which is the most appropriate forum in which to post certain questions. I picked this one because it is airplane related but it could just as easily have gone in the painting forum.
Here it goes. After working on it on and off for three years I have finally finished my Monogram 1/72 B-36. I told myself I was going to do it right or not do it at all. I am very happy with the outcome considering the last time I built this kit was about 18 years ago when I was 16. I remember buying about a zillion of the little Testors aluminum paint bottles and hand brushing the silver on. LOL!
Anyway, I’d like to put a final clearcoat on this bird to seal it. What would be best to use on the NMF B-36? Flat? Gloss? Something in between? This is the last step I need to do before I hang it up at my local HobbyTown.
Thanks to all!!!
Eric
It really depends on what metalicc finish you are going to use. If you are going to use Alcad II then (which I would reccommend) then you need to prime with Gloss Black.
Have you already painted the NMF ? If so, what did you use ? Makes a difference in what top-coat you might want.
Regards, Rick
Sorry about that, read the thread and brain is apparently not awake yet. - I would probably go with a semi-gloss topcoat with flat as my second choice
Thanks to everyone for the info. The plane is all nicely painted up using various shades of Model Master buffing metalizers. I was sort of thinking semi-gloss as well but I just wasn’t sure. I’ve never top-coated one of my NFM planes before.
Thank you again,
Eric
PS. I’ll try to post some pics later on.
From the two I’ve seen, (SAC Museum and Air Force Museum) the sheen varies with the panels and location on the aircraft. Both aircraft were showing their age so it’s hard to tell. A combination of both gloss and flat folowing the different shades should look good.
I just picked up the kit last week, how was the build?
Chasblake99,
It was a good build. Note I didn’t say great but then again I guess that comes down to what you like to do. I know a lot of people bad-mouth Monogram kits because they don’t fall together perfectly like they want them to. I’ll admit that this big kit does have some seams to fill such as along the wing/fuselage joint. It will take some work but not an unreasonable amount. It will reward you in the end. It took me a while to get it somewhat ready for the NMF. Also, the bomb bay doors will need quite a bit of filler if you want to pose them in the closed position. It would be easier to pose them in the open position. If you read the Detail & Scale book it will tell you that the Monogram kit is not the most accurate in terms of the ECM antennas or the radar pod for the tail gun but like the old saying goes, “If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck…chances are it’s a duck.” That’s just like this kit. Okay so it’s not perfect but tell me one single kit which is. Otherwise I loved the kit. I loved the cockpit area. It looks great once it’s nicely painted, weathered and the crewmen dropped in. Oh and for the wing walks I used Pactra stiping tape. It was nice and flexible especially on the curved parts.
I used Model Master buffing metalizer paints on my bird but in retrospect this would be a great kit if someone wanted to use Bare Metal Foil. There aren’t many intricate compound curves to worry about. Just a tube with wings. ha-ha-ha!
Enjoy and best wishes!
Eric