Paint it or leave it clear ? It kinda sticks out on a 1/24 Harrier. I saw the BAe Hawk that was reviewed in the last issue, looked like it was left unpainted.
just leave it. It would be a PITA to try and paint anyways.
Perhaps use strips of colored decal paper? Or a steady hand. Is the detcord a raised detail?
It shouldnt be a raised detail, because on the real aircraft the det cord is inside the plexi, not on top of it.
It sounds like the detail is cast in?
Come on, you know the answer. Of course you have to do it. It really is a feature.
Crazy idea. What if you absolutely flooded the inside of the hood in Future, then drybrushed the cord with enamel, let it dry a month, the soaked off the Future in Ammonia?
Or did a rub off with a soft dummy pencil on the backside of a piece of carbon rubbed typing paper?
Or decided to not drink beer, ride motorcycles or have “relations” for a month and sat down with a 000 and a steady hand?
The last is a really bad idea, I’d say.
Seriously though, the first idea that came to mind was if you went round to the local watch repair shop and talked to the guy and explained your dilemma and gave him the appropriate Humbrol tinnie thing and promised him $ 20.
I do that stuff from time to time in various challenges. It’s great fun when it goes ok. We forget but there’s a lot of little expert skills out there in blokes that can do stuff like refinish wood, or patch cigarrette burns, at an honest wage.
EDIT: here’s an idea. Mask over the whole area with Liquid Mask. Rub off the high spots and paint. Remove mask.
how about this??
The shape and size are already represented by the molded canopy, right? What if you were to make or have made a decal in the right shape, size, and color? Apply that decal to the inside of the canopy and it should look the part. I did find a 1/48 Harrier model that was built with the det cord looking like it was painted, here is a link:
http://hyperscale.com/features/2002/av8bharrierpluspds_1.htm
There is a link at the bottom right where you can email the builder, maybe he has some suggestions to help. Let us know how it works out! I have been wanting to build one of those large harriers myself.
Here are a couple of techniques that work.
This one works if there is MDC detail moulded recesed into the canopy. First, protect the canopy with Future. Let cure for a couple of days (but you’ve done that already, right?). Next, paint cord detail with white or very pale grey acrylic paint. Let dry for a few minutes, then rub excess off with a dry q tip. This should leave paint in the recess, looking like a MDC, but no paint on the surrounding canopy.
Second, get some clear decal sheet, and carefully paint the MDC pattern onto it, This may take a few attempts to get right. Then, if you feel confident, apply the decal to the inside of the canopy. If you feel less confident, apply it to the outside, and seal it in with a couple of coats of Future. This last stage will make the MDC look as if it’s contained within the canopy.
Easiest way, of course, is to choose a kit which comes with a MDC on the decal sheet:
[:)]
Cheers,
Chris.