Just started modeling couple of months ago and everything was going fine when until i got to the missiles. The Phoenix missiles–actually everyone of them have these really thin lines of yellow and brown. I tried to use the masking tape “technique”, but it just messed up the paint and smeared everything around. Any suggestions?
I was also wondering if anybody else has any more tips or pics of/for their build of the Revell Tomcat. I could really use any type of help. [:D]
Welcome to the forum and to a great hobby. I can’t help with your question, but you might get a better response if you posted over on the aircraft forum. Go here: /forums/2.aspx
The yellow and brown lines denote a live warhead and live rocketmotor on the missile. You can try by using a fine pointed brush, #1 or smaller, to paint the stripes freehand, or look for paint pens with a fine tip.
Welcome to the forum M1! [snWcm]
For the stripes, run out to your favorite hobby shop and see if they have plain decal sheets. You can get a sheet that is solid blue, yellow, white, black and just about any color that’s out there. I usually keep a sheet of yellow on hand. I’ve used it to represent the Mediterranean Theater I.D. bands on P-51s and, when cut super duper thin, they make perfect missle striping. Naturally you can get the sheets in whatever colors you might need.
A second option, if they didn’t have the colored sheets, would be to purchase some clear or white sheets and simply paint them the color you need. I like to airbrush the color on so it provides a thin layer of paint as opposed to hand brushing it on.
If you can’t find these sheets at your local hobby shop, they are also available on-line. I think if you check out a web site like squadron.com and do a browse under their “decal” category, you’ll find these sheets. They’re not very expensive at all.
Yet one more option would be to look through any spare decals that you might not be using. Check to see if there are unused walkways, stripes, nose art or anything that you can cut thin stripes from. I like this option the best since it doesn’t cost you anything. [:D]
Best wishes and enjoy the forum! Post pictures as soon as you’re done!
Eric
Ok, thanks for the tip! i’ll definitively try out the decals for the strips. I’ll post pictures, but it might be a while and it will hardly be close to anything good… [:D]
Also, i dont have a airbrush–i can draw and paint really well and have managed fairly well without an airbrush. But now i realize that (from what i see in most pics), the best models come from expert modelers with an airbrush. So whats your opinion on about airbrushes and all that?