Hello to you all. I haven’t posted anything like this before let alone post any of my work. I must just say that I love building and painting my aircraft. If I could I’d make it my job but as I’m still waiting for my lotto numbers to come up Il have to stick to my day job and do what I love at the weekends.
Enough said now lets get on with my work. I’ve been doing this for years now on/off and I’m slowly building my tips and tricks and really all sorts to make my aircraft look as real as possible. This Revell 1/32 scale Fw-190 F8 is the first major build I have ever done with an airbrush. As the title says, First time for everything. The Mosquito was my first test of using an airbrush to paint an aircraft and all the others have been done with a normal paint brush.
I haven’t put any seat belts in yet or the antenna wire from the canopy to the tail section yet on the Fw-190 but I’m getting there.
It would be fantastic to hear any comments from any of you out there and tips or pointers would greeted with a thumbs up. I hope you like what I’ve done.
Lenny
Very nice work. One small suggestion that will greatly improve the appearance of all
those builds would be to drill out the gun barrels…
Ray
Hi Lenny, you got some cracking models going on there sir. Your airbrushing technique looks like its going well. I dont think there is anything wrong with your building at all. It all looks clean and glue free. I think, from what i see, decals seem to be your downfall as there appears to be a fare bit of silvering. Its a problem that everyone suffers from at some time or another. There are lots of different articles on the net to help with this, some good websites as well.
My [2c] would be this. After spraying your camo colours, give the whole model a coat of a gloss or satin varnish. A lot of ppl, myself included use Future floor wax or Klear as its called in the US. This can be sprayed neat from your airbrush. This gives the model an excellent smooth finish for the decals to adhere too. Also I use some setting agents called ‘Microsol and Microset’ to help get the decal snuggled right down into any grooves or recesses. After youve decalled the plane give it another coat of Gloss/ Future and when thats dry you can start your weathering.
Hope some of this helps and keep on building.
www.swannysmodels.com has some very usefull and interesting articles on weathering, Future and loads more. Give it a look.
…Guy
Thank you Guy
I’ve just been looking over you Trop Me 109 build and it’s outstanding!!![:O]
For me it’s taken a long time even to get an airbrush and compressor to do my builds and I can’t get enough of it. I have a question for you Guy and after looking at your 109 which do you prefer using varnish? Gloss or satin. Which do you think looks more authentic.
Thanks again
Lenny
My method for aircraft is Camo then Future then decals then future (2 Coats) then depending on the plane (Some Like the 190) were often seen with a semi shiney finish. For the semi shiney look i use xtracrylics Satin gloss. But mainly i use a xtracrylics Flat varnish.
Heres a 190 with the semi shiney look.
Basically check your refs and see what you think looks right.
…Guy
Thats the finish I’m looking for Guy. I’l be trying that on my next build which I’m half way through. I’m on an old airfix Wellington which as you know is a very basic build but I’l go for it externaly.
Have you got your own web site? just wondering cause you have some great models to show!
Lenny
Thank you Ray. I write down all comments and suggestions for my later builds. Thanks for looking fella.
Lenny[:D]
Lenny, looking good. Use Guy’s advice and your decals will look fantastic. Great work.
Looks like some nice work, Lenny. I really like the finish on the MOsquito…which reminded me that I have to get that Tamiya kit!
One thing I noticed on the Fw190 is that a quick repair job to the front right wing would really push this up to another level. THere seems to be a bit of a seam where the wings join…nothing that a quick spot repair can’t take care of. On my own builds, I never spot these until after I’ve posted them! It’s amazing what a camera can find [;)]
I hope to see more of your work here in the future.