I did the overall tricolor scheme on a 1:48 Dauntless this weekend. My guy on the carrier, in the paint shop did not listen as intently as he should. The bottom is white, as prescribed. He then did an overall intermediate blue cut about 25% with white to lighten it some. Looked good. Then, he went crazy on the flat sea blue, also cut 1:25 with white. I told him to leave the vertical surfaces intermediate blue except for the area around the cockpit. The pictures I saw from HQ showed flat sea blue coming down and going on the upper wing surfaces. He got more flat sea blue on the sides than I wanted. But, it looks good for a first attemt. You know, these kids on these carriers with spray guns.
All kiddin aside, it was not as tough as I thought it would be. The masking was done with rolled up masking tape and index cards. It was a fabulous soft feathered effect. No straight lines here. Looked free hand. Now, I have to do the dive brakes. I painted the inside flat red this weekend and nbow have to do the top and bottom surfaces flat sea blue and white. Next job will be getting them on the plane.
This is going to be a beauty if I do not screw it all up.
I, for one am waiting to see it ! That tri-color sceme is one of my favorites. I’ve done a Wildcat, Hellcat, Corsair, Dauntless, Avenger, and Helldiver in that scheme. I know what you mean about the paint crew. Hard to find good hired help nowadays, isn’t it ? Good luck on the dive brakes ! Pix.
sounds great!
i am working the same scheme on a 1/48 Tamiya Wildcat.
usual slowdowns on the production line, but i have learned of something never to do:
DON’T take a razor point felt-tip pen and ‘high-light’ the panel lines.
it seems that the ink dries in its own sweet time (just short of never) and is then re-activated by the tamiya paint/thinner so it ‘blooms’ through coat after coat of white. i guess i should have tried this on some scrap. now you don’t have to.
live & learn.
