Yep, the Tamiya F-8 has decals for an MTO scheme as well.
That is some fine mottle Greg, excellent work!!
Gee, thanks my friends. That was a pleasant surprise to wake up to!
So, what is “MTO”?
Nathan, for inspiration I had the Hasegawa box art, the B&W instruction paint/decal diagram for this scheme, and all of the mottling jobs I’ve seen so far here at the FSM forum.
Tankster, thank you for your specific tips and for commenting. It is through these that I learn!
John, is that the Tamiya kit with the bomb rack and a couple of loader figures? My choice was between that one and the Hasegawa, because the mottle pattern looked less complicated and doable at this point than so many other schemes. Ha, silly me.
General question: Is the camo/mottle coverage supposed to be very thin, just barely opaque at the centers and fade out at the edges? Or just barely opaque, all of them? I ask becasue I got a handful heavier than others, and I think they look funny. Or should they all be almost slightly transparent?
Thanks again for your help, support and encouragement, mates.
Greg,
the one with the bomb loader is the one .
John
MTO stands for “Mediterranean Theatre of Operations”.
The Tamiya kit is a nice little gem. It has a few inaccuracies, but the fit is really nice, as well as the amount and quality of details. The bomb cart is a nice addition and the marking options are interesting. It also comes with all the ordnance you need (cluster bomb, big bomb, rockets, small bombs for the wing pylons)
No two “mottles, or spots”, were alike Greg. I wouldnt’ worry too much. Unless you have a pic of the real thing I’d say yours looks good. Keep in mind, gloss coats, decals, and weathering will change the look of your camo anyway.
Man you aint lying there! It seems like the decals themselves bring the thing to life! Gives it a personality. Weathering defines the whole thing mechanically speaking and makes it look more realistic. I love applying decals myself. Just changes the whole build picture and progress really shows.
Joe… My favorite part of the build, decals and detailing!
Greg, your paint looks just fine! I personally like the MTO colors, very cool look they had.Just a hint… when you begin your glossing pre decal application, your scheme will darken a bit, so when you dull back out it will look a bit different from what you are seeing now.
I always like adding decals. It gives the kit an identity.
Well I’ve got the afternoon off today so I’m making progress with what time I have. Got most of the electrical ran at the firewall, painted the prop spinner black and gloss coated today, painted the prop spinner base black, got the radiator painted and a wash applied and now the nose. Got it primed early this morning (at about 5 or so and now going on with a coat of 82. Will hit the 76 later after I let the 82 dry and cure a while. Then its off to gloss, a wash and dull coat. I should be done with the nose module by the end of the week God willin’ !!!
Here’s the nose section waiting on dry time:
Sweet, modeling during the daylight hours…oh how I wish I could…
Yeah. I got about 3 days ahead just doing all of this stuff today!!!
Ahah, John, the Tamiya kit I had in mind then.
Clemens, thanks for explaining “MTO”, mate!
Nathan, thanks for reminding me the character will change as I move forward, I sorta forgot that! And also for your kind comments.
Doug, thanks for the kind words. And I think you addressed part of my question, the mottle pattern IS supposed to be subtle. Ahah, thanks, mate.
Joe (Mustang), I like progress pics, thanks. Looking good, and I think you know I really like open cowl flaps!
Joe (Rix), Update on the Vallejo gloss varnish. Unfortunately, the gear doors must have been beginners luck or something. I went through half a bottle trying to recreate the first go, only managed to make a bit of a mess of my 190 (no worries, though). So for now, I’m putting in the same category as spraying Future. Great when it works, total lack of consistency for unexplainable reasons. the Vallejo does dry fast though, so if you can figure out how to spray it consistently, you might like it.
I am making a trek to a LHS tomorrow, something I want to try. Will advise if I have any luck.
I’m having a bad run on gloss coats, second model back in the game, second disappointment. I should have known better than to spray the gloss before having any reason to believe I had it figured out. Ah well, learning, learning…
Good luck with the glosscoats Greg. You will get it. I’m just now getting consitant use out of my gloss coats. If its any conselation I’d recommend Alcad Aqua Gloss or PolyScale Gloss thinned with Testors MM Acrylic Thinner. Just remember to spray it on real heavy just before it starts to run, and hold the airbrush about twice as far away as usual.
Greg: Nathan T has the technique down. Thats about how I do it. Produces good results for me about every time. Just allow ALOT of cure out time before messing with it. I always give mine a couple of days before I do anything because I do lay the coat on thick.
Everybody: I have to say that in my time I have applied a decal or two but this friggin spiral decal on this spinner this morning made me question my abilities big time!! I chased this thing with decal set for around 30 minutes or so before I felt remotely comfortable with the way it laid down. After that it was smoothing out the wrinkles with Microsol. It took about 5 coats of this stuff before it hugged down like I wanted it to. WOW!!
I got the 76 sprayed on the nose and installed the radiator into it this morning as well. Waiting on that to cure out before I hit it with the gloss and then the wash.
Pic of the spiral…[*-)]
It’ll be tonight before I’m able to do that good buddy! I put a 6th coat of Microsol on the thing before I left for work!!!
Yeah I just have a thing for spinner spirals[H]. I’m gonna start using masks for mine, and save on the microsol.
Well I’ve painted two and now have applied two decals. I like the decals a little better even though for me there’s a little more work/ frustration involved just because of the demarcation line that the mask leaves.
What in ironic start to a day. I say that because…
- The product I mentioned I am off to buy shortly happens to be Alclad Aqua Klear Gloss. Stumbled on some posts about it yesterday, thought I’d try it before asking yet another “how do YOU clear coat” question.
Thank you Nathan and Joe, now I can’t wait to get it even more! Appreciate the usage tips, and now I know who to ask with questions!
- I did the spinner spiral last night, had same feelings as you, Joe. I came very close to ruining it. Half afraid to go look, but it should be ok. I’ll show mine if you show yours. [:)]