Dang Mike ! It looks good from here!!!
Just did the touch up routine on my last one. Smart to have kept some mixed paint, Mike.
Looking goo-ood.
Great work Mike and glad the AB woes are behind you now!
Clemens… Your an animal!!! And you sleep??? Would have never figured! LOL… Also great job. and nice toys!!!
Today’s progress: the mottle is done (fine tip and needle – and with the high ratio of air to paint tip drying was a nuisance). A few touch-ups also were executed while the mixed shades were in play.
I then unmasked the DOR band and found to my disgust that the tape has either left a residue or partially desurfaced the paint (the edge strips are still in place):
I’d say you’ve got that mottle technique to near perfection Mike. Looking good. Really good!
Thanks, Mustang! I had to use 76 to tidy up between the spots, and spraying super-fine sure used a lot of pressure relative to paint. The right side came out better than the left, I think, the very distinctive-shaped splotches on that side seemed almost like I didn’t nail them, but once the decals are on the draw the eye they should be okay. I’m really looking forward to getting some clear on her to bind all the elements together, give depth to the finish and bring up the contrast. Oh, I unmasked the 04 area under the chin and the tape left no residue there – the stain/residue problem could be an artefact of the flat Tamiya paints vs. the satin MM paints. Sigh, repainting the blue tomorrow, then get the oil stains done, then final touch-ups, and then into clear!
M/TB379
Go fori it!!! Shouldn’t be long on it now.
Thanks guys!
Mike: She’s looking very nice indeed! I love the mottling!
I just started applying the wash to the engines and gear bays. I’m going to the cinema tonight though, so I hope it’s dry before I leave. Otherwie I’ll post the update tomorrow.
Wow, this is great. So much awesome modeling still going on here. Nice!!!
Clemens: Your monumental task is impressive to say the least. As is each of your 190’s. I’m going to tell you Clemens what I find so admirable about your epic endeavor. That is that, despite the magnitude of your task and the immense time investment, you are paying careful and thorough attention to detail on each and every aircraft. I know for myself I would be spending time taking shortcuts rather trying to nail the detail. You are doing a fantastic job and I am certainly a fan of your tremendous process. Also, thanks for being a good sport towards all the ribbing we’ve given you about taking on so many 190’s at once. The bottom line is, I’m envious of your patience and fortitude.[:D[ Thank You for the updates.
P.S. Love the new camera and airbrush. That served to heighten the envy.[;)]
Mike: It is indeed good to see you with your replenished AB in your hand. And from what I’m seeing it is performing nicely in the hands of the master. Your mottling is magnifico!! Really choice work there. I regret that you are experiencing such issues with tape and putty residue. I use exclusively Silly Putty and Tamiya tape and certainly have never experienced these issues such as you. I believe, as you have observed, that it must be something to do with the paint you are using. For me, I pretty much only use enamels and that may be why I don’t have as much of a residue issue. I dunno, just a random thought. Looking forward to some beautimous work from you.
Joe – thankyou so much, your comments are more than appreciated! I’m using Tamiya tape and paints all round, other than MM paints for the 04 and 76, and blutac for the hold-offs.
Well, today I achieved all objectives. I applied some satin clear around the rear fuselage to protect the camo from any masking problems, then remasked the DOR band and put three coats of XF-8 onto it, which nicely obscured the mess left from the tape. I also did the fine touch-ups required in all three camo colours, and did a basic oil wash on the underside for oil and grime. Then I finally applied a good, solid coat of satin clear over the whole thing:
It doesn’t look like much is changing at the moment, but it’s been a fair amount of work. Tonight I might be able to make a start on panel washes, which would line me up for sealing them early-ish tomorrow, and making a start on decals before I go out to teach at the U in the afternoon. Depending on how the decals behave, I might have them finished by that time, which sets me up to seal them the following day and move into the final leg.
Cheers, Mike/TB379
Man this thing is looking great Mike! I know what you mean about not much in the way of visible change but I think all of us here understand the amount of work that goes into painting these things and that any progress , however minimal it may appear, is monumental progress to the builder. Lookin good!
Amazing how much work we can put into a model over a course of days and there isn’t much noticeable change. Fear not, we all appreciate all your careful prep and touch up work Mike, even if it’s hard to see.
Looking good!
Thanks, Mustang and Greg. I have just now finished the panel line accents and sealing coat – pics tonight when I get back from work. I haven’t started decals, but maybe tonight.!
In haste, M/TB379
Looking really good TB , be watching for more!
Hi guys – I made a start on the decals this evening but have hit a snag at once – the kit sheet seems to be no good. It’s a fraction out of register, that I could live with, but the decals really don’t want to separate from their backing and, if finally “encouraged,” shatter.
Options – there’s an EagleCals sheet giving this subject, but not national insignia or stencil data. It would cost as much to source them all on separate sheets as the kit cost. What about a replacement sheet from Hasegawa? Does anyone know of a reliable service for Hasegawa replacement parts?
I was meaning to have this one done inside three days, but until the decal issue is solved, it’s back on the shelf, and that’s so frustrating. Nevertheless, here are the photos of the panel accent process, taken after the first round, there was a second to tidy things up before a clear sealant coat:
If anyone has any tips, I’m all ears. I can try Micro Liquid Decal Film to strengthen them but that won’t do much to separate them from the paper. I tried two small ones and both broke up, I hate to think what the large ones will do.
Cheers, Mike/TB379
Mike… is this an older decal sheet? If so there probably is no saving them… I had some national insignia decals on a Revell Pro sheet, and they were horible, they (when viewed through a mag glass)were found to be cracked from drying out I guess, and I had to get a replacement sheet from Strike Eagle and they had a nice stencil assortment, alot of times I just buy from Ebay, a place called "Run for Cover out of NY.
Something helpful maybe on the ones that dont want to seperate from backing paper, I have a cup/candle warmer that I keep a small dish of water on and turn it on to heat the water which “helps” stubborn decals release. Just a suggestion. ?. Excellent weatherning on your build! Very realistic looking!
Doug
Doug --the kit appears to be a 2004 vintage. The sheet looks fine but doesn’t want to play. The headrest decal went on okay, I seem to recall, but even that might not have separated as readily as it should.
I’ve zapped a message off to Hobbico in the US, their website says they do Hasegawa tech support – let’s see what they can advise. I’ve got the EagleCals sheet on my eBay watch list… I may have a Superscale stencil sheet appropriate for the A-8 in this scale, which just leaves insignia. I was considering Montex masks – has anyone used them? Are they designed to paint the crosses before or after the main scheme? If before, I’m stuffed…
I’ll let you know what happens. For the moment, I’d better switch back to the Ta 152, she was ready for mottle and touch-ups when I left off.
Cheers, Mike/TB379
I hate to say, I just went thru the same deal with Hobbico, they told me the new sheet had to come from Japan, nothing else could be done, 6 weeks later I received my decal sheet…
Surprised to find these in the package…
They finally got the correct ones to me but it took over three months ! I started the 1/32 Hasegawa BF109G-6 in January, I just finished it today, I hope you have better luck man!
Oh, man!!! I can sure see how all those stars and bars match the packing slip stating “Messerschmitt decals.” GRRRRR – you’d think Japan’s ability to pack product to the world would extend to bilingual customer service. Ah well, if that’s the road I need to go then that’s about all that can be done. I checked for stencil data and I don’t seem to have that sheet I thought I had. I’d be looking at something like $60, including shipping, to source all the markings on separate sheets, and I just can’t see my way to doing that at this point in time…
I have that 109 as well, and certainly hope it’s decals behave themselves. Was the replacement sheet you eventually got okay?
M/TB379
Thin but thankfully yes better, not the potato chip like ones to begin with, even blasting with bonder didn’t help… again like you said, locked into a paint scheme, what do you do ?? Keep my fingers crossed they have a sheet closer than one of the moons of Jupiter for you !