Z, I’m going to have to try my hand at making some decals for this one. My kit came with some stick on decals - Bandai includes either stickers or dry transfer decals, and I prefer water slides. They really design these kits to be easy for novice builders, even though there’s a lot of detail in them. Most modern Gundam kits are actually all snap together that would produce a decent model without paint. Anyway, the decal making is venturing into new territory for me, so we’ll see how it goes! By the way, good progress on the 29!
BL: as alternative to aplying the dry transfers is putting in them onto clear decal paper, spray with a clear decal setter (Testors has a decal set) and apply as a wet decal.
You did post a message back on page 10 about entering your TSR2 build. I guess you missed my reply. Is that the kiot you want to enter, if so i’ll add you. If not, let me know and i will still add you.
its a twin build for a whif theme (ww2 went from 44-55) the saab engineers buggered off to blighty and got to work on the lightning and made a very similer delta wing for it
the other build is germany got the draken plans and made it a twin engined beasty lol
Thanks for the tip, pyrman, I hadn’t heard that one before! Unfortunately my kit has honest-to-goodness stickers and not that many of them. Bandai usually saves the dry transfers for the 1/100 kits. I’m actually looking forward to decal making, I like to try something new and different every build if I can.
CMK, i seem to recall similar issues with Airfix kits in the past. But i think those light things are a bit much in this scale. On my Stuka, i just put a piece of sheet styrene at the back, painted that silver then put the cover on. Sounds like your way is just as effective.
badlanguage, nice work on that. Looking foreard to see how your decals come along. making my own is something i have thought about, but thats as far as i have goit so far.
Thanks for the input Bish. Prior to being inspired by CMK to sand and polish more, my thought was trending toward the future’s “self leveling” properties. Did not know about normal steps you guys take regarding future coating especially when heading toward Alclad. Do you guys typically use future to protect decaling before a topcoat spray as a final?
I am trying to grasp the best way/steps to do the finish of the surface and how future might fit into that process. Prior to starting the build, obviously I had not ever heard about future due to time away from the hobby. I was very impressed with results of the pit glass and blister dipping…so I am in uncharted waters with my skill level already.
I am re-reading/studying ruddats wash usage, and BL’s pre-shading exchanges to try to pick up tips and understanding. The 29 build and this GB format is like the old saying “it takes a community to raise a child”. So in effect, I’m a new parent of the 29 build, and the GB is the community helping me raise her to new levels of detail.
[t$t] Thanks for all the ideas and feedback.
I did pick up some “dull aluminum” by Alclad,(to go along with the “airframe aluminum” I already had purchased), sanding and polishing supplies, white decal sheets and liquid decal “strengthener” at HobbyLand yesterday while out and about, so I am ready with materials for next steps…
Eatthis- I tend to agree with Bish on the fin. Just my opinion, I think the body lines favor it as is. If you were to round it off and follow more of the underbelly curvature lines, the nose cone point would be to prominent…again, just my opinion. I find this scratchbuild stuff intriguing…very cool. I’ll have to do some reading and see what this is all about. I am certain with my current skill level I am quite a bit away from trying any though…but not bashful about attempting down the line!
I can’t say i have ever used future to level things out. But when i think about it, it might work. Might be worth asking in the painting section.
Future is usually used to add a gloss coat before decalling. Also, for those who use enamels and oil washes, it also protects the enamel paint. As i mainly use gloss enamel paints, i don’t have to bother adding a gloss coat for decals. So i only use it to protect the enamel paint, and then only on armour, as i add oil washe’s before the flat coat.
I have used Alclad 3 times so far and have found a coat of gloss black enamel sufficent before laying down the Alclad.
