After about two months, I’ve finished off my representation of Adolf Galland’s BF 109 E4, using a Tamiya kit upgraded with an Aires cockpit, a CMK prop and DB 601 engine, a pair of CMK wheels, Eduard etch, Ultracast exhaust stacks, Vallejo paints and oil weathering. The surrounding scenery came from an ICM figure kit, CMK’s figure of Galland, a few Verlinden tools and parts. I used a Techmod set of decals, this is my second and last time using their decal sheets, and Maketar masks for the Balkencruz, Hakencruz and the bars / chevrons. This is the first time I’ve been happy with my oil washes and filters, but I guess it’s all practice and grow. I had a few stumbling blocks during paint when the Maketar masks peeled up large sections of the Vallejo paint, so I carried on as best I could. Hopefully those spots aren’t as glaringly obvious to everyone else as they are to me. The german shepherd was modeled loosely after my own pet, Rayne, and I do have to give her credit for her effort to sit still long enough to pose (and for a high energy dog like her, that was about two minutes, then there was a toy to go beat up). As always, comments and criticisms help me grow, so they’re welcome.
Nice to see more of your work Andrew. The CMK resin looks real nice. You really made the detail on the tires and engine stand out. I like the look of those Vallejo RLM 02/71 colors. All I see is maybe a frosty canopy in places? Or is that just a camera effect? What sort of issues did you have with Techmod decals? I find they are very tough to move around on the model, and can stick within nano seconds of placing them on the model, even if I’ve used a ton of water. I also found they don’t respond at all to micro sol. But they are nice and thin, with little carrier film. Still, they aren’t my first choice. Great work on the figures too! I’m not brave enough to paint them yet.
Thank you G. Morrison and Nathan. Nathan, the canopy frosting must be camera flash, I was pretty careful about masking it. As for issues with the Techmod decals, everything you described, lol. They stick instantly, and are very very tough to move around. They are very nice and thin, but I think they use too much glue in their carrier film. I do find a few coats of Solvaset settles them in, though. Mostly, I tried to use them only where I had to.
As for the figures, it’s something I’ve been practicing at for a while now, playing with Vallejo’s paints and mediums to get a transparency and effect that I like, and I think I’ve got it just about down now. The figures were done only with paint, no washes.
Thank you Vance. Steve, I love the Maketar masks. I find the luftwaffe masks are a little tough to use, just the small pieces that have to be laid in, removed, relaid. I’ve used their masks on a few RAF aircraft, and I seem to have an easier time out of the roundels and fin flashes than the balkancruz or hakencruz. Still, much nicer to be able to paint them in than decals, lets you weather those markings a little bit. Given the price of ten euro, I generally think it’s money well spent, but that’s just my opinion. I suppose I just need more practice and patience with the luftwaffe markings.
Well with the other detail work that you’ve done on this machine, yes, I’d have to say the masks were worth it in this case. Very nice to see those painted in. I’ve wondered about trying a set of those, but I’m more likely to be found building 1/72… just can’t imagine masking at that size. (do they even make such a thing in the smaller scale?)
Vance, Maketar does make a limited number of masks in 72nd scale, mostly roundels and the US stars and bars, but not much of the more ‘finicky’ stuff. I do have to say, though, this is the first time I’ve had their masks lift paint, and I’ve used them quite a bit in the past without issue.
Nice work Andrew. I concur that Techmod decals are the modeling world’s equilvalent to a computer virus. They lure you in with interesting schemes then do their best to destroy your model. Forget their British roundels. This company must improve if they intend to stay in business. Nice dio work too, I’ve been experimenting with figure painting too.
Thank you Joe, praise from Caesar. I’ve been at the figure painting for a year now, and finally got myself to a point where I am happy with the results. I’ve been meaning to post up a little tutorial, and I have one mostly written up, but no photos for it yet. Pretty useless without photos. I’ll have to wait until I paint another figure, I guess.
I agree, Techmod does have some nice schemes, but their quality has to improve a lot. Never have I used something so quick to stick down and yet so easy to rip at the same time! I think it has to be their glue. They make beautiful decals, great schemes, really nice and thin carrier film, but once they stick you have to move mountains to make them slide around even slightly.
I did do a few layers of flat varnish over the whole craft, though I made sure to leave my canopy masks in place until everything was finished. I notice that the wings seem to have taken on more of the flat coating than any other area, perhaps the angle at which I was shooting the paint. That’s one area which I have to improve a lot on, is my clear coats. At the moment, I am working on this with a single action airbrush for application, it seems to give me a more even coverage than the double action. There’s always something to work on.
Can’t believe I missed this one, sweet build Andrew! Love Galland’s crates and you did a masterful job on his, can almost see his cigar ash tray in the office.[;)] Only pick would be maybe putting a little heat to the antenna line to taught it up.
