Here again is my Monogram F-8E and for those of you who have followed and supported this build I think I’ve finally out done myself and even shocked myself this time. [:O]
I recently bought a brand new Paasche H airbrush set and gave it a test drive on this Crusader, having used one before I knew what to expect. I used Model Master Acrylic Flat Gull Gray on the sides and upper surfaces and left the underside and wing bottom Flat White which was my primer coat. After painting I did a panel line wash and accented panel lines with dark gray wash and removed excess paint from around the panel lines. I was thinking about leaving it like that and I wasnt to happy with it.
I remembered that I had some graphite and having tried this before with bad results I figured I’d give it another shot and see what happens. I took some graphite for mechanical pencils already handy and grounded some down to fine powder. I had some kiddie water color brushes laying around and cut one down to just stubs and used it to rub the graphite into and round the panel lines and also using a paper towel and my finger to blend it in. At first it was way to dark so I sent out an email to friends asking for advice how to make it lighter and more subdued. I did not want to re-spray the model and remembered that graphite powder will clean up easy with warm water and dish soap. I took a dish sponge and cut a few pieces off it then took a jar and filled it with warm water and dish soap and wiped off the excess graphite untill I got the results you see in the following pictures and followed this up with a little touch up painting where paint had chipped away from rubbing.
AND VIOLA!!! Perfect Shading and Weathering! (so I was told [:-^])
This is the exact look I was aiming for and my first time getting good results using this technique. I am very happy and excited with the way it turned out and I am looking forward to finishing it soon.
Now without further ado for you progress puppies and for the benefit of all members, here are the result pictures of my Crusader. All comments and critiques are welcome.
Sarge, Decals go on next and will be weathered before final finish is applied. The F-4J is my next project and I will be using the Legend set. [:D]
Mark, I applied the graphite powder rub after I had airbrushed it and let the paint dry for about a day. It was applied to flat acrylic paint with no clear gloss or clear flat over it. Its important that the entire model has been sprayed with a primer coat as this helps reduce chipping when graphite rub is applied. The trick is not to rub the graphite hard over the panel lines, apply medium pressure with brush and blend it in with finger or dry tissue as you go. You dont want a lot of graphite rubbed in since your going to wash most of off just leaving enough shading to get a subtle worn look.
Some more constructive feedback, the area around the exhaust should be natural metal. The panels were titanium and were not painted as it would not stick due to the extreme heat. The cockpit looks great.
Yes, USN jets can get very dirty on a long deployment. Speaking from experience, this one is relatively clean. The squadrons try to keep them clean as best they can. Here’s an example of the spot cleaning they do.
They clean them after flt ops and no fly days, but eventually they end up dirty again. The causes are crew and squadron personnel walking on the birds with all the grime on the flt deck, jet exhaust and misting of JP-5 (from the fuel dump) on the cat stroke. Look at the top of the Tomcat in this photo.
You’ll get a mouth full of JP if you watch a jet launch, which is why my Bos’n is covering his face on this launch. These are all photos that I took while I was doing a little work for my Uncle Sam.[;)][(-D] I hope this helps.[:)]
Sorry for the hijack Air Master. Once again, I am very impressed with your work. If you ever go into painting other people’s model jets for a fee, I’ve got some work for you!
Pruz, Eddie Miller is right on the money and some aircraft looked alot worse in Vietnam when missions were done around the clock. Crews had no time to wash down an aircraft after each sortie. It was re-arm, re-fuel and get it back in the air for another mission. Not every aircraft was in pristine condition and I used the refeneces I had available. My weathering is very subtle compared to the photos both Eddie and I have show you.
One Very Dirty Marine Crusader!
Dirty Panel lines!
berny, You are correct but there are several F-8’s that did have the tail pipes painted over. Most of them were the CAG’s AC. My Gunfighter will represent VMF(AW)122 “Crusaders”. I went with an Aeromaster decal sheet that show the tail as being painted over as shown below. Also thank you for the compliment!
Eddie, Thanks for the “wingman” back up and and the compliment! I wouldnt even consider charging for a fee. I would do it for FREE!
I started adding decals last night and again this Gun Fighter will represent Marine squadron VMF(AW)122 “Crusaders”. Decal sheet is Aeromaster set# 48-752. I will post pictures of completed build in a few days. I am going to take my time with the decals and make sure I get it done right.
It looks spot on AM! I think it will tone itself a bit better and blend in even better once the final clear coats and markings are on. It looks exactly like the pics I sent you earlier. Never defend yourself to rivet counters. It’s what you want, and you researched it greatly. Well done![:D]
Drew, Thank you for the compliment! Yes! I do agree I should not have to defend my work and no modeler should be put in that postition. I am happy I have friends here who defend me that know I do my home work. Once I have the clear flat coat on this Gun Fighter is going to look a lot like the real deal.
The USS Ranger pulled into Yokuska , Japan and tied up across the dock from us in 65 or 66 ,? Anyway she had just come off duty at “Yankee Station” in the Gulf of Tonkin and had been out their for a prolonged period launching aircraft for missions over North Vietnam . Things were just rachetting up then so the main focus was to keep the aircraft in the air , not polished . A friend of mine took me for a tour of the ship and although she was generally shipshape you could tell that everything on her had been used hard . The smell and stains of jp , hydraulic fluid and exhaust soot was still fresh . And then there is that coating of salt that covers everthing and attracks even more grime . The F8’s were being pressed into multy roll missions then and were a very tough and well used aircraft . The F-4’s were just arriving to the fleet .
Yup , if anything your F8 may be a little on the clean side !(but you dont have to prove it to me )
Shell, Thanks for the compliment! You made a very valid point…its not a matter of how the weathering looks, light or dark, clean or dirty but a matter of just building a realistic as possible model of your subject.
Wow! That’s awesome! No reference is better than personal experience and it sounds like you have a lot. I am new to weathering and shading and I would appreciate it if you would photo chronicle the steps you take after these pics so I can get a idea of how you do it. From here, it already has a realism that Ive never seen before!
