I’m about to start my 1/48 Hasagwa P51-D build and would like to do my first NMF (Airbrushed).
I have looked at most of the available metal paint products available in my region of the globe and I’m leaning towards either the Alclad 2 or Vallejo products. My understanding is that the P51-D left the factory unpainted and in bare metal (Aluminium or Duralumin).
What is the general consensus on what particular type of aluminum or chrome paint to use? Should the entire model be painted the same, or should the control surfaces/access panels be different?
I’m going for a just left the factory and markings applied look, the primer will most likley be Tamiya TS14 after an extensive sand/polish etc.
As I understand the wings on the P-51 were putties and painted with silver lacure. The fuselage and tail was NMF.
For factory fresh I would go with alclad airframe alluminium over a gloss black basecoat. It will take a few light coats to start building up the nmf look, I usually do 3 coats to have a dark alluminum look, mask off those pannels I want to look darker and spray 2-3 more light coats to make the rest more shiny and lighter.
The “tone difference” using one shade of paint is nice and subtle.
If you want to tone down the shine look (after decals that can go straight onto the alclad) you can spray alclad range of clearcoats over it. I find that they are the onlt clearcoats that do not affect the metal look.
Here you can see the different look of the same alclad by masking some pannels
Thank you very much, thats exactly what I was looking for. I have read a fair amount about the critical part of a proper preparation as even the smallest scratch, mark etc will show up.
Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to provide the feedback.
I prime the model and do the final sanding. Then I spray on thin coats of gloss black emanle thinned allot with turpentine. I slowly build up the gloss and then givie it a good wet gloss coat. I then spray the turpentine that I clean the AB pot with over the whole model to help the last gloss coat to flow better, you need to be very carefull with this and must be able to keep moving the model so that the paint doesnt run or pool. It usually leaves a very smooth glosst surface ready for alclad.
If the black emanel doesnt stick inside the pannel and rivet detail dont worry about it, it actually gives some noce detail when NMF gos on.
The only problem, based on the Alclad website, is that high shine can’t easily be masked or painted over. Both items which I will need to do on my build, is this correct?
I spray with an airbrush, I have never ever had any luck with a rattle can…
I read the article in latest FSM about Vellajo Metal paints and the problems the author had, I would rather not have the same problem. So I will stick with Alclad 2 as it is generally regarded as the best for metal finishes.
Although I still use Foil I am leaning toward trying Alclad 2 or Vallejo’s products . I think the choice is up to you .But remember this .There are some problems trying to clearcoat NMF finishes and luster .Check out any article in the Mag and see how it was addressed .You may Not want to deal with that . T.B.
I do all the masking before the Alclad. Paint all non nmf areas first, mask those off. Now work on the black undercoat. As someone mentioned above, it must be glossy and flawless.
Now, decide on the finish you want- polished aluminum, just plain aluminum, or white (weathered) aluminum. A highly polished aluminum is not normal, only found on squadron commander’s or museum aircraft. Just plain aluminum is probably your best bet for starters.
Once you get experienced, you can control the sheen by the thickness you put down. I can make polished aluminum Alclad look like their regular aluminum by putting it down thick (their regular aluminum does not look that polished if you put it on thin). But I suggest you use the regular aluminum (I think at some point they called it airframe aluminum).
Thank you for the information. I some what agree on the finish, in that an Aluminium finish maybe easier for a novice in this particular method of paint finishing.
I have a test mule that I can practice on to get the process nailed, as there are several future builds I wish to use this paint finish on.
I have tried Alclad and Testors Metalizer paints to reproduce a NMF. I find that both result in what looks like a painted surface. This is just my opinion, but I find that it is not possible to make a painted surface look like metal. Paint always look like paint. Only metal looks like metal. I have started using a combination of Metalizer paint and Bare Metal Foil on my models. On the following F-86, the center sections of the wings are Metalizer paint. The remainder of the model is Bare Metal Foil. The F-104 and the P-47 are all BMF. You should give it a try.
My next BMF model will be “THE BEAST”!!! What is THE BEAST? The Revell 1/48 B-29 of course.
