Well I painted the bottom of this 1/48 Monogram A-1H Skyraider with Acryl Camo Gray and have now done the first color on the top with Acryl Dark Tan.
This is my first attempt at a three color camo paint job so it is going slowly. [:D]
This aircraft is going to be a VNAF bird when completed with the yellow and black checkerboard around the tail section.
Just thought I would give you an update.
Hey Rick (rjkplasticmod), when are you going to post some photos of your Tamiya Skyraider you are working on? Inquiring minds want to know. [;)]
I’ve got one in my stash to build as a “Zorro” from NKP ‘68, a P-40 AVG and a Spit’ to do in camo. I checked FSM, Jul '01 for probably the best way to do multicolor camo. Might give you some tips. I do ‘rattle cans’ and soft masks using the ‘return’ cards you get in EVERY magazine. Tear them at angles and the tend to shred/feather for softer seperation.[2c]
Hey Mike, looks like you’re making good progress [tup]. Good thing you got that Iwata AB, rather than the Omni, so you can do a number on the upper camo [swg]. Mine, a US Navy version from Nam, is done and I photographed it yesterday. I don’t own a digital camera, so I have to photograph on 35mm film and then scan it into digital format before I can post pics. I should have the negs back from the lab early next week and be able to post shortly after, assuming the pics come out OK.
I used Blue Tack and rolled it into a long piece about 3/16" in diameter and layed it on the model as a soft mask. It came out pretty good but I had overspray that I had to come back and touch up with Dark Tan along with some Camo Gray on the bottom. The green between the wing and the tail of the plane does not come down low enough and there is still too much Camo Gray showing. I will fix that tomorrow and then go on to the dark green.
Mike, looking real good buddy!!! I sure hope I can free hand as well as you do!!! I plan on doing my F4U-2 Corsair in about a week, and I’ve been a bit nervous about it. Though I guess, there’s nothing like practice, eh?!
Mike, how well did the Blue Tac stay in place? I’ve never used it as a soft mask on a model, but I did experiment with it on a scrap piece. I had a problem getting it to stay in place, probably doing something wrong. I usually use heavy bond paper for masks, but something like Blue Tac would be easier if I could get it to work.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
This is a first time for me doing camo so it is a learning experience. [:D]
Rick,
It stayed in place fairly well, but I did have to push down on it to get it to stay there. Actually this is not “Blue Tac” brand, it is another company called “Keene Tac” and I found it in a desk drawer here at our house. We have had it for years and I don’t know where it came from.
Don’t some people use Silly Putty for this too?
I have also heard of people using Parafilm rolled lengthwise similar to how I did it with this material. Have you ever tried that?
I think using heavy paper might be even better as it also masks the area you don’t want painted. Using the Blue Tac is fairly easy but covering the area you don’t want overspray on is a lot more work.
What do most people do for that? Do they use masking tape on the outer edge of the Blue Tac?
Mike, thanks for the feedback. My problem was that when I pushed it down to adhere better, it no longer conformed to the pattern I wanted, and when I readjusted it to the pattern it would no longer adhere[V]. I know it must work cause a lot of modelers use it, but I haven’t figured it out. Never tried Silly Putty. Tried to find some a while back but the local Toys R Us didn’t stock it and I have no idea where else one might find it. Think I’ll stick to my heavy bond paper masks.
I got my Silly Putty at Hobby Lobby, but I’ve only used it for masking wheel wells and such. I’ve only done one cammo job, and I did it freehand with no masking.
Mike, that green is looking great, and I’m waiting for the rest of the pics. Do you plan to weather it much or at all? I’ve really weathered the crap out of the spit, and the cammo is hardly noticeable anymore.
