I’m working on 4 kits (Dave you have my sympathy) right now. A Revell SBD, an Airfix Spitfire Mk. I (both 1:48) an Academy P-40B and MiG-21 (both 1:72). The MiG is sitting in a tub of Windex… major paint disaster. The degree to which the paint comes off determines if the kit is completed or blown up. [:)]
The other three are going better, and are waiting some weathering then a coat of Future.
The Revell kit is fun, I’m building it just like I did as a kid. All the moving parts work- gear, flaps, bomb drop mechanism. (It’s stamped "Copyright 1960…) The Airfix kit is nice- if you’ve built the Airfix Mk. IX, Mk. 22/24 or Seafire 46/47, then this is about like that. The P-40B is really basic, but a decent little build.
They are all looking great Jon. [tup][tup] Did you preshade them all?
As for stripping paint, I use the Easy Off fume free oven cleaner and I find it works great. I spray it down and put it in a plastic zip loc for a couple of hours then wash it off. It sometimes takes a couple of applications. I’ve heard people use brake fluid too but I haven’t tried that one myself.
Dave- Thanks! I sort of pre-shaded them. I’m not good at “normal” pre-shading, so I use an approach I call multi-shading. I take the base color, darken it up a bit, and completely cover the aircraft (top or bottom). Then I put down the base color straight, filling in the middle of panels (but it doesn’t need to be precise, sine the “pre-shading” is really the main color darkened.) Then I lighten up the base coat and hit the middle of panels and do some random spraying. It sounds complicated… and, well, I guess it is… but for some reason I can (mostly) make that work, but when I do normal pre-shading, it ends up looking like paint with black lines.
I didn’t pre-shade the Spitfire. Building it “clean”.
When you asked if I pre-shaded, you probably just wanted “Yes” or “No”, I bet… [;)]
I’ll try the Easy Off! At last check, the jury was leaning towards “Off the MiG!” LOL
Wulf- Thanks! You kid, but I was actually pulling kits out of the stash this morning and contemplating what to start next… [:O]
They all look good so far Jon. As far as stripping paint, I wouldn’t know as I’ve never had to do that…[:-^]. But if I ever did, I’d use Dave’s method [:D].
Lucky man! Looking great Jon! I remember that SBD as a kid, and loved the bomb drop! Do you mind if I come over when it’s done to “zoom-ZOOM” it around and bomb everything in your house? Pretty please? [8-]
I have (unfortunately) had PLENTY of experience stripping kits this year! [banghead] The Easy Off method has served me well.
That’s a bummer, Jon, but either Easy Off or brake fluid work quite well, just be very careful of the fumes. I have two in progess right now, the 1:48 Skyknight and the 1:48 A-37 Tweet, and that is too much for me - I admire those of us who can handle multiple builds at once! These are good looking builds, my friend! Thasnks for sharing with us all!
it is an interesting approach to “shading”. It looks preety interesting, some areas more stick out than others. I am looking forward to see this one finished.
I feel your pain with repainting a craft [:)] I heard about some techiniqes of “baking” the paint but did not try it yet (I hope I will not need it ) - I think this is working for enamels.
I like to do few kits at the same time - it gives me variaty of subjects and also allow me to keep busy whenever I need to do this relaxation job [:)] It works for me.
I know I did. It provided close air support for more backyard battles than I can recall. [:)]
I’m building it so all the parts work, and it’s OOB with little updating. I did scribe the panel lines, and I’m drilling out the holes in the dive flaps… all 265 of them…
I don’t like the decals they chose to ship the kit with. They’re supposed to look painted over, but with no history on the why’s, they just look odd. I did order some AM decals.
But it’s just like I remembered… deck crew, big canvas thingy that I never knew what it was (and still don’t). Good memories!
Yep, thats how I remember it too. Along with the Avenger, Devastator. Do you remember the 1/32 scale P-47? Right now I’m working on the Revell Spitfire. Read your writeup on it, well done.
Looking good jon… and yes, I also built that one as a kid… actually, I re-started my modelling by building the old Revell-Mono kits I did as a kid. Im sort of revell-ed out at the momment, want to build something that does not require the use of a full set of squadron sanding sticks… next year Ill try more “oldies”. I also have multiple builds at a time, but usually an a/c, armor and a ship… helps to have a large workbench and plenty of small baggies and containers Nice pre-shade, will have to try your way some day, that is one technique I cant quite get the hang of (and CANOPIES of course!). Nice job again! Cheers - Jim
When I did the Revell kit, it was only my first or second coming back into the hobby, and I wasn’t airbrushing yet. So I didn’t do any pre-shading.
I did use pastels to post-shade an Me-262, and it worked pretty well. I used a clipped off brush to spread it around. Use small amounts, and do it before any Future or gloss coat.
I have an idea for something I don’t think I’ve seen on my next raised panel line kit. First, I’ll pre-shade as I described above. But I like the distinct panel line look, so after the painting is done, but prior to Future coating it for decals, I plan to mask off around the panel lines, leaving just the slightest gaps open. It will probably take a few sessions. I will airbrush something like Tamiya smoke onto the panel lines. What this will do is basically paint in sharp panel lines, which should look like engraved panel lines. I also figure it will mask any raised panel lines that will be sanded off in closing seams. I’ll post pics when I do it- love to see it if you try it.
JMart- Thanks so much! I still struggle with canopies. I use a combination of blue masking tape and BMF, depending on how curvy it is. I know it’s not to scale, but I love it when a manufacturer molds a canopy with huge, thick, deep canopy framing. [:D]
Nice pre-shade, will have to try your way some day, that is one technique I cant quite get the hang of (and CANOPIES of course!). Nice job again! Cheers - Jim