When do you paint the flat black around the cockpit?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I was wondering when in the building process do you paint the flat black around the front of the HUD and the cockpit edges on modern fighters?
I have painted my F-15E in Gunship Gray, coated it with Future, and have started applying the decals but I realized that I am going to have to mask around the edges of the cockpit to airbrush the flat black as it hasn’t been painted yet. I figured it would be safer to do it now before I put any decals in that area as I don’t want an accident in having the masking tape pulling up the decals in that area, which is always a possibility even with Future protecting them. What method do you guys use?

Thanks

Mike

2

I paint mine early just before installing the canopy. It’s hard to paint it when the canopy is already installed.

3

Haha [(-D]

This is going to be an open cockpit so that doesn’t matter. [;)]

Mike

4

Mike, I always complete all painting, including anti-glare panels, before I Future or decal. Masking over a decal, even under a Future topcoat, is just asking for trouble.

5

Thanks Rick.

I think I will do that then and then go back to the decals.

Mike

6

i paint mine during the cockpit assembly stage and just cut thin strips of masking tape after i install the windscreen on the upper edges and the windscreen and paint the exterior of the bird. thats me though. later.

7

Thanks Chris.

I went and masked it with drafting tape since it is low-tack and painted it flat black. It came out pretty good but I need a really slight touch-up on the Gunship Gray now so that’s next.

Mike

8

cant wait to see some pics my friend!! hows the sky-raider coming? lookin’ forward to criticiz…i’m mean applauding you on them.[:D] later.

9

Chris,

The Skyraider is painted and is awaiting decals also.
It is going to be pretty cool when it’s done I think as I am putting some colorful VNAF markings on it. It will look like this:

Mike

10

thats definetly a cool looking raider mike. i take it that thats a reference pic? i’ll be checking the a/c thread for your posts. later.

11

Chris,

That photo is of a Tamiya A-1H that another guy built and reviewed here:
http://m2reviews.cnsi.net/reviews/viet/cama1.htm

He must be Vietnamese because he said that this model was a rendition of his dad’s plane. Very cool. [8D]

Mike

12

[tup][tup][tup]