Roland Pulfrew

Work has kept me away from modelling, but in quite a chilly garage tonight, I did have my first real go with Alclad paints. I think I may have the pressure a bit high (12 PSI) or too much paint flow, as I’m emptying an airbrush cup quite quickly. Still it goes on really well and is covering very nicely (hence why I think I’m spraying too much in one go). Only the one picture to show the progress, next step will be to attempt to mask some panels to spray a different coloured silver! This is Alclad Aluminium.

Thanks Toby. As I haven’t attached the wings yet, I thought I’d do the undersides first. Gives me a chance to practice a little with some different colours and masking before moving on to the more obvious topsides. I’m not planning on doing the ultra-polished Washington that appeared at HMQ’s Coronation parade which appears to have been bulled to an almost chrome finish: but a regular squadron jet: A bit like these.

Might be the hangar lighting, but that does seem to be quite a dark grey, so maybe a little different from the standard F-16 grays? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Evening all. Now that I’ve completed my Axis Twin in the WWII Twins GB, time for some more progress on the Washington. Following the reminder from Toby @Planebuilder62 that I needed to sand down the matt micro filler and paint an under coat of gloss, I’ve sanded everything back with 8000 grit wet’n’dry and lots of water and now sprayed on some Alclad gloss primer. Wings and engine nacelles not yet glued on, I’m still wondering whether to glue then paint, or paint then glue. Either way I’m sure I’ll regret my decision for one reason or another. Hopefully one bit of good news, I’m hopeful I’ve added sufficient lead. Doesn’t look like a tail sitter at the moment Also glad I bought a set of metal undercarriage legs, not sure the plastic ones will support the weight!!

Messerschmitt Me-410A-1/U2 of 11 Zerstorergeschwader 26 based at Gardermoen, Norway in 1945. 1/72 from Airfix. Thanks to @81-er and @vppelt68 for hosting and the encouragement along the way. Also thanks to @Enzo the Magnificent for setting everything up.

Well it appears my optimism was well founded on this occasion and much to my surprise I’ve finished both kits 😃. Ahead of the deadline 😳! And with weeks to spare 😇. Thanks to the hosts @81-er and @vppelt68 for their encouragement and management of the GB, it’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed watching many of the other twin builds. Hope to see a few more for those still on the go. A couple of the finished 410 outside the hangar And a couple of the adversaries together Thanks again, now off to the NATO GB.

Well I’m almost there; soon to be two completed builds in the same GB - a record for me! Just some aerials, a bit more varnishing and a bit more weathering to go and I think all be able to call complete on this too. Need to dirty up the undersides a bit more, but I don’t think it looks to bad already I’ve really enjoyed building this kit. There are some quirks, there’s lots of decals, but it does build into a nice representation of the 410. I think Airfix has done a great job with this one, so well done Airfix.

If the dates work, I’d be happy to co-host. Got to love a Mossie, even if I have built 3 in the last year! Still got plenty of options to do though, only one of the ones in this but of the stash got completed! 🤦🏻‍♂️ As we are passed the magic 30, shouldn’t this GB proposal be in the Bunfight for 2025 @Enzo the Magnificent 😗🧐😇?

Managed to get quite a few decals on tonight. Still got lots to go though 😕 particularly lots of small ones. For a 1/72 aircraft there some 50 of them!

This topic would make a great group build idea. Anyone up for it?

And Saudi Air Force.

Good news, I do have some Tamiya LP gloss. Not sure why I bought it, but I did. Even better news, I found a bottle of Alclad gloss primer. I obviously just pulled the first bottle from the box, forgetting I had matt and gloss. No need for a run to the shops. Time to get the micromesh out 😕 !!

@SaminCam and @Planebuilder62 thanks for the links to your builds and the tips on using Alclad. I’d forgotten I really need gloss black primer to get properly shiny metal work. Annoyingly I do have some Vallejo gloss primer but it’s acrylic and therefore probably not suitable for Alclad paint. I’ll have a think, sanding back the matt primer is going to take ages, so maybe a quick browse of t’internet this morning to see where I can get some Alclad gloss primer. Also liked the top tips regarding wet paper masks. I was planning on trying some different shades on the fuselage and wings, but also knew of the risks of Alclad lifting under masking tape. That’s going to fun, and messy!

Well, the painting is complete (bar the dreaded mottling). Everything else now unmasked and ready for the decals and varnish. And all the small fiddly bits!

Simple bit of masking ready to redo the mottling Typically, the Luftwaffe paints I’d ordered arrived yesterday, not sure I need them now 😄