Steven Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Hi all, I am building the Matchbox Siskin and have painted it in aluminium before I continue is the correct colour rather than silver. Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VG 33 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 For me the fabric parts were silver dopped and the metal were in a slightly different shade. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWFK10 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Matt aluminium is fine for the fabric covered areas of the aircraft (everything except the nose forward of the cockpit and the upper area of the fuselage right behind the cockpit). Humbrol Metalcote polished aluminium would be good for the metal panels of the forward fuselage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham T Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I use Alclad white aluminium for the silver doped fabric areas. I'm not sure the Siskin exhibited much in the way of polished metal areas around the front end with it's exposed radial engine. The metal areas tended to be painted in the same colour silver dope as the fabic areas. A quick image google certainly shows this to be the case. Got the 1/32 Silver Wings kit to build some time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Matt aluminium is fine for the fabric covered areas of the aircraft (everything except the nose forward of the cockpit and the upper area of the fuselage right behind the cockpit). Humbrol Metalcote polished aluminium would be good for the metal panels of the forward fuselage. I think matt for the fabric is a bit stark, as aluminium dope applied correctly to fabric aeroplanes is actually quite glossy. It'll need to be glossy for decal application anyway so I'd suggest a satin final coat for the fabric areas in a small scale like 1/72 or 1/48. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted July 18, 2013 Author Share Posted July 18, 2013 Thanks eveybody for the advice its much appreciated I will post some pics when its finised. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Just started building one of these, and in trying to keep unique subjects under one 'roof', decided to just resurrect an old post. So what I gather from above, both metal and fabric should be of similar aluminum appearance, as well as the sheen. Now about the green section that some models sport, Matchbox suggests dark green - is this the same dark green that appeared on Spitfires, etc. during wartime? Matt finish or satin? I see the new 1/32 scale Siskins have the green that appears lighter. Is this scale effect or maybe some new information has come to surface? I'm planning a Canadian aerobatic team version: regards, Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 IIRC, the green panels were painted in Nivo, but I'm sure somebody who is better versed in Siskin paint and markings will be along shortly. When I did my Matchbox Siskin, I mixed a little light grey with flat aluminum and it sprayed well and looked the part. Used Floquil bright silver for the metal panels, buffed lightly with a soft cloth for the metal areas. (You can tell how long ago I built it from my choice of paint!) Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 IIRC, the green panels were painted in Nivo, That's also what I recall reading, but in the pic above, the forward fuselage panels look much too light for NIVO. They look rather like polished metal to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks lads. Any idea if the Nivo was flat or has some shine to it? Note in the photo posted, the area in shadow just forward of the cockpit, the Nivo and aluminum do have a marked contrast. regards, Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks lads. Any idea if the Nivo was flat or has some shine to it? Note in the photo posted, the area in shadow just forward of the cockpit, the Nivo and aluminum do have a marked contrast. regards, Jack Some aircraft had a NIVO painted front fuselage, some had natural metal, it seems to have depended on which squadron the aircraft was on. The Matchbox colour schemes on the box have one of each . Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Looking again at the pic, it may well be that the rectangular inspection panels (and possibly the u/c legs) are polished metal, but the "surroundings" of the panel NIVO - the glare of the inspection panels has obviously distracted me from the upper fuselage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 From the Data Plan: Figure out the rest yourselves... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Cheers Panoz, I've seen that first page elsewhere, but not that second one you provided - thanks! regards, Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tempestfan Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 That would seem to suppor the view that that 1934 pic above actually shows polished metal contrasted with silver-doped fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 If I were to interpret the photo in post 7 then I would suggest not polished metal but natural aluminium with a sheen. Those panels are in quite poor condition being quite dented. The term all Silver used on other illustrations also does not necessarily mean there was natural metal but means what it says, an overall Silver paint finish! Here's one from my collection where the panels have had a slight polish put on them. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 My apologies for kicking this thread back into life, but can anyone say whether the RCAF ever operated its Siskin IIIAs on skis? I have the Data Plan, which isn't definite - the photos (see above) seem to be of an RAF Mk III. I have a Matchbox Siskin which, in the course of several house moves, has had a wheel go AWL. Snow boots seem to be a reasonable alternative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 I'd say yes to the skis, though have no concrete proof. These aircraft served for 9 years, and given the climate of Canada, I'm sure they saw many winters.  The aircraft eventually become no. 1 and 3 RCAF squadrons, and were based in Trenton. Being located near the Great Lakes, there definitely would be snow. Temperature charts show five months of the year are below freezing.  Some extra info on the individual aircraft can be found here; http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_301_350_detailed.htm  regards, Jack   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackG Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Well, I did find photo proof, aircraft number 60, which is a IIIA:   http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/arm_siskin3a.php  regards, Jack   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted December 26, 2016 Share Posted December 26, 2016 Thanks, Jack! That'll do me! It looks as though the skis attached to the standard wheel fittings, so the conversion should be pretty straightforward (says he, optimistically ...). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 From here http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx , I found this: Â Â Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 Brilliant! Many thanks - that gives all the details I could wish for. Now there's no excuse for not building it ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bpasenelli Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I always debate how much contrast between the silver doped and metal areas of these aircraft. Enjoyed reading the discussion. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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