propforward Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) Hello, I thought I would share some pictures of what is really my first scale model build in about 18 years or so. Just for fun, I bought the Italeri beer truck Spitfire kit. It's quite a nice kit in my opinion - fit of parts is good, not needing too much filler or hours and hours of sanding. I understand it's from Hasegawa moulds. This being my first build in a long time, it is strictly OOB, because I want to finish something in fairly short order, to a decent standard, trying some techniques I've read about, and then progress. So here we go. I started by brush painting the cockpit using Ammo of Mig acrylics. I am amazed at the quality and availability of different acrylics these days. Clearly using a primer is essential for these. I used some Ammo of Mig wash to add some interest, and built up the cockpit interior. Edited October 3, 2016 by propforward Adding scale to title 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 I don't think I did a great job of the cockpit, but there is a little weathering there, and the washes add a bit of interest. I did some dry brushing with aluminum enamel as well. I did add some simple seatbelts using lead foil I had left over from years ago, just to add more interest, but I forgot to take a picture. Then on to building up the aircraft: I'm pretty happy with how it went together. Fit of parts really didn't need much in the way of filler, and in a lot of cases a bit of gap filling superglue did the job quickly and cleanly. In the end I decided to model this with the cockpit canopy closed, for simplicity. The cockpit doesn't look so good that it's worthy of inspection - but through the canopy will be OK. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 So I am now at the fun painting stage - and I have been looking forward to this, because I've been wanting to try the pre shading techniques, and then some weathering. When I was last involved in the hobby, I had only just started attempting weathering, and that had taken my models up a notch, so I really wanted to keep that going. After priming I sprayed some panel lines black, using my brand new Omni 4000 airbrush. Then I started applying the medium sea grey to the underside: And ended up with I'm happy with this first attempt. The shading around panels is very subtle. It's easier to see in real life than the photo, and it definitely adds some interest. This is where I am at right now. Next weekend I hope to mask up the underside, and start the upper surfaces, hopefully getting as far as painting the invasion stripes. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 HOW many years away? This is looking rather tasty.... Jusrtin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 Thanks! I appreciate it. Yep - 18 years. Time flies, it's crazy. But I'm having fun with the hobby again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 Today's installment. Masked off the underside: And applied a couple of coats of the top layer grey. Coat 1 And coat 2. I may mist on just a little more, especially at the wing edges, but I'm worried about losing my pre shading entirely. Especially when the green goes on. How long to wait for acrylics to dry before masking for the green? I'd really like to get the green on today so that I can get all the masking tape off. Well, it's a learning experience for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 9, 2016 Author Share Posted October 9, 2016 I went for it. After about 6 hours of cure, I masked up the upper surfaces. I did "de tack" the masking tape first though a bit. I think it went OK - I'm reasonably happy with this. There are some minor imperfections, but overall not bad as a first attempt (I think anyway). Let this all cure up properly, then mask again for the invasion stripes! I'm going to paint them rather than use the kit decals, but the decals are very handy for getting the masking set up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 A little more progress, and also a step back. Progress - masked off one wing and got the white band of the invasion stripes on. As I suspected, as the layers of paint go on, my pre shading is getting lost. Maybe I should do additional pre shading as I build up the camouflage? Either that or I'm just layering on too much paint. I'll try it a different way on the next build. Also - propeller is coming along nicely. Step backwards - d'oh! I did a silly thing and messed up the paintwork in this area. I think I can save it. I'll mask off the green and do a little respray. Turns out there are a couple of overspray areas, so there will be a bit of touch up elsewhere before I proceed further with the invasion stripes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessica Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Don't worry too much about the pre-shading showing through the invasion stripes. They were so very carefully applied, you see. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Looking good. And welcome back! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 A little more progress. Fixed up the snafu on the wing, masked up and applied the rest of the white for the invasion stripes. Doesn't look too bad I think - I'm happy enough with it at this point anyway. I tried not to make the invasion stripe background TOO white, and allowed a little of the grey behind to show through and shade it. Even so, I should have stopped painting earlier than I did I think. Let that all cure up, then I'll add the black stripes, and that puts us well on the way to completion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) Now with invasion stripes. I'm happy with these - first go at something like this. Not perfect, but not too bad. There's a better than average chance that I'll finish this. Edited October 30, 2016 by propforward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted December 5, 2016 Author Share Posted December 5, 2016 Progress! Some things haven't gone so well on this build, but overall I'm happy. Some things have turned out innacurately, like the width of the invasion stripe bands, but I'm not going to get too hung up on it. Next stage is to have ago at some weathering, and I'm looking forward to that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 Finished! Turns out that this wasn't my first model made when returning to the hobby, because my Lightning overtook it and got finished first. No matter. Here we are: I'll post a couple more piccies over in "ready for inspection". 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Wonderful work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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