propforward Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 I bought this kit on a whim when I was in the model store a couple of weeks ago. Having access to the intertubes via phone is dangerous, because I looked this kit up while in the shop and the reviews were all very positive. So that was that. Anyway, this is a build I have going so I can turn to it while the paint is drying on my spitfire. It's a lovely kit, really well designed, with very clean moulding details. I started off by undercoating with vallejo grey acrylic primer (after washing everything in soapy water of course), and then airbrushing interior green on the cockpit tub and inside the fuselage. I am using Ammo of Mig acrylics for the interior. I also washed the interior fuselage with Ammo of Mig interior wash. My original plan had been to basically paint everything for the cockpit on the sprues - but after reading a couple of other build threads, and thinking it through, I realised that would just result in having to redo and touch up a lot of stuff, so today I assembled the cockpit tub somewhat. The decal sheet comes with some instrument dials. They are a little bit off register, but I don't think it's going to be possible to make that out through the cockpit windshield, and they will likely add just a little more detail to the instrument panel, so I will use them. I'll also make some seatbelts, but first I have to finish painting and weathering the tub. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Nice work so far. This is the kit that got me back into modelling for the second time back in 1997, superb kit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Neat! The look of the Beaufighter has really grown on me, despite its snub nose! I have one or two in the stash and will be watching with interest! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 Been working on the cockpit a little more. Paid some attention to the instrument panels. Need to a try a bit of wash and weathering. I have some weathering powder - not sure how to use it. Just lightly brush it on over the dried washed cockpit? Started assembling the wings. They go together very will. I did a dry fit to the fuselage to see what I'm up against later. If I'm careful, there really shouldn't be much in the way of filling and sanding when the wings go on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 (edited) Thank you! Gave the cockpit a bit of a wash. It definitely helps, but a bit subtle maybe? I may do it again. I need to do something about the bulkhead at least, that looks pretty bad. Started having a look at a set of Eduard seatbelts too. This will be the only aftermarket add on to this model. I think adding some decent straps helps a lot. These are not fixed in place yet, since I'm not done painting. Need to try dry brushing some highlights and details. Edited October 23, 2016 by propforward 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) A bit more work on the cockpit. I think I'll call it good enough at this point. Those seat belts are very fiddly. I just noticed one of my instrument dial decals fell off. Dammit. Edited October 30, 2016 by propforward 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Got the fuselage together, and did a dry fit with the wings. Looks decent I think. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Liking the progress. That 'pit looks pretty good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 (edited) A lot of progress there, and it looks very nice! Edited October 31, 2016 by Christer A 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) This one got sidelined a bit, as two other models approached the finishing line and got all my attention. Now that they are done, I have picked this up again. Not too much to show yet, but wings are on, and some other assemblies together. The undercarriage assemblies are really well moulded I reckon. I think it's moving along nicely now. I should think I'll get to start painting next weekend, so looking forward to that! Edited January 8, 2017 by propforward speling 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Looking very nice so far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 That does look very nice actually! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 5, 2017 Author Share Posted March 5, 2017 Little bit of progress. I haven't had too much modelling time over the last month or so, but have managed to get the joints smoothed out, and did a little detail work on engines. All I did there was paint the engines black and dry brush them with aluminum enamel. I will likely add some pin washes as well. Canopy went on yesterday And then I drilled holes in the front of the engine mount areas, and glued some sprue in place as an aid to holding the model for handling during painting. Works nicely. I am going to add the engiines and cowls after the main painting is done. I have done a dry fit of the various parts, and they really fit well, I can see that no filler will be needed, so this will make it a little easier for painting. I just got done wiping the model down with alcohol, so after bacon and eggs I am looking forward to priming, maybe even get some pre shading done today. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 5, 2017 Author Share Posted March 5, 2017 I sprayed the canopy interior green, to give the "internal framing" the right look. Hope that works out. And started priming. I'm using Vallejo polyeurethane primer. One more coat and it will be ready for preshading. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Remember that the gear casings on the engines should remain black. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 5, 2017 Author Share Posted March 5, 2017 I didn't know that - thanks! I'll make sure to get that right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 She's looking great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) Had a go at some pre shading and put on the first layer of the azure blue. I'm using AK Interactive paints - I like them a lot. This is my second try at using the pre shading technique. First time I tried it was on a Spitfire I made at the end of last year, and I sprayed the panel lines black, but pretty much hid them all because I sprayed over the whole model. This time, after reading Aaron Skinner's book on airbrushing models (the FineScale Modeller book) I'm going panel by panel. I'm fairly pleased with the result. Not perfect, but it definitely breaks up the monotony of a large, uniform paint layer. I need one more pass in a few places, but I must say that I'm somewhat chuffed with this. Edited March 20, 2017 by propforward 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christer A Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Dang! That looks very good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 Thanks! I'm pretty happy with it. I toned the panel lines just a bit more, and also sprayed some of the panels with a very slightly lighter shade, although I don't think that did very much for it. I am very excited to do the upper surfaces - didn't quite have time to do those today, so hopefully get those done next weekend. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell209 Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Not a fan of pre-shading but I didn't do the panel by panel technique last time I tried it. I like the way yours has come out - I may try that with my next paint job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 20, 2017 Author Share Posted March 20, 2017 At first it seems really monotonous, but it actually doesn't take long, and you get a lot of control over blending in each panel, so that you can have some variation across the model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
propforward Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 Keeping at it - this morning the model was in this state on top: So after the usual patchwork of masking on the underside: I went at the top with the middle stone part of the upper camoflage. First pass: And after a few more passes and some blending: Let this cure for a couple of hours, maybe even overnight, and then on to the second part of the camoflage. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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