In the footsteps of 06/24 and Mr P. Finished.

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

31 minutes ago, 06/24 said:

Posting that reminds me that I wish I had followed Stew's advice and bought the Barracuda tropical filters. I gouged an inlet opening into the Airfix kits parts but they don't really do them justice.

Oh man I've just been on the hannants website (again) and although I haven't bought the Barracuda filters I'm sorely tempted and the wheels too....And this was supposed to be an OOB build grrrrrrrrr

[Procopius]

15 minutes ago, (ex)Sgtrafman said:

Oh man I've just been on the hannants website (again) and although I haven't bought the Barracuda filters I'm sorely tempted and the wheels too....And this was supposed to be an OOB build grrrrrrrrr

IMO the wheels are a waste of money, unless you get an immense amountof pleasure from resin wheels. The kit ones on the Airfix kit are the proper size and look just fine.

[06/24]

7 minutes ago, Procopius said:

IMO the wheels are a waste of money, unless you get an immense amountof pleasure from resin wheels. The kit ones on the Airfix kit are the proper size and look just fine.

I agree. Wheels not worth it. 

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

I think I might have a problem....it’s gone from OOB to anything but 😆

I’ve ordered the Barracudacast update set, brass .303 barrels and xtradecal set 72202, ok none of it’s gonna break the bank but I couldn’t help myself.

So tonight I’m going to spend some time on the motors and over the week end I want to get her ready for paint.

I’ve  said it before but I’m loving this kit 😎

 

cheers

 

Iain

[Procopius]

6 hours ago, (ex)Sgtrafman said:

I think I might have a problem....it’s gone from OOB to anything but 😆

I’ve ordered the Barracudacast update set, brass .303 barrels and xtradecal set 72202, ok none of it’s gonna break the bank but I couldn’t help myself.

So tonight I’m going to spend some time on the motors and over the week end I want to get her ready for paint.

I’ve  said it before but I’m loving this kit 😎

 

cheers

 

Iain

Oooh! I'm especially interested in how the .303 barrels work out for you, been considering them for some Lancasters.

[06/24]

I have some of the Master ones. They are like tiny pieces of jewellery. Hopefully I can turn them into a pair of Brownings for the 107 Squadron plane.

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

16 hours ago, Procopius said:

Oooh! I'm especially interested in how the .303 barrels work out for you, been considering them for some Lancasters.

I'll keep you posted as to how I get on.....once they've arrived 

 

Iain

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

Hey everyone

Some progress.

I'm going to deviate from the path that Mr P and 06/24 are taking and rather than complete the whole airframe before painting I'm going paint what I can (basically all the basic camo work) then assemble the engines / cowlings and paint them separately this is because:

1) I don't have the resin replacement engine parts yet and

2) I just find it easier.

So the airframe is 90% assembled, seems have been filled, re scribed where necessary, its been lightly polished, it just needs wiping down with X20A just to clean it and help the paint to adhere better then I can give it a primer coat.

I'm going to use Vallejo 031 Mid stone as my primer, clean up any areas that need it and then add the camouflage proper.

The collector rings (still need some work)

Well that's that. Hopefully by close of play tomorrow I might have a painted Blenheim.

 

Cheers all and have a great week end where ever you are 

 

Iain

[06/24]

Excellent! Your nose looks much neater than mine, although it is better today after some fettling and a respray. Still not braved my collector rings yet.

[Procopius]

2 hours ago, 06/24 said:

Excellent! Your nose looks much neater than mine, although it is better today after some fettling and a respray. Still not braved my collector rings yet.

I really like doing collector rings at this point (provided a thoughtful kit designer has made them separate from the cowlings, anyway), though I will grant I've invested a small fortune in Alclad and AK metallic paints. 

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

25 minutes ago, Procopius said:

I really like doing collector rings at this point (provided a thoughtful kit designer has made them separate from the cowlings, anyway), though I will grant I've invested a small fortune in Alclad and AK metallic paints. 

I just used Citedal Mithril Silver as a base coat followed by Mr Metal color Brass 219 with a light misting of Mithril silver over the top. They still need some work but they look ok 

 

I've started with the primer coat and it doesn't look too bad, I need to carry out some remedial work around the Bombay area but the rest of it is ok. So in about 10 minutes I'll nip out to my workshop, tidy her up and start painting in earnest 

 

I'll take some pictures a little later on to night when I've finished for the day.

 

See you all in a bit.

 

Iain

[dogsbody]

Yes, please tone down that bright brassy colour on your collector rings.

 

Take a look at this to see a real aircraft's rings.

 

http://vintageaviationecho.com/arco-blenheim/

 

 

Chris

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

Evening all (don't worry I'm not a copper!)

Some progress. I have managed to get the Mid stone and dark earth camouflage on the old girl, the Vallejo paints have gone on easily with no thinners needed and sprayed at 20 psi...

Looking at her in some of the pictures there appears to be some green showing through especially along the leading edge of the wing, in the flesh it isn't noticeable but I'll have a closer look when I spray the Azure blue.

 

Well that's me for today - quite productive really.

 

Cheers all

 

Iain

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

Hey everyone

 

Well I wanted to get the camouflage on and I have - its not brilliant and the azure blue is much more of a blue than I anticipated. It took me an absolute age to mask and I have a lot of touch ups to do but here she is...

I just noticed in the last picture the leading edges need some attention - I'm really taken aback with how blue the azure blue is. 

 

Anyway I'm whacked.

 

Night all and catch you later.

 

Iain

[stevehnz]

Hi lain, I'm a bit taken aback with your Azure Blue too. Whose brew are you using 'cause its not right for a WW@ desert scheme AB at all?  Looks like you've got a bum steer somewhere along the way.  I would urge a rethink on that if you can face it, the upper colours look OK but that underside looks like Light med blue which was a darker far more intense blue than Azure Blue & imho, it'd be a shame to spoil the look of a really nice job with a shade so far out of court, happy to help if I can. This photo gives a good idea of what WW2 RAF azure Blue should look like

Steve

[06/24]

I'm afraid I have to agree with Steve, that blue is IMHO far too dark for azure blue. I suspect you already think this yourself?

 

This is @CedB's Harvard - as good an example of what I think azure blue should look like as I can recall:

 

Untitled by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

 

The upper surfaces look superb though - there's something almost reptilian about the Mk I in this scheme and you've captured that brilliantly - your masking was clearly worthwhile.

 

 

 

[CedB]

Very impressive Iain - she's looking very smart 'up top' and the canopy blending is a thing of beauty... great work

 

The Azure Blue? I've had problems with the Vallejo RAF colour matching before and emailed the company in March 2015 to be reassured by their MD that they had an expert reviewing the range. James may have got caught by this change with different colours having the same label and Paul (Modelling Tools) noted in that Oct '16 thread that new colours had been introduced. I did an analysis of my RAF 'Model Air' set here for what it's worth now.

 

Don't get me wrong here, I love the Model Air range; it sprays very well, gives good coverage and self-levels beautifully IMHO. The labelling of the colours though has not been, er, optimal and some of the sets were just plain wrong. Looking at their latest colour chart (Rev18) it looks as though their 71.108 UK Azure Blue is much better and I blobbed some of my unused bottle out for you:

 

My 71.108 by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

 

Looks OK? I suspect the labels are still a problem though (you may have / get an 'old' colour in an old bottle) so careful purchase is advised!

 

Thanks to Jon for posting a picture of my Colourcoats Azure. There's a growing band of enthusiasts for this paint on BM; although it's enamel it's nowhere near as smelly as I was used to with Humbrol and I would say the smell is 'pleasant' and not at all strong. It's a very fine paint (in all meanings of the phrase) and it's becoming a favourite for me (and others). I bought the colours for Wacky at Telford and Gill was rightly pleased with their Azure colour matching. Might be worth a try if you can't source a 'new' Model Air?

 

That said I still have a LOT of Model Air to get through!

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

Morning

I knew it was wrong when I applied it (I had already done some research on the colour) however I thought 'its bound to lighten up' as I was applying it, I think I came became a little colour blind as it is plainly more of a Royal Blue.

OK I'm not going to shelve it, simple fix I'll re mask (I did it once I'm sure I can do it again) and do a 50/50 with white and spray all under body parts at the same time so I have an even colour through out. I had quite a few touch ups to do anyway, plus I want to re sand the nose seam so it really isn't the end of the world.

Right then that's a job for later as I think I have chores to do BOOOOOOOOOO!!

Have a good one and hopefully next time to see her see will be less blue in the face

 

BTW so nobody else falls into the same trap it was Vallejo 004 Dk Mediterranean Blue, bugger looking at their paint chart it should have been 108 UK Azure blue GRRRRR

 

Hey Ho 

 

Iain

 

 

 

[CedB]

You'll have it re-done in a trice Iain and she'll have a lovely bottom then too. Oh wait, that sounds wrong...

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

9 minutes ago, CedB said:

Very impressive Iain - she's looking very smart 'up top' and the canopy blending is a thing of beauty... great work

 

The Azure Blue? I've had problems with the Vallejo RAF colour matching before and emailed the company in March 2015 to be reassured by their MD that they had an expert reviewing the range. James may have got caught by this change with different colours having the same label and Paul (Modelling Tools) noted in that Oct '16 thread that new colours had been introduced. I did an analysis of my RAF 'Model Air' set here for what it's worth now.

 

Don't get me wrong here, I love the Model Air range; it sprays very well, gives good coverage and self-levels beautifully IMHO. The labelling of the colours though has not been, er, optimal and some of the sets were just plain wrong. Looking at their latest colour chart (Rev18) it looks as though their 71.108 UK Azure Blue is much better and I blobbed some of my unused bottle out for you:

 

My 71.108 by Ced Bufton, on Flickr

 

Looks OK? I suspect the labels are still a problem though (you may have / get an 'old' colour in an old bottle) so careful purchase is advised!

 

Thanks to Jon for posting a picture of my Colourcoats Azure. There's a growing band of enthusiasts for this paint on BM; although it's enamel it's nowhere near as smelly as I was used to with Humbrol and I would say the smell is 'pleasant' and not at all strong. It's a very fine paint (in all meanings of the phrase) and it's becoming a favourite for me (and others). I bought the colours for Wacky at Telford and Gill was rightly pleased with their Azure colour matching. Might be worth a try if you can't source a 'new' Model Air?

 

That said I still have a LOT of Model Air to get through!

Hey Ced

 

Thanks for the information mate - I like using Vallejo paints too and it when down really well, I can see the error of my ways now and the bottle (I don't have a picture) is a very dark blue and nothing like 108 above, a silly mistake by me that to be fair is easily fixable (I was keen to get all the paint on as I'm away with work next week)

 

Cheers bud

 

Iain

1 minute ago, CedB said:

You'll have it re-done in a trice Iain and she'll have a lovely bottom then too. Oh wait, that sounds wrong...

Nowt wrong with that mate (just don't tell the wife!)

[CedB]

You're very welcome Iain - have a good week away and we'll look forward to the update

[06/24]

Excellent info from Ced and blast those pesky chores. They do get in the way (says Jonners, currently beasting himself in the gym as repentance for the wine and also to force 06/24 minor to exercise - a chore and a half!)

[stevehnz]

Looks like you're sorted now Iain, that Modelair 108 should look MUCH better.

Steve.

 

Just realised you'd said you were going to do a 50:50 mix white to 71.004. FWIW, I reckon you'll need closer to 4:1 or 5:1 white to blue. Before Humbrol redid its Hu157 into a decent brew, I played around with some mixes, using Hu25, not a lot different from the colour you used, maybe sligtly darker. Smer recommend 5: white to Hu25 fpr their desert camo P-40K, so start with at least 4:1 with your blue I reckon.

Edited January 21, 2018 by stevehnz

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

36 minutes ago, stevehnz said:

Looks like you're sorted now Iain, that Modelair 108 should look MUCH better.

Steve.

 

Just realised you'd said you were going to do a 50:50 mix white to 71.004. FWIW, I reckon you'll need closer to 4:1 or 5:1 white to blue. Before Humbrol redid its Hu157 into a decent brew, I played around with some mixes, using Hu25, not a lot different from the colour you used, maybe sligtly darker. Smer recommend 5: white to Hu25 fpr their desert camo P-40K, so start with at least 4:1 with your blue I reckon.

Hey Steve

 

Youre right about the ratios in the end it turned out to be roughly 70% white to 30 % blue and tbh I’m still not convinced. Anyway its on now and drying, I’ll post some pictures a little later coz its coffee time with the wife 😁

 

Iain

[(ex)Sgtrafman]

Hey everyone

 

Well I think I dodged a bullet there, to say that I'm happy with the results is an under statement, ok I think the Azure blue is still a little strong but its nowhere near the Royal Blue it was earlier. 

As to the masking I only have two small areas of over spray but the rest of it seems to look ok to me, even the demarcation lines seem to have lined up ok.

This afternoon I'll touch up the areas that need it and I think I'll paint the wheels, undercarriage and props.

Question what colour was the under carriage? Initially I was going to paint it all black but now I'm not too sure?

 

Cheers all

 

Iain