foureyes

A bad bout of kidney stones has stopped me in my tracks. Will try and get some time on this at some point but the past few weeks have been hell. Kev

A bad bout of kidney stones has stopped me in my tracks. Will try and get some time on this at some point but the past few weeks have been hell. Kev

I have finished the wings. Not hugely happy with them but wrinkled around the cannons and tips. But for a first time practice they are not bad. The foil is definitely too thick. For 1/72 anyway. Done some more on the wing root too. Thanks for looking Kev

If I like how this ends up I will invest in the proper stuff. Like I said this is the cheap foil tape from wickes. About three quid for a huge ten meter roll. It's probably a bit industrial for this purpose but it will stand me in good stead for later projects. I have used the stuff for masking canopys in the past and it was hanging around in my build box and i just thought hey Ho I will give it a go. Kev

No. you are right... I am mad. Here's a bit more of the wing. All stuck together and foiled the leading edge and tips. Not to pretty in places and a few patches will need a touch up later. Kev

I haven't used the humbrol but have tried the tamiya metalics and alclad. I just fancied trying this to see what its like really. Plus it cold out side and I don't want to spray smelly stuff inside the house!! Plus the wife moans when the compressor is chugging. This way I make some quiet, odorless progress without any "phwoor that stinks.." or "shhh. I can't hear what Ant and Dec are saying" Kev

Tonight I have covered some more of the wings. And have been playing around with different finishes. In these pics i have rubbed the surface with a glass fibre pen. The pop up ones you see in most model shops and make you itch like crazy!!!!!. Still finding bits in my fingers! This to me looks a bit more natural than the smooth reflective look in the earlier pics.. but i am not 100% sure. It anyone thinks either is better please post an answer. It polishes right back up again in no time so no worries about changing it. It will take a coat of future so I will be able to weather it after its done. Look forward to your thoughts. Kev

By the way. I have never done this before, so don't take my word on anything!!!

Thanks for those Links. They are exactly what I was after. I have found that this foil I am using is quite robust. If you overlap it you can almost sand it thin enough not to notice. Awesome for complex surfaces where one sheet would tear. Also depending on what you use to buff it you can change its appearance completely. On the pics I posted I used the steel ARM of a bulldog clip. Which gives a highly polished effect. A eraser gives a slightly matt effect. Green pan scouring pad gives a brushed aluminium look. And a lead pencil makes it quite dark. Still playing. Kev

This is not really intended to be a proper wip. It's a sort of trial run for a 1/32 kawasaki ki-61 that I want to foil. I have tried various metal effect paints in the past and wanted to try and get a little more of a realistic finish. I have started with the foiling straight away because it calls for a fair amount of man-handling to get it stuck and burnished. I am using cheap sticky foil tape from wickes. I have started with panels that don't overlap onto another piece as these will be done after I have stuck various others together. From what i have read, if you can, It's best to run a whole piece over leading edges, and joints to the next panel line on the other piece. If that makes sense? Started but cutting easily manageable pieces and applying them just over the panels I want to cover. Then trimming them carefully to fit with a very sharp scalpel. Polishing them with a piece of steel. The steel is a arm from a bulldog clip! Small, smooth and gives a really high shine. I am just experimenting at the moment as i don't want to ruin a fifty quid plus model. If anyone can give me any tips or help I would be very grateful. Kev

Looks lovely. And glad you decided to weather it hard. I know one of the solution (don't ask me which) make the decals soft to conform to the contours and that's the one to use once in place to soften it. They will disintegrate if left too long. Luckily mine are two differt brands one to set one to soften and can't mix em up. Thank the lord for the charity of others. Look forward to seeing the finished article. Kev

I would love to. But I have placed a strict rule to build more and buy less. I have got the 1/32 hasegawa kawasaki tony. I am going to foil it...... That's next. But may change.... Either way every time I go any where i think.."its only a little one". Yesterday in wells got a 1/72 new tool airfix mustang to practice foil application. And the pile grew again.. I should give all my cash to the misses?! Kev

I will be watching mate.

Finally got some time with it. After I was accustomed with my shiney new airbrush I masked everything in sight. The kit comes with a full canopy and a canopy in pieces to display open. So instead of masking it all I just tacked the full canopy in place and sacrificed it. I will mask and paint the open canopy at a later date and fit that at the end. I used a white undercoat and black preshading. Then a coat of rlm 65 from vallejo. It's lovely paint and the model air sprays straight from the bottle. I will let this fully dry for a few days then i will try to find some time for the splinter camo. And a different view in different lighting Thanks for looking. Any thoughts appreciated. Kev

Well done Pete. Pics look great welcome to the forum. The mustang looks awesome. Keep wanting to build one since you showed me this one in the box. And looking forward to your x-1. Kev