giemme

That was close! Ciao

Utterly impressive! Ciao

They are visible if one magnifies your pic, but even without doing that, you can tell there's something there disrupting the main color coat - I like that effect! Ciao

Top detail painting job, Simon! Great save on the clear coat too! Clear gloss coats: I use Alclad Aqua Gloss or Future (an Italian equivalent, actually). Both sprayed straight from the airbrush, no thinner, or by brush For flat or satin clear coats, I use W&N Galeria Flat and Gloss, various mix ratios, thinned 50/50 with water, airbrushed. Flat coats thinned with water applied by brush are always tricky for me: the minimal amount of prolong turns into white "foamy" spots. For those cases, I use Lifecolor Matt Clear, not thinned. Ciao

I agree, top job with the masking there, Bill Ciao

Quite some progress since I last checked, Johnny! Ps: I am not envying the masking job! Ciao

Amazing decal job, Alistair! Ciao

Wow, going apace Simon! Smooth paint and decal job on the interiors! Ciao

Love the details, as usual Stay warm! Ciao

I agree 100%, spiffing paint job! Ciao

Looks like a very nice kit! 👍 Ciao

Excellent detailing job, Johnny! Great to have you back! Ciao

You're on a roll, Simon! I'm in for this too! Ciao

Wow, looking good in red! Ciao

I can only echo the suggestions above, but you may also want to try slightly buffing with a cotton or microfiber rag that flat coat first. Try on a small area first, and see what happens. It worked for me on occasions, albeit with different clear varnishes. Ciao

A small thing of beauty that is, Bill Ciao

Sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations, Johnny - but I'm glad you're getting better. You haven't lost your touch though, have you? Might be the new glasses... yes you're old! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Ps: I hear those meds don't go along well with sour, you should really stop with it... Ciao

Thank you both, guys! And no, you don't want to mess with a guy like this.... Cheers Adrian, thank you! Alright, slowly progressing with this: I painted the cape I first airbrushed a base coat of Lifecolor Dark Green (UA001, it's basically RLM71, if you're into Luftwaffe colors ), followed by a mix of said color with Lifecolor Matt White, sprayed at an angle from above. I then brush painted the highlights, adding more white to the mix, then a tie-in with an intermediate mix used as a filter, and finally a wash with the base color mixed with Italeri Flat Black. Apologies for not taking SBS pictures, here are more of the final result: I also airbrushed a flat coat on top of it, but it's still to be completed: I intend to add some dirt and weathering to the bottom edge, but I will do that towards the end of the build. Here is the portion of the cape molded with the main body: I will paint the belt and buckles once all the rest is painted, to keep them consistent in color. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope for a better New Year Ciao

No problem, Erwin! Quick update: I've been experimenting with hairspray for the chipping. I sprayed it on the outer wing inserts and, after a couple of hours, airbrushed Tamiya Flat White on top of it: After a few minutes, I hit them with a stiff brush dipped in warm water and scraped away, revealing the underlying YZC coat (which had been previously sealed with a Future coat) It worked! I'm ready to tackle the main wells, now. Next time, though. Meanwhile, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and hope for a better New Year! Ciao

Looking excellent, Simon! Turning out to be one of your best! Ciao

Very neay white coat, Alistair! Really starting to look the part, now! Ciao

These look great! They snugged into panel lines and all, and no silvering of sort! Ciao

Black basing! Top job, Alistair! Ciao

Looking way better already! Ciao

Same here, Tony. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Ciao