Muchmirth

Big thanks John, especially coming from you, your finished 1/144 are an inspiration.

Hi all, Here is my first entry to any group build (signed up with this one first) and my thirds and fourth planes: bf-109 e4 airfix, in 1/72 and a hawker hurricane mk 1, revell, in 1/144. Both less than a tenner combined! Brush painted. Big thanks to Stix for hosting:

Bf109-E4. iN 1/72 Airfix, brush painted. Plane no.3 in the bag. Big thanks to Jean, John and Col for hosting:

Next update, colours and weathering added: All my usual Vallejo acrylic applied with a brush. Then citadel leadblecher for the 'heavy' chipping effect (because I love the stuff). The panels lines and side ribbing have thinned revell anthricite (Thank you Mr Stix) Then I have gone for highlights, done with original three RAF colours, with an added dash of white, dry brushed into centre of surface areas and raised areas. Next gloss, decals, matt varnish, canopy, aerial and...posting to RFI/gallery! Thanks all!

Now its time to switch to the Hurc. I must admit (epecially to John aka Nimrod) that I would never have looked side ways at a 1/144 model before this GB but I must say...I really reallty like them! What a pleasure to build....Done the way I should have done the Messerschmitt. The plastic on the revell kits is quite a lot nicer than the larger airfix model. Anyway progress below... Bit rough in patches but this will magically disappear next once I smooth the filler from the gaps. Below the obligatory pic of the paint pot beside the plane shot, first coat of pale blue on. PS. Love the box instructions, simply say pale blue, dark green and brown. Nice and straightforward like.

I know what you mean about the stab supports, I broke mine as well. Same thing. Then fixed with glue and stuck on. Like you say once painted won't be noticeable anyway....it's looking really well Jean.

Agreed!

So the experiment is below: Now it might be a bit lame and not exactly scientific but the result below is fairly similar to each other, so I tried both on the plane: The sponge is a little more cloudy, so I used this first to make a sort of 'spray paint' background whilst the bristles are more defined and pick out the squiggly lines. And this is the first light application on the bird: Here is the otherside: sorry neither a great pic at mo. I have revisited this camo effect about five times, probably more in all honesty, retouched parts maybe as many as seven ore even eight times, I didn't keep an accurate account. It was very hard to make look half way decent as a lot of you may already know. I'm glad I glossed first, so that it wouldn't effect the base coats and helped the thinned paint spread/blotch out better. A lot of this was trial and error but that I knew prior. A lot was also putting it on and then removing but now its as point I'm happy with and looks...passable maybe. I hope to have finished in a few more days, further gloss coat, decals, matt gloss, canopy and prop stuck on and finally aerial. Then onto the hurc!! Thanks all. Best for now Paul

So the experiment is below: Now it might be a bit lame and not exactly scientific but the result below is fairly similar to each other, so I tried both on the plane: The sponge is a little more cloudy, so I used this first to make a sort of 'spray paint' background whilst the bristles are more defined and pick out the squiggly lines. And this is the first light application on the bird: Here is the otherside: sorry neither a great pic at mo. I have revisited this camo effect about five times, probably more in all honesty, retouched parts maybe as many as seven ore even eight times, I didn't keep an accurate account. It was very hard to make look half way decent as a lot of you may already know. I'm glad I glossed first, so that it wouldn't effect the base coats and helped the thinned paint spread/blotch out better. A lot of this was trial and error but that I knew prior. A lot was also putting it on and then removing but now its as point I'm happy with and looks...passable maybe. I hope to have finished in a few more days, further gloss coat, decals, matt gloss, canopy and prop stuck on and finally aerial. Thanks all. Best for now Paul

Next update: As I placed the grill in the chin rad too far back I was going to replace this with a spare piece of grill I had knocked up but it didn't work out, I tired but wouldn't fit right. Also couldn't get the paint off the middle section of the canopy as was all sealed in now with gloss (after a a bit of smarten up with a cocktail stick), as this section is showing as frame in the picture on the back of the box but then I learnt it wasn't actually frame but just where the glass over lapped where it could open. On the bf109 I have done the basic colours, all humbrol acrylic: I'm not totally happy with my painting as it too thick in parts. I also did a bit of a re-scribe as a result of the thickness of the paint. Next for the bit I was most looking forwards to: The mottle camo!!!! For this next 'instalment' I'm going to do bit of an experiment. I've gloss varnished the whole model in prep and will trial Adrian's suggestion of using the short brush on a piece of paper, building up the stippling with thin paint and also will trial a picked out sponge on the end of a pair of tweezers on the same page, side by side to see what works,. Then the best outcome will go on the plane. Thanks all.

Lovely work John, don't know how you did them so well being the size they are, but really nice paint schemes as well.

It's really hard to objective with this one!! The tarp in the article is cool, like how you hung the pictures/mirror off centre, very realistic. The walnut base look fantastic, the finish on it is lovely. Again you could look at this for ages. Well done. Did you leave the jerasic park ref in the attic?

Next update: The replacement grill in the chin rad didn't work out, I tired but wouldn't fit right. Also couldn't get the paint off the middle section of the canopy was all sealed in now. Interesting thoughts on the scale!!! I like to hear what other modellers like to work in. I like 1/72 but its all I've done so after this it'll be back to armour and something little bigger. On the bf109 I have done the basic colours, all humbrol acrylic: I'm not totally happy with my painting as it too thick in parts. I also did a bit of a re-scribe as a result of the thickness of the paint. Next for the bit I was most looking forwards to: The mottle camo!!!! For this next 'instalment' I'm going to do bit of an experiment. I've gloss varnished the whole model in prep and will trial Adrian's suggestion of using the short brush on a piece of paper, building up the stippling with thin paint and also will trial a picked out sponge on the end of a pair of tweezers on the same page, side by side to see what works,. Then the best outcome will go on the plane. Thanks all.

Hi Jean, On the chin rad, I think I installed incorrectly. It's a little far back inside so does look a little cavernous. I may have a remedy for this, I've a spare bit of grate I could cut to size and possibly insert. Only problem with this is to insert will mean it won't be big enough to entirely fill the gap. But I'll try it out. On the canopy I painted this middle section as it's indicated as frame/painted on the back of the box. I didn't realise it was supposed to be transparent. Not sure if I can remove this now as I did use a cocktail stick to smarten up, then repainted and have dipped whole this in gloss so maybe too solid but again will see if it comes off easy. With the little bits and pieces I have left them off before til the end and probably should have this time, but luckily have straighten the machine gun and havent snapped anything else off......YET! Their is still time. Again thanks for advice and observations, this is only my third plane so still learning a lot as I go. Just out of curiosity do you find the 1/72 scale or the larger scaled to be more or less of a challenge? This emil is so tiny and am yet to do a 1/48 bird or even a 1/35 and would like to garnet some opinions. Thanks, best for now. Paul

Just caught up on this. Looks phenomenal, so good with the rubble and hanging lamp and all the smaller details added, seemed to make a huge jump on after your did the last lot of main painting. I too enjoy Vallejo as a paint, great to use. Figures and 'story line' are good to.