tMikha

Very nice-looking MAX! And respects for conversion to 8200 version and for correct lenght of chassis. Excelent result, and also you have a lovely collection of civil liners Congratulations! In our days there is not so many types of planes are operated… in comparison with 1960-1970’s. you have 737, 320 and ERJ on the shelve. So may be SSJ, TU-134, -154, -204 - all this kits from Zvezda and they are as qualitative as 737 or 320. Or another option for you is oldtimers like Comet, Caravelle, early Iloishins or TU etc. But this kits are rare, often made from resin, and not so easy to purchase… respects, tMikha

Very nice built, very realistic paint-work and neat nose-windows: that’s the recipe of stuning model! Thank’s for sharing.

Another one handsome model! And TAP livery is really stilishly-looking. thank’s for sharing!

Yes, sure! It was a language problem. I fully agree with you, that this method is applicable only for wings and tail stabilisers. Really I'm not a big professional in visual effects, so often I use just a usual well-pointed pencil to imitate wash effects for flaps and other parts. And what about fuselage, I also think that decal doors are really enough in 1/144 scale. Generally, my first comment was about wash for flaps of the model. Wish you a lot of modelling inspiration and awaiting your new RFI's Respects, tMikha

Really interesting stuff! Thank’s for something new that I’ve seen today. Really it’s something like an old Antonov from USSSR, but, unexpected, in AF livery Stuning and really neat model!

Great stuff! Though it's not my theme, but photos are eye-cathing and very realistic! Thank's for sharing!

Thank's! Really glad for such reaction that model causes

Thank you! Really Tamya X-11 certainly is the best metallic I’ve used. What about Future, I give it at least 24 hr for drying up before any further actions with the model.

Impressive collection and very neat-looking results! Thank's for sharing!

Hello Comrades! So let me show you the result of my last finished work in regular scale for me. Basically, I wasn't going to make another one of 737-series. That was finished with 4 ready models on the shelve. But one of them had found a new owner, and I've got some free space in 737s row. And after I've built Aeroflot aircraft, I've decided that UIA livery will be a good choice to place that models together. This was really quick built - it took only 2 weeks that is really "blitz-built" for me. (Usually I need at least 3 weeks or more). Zvezda-737NG kit is very high quality as always. And the only few words I'm going to say about the kit is that gradually the manufacturer upgrades kits. If the older 737-800 was accompanied with old-style Utair decals from the box, so fresh edition consists new-style Utair livery. Really it wasn't really important in my case, but by the way Zvezda upgraded the decal for pilots windows edges. Now they became thin and neat, despite the previous version that was too massive and non-scale looking. Paint-works in this built was as minimal as possible to create normal model. Usually when I need white and smooth surface, I apply a thin layer of Decorix from the can, and then use Mr.Hobby H-1 with airbrush. But in this case I've just covered plastics with three or four layers of Decorix primer, giving it some time for drying up between layers. And finally I've sanded the surface with sanding-paper (2500) plus a few water. The ready surface maybe is not as ideal as after Mr.Hobby paint, but really after covered with some Future, it looks similar. Blue tail was airbrushed with Master-Acrylic #36 (blue). Wing and stabs edges are covered with Tamiya X-11 chrome silver. Hot parts of engines are airbrushed with a mix of MAKR-aluminium plus some yellow and green Master-Acrylics. Tyres are Mr. Hobby H-77 tyre-black. Chassies I've painted with thin usual brush with Jim-scale light-gray. Decals I've purchased from Ascensio. I've used this production earlier (Norwegian 737MAX for example). So it's reach, good-quality decals. The only one thing is too thick white background for blue-area elements. In fact, the decal-sheet was enough to get ready model. But I've used some out-of-box elements as well. The technical stencils look more natural in Zvezda's decals, and also I've applied decal windows edges for passenger windows and for cockpit as well. I wasn't going invent a bicycle one more time, so the lacquer is Pledge Fuutre (two layers) under decals. After decals were applied and dried up, there is one more layer of Future, and a thin layer of satin lacquer (Future + 5% X-21 Flat base) as final coverage and to reduce surplus shine on the photos. As the model was finished, I've noticed some disadvantages as always. But generally I like the result. Hope you will like it too The comments and criticism are welcome as usual. Respects, tMikha.

Nice-looking retro!

Thank you for kind comments! The figures are from Arma-models. It's one of the biggest scale modelling shops in the city and also they produce some own resin add-ons and models. And about the nature photos - first when I was going to the park for taking photos it was cloudy day, and I was a bit upset. Usually I've taken photos in sunny day under blue bright sky maybe with only light clouds. But really when I finished with photos and moved them to laptop, I've discovered that model looks may be even better and more distinctly. Once more thank's for feedback!

And I've to make one little correction: earlier I've said that now this kit is produced with TAP-Portugal livery. It's not correct. 321CEO is produced with Condor livery, and TAP is in box with 321NEO.

Thank you for kind comment!

OOOKay) Finally finished with photo. You are welcome to estimate the result in RFI

Hello, it's me again So, finally I've finished with my last model of Airbus A-320 series, and with "parade" of 320's models as well. The main stages of the work you can find in WIP. And I want to tell a few words about the kit first. It was purchased about 1,5 years ago, that time there was no 320NEO in Zvezda catalogue, and this kit was named usual "Airbus A-321" (now it's named A-321 CEO and there is nice TAP-Portugal decal-sheet included). But that time it was provided with standard Airbus home livery out-of-box. So that time I had an idea to built the kit in Metrojet EI-ETJ livery in memory of that poor souls who were killed over Sinai in terrorist attack in 2015. But later I've refused from that idea, and kit was stored for all that time in reserve. Also I've "stolen" some parts to replace that I've lost during another 320's building. And now it's time has come! I've chosen Aeroflot livery as some challenge for myself: I've never done such difficult borders of colours on my models. Also, I work with Aeroflot every working day, I was their passenger for many times, but still I have no Aeroflot model on the shelve? Shame on me! So I think there is no need to tell about Zvezda kit - it's really high qulity product, as any other Zvezda civil liners. I've used only a few putty, to remove the slot between wings and fuselage. I think there is no need to tell here about painting progress in details. All that I've described in WIP topic. Only I will tell that most colours were Master-Acrylic and Mr.Hobby. The main gray-metallic was mixed from white and black MR. Hobby plus some MAKR aluminium. IMHO the result is not so far from prototype. BTW the prototype of the plane served in Aeroflot till 2018. Then it was transferred to Canadian Air Transat airlines. There it got a new livery and sucessfully flies till today. During the period it was in Aeroflot, it had VQ-BEI reg. number and personal name S. Korolev. And here I've to tell a few words about decals. I've purchased PAS-decals sheet. There were 6 variants of bording numbers but no one stencil for personal aiprlane's name. Really strange and upset fact. So I've used another one name-stencil from reserve out-of box sheet for A-320. So mu model now named Sofya Kovalevskaya. Let it be this way, BTW there are only 3 or 4 of Aeroflot planes that named in tribute of famous women, and Kovalevskaya is one of them. In conclusion I want to tell that it was another one interesting built. Though I see a lot of small disadvantages in the finished model, but anyway I like it and satisfied with the result. I'm really interested in your opinion about Aeroflot gray colour, whether it looks realistic or no. So criticism and comments are warmly welcome, as usual. Respects, tMikha. PS and one photo of my 320's finished collection on the shelve in concluding.

Another one nice 134! Weathering and flaps looks great, and your collection is impressive!

So, I can say that the work almost done. Today I've finished with the last small details such as reg numbers on the landing gear flaps and lights on the front landing gear. Now it looks like that: As you can see it's really too shiny surface after three layers of Future. (Two of them prior plus one after decals) So the final touch will be semi-matt lacquer. For that purpose I usually use the mix of 5% Tamiya X-21 flat base with Pledge Future. And next free days I plan to take photos and after that my 321 will be ready for flight to RFI And after the built is almost finished, I want to say a couple of words about decals. Really it's first time when I will not prise PAS-decal production. First, it's really too fragile, heavy to apply. But if this fact may be on my side and my crooked hands, the other one upset fact that there is no airplane names in the decal-sheet. All Aeroflot planes are named in tribute to different famous people of Russia/USSR such as scientists, actors, poets etc. And this one VQ-BEI is named after S. Korolev, the father of soviet space program. But PAS didn't provide any stencils with names in the sheet. So I'd to choose between plane with no any name, and another option was the name S. Kovalevskaya from out-of-box A-320 decal-sheet. I preferred incorrect name to no-name at all. And generally, I used a lot of A-320 decals instead of PAS because it's higher quality. Respects, tMikha.

No, I’ve never used AKAN productions. Though I’ve heard about this manufacturer. Sometimes it’s interesting to choose and mix colours, and later to compare result with prototype. Thank you!

YES, this is what we all used to name "the excellent result" - the additions and weathering are great! Congratulations and thank's for sharing!

Really nice-looking 777! Congratulations and thank you for sharing. And I agree, any mistakes are visible only if you know where to look. A stunning plane!

No, you are right, there is no beacons in 737 Zvezda kits (-800 or MAX as well) - I've built 3 kits and have one more in reserve. And one little correction - in 737-800 kit there are 3 types of wing-tips: one without winglet (for very early 737-800's), usual winglet (most common) and double winglet, that sometimes applied on 737NG (optional) This one is 737-800 with that double winglet: And this one is MAX winglet: You can see they are very similar, but a little different though. And sorry if I was some boring Respects, tMikha

So, finally I've started with decals. Generally, usually I used to follow the next sequence: first the technical inscriptions (as most boring part), then - doors, aircompany logos and inscriptions, and only last of all - the main logos on tail for finished pictureof my work. But this time I've changed procedure. First are orange lines over border of colours - because that's was most important moment. Than logos of Aeroflot on the tail. If this stage would be successful, I'm ready for further work. Another way there is no reason to apply small details. Here is first results after tail-logos and orange strips. Yes, there are some disadvantages here. Decal from PAS was too fragile, and there are some damage during applying. But after all, I can say it's successfully done work for my skill. BTW it was very usefull thing that I have a lot of parts of AFL decals from previous A-320 (that become my A-320 "Aero Traffic") - now than decal is necessary to fix some problems with decal from PAS. Totally - I can resume that out-of-box Zvezda decal for Aeroflot (for A-320) is higher quality that one from PAS-decals. And next day I've continued with the decals. Now it's time for cargo and passengers doors, big logos of Aeroflot and Skyteam. And only after that all I'll apply small technical inscriptions. Tomorrow plan is to finish with decals (finally!!!) and to cover model with another one layer of Future for protection. Respects, tMikha.

Thank you! Yes, sometimes it's useful to explore some small details by yourself, that usually you can't find on photographies from internet. And you hit right on the bull's-eye about upper part of fuselage. As i've said there is eternal discussion on RUS model sites about "the only one REAL and AUTHENTIC" new Aeroflot colour. And though there are many recipes of it. Usually the main base is light-gray covered with thin layer of metallic or with some pearl lacquer. But in my case I've prepared mix by my eye from MR.Hobby H-1 white + just a little bit of H-77 )tire black). The result was usual light-gray that I use often for wings (for example). And then I started to add Master-Acrylic Aluminium (#06) little by little. The interesting thing was that first time the paint had remained usual light-gray. And only after I've mixed about maybe 25% of aluminium, some metallic gloss had appeared between usual gray. Also I suppose if MAKR-aluminium isn't available, it can be replaced with other one from Mr.Hobby or Tamiya etc. What about bottom part - most model-builders have opinion that it's one of deep-blue or royal-blue variants. In my case that's MAKR royal blue. It's good enough for airbrush but extremely fragile before covered with lacquer. Now it's under one layer of Future and looks like that: Maybe not that one of "REAL AND AUTHENTIC", but not so bad for me Hope this info will be useful for you! Regards, tMikha.

Hello again! Today I want to show only a few but important progress: masking tape on the fuselage was applied and deep-blue colour was painted. And a few words about method that I've used to mask the fuselage. So first I had some transparent parchment paper. Usung pencil I've copied forms of orange strips on that paper and cut them off. Also for more exact match with real plane I've studied how orange strips are situated on the fuselage of A-321. Fortunately, I can use my working-status and take almost any photo of Aeroflot planes, that I need Silver-orange-blue under the wing: And the same border of colours from the right side, taking in account the location of orange strip over last PAX window and baggage-cargo doors: And one more on the nose part: Also a few words about Aeroflot colours. If you'll read Zvezda's instruction for A-320 (they provide that kit with Aeroflot decals out-of-box) you shure will smile and put it away That's because in scheme aluminium Master-Acrylic is recommended colour for upper side of plane and #58 blue - for bottom side. That's completelu incorrect, first - blue colour on the tale is very deep, much deeper than usual #58 acrylic looks. Actually, I've used MAKR #47 royal blue once again (it's interesting fact but I use this colour "in any incomprehensible situation" and more or less it really suits And another story about upper part of the fuselage. It's really complicated colour, but first that I can say in's not an aluminium at all! I've looked at it in day-time and at night, under cloudy weather and under bright sunshine. And I can describe it like "light-gray colour with impurity of a few metallic dust-pieces. That makes it usual gray when there is night-time and only artificial lightning. But when it's really much of light in summer day, the surface shines like it's covered with metallic. One close up photo of surface under sunshine for example: So when I've decided what AFL colour looks like, I've mixed light-gray colour with some chrome silver #63 (MAKR as well) and diluted it with vodka. And YES, this time I've saved some ready mixture for further days if I'll need to repair surface anywhere So this photo with strips of masking tape applied. Model is already covered with my variant of AFL gray. and with Royal-blue painted on the bottom part: Today I'll continue with painting of the wings, horizontal stabilisers, pylons of the engines e t.c. Respects, tMikha.