silverburn

ahah, therein lies the snag...no airbrush! I got the klear for dipping my glass to be honest.

Mainly tinkering today, while I wait for bits (canopies and exhausts)...I've been "asked" not to weather this one afterall, give it looks good as is, so it's a green light to: - Yellow-tip and dark-wash the props - Add aerials and other breakables - Paint red boxes on the wing guns - scratch build some 20mm (ok, ok...I only cut some small metal pipe, and glued them into drilled holes in the gun bays) - soot on guns applied (more needed on the 20mm's...they're rubbish just now) - other bits and bobs Still hunting for torpedos and rockets before I can move it to "Ready for Inspection"....

I might give that a go - sounds like a good idea! I might even look up some panel line diagrams for the real Beau too.

I might just do that! Picked some up at B&Q this morning ("new formula" though...dunno what that means). Wotcha recon - will brushing on work ok? Will it "streak" if I do? I'll do a test on a belly fin.

Lots done today... ...and the significant news is the technique used to "paint" the bodywork. Essentially I saw it here, and was so impressed, I thought I'd give it a go...and wow, the results are pretty damned impressive in my opinion! Poor man's method it may be, but it's certainly effective! Here's how it works... Spray with black. I've done this on separate parts, because I didn't want to be rubbing on a complete model, and end up breaking bits. Using a finger, use a tiny amount, and very lightly rub a coat on: Repeat until you have the level of silver/weathering required! Fantastically controllable...have some areas "like new", and others "dirty". Use a dry cloth to buff certain areas if you want them properly shiny. Perfect for the lightning, which gets dirty on the belly, and under the wings. Stick them together, and bingo, you get this! Believe me, the photo's don't do the effect justice...I have a fantastically dirty lightning! Too dirty in fact...another coat tomorrow I recon. The only snag I have is how to seal it...It will need a laquer, but what one can I use that will not "dull" the silver effect? I've tried Montana Gold and Humbrol Gloss laquers, and that ruined it...so now I'm stuck! Any deas, chaps?

We're on the final leg now... Laquer on and Decals on...Decals are showing their age - they're practically transparent compared to the ones in my modern Ju88 kit! Engines in... And we're almost there! I've started experimenting with a whiteboard wotsit to try and improve my photos. To do: - exhausts - prop tips - continue weathering (only just started on engine intakes & prop leading edges) - Drill out & add some belly gun barrels - Soot. - "breaky bits" to glue. Here the look I'm after: And my efforts to match it, so far! I'm waiting for my canopy (the OOB ones are just blu-taced in place for now) and exhausts to arrive in the post, and I desperately need to find a 1:32 torpedo and 8 rockets & rails. I really do need some advice from the group though - should I weather this, and if so how do you "age" a plane which is very "clean" (ie no real panel detail)?

Absolutely brilliant - hope mine turns out as nice! I see you've got the rocket launchers...scavenged from another kit! Perchance you know who does them aftermarket? I'm looking for some for mine.

Just a quick edit - for those looking to replicate the d-day stripes, the sizes are nearly perfect, if you make each stripe 20mm wide...or 2 strips of 10mm Tamiya masking tape. I couldn't believe the co-incidence - saved a whole load of pain getting accurate masks otherwise!

Ironically, I actually did that before priming (forgot to say), and you're right - they come back great! You can actually see them in place - look to the horizontal lines near the centre line, between the pilot and the gunner. And the ones round the gunner himself. They're new they are! It worked so well in fact, I was almost ready to go into Rivet-counting mode going round scribing all the panels that were missing (surely can't have been this smooth surfaced in real life...). AMS? I'm almost scared to ask what that means and what the symptoms are...in case I recognise it. Denial is under-rated anyway...

More progress.... Filled, sanded and primed. Chose to forego pre-shading given the rattle cans I have right now lay it on far too thick; one coat at it would be buried. So...Sanded and smoothed (that line on the cabin is actually paint, not a gap). Primed.... Underside done (Montana Gold - Shock White Creme) Topside done (Montana Gold - Steel grey) D-day stripes on! ** EDIT - Added another d-day stripes pic. ** These were pretty time consuming, and I've not finished yet (ran out of white). Basically: - Mask off *all* 5 stripes - Remove 1 set and spray - Swap around - Spray the other colour - Repeat for each panel. I've still got the undersides to do, and I have the fun job of matching them up to the topside! All in all though, I actually rathered enjoyed it...the results are excellent (bar a little white creep on the fuselage ones). I'd have preferred recessed lines though (this model has raised lines) - the masking works better that way. You can make out tiny imperfections on these - but you can't see it on the photos - they really are small.

Hi there, I see you're having the same wing strength problems as me - i seem to have found a very sturdy way of doing it here. It's an F2/F6 though. If it helps, I can tell you the length of bars I used? However, I'm going OOB, so nowhere near as good as this one ...my wheel bays didn't interfere, but you've "relocated" yours? Excellent attention to detail btw...looking forward to seeing it finished!

Another update... I got impatient, and chose to forego the cockpit etch. I doubt much would have been visible anyway, and I was on a roll with the "engineering" side of things with lightning, so I thought I'd glue in the pit, and undertake the task of dread - glueing my very warped fuselage together, and to the wings. And...unbelievably...it turned out ok. An ocean of superglue was required admittedly, as was the patience of a saint, but it all came together, and pretty much straight. Only three panel gaps that need filling, and a really, really small deviation in the tailplane. How on earth it worked I'll never know - I seriously thought I was doomed. With that out the way, I recon it's downhill from here. So with that in mind, I'll leave it open to you guys....what armaments & colour scheme should I run? The only restriction I have is the d-day stripes. I'm thinking 2 x 4 rockets & a torpedo, and the following scheme: I recon I can scavenge a torpedo from a Swordfish 1:32 (which I might buy anyway). But the rockets are the challenge...any ideas?

More progress. Working mainly on the pit and strengthening. The Pit: I'll be honest - this is merely "ok", and I'm not at all happy with it. My dry-brushing wasn't that great, and the seat is actually broken (bottom half of one side missing from kit), so it sits slightly squint. My glueing wasn't great either, nor was my general finishing. A poor show. 3 out of 10. Anyway, it's in, and that's that. Strengthening: Now this worked out a little better. From reading the problems other have had with mid-fuselage flexing, and poor wing attachment, I decided to see what I can do. Bill's forwarding the templates for 2 bulkheads to strengthen it, so I decided to tackle the wing issue in the meantime. A dry fit shows these are gonna be pretty bouncy at the best of times. So I scratch built (there's that word again! I must be a modeller now! ) some strengthening spars. Dead simple. Observe.... With the wings in-situ, I drilled 1 hole either side of the kits tabs, and right through to the wings, on both sides. Thus: Don't do too far obviously.... Then I got some steel bar from local model shop, and cut to a suitable length for each. I measured mine approximately, so that the bars hit the wing edges on both sides (means I won't need to glue them). I dryfitted one side, then the other. And viola! (Yes, I know you can see the squint seat from this angle...) Dead strong too; almost no give in the wings at all, and I've only dry fitted too. Will be better still once super-glued. I'm chuffed!

Yep, I've done that on the figures, and you're right - it picks out the details far better - especially around the face. They're not idea figures - the lifejacket isn't well defined, so it looks like I've painted a yellow jacket with leather sleeves...

Yes (many thanks btw)....and no! Yes - because it's the best picture I've found of the engine. No - because it shows that the kit engine is pure rubbish (particularly the exhaust layout), and that I've got the colours wrong! I figure the blue/grey is ok, and the black heads easy enough to do...but the exhausts will be interesting. You know what? I might leave it as is...unless I go for the resins afterall...which is looking more appearing, now I've seen the originals. Then again, if I'm going to be particular about the detail, then there's the pit to look at (although I have an etch coming for that), the wheel bays are woeful, and the rear gunner needs a gun. And how far do I take it? Hmmm. A conundrum indeed...

A day of modelling today...mostly painting! Pilots & engines....First time I've ever attempted people! Some naff leather & jean colours aside, I'm relatively pleased...ie I didn't make a complete dogs dinner of it! Then I had a quick look at some of the other classy work on the forum here, and realised..."ah - it's merely ok, not good". OOB engine close up...I've gone for Revell Steel, Brass, and some blue/grey thing. I'm hoping the brass on the exhausts will tone down once "washed". I have to confess...I like it. The brass is probably not accurate (but give the rest of the kit, I doubt anyone will notice!), but there you go. I think the steel & blue/grey are fine. Engines dark-washed...and the brass didn't tone down. Oh well, never mind. Today's painting and washing in full... After the painting, I started on the task I was dreading (or one of them at least) - glueing the wings on. And as it turns out...it was ok in the end. A bit of brute force required with the tape holding the seams together while it sets. As long as the superglue holds, it should be ok. Puttying and filling will be much less than expected too!

Well, it's fighting me the whole way, but I *am* going to win... I've got the main fuselage together (dry fit), and it's not going to be too bad I recon! I will need to work in steps glue & drying, start from the tail, along the top section to the rear gunner position, then move onto the underbelly...secure it to the central wing section, then the nose and finally the section between the gunner and the cockpit itself. It'll take an age, but it is do-able...if I'm patient.

Wings are on the mend... A simple bit of sanding on the underside edge has brought them back into line. I need to do a bit of filling and serious glueing etc, but I recon these should be ok now. The fuselage is still gonna be interesting.

Good grief, this is going to be fun... Main Fuselage - WARPED! Check out the warp on the main fuselage...I'm open to suggestions how get this back in shape! I've read comments about hot/boiling water? Not sure how well that will work, given the amount it's out by. Having said that, it does all hang together in drying fitting; I'll just have to be patient that's all. Wing inner - WARPED! As you can see, I've had to lash this together tight; it was all over the place! Took me three attenpts to get the engine top sections to sit correctly, without massive fit gaps. Oh, and pic includes shots of the other bits on the go. Pit is even more woeful than expected; definitely needs an upgrade. Engines might do though..a bit of TLC, and these could come up ok! Wing outers - WARPED! I think the fun will really start when I try and match the fuselage up to the wing section. What a nightmare...checkout the angle of these! Surely that's not right??? Isn't the Beau a nearly straight wing? Also - both outers needed serious persuasion to stay together...one even had 7mm of daylight at the tip, appearing from 2cm in! That's a pretty mental warp... *** EDIT *** ie a bit like this: A slight angle on the official one, but way less than what I've got! Some work requires to bring the degree of angle down, I recon. It's gonna be a challenge before I even get to the aftermarket bits...oh yes...

Oops...I've just finished mine, and slapped both ASRAAM and AIM-9 on...though it has to be said, I did so purely for the cosmetics, rather than technical accuracy. Just found out I've not installed my ASRAAM incorrectly too - I need a launch rail as well. This is looking good JOoKIE! Where did you get the figure btw?

Thanks for the compliment - all of you! Re: ASRAAMs...I didn't know that..was that in the instructions? I have to confess to "winging it" on the home stretch, so must have missed that. Thanks for the heads up though - I might need it when I do the Revell 1/32 version (hints to wife...who's not got my xmas present yet....)

I stand corrected on both counts; I must have been thinking of 1/72 when I wrote 72 instead of 92! A 19th flying "all out"? He won't like that... This was his one btw...XN724. Bottoms closed...

No doubt - I've got a photo of my father-in-law climbing into his "L" (firestreaks in place), and the lowers are covered (as they're meant to be)...so that's the way I'm going. XN790 probably belonged to those cowboys from 72nd flying "all out" (as he likes to re-call ) PS forgot the photo! here it is: Oh and a minor diversion...this is the "portfolio" since I started modelling 2-3 months ago!:

Simple update... All the easy stuff is done. Only real problems are: - The undercarriage doors were a royal pain in the...errr....finger. This will be a "ceiling" model, so it will be in-flight. I had to repeatedly shave a sliver of the door entrances off, until the door fitted. And then I pushed one through too much, and the superglue set, with a slight ridge. Nothing a bit of putty and sanding didn't fix, but I sorely didn't want to do any sanding; I wanted to preserve the rivets and recess everywhere. - The air intake being too short, but I suspect that's not news to many watching this (or to me)...I suspect many are now nodding their heads sagely...or just crying... In other news - I have been reliably informed that the lower gun slots on the F2 (which this will be....though I won't be rivet counting) were only opened when the bird was missile-less. And since my father-in-law was on intercept duty, that was never. The RAF's ingenious solution to this policy was simply to fit slightly smaller aluminium plates over the gun barrels. Who needs hi-tech eh? Anyway, here's today's pic. I can barely get the thing onto an A2-sized cutting board...it's BIG!

Thanks! I can only imagine about the airbrush...it'll be a whole new learning curve, but worth it long term!! Can I order Future/Klear online anywhere?