SaintsPhil

Morning all, I have been back into modelling for about 6 months now and I've picked up loads of new techniques, mostly from here, but one thing I really struggle with is applying a wash to painted parts to bring out the detail. I use acrylic paints, and I tend to just water down a suitable colour and apply it liberally with a brush to said parts, usually undercarriage legs and bays or cockpit etc. I have had limited success with this and tend to find it just looks dirty all over. Having looked at a few WIP I find in most of the builds it looks fantastic, nothing like mine! Can anyone suggest some tips I can try to improve what I'm doing? This seems to be the one thing I'm not getting any better at! I don't expect perfection but some improvement would be nice! Thanks Phil

They look fantastic! My original interest still stands put me down for 2! Phil

Yeah I got a few 1/48 harriers that one would look good hung under!

Welcome! I did the same, come here for advice, not buy a lightning from eBay! Try the tools and tips section of the site, loads of articles there. Also try YouTube there are some great videos. Maybe try some more specific questions as well though, like first of all preparing the parts, removing them from the sprue, cleaning and sanding, dry fitting etc. Some very knowledgeable people out there! Most of all have fun! Phil

They look interesting, especially as I use Vallejo paints in the main, but the link doesn't work for me!

This looks fantastic! Nice to see the option to either sensored or uncensored versions off the afghan jet! I feel it's my duty to support airfix by buying at least 3 of these, well that's how I'll get it past the girlfriend anyway! Well done airfix, long may the revival continue! Phil

Looks great! I've got one of these, plus the flightpath set to build. I'll be happy if it comes out half as well! What are the intake covers? Is it masking tape? Phil

That looks really good! I've been contemplating getting one of these, partly for the challenge and partly as they seem to go much cheaper than the fujimi kits! I assume you did a full rescribe? Or is it not raised detail? Phil

Do you know if the revell kit it the same as the dragon kit? I have the dragon one but the fit was poor so haven't finished it. I still have the decals though...I might get one and use these decals

I use Vallejo air as a beginner as it's pre mixed for spraying. I can't fault it, other than the lack of colours in the range. I've use Xtracrylics and tamyia, both with their own thinners, when model air colours aren't available. These both spray very well, once I got used to the thinner paint ratio, just takes practice! Interestingly I find the model air paint brush paints well too! I find tamyia paint dry very quickly on the brush, you can use their thinners to help, as I believe it has a retarding agent in it. Have fun trying them! Phil

Hi, Lovely job so far! I read a bit about this a while ago and stumbled on this link: http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories/victo...aq-gulf.war.pdf Maybe of some use! Phil

I've done it by soaking over night in IPA. It didn't do any harm to clear parts, but you can always do a trial on a bit of spare sprue.

I picked up mark 1 guide in 1/72 slightly cheaper than hannats on eBay. Only a couple of quid but that'll get you one more tonka!

As you say there was another thread with 1/144 tornados in, I think you're short 2 or 3 from that. I've also got a dragon firebirds double set with the decals for the display aircraft. Don't forget of course the mark 1 guide is out in 1/144 with another few decal options!!

Is it too late to sign up? I've got loads of special scheme tornados I'd like to get built! Probably have to be 1/72 to get it built over the dates as I'll be limited how much modelling I can do over the summer! I might do the 50th anniversary orange german IDS from the Mark one guide! Phil

As a novice my self I recommend the Vallejo air paints as above, they come pre thinned and are great! The only thing is that the range is limited and I have issues with the metallic blocking my AB, probably just me! A practice kit is a great suggestion. I came back to modelling after a break and didn't have anything to practice on, dived straight in with a 1/48 eurofighter and ruined it! So got s bunch of 1/144 kits to practice on! Cheap and fun to build! To clean the AB I use the Vallejo cleaner and water, I usually clean most of the paint away with water then use the cleaner to get any stubborn dry paint out. I got a great DVD with my AB which showed me how to strip it down and clean it. Similar videos ate out therein you tube. Best advise from one novice to another is have a go! But ding expect miracles first off, although after a few kits I'm pretty happy with my results! Phil

I've got plenty of 1/144 need building so I'm in with one or maybe 2 revell harriers Phil

I've not done a GB before but could be a good one to start with! Where do we sign up?

Very nice! What's the base? The little 1/144 kits are great I bought a bunch thinking they would be quick practice getting back into it again....

That is indeed the sheet! Sheets 109 and 110 I have, can't remember which on it was on!

Are you sure there's a TIALD in the revell kit? I've got a couple and not seen one! There's some other pods, I think for the German variants in there which aren't used. I've got a couple of gulf decal sheets which have some loadout info on. If my printer is working I could scan in the info sheets that come with them and email you a copy of you PM me your email addy. Phik

Thanks for the kind comments guys!

I'd be interested in a couple of sets, maybe more!

Hi all, This is my first RFI, these are my first 2 kits I've finished, and I think are of a reasonable standard to post! I like a bit of a back story to my subjects and I was drawn to the Jag, listening to guys at work chat about an old collegue whose brother flew then during the first Gulf War. When they were training during the build up they used to make low level passes over the site. This guy would get a call 30 mins before and they would all head up on to the roof to get a fly over! They couldn't remember which one he flew, but I'm a viz fan so XX725 with the Johny Fart Pants nose art stood out to me! While doing a bit of background reading I found out the aircraft flew in Kosovo providing designation for the Harriers so as I had aquired a few kits I decided to build 2! The Gulf kit is the Revell/Italeri offering and the other is the Hasegawa kit, plus Resin drop tanks and the Pavla undercarridge bays and gun bay. These are for the A version so I suspect the gun bay is not exactly correct. Both kits have also used bits from the excellent Flightpath set, plus I got a PP aero set of airbrakes from Evilbay for the Revell kit. Both are 1/72 by the way! Both kits got are ok, Revell has a worse fit in someplaces, I'm no expert in the detail! Both airbrushed with acrylics, Xtracrylics and Vallejo model air. Weathing with the excellent Floy modellers washes. Right enough rambling on with the pics! All over grey as seen in Kosovo circa 1995 As seen in First Gulf war, fairly warn overall Desert Pink Any suggestions for improvements grately recived! Things I learnt from this build: Test fit, test fit again and again then use glue! Don't fit tiny PE parts until the end, otherwise you end up making them from plasticard! You can add too much After market. Rescribing is not easy (hence no pics of the under side of the desert pink variant!) Thanks for looking Phil

Which of their primers do you use? The Vallejo air (dark grey) or the polyurethane lighter grey one? I airbrush with the model air primer, with an H&S no problem at all. I don't use thinners with it but I do add the drying retarder, if I'm priming a large area, say a whole aircraft. Also have a look at the tips on the Vallejo website it mentions on there to keep a bit of tissue soaked in airbrush cleaner handy to wipe the tip every so often. I personally use a cotton bud as it fits inside the needle gaurd nicely. I normally clean the tip before I start spraying if I've paused for any amount of time.