specky Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Hi guys, since I appear to have a surprisingly large number of starter sets in my stash, it would be rude not to give this a go... .....and since there's no silver paint to try and brush, should be a piece of cake! More to follow Craig Edited March 25, 2016 by specky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Having signed up for this, it occurs to me that I have some questions that, maybe, I should have asked before Can we dip the canopies? Can we use masking tape? Can we use decal solutions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Hi specks I am going to get the rules up later but dipping canopies is a no and the same with decal solutions sorry but a bit of masking tape, a knife, sandpaper and cutters,yes. Sorry if it sounds harsh but we're going back to basics on these And don't forget don't start yet lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) Hi specks I am going to get the rules up later but dipping canopies is a no and the same with decal solutions sorry but a bit of masking tape, a knife, sandpaper and cutters,yes. Sorry if it sounds harsh but we're going back to basics on these And don't forget don't start yet lol Thanks for the clarification - gosh, this really is 'old skool' isn't it? Now I'm really starting to fret about the 'sharks mouth'! No worries, I always pay attention to the start date - although I do, sometimes, get the start time wrong! Cheers Craig Edited March 14, 2016 by specky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 New airfix decals are pretty good I have 1 to do as well so we'll share the pain lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Masking Tape? In my day we used sellotape or brown parcel tape. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 16, 2016 Author Share Posted March 16, 2016 Masking Tape? In my day we used sellotape or brown parcel tape. Back when I was 9 or 10, with eyes like an eagle and no years of coffee induced tremors, it was all 'free-hand' - but I need all the help I can get now! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Hi guys, since I'm still up and about, it seems rude to ignore this. I've relocated this build to the coffee table in my lounge to avoid the temptation of Tamiya Extra Thin, Perfect Plastic Putty, enamel paints and so on, but as I don't have a tray, I'm afraid I'll be slumming it with an off-cut of MDF. Sprues were soaked in soapy water last night but now I seem to have mislaid the transparencies, so if they've fallen on the floor, first thing I'll know about it is when I stand on them! Plan is to splash a bit of paint around the interior, but not too much (those pots look awfully small) so in the morning, I can crack-on with nailing it together - which might be easier than using 'tube' glue! More to follow Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 The paint actually goes quite a long way, especially if you thin it, which you'll need to do anyway. Best way to deal with the tube glue is to put a puddle of it down on a bit of foil or a bottle cap or whatever, then use a toothpick etc to transfer it to where you want it. Same procedure for long joins, the working time is long enough to give you time to get around the edge. If you don't quite make it, a quick second coat seems to revitalise things, and you can get on with joining parts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Nice tip well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptormodeller Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Wait.... The RAF used the Mustang? I do need to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 (edited) Hi guys. Despite taking the precaution of reading the wip's from the previous Starter Set GB, I really wasn't prepared for just how 'evil' these paints really are! Thinned with water, the 'snake-skin' effect is really not what I was looking for... ....although it does, eventually, cover, the issue is 'surface tension'(?). A drop of washing-up liquid into the 'thinner' (aka water) jar kills that and allows it to cover without 'beading' as can be just about seen on the other blades. I'll wait for an adjudication from the mods as to the legality of this 'tweak'. I've also had to move back into the 'man-cave' after a paint spill - 'top tip' number 1 : cut that stupid plastic hinge between lid and pot - if you don't, it will tip over! More to follow Craig Edited March 19, 2016 by specky 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 It would appear that dazdot isn't available to make a ruling today and since Dave_R and myself have the same idea about finishing in 1 day, I'm going to continue with the 'detergent trick' Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 OK, before I break for some lunch.... ....IP decal badly positioned but by the time I noticed, it was too late to move it. But no loss, when closed-up, it disappears. With some soap, the dark grey, green & black are working reasonably well, but the pale grey is still pants I neglected to take a snap of the 'pit before closing - sorry! and I seem to have run out of space for more pegs on the fuselage whilst the glue dries. I had forgotten how frustrating it is waiting for this stuff to go off More later Craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 great stuff and picked up some tips! What are you doing thinning wise - 50/50%? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh65 Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Can't see anything with the washing up liquid, it's readily available thing for pretty much anyone. I'll take advantage of it as the jag is larger than the last starter set I did so the paint will have to stretch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Hi guys great stuff and picked up some tips! What are you doing thinning wise - 50/50%? Yes Tim, about 50/50. Multiple, thin coats until you get the coverage you want is working on the smaller parts/areas, but we'll soon find out how that works on the big stuff!! Can't see anything with the washing up liquid, it's readily available thing for pretty much anyone. I'll take advantage of it as the jag is larger than the last starter set I did so the paint will have to stretch. Thanks for the vote of confidence! Just a drop of detergent to break the surface tension has transformed the way these paints perform, especially over bare plastic. After a really late one last night & early start this morning, after some lunch I just couldn't keep my eyes open & had to go and lie down so a finish in 24 hours is not going to happen. But I'm still moving forward Wings are just dry-fitted at the moment and look pretty good. Overall, the fit of this kit has been spot-on which is pretty much essential when you don't have access to 'proper' filler. The tube glue can be used, but takes ages to dry. Aiming to get assembly finished and maybe one exterior colour on tonight and finish tomorrow. Cheers Craig 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 Hi guys, so, 23 hours and change later, construction is complete, just paint then add the 'sticky-out' bits! This was not a good weekend to try and build a model, start to finish, with it being the start of the new F1 season - too many distractions! But I'm happy with the results so far. It looked good on the sprues and having worked with it, its now, definitely, my 'go to' D-version in 1/72. Which puts me in a bit of a dilemma - if the acrylic looks awful tomorrow, I may be compelled to withdraw it from the GB, strip the paint and finish it, properly, with enamels More to follow Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 Good stuff Craig. I build the airfix p51 out of the box in a weekend and it's lovely to put together As for the acrylics have a bit of faith and water they'll be fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 20, 2016 Author Share Posted March 20, 2016 Hi guys. I carried on for a 1/2 hour or so last night to see how the pale grey, the least co-operative of the colours, would perform..... ....and I have to say that I am not too unhappy with it! It still needs a good few coats yet and I will be adding a touch of dark grey to the mix and pick out random panels as is the 'trendy' thing to do, but based on how its going, I will see this to a finish. More to come Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 That looks good to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Hi guys, so, having failed miserably to finish this over a weekend, I decided to spend a bit of time 'making good' a couple of areas that were troubling me before I went too much further with paint - specifically the still visible joints on the top engine cowling and the ventral radiator air intake. Fortunately, the tube glue does a decent impression of 'filler' and as long as its applied in thin layers, dries to the point that it can be shaped in not much more than an hour. The paint, though, is still awful..... .....just about visible from these images is my approach to painting the exterior. Working around the airframe, 'blocking in' random panels until its all covered seems to be doing the trick and develops the 'patchwork' appearance that I'm a huge fan of! Its getting there, slowly but surely! Cheers for now Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazdot Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Good stuff Craig. I like the patchwork idea it's setting it of nicely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Ditto on the patchwork effect. Coming along really nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specky Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Hi guys and gals, O dear, I appear to have seriously underestimated just how dark the 'ocean grey' is... ...more coats of green I think, but at least its going on quite nicely! More to come Craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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