English Electric Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 On 8/5/2019 at 6:01 PM, Aardvark said: Blue & Green nothing extraordinary....but "flash"....on my mobile I see this mould as pink or pale purple. Maybe this plastic was weathering and fresh he was violet ? Then "the color range of castings of BFI, plastic of a very unusual violet color, the end of the 1980s." http://retromodels.ru/f415-bell-p-39-airacobra/ B.R. Serge Looking closely at it last night I'd have to say it's always been this 'flesh' colour, like a very very light salmon pink. Anyway, it's workable, unlike some lovely Soviet plastics, so I'm not complaining! Main fuselage filled and sanded last night and am now preparing the canopy for fitting and masking. The two 'car' doors have also been added - these are clear parts, with the window at the top needing masking off. The main canopy is in two sections - the bubble at the back and the more complex part at the front. The only usable canopy of the three kits is the blue one. The other two are either damaged or just so opaque as to be a write off. So yes, masking. I'm going to attempt - foolishly - liquid masking for the first time. I have a bottle of MicroMask and a bottle of Maskol. Any tips or suggestions? All are welcome, believe me. I just want a quick build and I don't want to go down the whole tape route. Finally - wheel wheels zinc chromate yellow-green and main gear legs etc bronze green? Sound ok? If I get this sorted I'll dip into my box of bagged kits as there's Frogs galore in there, including a P-82 I do believe best wishes Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aardvark Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 2 hours ago, English Electric said: bottle of MicroMask and a bottle of Maskol. Any tips or suggestions? MicroMask from Microscale it's , as for my, PVA with blue pigment. They say that his only advantage is that he does not harm acrylic paint and it can be cut when dry. But it is poorly applied, there may be strong adhesion, is poorly visible on the model and poorly removed. MicroMask from Microscale don't like me. Maskol from Humbrol it's liquid rubber containing and diluting ammonia. Since it is believed that ammonia is harmful to acrylic paint, Maskol can destroy acrylic paint, also it is badly cut. But Maskol good applied & good removing as for my. Duration of MicroMask from Microscale preservation is higher than Maskol from Humbrol. B.R. Serge 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 6 hours ago, English Electric said: So yes, masking. I'm going to attempt - foolishly - liquid masking for the first time. I have a bottle of MicroMask and a bottle of Maskol. Any tips or suggestions? I use micromask quite a bit, my only suggestion is to do two or three coats. I learned the hard way on an Hasegawa F-16D canopy that if you only use one you will have to strip everything and repaint. Micromask even with the blueish tint settles due to gravity down the sides of the canopy. Leaving the top very thin and spotty. So i wait about 8-12 hours to make sure it is dry. Then i apply a second coat & wait again. Once its dry you can paint over it. To remove i use the tip of my scriber to pick a corner up then i use very strong tack paint to pull it up. These both have the mask on them, the 1st one i just gave up trying to get it into the little cornerson the windscreen so i will have to go back and hand paint the light and grey colors. With the japanese one in 1/48 it was easy to get it into the fine corners so the whole canopy is still clear. My last suggestion is to try it on one of the bad canopies first for practice, tape off the inside and mask the outside. This way you wont get over spray. I hope this helps ? Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 I'd say that Maskol needs two coats as well, mostly to avoid paint finding any shrinkage to creep under. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 10, 2019 Author Share Posted August 10, 2019 (edited) And it was all going so well... Well I found the weakness of the kit - the canopy. I think that if this had been moulded perfectly, it would have been a nightmare to get right, but with the warped and brittle USSR mouldings, it's a positive horror. It's the same with the Wellington canopies as well... anyone who has a Frogspawn Wimpey will know exactly what I mean Of the three kits only one had usable glazing, the other two were write offs or were too damaged to use. I've micromeshed, Kleared and Micromasked the usable ones and they've come up just about OK, but I'm not happy. On wards and upwards I guess... Note the gaps between doors and canopy FROG actually got fine detail on the moulds though... no heavy framing here, they did a nice job! The alternatives... the one from the right is off the green kit, the one on the left from the pink one Edited August 10, 2019 by English Electric 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 This multi-coloured Frog kit is in desperate need of some primer. I'm sure that will lift your spirits a bit. Keep going EE, it's coming up quite well in these photographs. Have you actually decided on a colour scheme as yet? Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Hi EE, as Dave said you are very nearly there and once primed you will be spurred on. Great work so far. Keep up the good work All the best Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 A quick squirt of primer and it will look great. Those other sets of transparencies aren't very pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Keep up the good work. Even with the issues I think it will be a good model if you paint it well. I've said it before and I will say it again. It's a Frog not a Prince... 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 You're totally right guys and to that extent, it's received its first coat of primer last night. I filled the gaps in the glazing with Krystal Klear and I think it's done the job. I'm hyper nervous that the Micro Mask won't have done its job ok... but I've bitten the bullet and sprayed regardless. I've also realised I haven't put any nose weight in. Am I going to need it, and have I just committed a classic schoolboy error? One thing that's struck me is that I can now see the panel lines more clearly, and I have to say that I think this actually beats the Heller version. It's a really nice little kit and deserved a much better fate than befell it. they're raised, but very subtle, and there's a nice amount of detail in there. I'm building this in parallel with the Airfix Whirlwind hence I'm dividing my time - that's for one of its pilots, George Wood, so I want to get a wiggle on with that for obvious reasons. Decals? I dug out a beautiful Authentic Decals lend-lease sheet, so it's going as a VVS example, which is only apt, don't you think. Pics later when home from work. best as ever, Chris 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 (edited) 17 minutes ago, English Electric said: I've also realised I haven't put any nose weight in. Am I going to need it, and have I just committed a classic schoolboy error? As ive built probably 20 p-39's since i was a young'n. Id say u most definitely need weight in an Cobra, they are definitely tail sitters. I still have an Eduard cobra I'm disgusted with, because i cant get anymore weight into it and shes popping a wheelie. You should be able to get weight into the nose via the prop opening ? Just pack it in as much as you think the nose gear can stand. Edited August 12, 2019 by Corsairfoxfouruncle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 9 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: As ive built probably 20 p-39's since i was a young'n. Id say u most definitely need weight in an Cobra, they are definitely tail sitters. I still have an Eduard cobra I'm disgusted with, because i cant get anymore weight into it and shes popping a wheelie. You should be able to get weight into the nose via the prop opening ? Just pack it in as much as you think the nose gear can stand. Doh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 47 minutes ago, English Electric said: Decals? I dug out a beautiful Authentic Decals lend-lease sheet, so it's going as a VVS example, which is only apt, don't you think. Absolutely agree, it will make the plane! Looking forward to seeing the pics. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 It does look very finely moulded with delicate detail. Given that the undercarriage bay is closed up I wonder if you could drill out the propeller backplate and put weight in through there. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 13, 2019 Author Share Posted August 13, 2019 42 minutes ago, AdrianMF said: It does look very finely moulded with delicate detail. Given that the undercarriage bay is closed up I wonder if you could drill out the propeller backplate and put weight in through there. Regards, Adrian I think that's got to be the only option now. I could really kick myself!! It really is a lovely little thing, if you can do grab one Adrian, I'm sure you'd make a cracking job of it! Primer revealed some small areas of attention so am sanding a bit and then repriming tonight. On a diffferent tack in keeping with the vintage feel of this build I've rummaged through the paint drawer and emerged with some suitably vintage paints... Humbrol 155, Humbrol HU 3, 81 for the wheel wells and 25 for the fin flash and spinner! Hehe! Being old humbrol I'm not foreseeing any major spraying issues! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Slight delay. I snapped the nozzle of my trusty Iwata... ho hum. Need it re-threaded I think... Watch this space, shouldn't be too long! C 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 8 hours ago, English Electric said: Slight delay. I snapped the nozzle of my trusty Iwata... ho hum. Need it re-threaded I think... Watch this space, shouldn't be too long! C Good luck with that - I dropped one last week - it squished the end, and though I managed to ease the fold out, the atomisation isn't great now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 27, 2019 Author Share Posted August 27, 2019 We're back in business... she's received a top coat of Hu155 olive drab and Authentics Neutral Grey underneath. Needless to say both 20 year old+ tins of Humbrol performed beautifully. The 155 sprays particularly well. Pics tonight 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted August 27, 2019 Author Share Posted August 27, 2019 (edited) Here we go people... Happy with this so far... C Edited August 27, 2019 by English Electric 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 Very nice, looks great, glad you got your Airbrush sorted. Keep up the good work All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 Ahhhh varnishing and decaling. Had a bit of a mare with this one as initially sprayed with Tamiya Gloss... normally it worls like a dream, but this time had some delightful blooming to deal with. Ho hum, after that used neat Klear, but I'm still a bit miffed as there's a slight element of scaliness (maybe) So... onwards to the lovely aftermarket Insignia Decals sheet for the P-39. All good, yes? No. This comes complete with a plethora of fine line stencils and thin white bands for the scheme I chose - all of which broke up instantly on the backing sheet like Novo decals. Suffice to say that the others behaved the same which is why the serial looks wonky (it broke into three on each side), and there's about six stars less on the kill tally... won't be using them again then! I'm starting the other bits now - u/c, prop etc... then I'm going to try and remove the masking. Pray for me people. Anyway, here we are... I know there's slight overspray on the wheel wells but I'll be touching that up soon. C 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Looking good EE, shame you had issues with the decals, however it seems you’ve overcome most of them. Nice looking P-39. Cheers.. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Hi EE Did you get this one finished, it was looking the business when we last heard from you. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English Electric Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 Hi Pat, It still is... gear on, prop on, etc etc, just needs the masking fluid taking off the canopy etc but I'm damned if I can work out how to do it... terrified I might have knackered it up tbh! I'll have another go tonight, as I'm desperate to finish it as well! C 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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