FAA builds, 32nd Hawker Nimrod re started, Firefly Mk.5 now finished

[bigbadbadge]

6 hours ago, corsaircorp said:

Huh, I'm also sad about Humbrol and colourcoat..

But don't you worry, AK colors is brushing well too...

You gonna find a way !! I'm sure about that !!

Sincerely.

CC

Thanks CC, I will endeavour to keep the modelling going , I'm sure.

Thanks forr the heads up fella.

Chris

[bigbadbadge]

Hi all

Some slight progress. 

 

Firefly is getting together, fuselage halves joined and being fettled to make sure everything lines up, canopies being tested.

 

 

72nd Seafire Ib from KP being assembled

 

 

Eduard XVI with first coat of Humbrol Metalcote 27001 flat aluminium,  a bit of a so and so for coverage, it ended up having numerous coats brushed on and kept having to use a P cutter to re do the panel lines

 

Gettingvthere now, fuselage colour done and sorting some red for the Fuselage band, this is 4 coats so far, I prefer painting yellow than red!!!

 

Some decals started.  I also thought I would try a mask or two however I wasn't that impressed so will carry on as normal and painting frames and use a cocktail stick to clear any stray paint.

 

Crikey cockpit painted also

 

Thanks for looking in

Chris

[marvinneko]

Three simultaneously? Wow. 

[bigbadbadge]

3 hours ago, marvinneko said:

Three simultaneously? Wow. 

Hi David, yes, when you brush paint the drying times are longer, so I try and have a few on the go to save getting board waiting.

Chris

[keefr22]

All looking good Chris. I do like how the Spit 16 is looking (well tbh I like how they all look!)

 

As to paints, have you tried xtracolor? I guess being a gloss finish they may be more difficult to brush paint? I used to airbrush them a lot but hated the drying time. I then watched a youtube video where the builder used a few drops of Rustins paint dryer to slow the drying time down greatly - I wonder if with thinner and a drop or two of this stuff it could be usable for you? 

 

Hadn't heard the Humbrol news, seems a bit strange....

 

Keith

[bigbadbadge]

1 hour ago, keefr22 said:

All looking good Chris. I do like how the Spit 16 is looking (well tbh I like how they all look!)

 

As to paints, have you tried xtracolor? I guess being a gloss finish they may be more difficult to brush paint? I used to airbrush them a lot but hated the drying time. I then watched a youtube video where the builder used a few drops of Rustins paint dryer to slow the drying time down greatly - I wonder if with thinner and a drop or two of this stuff it could be usable for you? 

 

Hadn't heard the Humbrol news, seems a bit strange....

 

Keith

Thanks Keith,  the 16 has a nice scheme,  although there are several parts that are odd and I keep thinking I should fo what I would normally do with a Spitfire model.

I am wondering if it was painted HSS especially for the Cooper Air Race in 1949 as there are no walkway lines shown and the fin flashes appear to have been reversed too for this too.  I have seen a B&W image which bears the fin flashes out. I am wondering about the stencilling too and whether these were ovepainted also?

 

I have a few tins of Xtracolour msmly Roundel red and blue.  I have precision psints but they are mainly railway modelling related.

The Humbrol change is such a shame for the likes of me and the main FAA and RAF aircraft colours appear to have gone now over to acrylics.  I will have to get creative or learn  to use an airbrush 😬🙄

 

Chris

[keefr22]

7 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said:

learn  to use an airbrush

 

The rest of us will need to give up then, seeing how good you are with an hairy stick - there'd be no stopping you with an airbrush!

 

Seriously though, I don't think you'd regret it, although it's a pain with all the masking you have to do, and cleaning the damn things, I think you'd be very pleased with the results you'd get. 

 

Keith

[bigbadbadge]

46 minutes ago, keefr22 said:

 

The rest of us will need to give up then, seeing how good you are with an hairy stick - there'd be no stopping you with an airbrush!

 

Seriously though, I don't think you'd regret it, although it's a pain with all the masking you have to do, and cleaning the damn things, I think you'd be very pleased with the results you'd get. 

 

Keith

😄 ha ha no I think it's because you'd all be laughing so much with my efforts..😉

 

I have sprayed a couple of 1:1 vehicles when just restored them (and have the 914 to paint eventually), so maybe will give me the confidence to have a go?

 

Thanks fella

Chris

[corsaircorp]

9 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

😄 ha ha no I think it's because you'd all be laughing so much with my efforts..😉

 

I have sprayed a couple of 1:1 vehicles when just restored them (and have the 914 to paint eventually), so maybe will give me the confidence to have a go?

 

Thanks fella

Chris

Laughing ??

Oh no Sir certainly not....

I take a long time to use my airbrush and still I'm envious of some fellow modellers on here....

Xtracrylics are fine too, to me they have a really fine rendition of the british camo colors....

I mainly use it, but start turning to AK on account of the customs fees....

Are we going to finish a Firebug together ???

Sincerely.

CC

[keefr22]

10 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

I have sprayed a couple of 1:1 vehicles when just restored them (and have the 914 to paint eventually), so maybe will give me the confidence to have a go?

 

 

Me too, and believe me using an airbrush is simple after you've done that!

 

Like everything it takes a while to get used to it, and practice doesn't make perfect - personally at least I still get it wrong now and again ! - but it will let you get very good results - I'm sure you'd have no problems getting great paintjobs with one!

 

Keith

[bigbadbadge]

10 hours ago, corsaircorp said:

Laughing ??

Oh no Sir certainly not....

I take a long time to use my airbrush and still I'm envious of some fellow modellers on here....

Xtracrylics are fine too, to me they have a really fine rendition of the british camo colors....

I mainly use it, but start turning to AK on account of the customs fees....

Are we going to finish a Firebug together ???

Sincerely.

CC

Thanks CC , I think it will end up being a last resort to use an airbrush.   Thanks for the tip re Xtracrylics though.

We may end up not being too far apart onbthe Fireboxes but I think you will finish before me. 

 

8 hours ago, keefr22 said:

 

Me too, and believe me using an airbrush is simple after you've done that!

 

Like everything it takes a while to get used to it, and practice doesn't make perfect - personally at least I still get it wrong now and again ! - but it will let you get very good results - I'm sure you'd have no problems getting great paintjobs with one!

 

Keith

Thanks Keith, will have to see how long I can get enamels for, I suppose and then as a last resort start practicing.

I will not be able to spray in the house so will be building in winter and spraying in summer😄

 

Thanks guys

Chris

 

[marvinneko]

4 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

I will not be able to spray in the house so will be building in winter and spraying in summer😄

 

If you switch to acrylics, you can do it in the house.

[corsaircorp]

Totally !

These paints are mainly water based and the smell is really reduced....

David is right ....

Sincerely.

CC

[keefr22]

Talking of xtracrylics, I used to have real problems airbrushing them when thinned with water (& our tapwater is really soft, so that wasn't the issue) but then bought a bottle of their dedicated thinner and it really made a difference - but then it does smell more than water! It might also help with brushing them?

 

And even though water based acrylics are 'safer' than say laquers, you should still wear a mask and have some ventilation in the room when airbrushing them as there are still atomised paint particles around and they aint the best things to breath in!

 

Going back to enamels I meant to mention a range of paints I noticed a while ago that Dave Coley stocks (or sort of stocks, he doen't have any at the mo!) that come in dedicated sets like;

 

https://davecoleysemporium.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p11121_Arcus-enamels-3003-_FAA-WW2-Biplanes_-Paint-Set.html

 

https://davecoleysemporium.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p11120_Arcus-enamels-3002-_RAF-Operation-Neptune_-Paint-Set.html

 

....among others.

 

Might be worth dropping him an email to see if he's expecting restocks?

 

Keith

 

Edit: I just googled Arcus paints and Dave Coley has them listed on his ebay store! 

 

Eg - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266901714770?epid=7052730595&itmmeta=01J7JR2K55RACTHY90G2AGYCZ4&hash=item3e2494f752:g:i5sAAOSwWNJmkOOg

 

Might be worth a try?

[bigbadbadge]

17 hours ago, marvinneko said:

 

If you switch to acrylics, you can do it in the house.

Hmmm interesting,  thanks David

 

12 hours ago, corsaircorp said:

Totally !

These paints are mainly water based and the smell is really reduced....

David is right ....

Sincerely.

CC

Thanks CC,  will have to see, if the enamels dry up.

 

7 hours ago, keefr22 said:

Talking of xtracrylics, I used to have real problems airbrushing them when thinned with water (& our tapwater is really soft, so that wasn't the issue) but then bought a bottle of their dedicated thinner and it really made a difference - but then it does smell more than water! It might also help with brushing them?

 

And even though water based acrylics are 'safer' than say laquers, you should still wear a mask and have some ventilation in the room when airbrushing them as there are still atomised paint particles around and they aint the best things to breath in!

 

Going back to enamels I meant to mention a range of paints I noticed a while ago that Dave Coley stocks (or sort of stocks, he doen't have any at the mo!) that come in dedicated sets like;

 

https://davecoleysemporium.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p11121_Arcus-enamels-3003-_FAA-WW2-Biplanes_-Paint-Set.html

 

https://davecoleysemporium.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p11120_Arcus-enamels-3002-_RAF-Operation-Neptune_-Paint-Set.html

 

....among others.

 

Might be worth dropping him an email to see if he's expecting restocks?

 

Keith

 

Edit: I just googled Arcus paints and Dave Coley has them listed on his ebay store! 

 

Eg - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266901714770?epid=7052730595&itmmeta=01J7JR2K55RACTHY90G2AGYCZ4&hash=item3e2494f752:g:i5sAAOSwWNJmkOOg

 

Might be worth a try?

Oooooooo thanks ever so much Keith,  just had a look and will get a set or two.  That's brilliant thank you

Chris

[marvinneko]

8 hours ago, keefr22 said:

xtracrylics, I used to have real problems airbrushing them when thinned with water

 

FYI I bought 4 gallons of distilled water at the grocery store for something like $1. I use it to thin my acrylics and clean my airbrush.

[keefr22]

23 minutes ago, marvinneko said:

 

FYI I bought 4 gallons of distilled water at the grocery store for something like $1. I use it to thin my acrylics and clean my airbrush.

 

I also have distilled water, don't find it much different to our tap water with most acrylics, but it didn't help (me personally anyway) with xtracrylics 

 

Keith

 

 

[corsaircorp]

3 hours ago, keefr22 said:

 

I also have distilled water, don't find it much different to our tap water with most acrylics, but it didn't help (me personally anyway) with xtracrylics 

 

Keith

 

 

Agree...

I used Xtracrylics with water but the result is far better with their own thinner....

CC

[Karearea]

I need to check in here more often- the Spitfire is looking incredibly dapper, LOVE the jaunty '5' on the wing coupled with the red band. I think I recently made the same comment on yellow vs red, I absolutely loath painting red but that's down to my own hamfistedness.

[bigbadbadge]

22 hours ago, marvinneko said:

 

FYI I bought 4 gallons of distilled water at the grocery store for something like $1. I use it to thin my acrylics and clean my airbrush.

 

21 hours ago, keefr22 said:

 

I also have distilled water, don't find it much different to our tap water with most acrylics, but it didn't help (me personally anyway) with xtracrylics 

 

Keith

 

 

 

17 hours ago, corsaircorp said:

Agree...

I used Xtracrylics with water but the result is far better with their own thinner....

CC

Thanks guys.   I am going to try out the enamels Keith suggested  and also keep buying Humbrol enamels where I can as long as I can and will go to acrylics as a last resort. I will not surrender to the dark side just yet😉😄

 

13 hours ago, Karearea said:

I need to check in here more often- the Spitfire is looking incredibly dapper, LOVE the jaunty '5' on the wing coupled with the red band. I think I recently made the same comment on yellow vs red, I absolutely loath painting red but that's down to my own hamfistedness.

Thanks Karearea,  the jaunty 5 and red band over silver is what attracted me too.

The red is very awkward to paint .  I have added a few more decals but and going to leave this one quite a clean machine.  Very nearly finished the Spitfire now.

 

Thanks guys

Chris

 

[AliGauld]

Just had a catch up and am rather excited about the Firefly and the Kotare spit.

I'm sure you'll find some acceptable alternative to the paint problem.

Looking forward to this.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[bigbadbadge]

9 hours ago, AliGauld said:

Just had a catch up and am rather excited about the Firefly and the Kotare spit.

I'm sure you'll find some acceptable alternative to the paint problem.

Looking forward to this.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair

Thanks Alistair, hope you had a great time on your holibobs.

I am looking forward to the Kotare Spitfire especially.   Firefly being fettled still  but hopefully will progress soon. 

The paint hopefully will get sorted, I still have a lot of Humbrol etc  in the mean time.

Chris

 

[AliGauld]

2 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Thanks Alistair, hope you had a great time on your holibobs.

I am looking forward to the Kotare Spitfire especially.   Firefly being fettled still  but hopefully will progress soon. 

The paint hopefully will get sorted, I still have a lot of Humbrol etc  in the mean time.

Chris

 

Thanks Chris,

Got back last night.

Had a good time but it was really too hot for me averaging 38 degrees.

I'm Scottish and that's just torture after a while. 

 

Cheers,

Alistair

 

[bigbadbadge]

3 hours ago, AliGauld said:

Thanks Chris,

Got back last night.

Had a good time but it was really too hot for me averaging 38 degrees.

I'm Scottish and that's just torture after a while. 

 

Cheers,

Alistair

 

Crikey 38 degrees, that would do me in after a while and I'm in the tropical South East😉😃

[2996 Victor]

Hi Chris,

 

just having a bit of a catch-up with your production line  (I've had a post-house-move mojo slump, and done nowt in over two months..... ) so it's been fab to see what you've been doing.

 

The Sea Gladiator is just phenomenal. There's no other epithet worthy as far as I can see! Superb attention to detail and amazing finishing as always. The Malta Aviation Museum would be proud to have it on display!

 

Great work on the Eduard Spitfire - how are you finding it? I'm part-way through their Mk.I - its a great kit if a bit fiddly, so it'd be an interesting comparison. I love the alu' finish and the tail band. Fab start on the SH Firefly as well - another kit I'm quite tempted by so I'll be watching how it progresses.

 

All the best,

Mark