Its a Winner - 2007 JASDF ACM - FINISHED *****

[Johnson]

1 hour ago, Chrisj2003 said:

Fewer decals. 

Phew!

[Chrisj2003]

Heatshield and tailhook done in multiple enamels, bit of touch up needed to brake chute housing.

 

Chris

 

[Chrisj2003]

Another 2 hours at the bench; some of the stencils on one half of the underside on, hardly made a dent in the decal sheet, and that's before the special markings.

 

Chris

 

[Alan P]

This GB has really made me appreciate builds with no stencils on them 😂

 

Keep going, one week to go!

[Chrisj2003]

@Alan P I’m aiming for Christmas now. But not sure which year. 😀

 

Chris

[Johnson]

3 hours ago, Chrisj2003 said:

Another 2 hours at the bench; some of the stencils on one half of the underside on, hardly made a dent in the decal sheet, and that's before the special markings.

I know just how you feel, so do my eyes  !!!

[Chrisj2003]

That's another 3 sessions, and still not finished the underside. 😩 Partly constrained by not wanting the sheet to fall apart, so I am working from a point outwards.

 

At least these DXM decals are very easy to use and the orientation is clear on their instructions.

 

Chris

 

[helios16v]

On 11/14/2021 at 12:06 PM, Alan P said:

This GB has really made me appreciate builds with no stencils on them 😂

 

Keep going, one week to go!

I should've learned my lesson w/ my Luftwaffe RF-4E I finished last year.  But did I?  Oh hell no.  To the contrary they seem to be multiplying.  

[helios16v]

27 minutes ago, Chrisj2003 said:

That's another 3 sessions, and still not finished the underside. 😩 Partly constrained by not wanting the sheet to fall apart, so I am working from a point outwards.

 

At least these DXM decals are very easy to use and the orientation is clear on their instructions.

I've a self imposed policy for decals.  Any given decal session is not to last longer than 1 album.  And only 1 session is allowed in a given day.  Helps prevent me from getting stencil burnout...especially on Phantoms.  It takes longer, but I find I don't lose motivation as easily.  

[Dansk]

1 hour ago, helios16v said:

I've a self imposed policy for decals.  Any given decal session is not to last longer than 1 album.  And only 1 session is allowed in a given day.  Helps prevent me from getting stencil burnout...especially on Phantoms.  It takes longer, but I find I don't lose motivation as easily.  

 

sounds like a good plan.

Hopefully it’s not a triple vinyl album with unreleased bonus material and remixes. 🙃

 

@Chrisj2003 jesus it’s 1/72 stencils! They’re so small.

The rest of my post here is in a font size that now your eyes are used to. good luck. it’ll look ace when you’re done.

[Johnson]

I think Paul @Dansk is seeing double. Too many Carlsbergs! 

[Dansk]

3 minutes ago, Johnson said:

I think Paul @Dansk is seeing double. Too many Carlsbergs! 

Must have been that session at the gym its made me see double.

 

don’t know why it duplicated the post, strange

[Chrisj2003]

Underside decals done; 'clear' drying. Looking busy, but clean. National markings settled down nicely across wing folds, but why place them there? A test for real life painters and modellers?

 

Even more decals on top.

 

Chris

 

[Chrisj2003]

After multiple sessions upper surfaces getting there, still leading edges to add stencils to, and then fuselage.

 

Chris

 

[Johnson]

Well done Chris, F-4 stencils can seem never ending, keep going! Looking good.

[Chrisj2003]

Many more sessions and most of one side done. Photos clearly show stencils IRL. DXM slime lights are too yellow for me so will be going with the kit ones, otherwise I continue to like the decals, they settle very well, but don't fold on themselves.

 

Chris

 

[Johnson]

^{Good progress Chris!}

 

12 minutes ago, Chrisj2003 said:

but don't fold on themselves

 

There's something to be said for a bit of decal thickness Chris. The ultra thin decals I've used recently (Techmod, Print Scale) have a tendency to fold, at which point it's 50/50 as to whether they will unfold or get trashed.

[Jabba]

Nice work in getting the stencils applied. I started on mine with applying the DXM main decals and as you said they went on fine, especially over the wing fold area. But the stencils were a no no, in that I took me about 10 mins to find the decal on the instructions and then on the decal sheet as they are all over the place on this. I stuck with the kit stencils as strangely enough the instructions and decal sheet are all in order so much more easier to follow and find. Yes there is some film between the individual markings but I managed to cut some of these areas sometimes.

[Chrisj2003]

@Jabba going with FM kit decals on next build; F-4E in bomber, strike GB.

 

I can see the logic with DXM decals, the stencils are very small and could be easily mixed-up, by not printing them in order and having clear instructions you have to to look and be confident you have the right one every time. If they were printed in order it would be very easy to make mistakes.

 

Assuming Christmas parties are still on I expect to get decals done and sealed soon-ish (started 3.5 weeks ago). Then:

• Weathering
• Re-sealing
• Undercarriage and aerials
• Canopies
• Brass pitot
• Touch-ups

Can't see that all happening by Christmas but next GB start for me is 22-Jan which will be fine.

 

Chris

[Chrisj2003]

🙌 stencils complete, at last. All down nicely. Nose area took a while because the sheet has all the stencils in the area and I had to work out which ones are needed with the special markings and then the relationship of decals to panel lines isn't quite as real life.

 

All the steps above still to do.

 

Chris

 

 

[Chrisj2003]

Managed to get some Flory washes on before stopping now for family Christmas. Helped details come out nicely but I am in two minds whether the dirtyness is too much. Thoughts and views? It will be next week before I seal it.

 

Centre tank is only snap fit; real life photos show they were very dirty and worn.

 

Chris

 

[Johnson]

1 hour ago, Chrisj2003 said:

I am in two minds whether the dirtyness is too much. Thoughts and views?

I tend to go with less, but it's a personal thing and will look fine I'm sure. Have a great Christmas!

[Chrisj2003]

After the Christmas socialising I returned to this on 30-Dec; fiddled with the weathering and applied a cost of satin Clear. And a second coat and still very glossy and I was out of matt. So I ordered matt Clear which came on 05-Jan. A few coats of that made hardly any dint on the glossiness. So following multiple recommendations on BM I ordered some Winsor & Newton Galeria last week and then mocked up the same paint + Clear on a mule and tried the W&N; that worked, So I have varnished the model and just started on the small bits underneath as shown. These will need some painting before the undercarriage. Then Bombers Strike etc GB starts on Saturday so this will take second place. It will finish because I am doing another FineMolds F-4 in that, so I will learn from this.

 

Chris

 

[Johnson]

Looks good Chris.

 

2 hours ago, Chrisj2003 said:

I ordered some Winsor & Newton Galeria last week and then mocked up the same paint + Clear on a mule and tried the W&N; that worked

I use W&N matt. Can't get a decent matt finish with any of the 'modelling' matt paints.

[Chrisj2003]

This is on the back burner while I progress the USAF bomb truck, but had time between tasks to get this on its undercarriage. Much easier fit Hasegawa.

 

Not the best photo.

 

Chris