Mitsubishi Zero - Airfix 1:72
Discussion
Latest completion for my 9 year old. This kit was f.o.c., from Airfix at the Telford model show last year. It didn't come with decals, so I donated a spare set from my Tamiya Zero (had to cut around the roundels to remove their white outlines - not perfect). He had a crisis of confidence with the canopy framing, so opted to leave it unpainted, despite die cut masks being available. Whatever. It's all brush painted with Tamiya/Vallejo acrylics. I showed him how to do a neutral wash too, to break up the single camo colour a bit:
He is very happy with it.
He is very happy with it.
Ayahuasca said:
Nice work by the lad.
Nice work by the parent too for letting him do it his way (canopy framing).
Thanks - I'll tell him!Nice work by the parent too for letting him do it his way (canopy framing).
I've helped him with a few kits now, and he's watched me build mine, so he knows what's fun and what's not! We've used painted tape for some simple canopy frames, but this one was a bit much I think.
Vitorio said:
Looks amazing, and well beyond anything ive ever managed in terms of detailed painting, proper job from the lad!
Thanks - I'll tell him! Pilot figures seem to be a speciality. With a bit of help with paint mixing/retarder/flow improver, he's now got a good technique for brush painting. Even the Tamiya paint on this model (which is usually very tricky to apply by brush) looks pretty much as smooth as an airbrush finish.lufbramatt said:
Great build! Fantastic to see younger people getting into the hobby. What's he building next?
Thanks! Probably the Airfix Fw189 or Gladiator (old tooling unfortunately). Someone gave us a few old kits, so we're going through them. I thought the Fw189 would be a good introduction to die-cut canopy masks...but it looks line none are available.
Good that you've taught him how to do panel lines, at that age I had no idea, but I do remember going to a model show and seeing a lovely Tomcat with such lines, and upon asking the guy who made it how he achieved that effect, he just tapped the side of his nose and said "Ah, that's a secret". Twenty-odd years later I can still remember that moment, twenty-odd years later I'm finally starting to do panel lines!
Brigand said:
Good that you've taught him how to do panel lines, at that age I had no idea, but I do remember going to a model show and seeing a lovely Tomcat with such lines, and upon asking the guy who made it how he achieved that effect, he just tapped the side of his nose and said "Ah, that's a secret". Twenty-odd years later I can still remember that moment, twenty-odd years later I'm finally starting to do panel lines!
It's the same with preshading and powder weathering etc - it's actually very easy when you try it. I had no idea how most of these techniques were done before I looked at model forums around 2007. This despite modelling on and off since 1974!The panel lines on the Zero are a bit too prominent for my liking, but that obviously wasn't relevant with this model, and it looks great anyway.
Eric Mc said:
I am extremely impressed with the finish that was achieved using a brush - especially considering the age of the modeller.
If he starts off at this standard, where will he be in ten years time..
I'll let him know, thanks.If he starts off at this standard, where will he be in ten years time..
Vallejo airbrush flow improver, or retarder medium and slight thinning, combined with about four or five thin coats seems to be the key (plus a decent flat brush of course). This one had a coat of W&N matt varnish - sprayed with the airbrush with a bit of help from me - mainly to keep the airbrush moving. Obviously the matt coat doesn't make the base finish any smoother.
All of his aircraft so far have been pretty good in terms of paint finish.
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