My Revell 1:48 bf109

[Waynester]

It's been years since I purchased and completed a model, but given the dark evenings & crap on tv I thought I would give a go.

This is a Revell 1:48 kit.

I tried a weathering kit as well, still practicing with that.


Having viewed numerous quite impressive models, how are the panel lines highlighted?

Edited by Waynester on Monday 12th March 17:53

[dr_gn]

Waynester said:

how are the panel lines highlighted?

Page 13 here (at least on my setup):

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

That's assuming yours has engraved panel lines rather than raised ones.

You can also 'preshade' beforehand which means spraying over the panel lines finely with black, before misting on the top coats until the black lines are just about visible. Page 2 here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

That was my fisrt attempt at preshading, and the black lines were a bit too thick. Worked well enough though.

Edited by dr_gn on Monday 12th March 18:02

[Waynester]

Thanks dr, very useful.

I noticed the help thread but was still unsure on the exact process, even after reading?


Lovely 109 by the way.

[dr_gn]

Waynester said:

I noticed the help thread but was still unsure on the exact process, even after reading?

Which bit are you struggling with?

BTW it is critical to use the right combination of paint, wash & varnish types!

[Waynester]

I didn't know how to go about it, painting panel lines then painting the finished top coat?

I thought this would just cover the highlighted lines.

Tbh I'm not impressed with painting by brush, I never seem to get the finish as I want. I always seem to leave brush strokes.

I thought I might try spray. I don't have a compressor/gun, but thought little rattle cans would work.

Next model is a 1:32 USN Tomcat D

Caught the bug as well Now, so after the Cat I have:

Airfix 1:24 Hawker Hurricane

Revell 1:48 Mig 25 Foxbat

Revell 51.4cm length USS Voyager (Star Trek)

Edited by Waynester on Monday 12th March 18:28

[The_Jackal]

Wow you like the big models dont you lol
Would love to see some build threads for those.

[Waynester]

The_Jackal said:

Wow you like the big models dont you lol
Would love to see some build threads for those.

Can't help myself... Years ago I built a 1/24 Spitfire Mk1a, which I still have. I always wanted to purchase a Hurricane in the same scale so they can sit together.

The USS Voyager model has no scale, i guess because its ficticious & big model in (fiction) world?

The USN F14 & Mig 25 Foxbat are my 2 fave cold war jets.


I'll try & remember to take some pictures.



What's the deal re: spray cans for painting at this scale, or any scale come to that?

I would imagine a quicker/better way to do it?

[dr_gn]

Waynester said:

The_Jackal said:

Wow you like the big models dont you lol
Would love to see some build threads for those.

Can't help myself... Years ago I built a 1/24 Spitfire Mk1a, which I still have. I always wanted to purchase a Hurricane in the same scale so they can sit together.

The USS Voyager model has no scale, i guess because its ficticious & big model in (fiction) world?

The USN F14 & Mig 25 Foxbat are my 2 fave cold war jets.


I'll try & remember to take some pictures.



What's the deal re: spray cans for painting at this scale, or any scale come to that?

I would imagine a quicker/better way to do it?

Even if you're just looking at building the models you've aready got, then I'd invest in a good airbrush system asap. Spray cans are OK, but for preshading and mottling they're useless. You'll also get a better, thinner finish with an airbrush becasue the atomised paint is much finer than from a standard can nozzle.

If you decide to go for it, my advice would be to call Paul at "Little Cars" (Google it) and have a chat. He will give you better advice than I could, since he knows the current market very well. In my experience of him, he'll also advise you on the best for you rather than the most expensive. In other words, he knows his stuff and won't rip you off. You can't say any fairer than that!

[Waynester]

Ok, thanks for the advice.

[Eric Mc]

Another plug for Paul at Litle Cars. They are excellent and I bought my most recent brush from them ( a Harder and Steenbeck Evolution). You can get a good airbrush for under £100 these days and a compressor for roughly the same price.

[Waynester]

Thanks, sounds rather good, & won't break the bank either.

I tend to sit in my living room when I'm in 'modelling mode' presumably this is ok, I don't need to visit a huge spray booth!

[Eric Mc]

I certainly wouldn't spray in my living room. I do all my modelling in my "office" - except for the spraying which I do in my garage.

[dr_gn]

Waynester said:

Thanks, sounds rather good, & won't break the bank either.

I tend to sit in my living room when I'm in 'modelling mode' presumably this is ok, I don't need to visit a huge spray booth!

I bought a second hand extractor booth - I found that the fumes from spraying gave me pretty much instant throat infections.

[Waynester]

Thanks dr / Eric, what I thought. Unfortunately my garage is part of a block & not joined to the house.
Will need a solution. I have a spare room, I'm sure I can do something here as I would like to try spray & airbrush.

[steveo3002]

sinse its already made , how about one of the those mechanical pencils with the super thin lead , ive had ok success with those

can smudge it with a ear bud thingy if needed too

[dr_gn]

Waynester said:

Thanks dr / Eric, what I thought. Unfortunately my garage is part of a block & not joined to the house.
Will need a solution. I have a spare room, I'm sure I can do something here as I would like to try spray & airbrush.

You can - my spray booth is fairly small, and has filters and a pipe you can hang out of the window.

It's similar to this one:




I also use a respirator with an organic filter. IMO modelling isn't worth risking your health for.

[Waynester]

That looks good! Something like that would be ideal, enough room without being silly!

Luckily I can get masks from work, so thats fairly easy.

• Having finished (pretty much) this 109, as I am moving onto the F14A i was pondering spraying lacquer?

Its not something i have ever done with a model, but the levels you chaps go to here is beyonf knocking a model Spit out in 2 evenings.

The weathering pastels, rust, silver & black could do with sealing in. Whats a good recommendation dr_gn?

Thanks, apologies for all the questions.

Edited by Waynester on Wednesday 14th March 17:56

[dr_gn]

Waynester said:

That looks good! Something like that would be ideal, enough room without being silly!

Luckily I can get masks from work, so thats fairly easy.

• Having finished (pretty much) this 109, as I am moving onto the F14A i was pondering spraying lacquer?

Its not something i have ever done with a model, but the levels you chaps go to here is beyonf knocking a model Spit out in 2 evenings.

The weathering pastels, rust, silver & black could do with sealing in. Whats a good recommendation dr_gn?

Thanks, apologies for all the questions.

Edited by Waynester on Wednesday 14th March 17:56

Hmmm. For military stuff I use Humbrol Spray can #49 Matt varnish. You have to apply it in one very light coat from a pre-warmed can, in a warm room for best results!

I guess you could use satin spray too, but it depends on how glossy it dries. IMO a gloss finish on a small scale aircraft usually looks pretty naff unless the prototype is specifically highly polished.

[SlipStream77]

I agree with all of the advice given so far, I started modelling again properly after following the threads in this section of PH. The tips I have picked up have really improved the quality of the models.

I'm still learning about how to get the best results from weathering, currently I use Promodeller's weathering wash.

Here's a link to their site that includes videos on how to use them.

http://www.florymodels.co.uk/washes/

The things that really improved my models have been the use of an airbrush, filler, varnishes and weathering, between them they can make a dramatic difference to the realism IMO.

I use a Harder and Steenbeck Evolution airbrush and a small compressor with a tank (AS189).

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/Evoluti...

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/acatalog/AS_Seri...

Regarding varnishes, I've had good results from Humbrol satin spray cans and from Vallejo satin via airbrush. I'm still trying to perfect the technique to achieve a good gloss finish. With each model I try to improve a little and maybe try a new technique.

I finished Revell's 1/48 Foxbat in January, the thing to note about this kit is that it has raised panel lines, so washes won't work in the traditional way. I chose to sand off all the panel lines and then draw them in using a pencil as one of the previous posters mentioned. They will look shiny compared to the paintwork but a coat of satin will flatten it out.

[Waynester]

Some really great tips & how to's, thanks.