Trumpeter 1/48 Vampire

[SlipStream77]

Just starting work on this model now after a bit of a break, it looks fairly simple and the detail's good, should be a fun kit to build.

[SlipStream77]

Back to modelling again and made some progress on the Vampire, this one's going to be OOB.

A few parts prepared and painted ready for building. Nose wheel tyre needs another coat by the look of it, and the undercarriage and wheels need weathering but it's getting there.

[dr_gn]

Good start - I've started modelling again after a few months off.

Those wheels would look good with a subtle dark wash in the hubs.

How about finishing it in bare wood with some woodgrain decals? I'm about to try this on a couple of models.

[SlipStream77]

Thanks, you're right, I'm planning on putting a wash on the wheels, and other undercarriage parts and bays.

Woodgrain is an interesting idea, this one's going to be in camo though, I'm still working on building the British camo jets collection.

I have a Hunter and Lightning in the stash, still need to get a Phantom, Meteor and Javelin though.

[SlipStream77]

The fuselage is now built, I just have to finish masking the canopy then I can fit it and get a coat of black on there for the inside of the frame. Then it's time to get some primer on.

The underside of this one needs to be in silver, I'm wondering whether I should do that as the first or last coat? I'm using Vallejo Model Air which is great but it comes off very easily with masking tape. If I completed the upper grey/green camo first then masked that and did the silver last would that work? Or would the gradient between the camo show through?

[dr_gn]

SlipStream77 said:

The fuselage is now built, I just have to finish masking the canopy then I can fit it and get a coat of black on there for the inside of the frame. Then it's time to get some primer on.

The underside of this one needs to be in silver, I'm wondering whether I should do that as the first or last coat? I'm using Vallejo Model Air which is great but it comes off very easily with masking tape. If I completed the upper grey/green camo first then masked that and did the silver last would that work? Or would the gradient between the camo show through?

I use vallejo and have never had many issues with it peeling. Try keying the plastic surface slightly with micromesh, and/or use Tamiya fine surface primer.

You've got to be really careful with silvers - if it's got any grain at all it will look terrible. On the Gladiator I used Alclad aluminium and it worked fine. I also used extensive masking of Alclad for my F-84 and had no problems with peeling. I really think surface prearation is - literally - the key.

Personally, I'd try upper camo first, mask the demarcation and prime the undersides with a thin coat of Tamiya fine surface primer followed by Vallejo (if you think you'll have problems). Maybe even decant and spray the primer through the airbrush.

Otherwise I'd paint Alclad silver first then mask and paint upper surface camo.

Good luck!

[Eric Mc]

RAF aircraft of this era were painted with a silver finish called "High Speed Silver". I have found that Alclad White Aluminium over a light grey base gives a reasonable approximation. I also dulled down the final finish as High Speed Silver was not that reflective.

Here is a picture of the recently restored Gloster Meteor T7 which is in the High Speed Silver finish.

[SlipStream77]

Thanks for the advice, I've decided on completing the camo first to remove the risk of the silver coming off. The model has been primed with Vallejo acrylic primer which I find is very good - although a pain to clean out of the airbrush!

Vallejo's aluminium is actually pretty good, the particle size is not huge and it looks similar to the HSS finish, it's all going to be weathered too so I think it's a good approximation.

[dr_gn]

Looks good - I wouldn't expect any issues with that whichever way you decided to mask it. One thing I found with certain acrylics - REvell Aqua colour specifically, is that it can tear off along with the masking tape on removal. I always try to remove the masking almost as soon as the final colour has gone on, just flashed off with a hairdryer.

One thing that stands out on your model is what looks like a sink mark on top of the stbd. intake. It would be well worth correcting this (if it's not just a trick of the lighting). It could spoil an oterwise excellent finish.