Plane Dave

Finishing Up

The final steps are always exciting for me; yes, I’m one of those modelers who most loves getting things done!

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Chip, Wash and Smoke

I got several steps done today, so this is looking good to be complete tomorrow.

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Dull Coat

After another three applications of Micro Sol the decal is finally nice and snug over the fairing.

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Decals Again

This was the only trouble spot I found once the decals dried, and its exactly where I expected.  The decal tented some over the aileron control rod fairing.  So the decal was slit on either side of the fairing and more solvent applied.  I’ll check again tomorrow.

Decaling

Today’s work was just the one thing.  Its fairly time consuming getting everything lined up right.  I use the Micro-Scale decal system; that involves a Set solution to prepare the surface and help float the decal into place and then a Sol solution that helps “melt” the decal onto the surface.  Complex surfaces sometimes require multiple treatments with the “Sol”.  The one trouble spot I’ll be watching here is where the national insignia on the port wing overlays the fairings for the aileron controls.  If it doesn’t conform to the surface when dry I’ll slit the decal at the fairing and apply more Sol.  I can’t move on from here until looks good dry.

Gloss Coat

It always seems counter-intuitive when you’re building a subject that will be dirty and scruffy in the end, that you now need to make it shiny.  But decals will only settle in correctly, with no “silvering” (a persistent misty look from many tiny air pockets caused by a flat finish) if the whole surface is smooth.  Future Floor Polish (actually I think the exact branding has changed, but the product is still available; this is a recurring hot topic in the modeling world) is the perfect substance for this.  It can be poured strait into an air brush paint cup and it will spray with no trouble.  This will be the best smelling step in any build.  Clean up is with Windex; BUT, Future is persistent stuff.  It can get anywhere and it dries rock hard.  So I spray it with an old Paasche single-action brush.  I’m not letting this stuff anywhere near my new brushes.

And that’s all I can do for today.  The Future will need 24 hours to cure thoroughly, so I’m done for now.  Kind of a waste of a day off though…     (yes I have other things to do!)

Major Painting

I always love doing the upper surface colors, even when its as simple as all Olive Drab.  So a little bit of prep, and then the main event.

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Clean Up, Details, Canopy, Painting

I finally had time for a couple of longer sessions today.  So a lot got done!

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Wings and Landing Gear

The last of the major construction was completed tonight.

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