Global Scale Modeller

Hi Everyone,

A week or so back I posted on here asking about the best bare metal finish kits (thread here: http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 10&t=15018 ) to do with the new AK Xtreme metal paints.

Thank you for all the suggestions. I ended up getting this really nice looking kit and have made a start on it.



First up was the cockpit tub. Went together no problem. Didn't go over-board on the detail, but some dry brushing with grey oil paint which I've started using for this as it works really nicely. Not quite so nice were the Humbrol stippling brushes I used - they shed bristles all over the shop! An enamel wash from AK was used as well. The pilot was a nice figure so I decided to use him to fill out what would have been a bland cockpit.



Despite the pegs, the fuselage halves went together well with a really good fit.



I'm impatient to get to the painting, so I hope to press on with this build over the weekend, so more updates then.

Thanks for checking out my progress.

Sweet choice , I am following along

Nice job so far

Good choice of kit Ads, started my big Mustang today....look forward to your build.

gazmat wrote:started my big Mustang today....look forward to your build.

Are you doing a build thread on it? I imagine it'll be quite a project!

Hi Ads, no, I don't think so, to time consuming as it is ....may do a reveal at the end, will be my first reveal also...

gazmat wrote:Hi Ads, no, I don't think so, to time consuming as it is ....may do a reveal at the end, will be my first reveal also...

Fair enough. I do look forward to the final reveal photos, though

Really enjoying this build. Fuselage halves went together no problem and the seam sanded away well. The biggest problem was my own doing, with a mark where I cut it from the sprue



Wings were also a nice fit. Not sure about the circular mouldings on the leading edge. At first I thought they were epms, but they look too intentional. Maybe to keep the correct spacing with the top halves? Anyway, wasn't a problem.



Everything came together with zero filler There were a few tiny gaps, but I used the Tamiya white label cement which is a bit thicker and it took care of them perfectly. This stuff is now my usual go-to for small filler jobs.



First real problem with the kit was the clarity of the canopy- it was terrible, and would really have detracted from the model.



I had no choice but to dip it in clear. I don't like doing this as I worry about being left with an uneven finish where the clear pools, but it worked out OK this time. The canopy was masked up and glued in place using thinned down Micro Kristal Klear giving it greater capillary action to run under the seams (it's still drying in the picture) I'm going to paint the gear separately, so I put the model up on shortened cocktail sticks to keep it off the mat.



Next up, the Xtreme metal paint...

Finally got the kit painted. I started by spraying silver on the canopy so it shows though on the inside.



Primed using Xtreme Metal black base.



I wasn't happy with the finish which wasn't very smooth and really showed up.



So I sanded back and started again with the black base.



A bit happier this time.



Panels were masked off and either lightened or darkened with polished and dark aluminium colours.



Taking off the masking tape took some of the paint with it. I think my biggest problems was not using a primer like stynlerez before the black base which is not a primer, but simply a base for the metallics. This was a pretty stupid mistake



After a lot of patching up, I'm leaving the paint there. Doesn't look too bad, but the imperfections are my fault. I think the Xtreme Metal paint is great.

Live and learn. I have skipped the primer step as well and paid for it
Rough bumpy spray means drying before it hits the plastic...can be paint mix, pressure or distance from model when spraying ...or a combo of all of those and the position of the moon and stars and ships at sea

She looks fine in my eyes, only yours will see the defaults
Finish her off with some decals and weathering and I bet it will look like it could take off from the desk

Twokidsnosleep wrote:She looks fine in my eyes, only yours will see the defaults
Finish her off with some decals and weathering and I bet it will look like it could take off from the desk

That's kind, thank you, but I'm not so sure!

Well, after a clear coat and a clay wash...



...it's finished. One of those where the finish is far from perfect, but I learnt a lot along the way. At least I learnt from my mistakes on this not a Tamiya P-51 Mustang!

And just noticed I put the air-brakes on upside down! Brilliant

Ads24 wrote:And just noticed I put the air-brakes on upside down! Brilliant

HAHAHAHA I would have never noticed! Took me a while, too - then I saw the decals hahahaha
Looks great, man. Nice to have a kit to practice some skills on - very good idea.
Learn and move on
Still a cleaner paint job then I would have done

Very nice finish mate! - Can't you remove and replace the airbrakes in the correct position??