airfix bf 109 e4 1/48

[Apaleftos]

Hello
im a strugling modeller. ive been trying to make a good kit since 2012 when i restarted modelling after a 14 yrs gap. This is my 3rd model , first with an airbrush, first in 1/48 and second time filling, sanding, dryfitting etc. I want to try something new every time i build a model, so this time airbrushing is the challenge for me. Also i thought it would be easier to set aside things like post/pre shading etc and focus on covering the aircraft. I used humbrol spray primer, vallejo model color and model air. I have a cheap graphotec and been having many mixed results and problems. So far only aluminium metallic was sprayed without any problems at all. I usually have bubbles in the cup, the paint dries on the needle, the paint flow is not consistent etc etc.yesterday i experienced the horror of overspray for the first time.
anyway some pics from my progress so far:
cockpit and some filling/sanding:

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primed:

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paint work:

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[Apaleftos]

further paintwork:

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[Avgas]

Looking good to me so far. Airbrushing is an art in itself, don't expect too much too soon. It's only through practise that you will get the results you see in your mind.

[Apaleftos]

A little progress i have made
i also tried to apply vallejo gloss varnish with a paintbrush(right wing outer side), as all ive seen on the net suggests that its pretty hard to apply with an airbrush, so being a rookie doesnt help. im not pleased with the test application either as the brush strokes are visible.

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[Cymru]

Progressing well. And no, varnish does not brush well

[SteveW]

You have done a good job there mate. I too find gloss varnish a pain to spray. I have a love hate relationship with Pledge Klear floor polish ( the old stuff) which I was using last week. I sprayed it on but was not getting a good feeling. I left it expecting to have to come back and strip it all but to my surprise it self levelled and came out quite nice. I have read on some post that Klear is best applied with a brush and that it will self level and gives a nice finish. For the area you have done you could try spraying a lite coat of lacquer thinners over it. This should re-hydrate the varnish which may then self level and remove the brush strokes.

[Apaleftos]

This is where im at right now. I used revell contacta clear for the clear parts and i managed to make some spots on the aircraft. Anyone knows a good way to get rid of them? They are transparent and very hard. I wonder if it could be used on an instrument panel to simulate glass. Is there a better way to glue clear parts?

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[Avgas]

Is there a better way to glue clear parts?

The usual stuff for gluing clear parts is a PVA based glue like Glue n' Glaze or Micro Crystal Clear. It looks like a mess when you put it on but it dries clear.

[Elve1984]

Nice build, for a first time airbrushing you did a pretty good build. I do have the idea tough that the layers of paint are pretty thick. When you get more control over your airbrush in time try to apply thinner layers of paint.

[Apaleftos]

I applied some gloss coats using vallejo gloss varnish thinned with vallejo ab cleaner at 3:1 and a drop of vallejo flow improver. The results broke my heart. The surface is super rough and i dont think the decals would want to sit on it. Id say there are 2-3 coats of varnish right now and it took me 6-7 attempts. The pressure was at about 1.3 bars these were the most common settings i could find. I had problems with flow, paint drying too quickly, ab clogging and at all times i had trouble seeing the paint. How do you guys know where or if you paint with varnishes i mean theyre transparent. Since i lost all hope i tried Pronto Long shine, which is the greek equivalent of Future and Pledge, on a test kit and i can say that it sprayed beatifully. It didnt leave a flawless gloss finish but i enjoyed spraying a full cup at very low and high pressures with so much ease. You can see the results below. Is there anything i could do to improve things at this point? Any advice on vallejo gloss? Is spraying from a can a better option? I mean for me priming from a can is an easy job.

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[demarcation]

I haven't looked back since i began to use Alclad aqua gloss, for me it's the best gloss varnish out there. Give it a try!

Nice build btw!

[Apaleftos]

i looked it up, unfortunatelly im a kitchen modeller with an asthmatic wife. That orange sign with the black x kind of scared me, So untill i get a proper workplace i have to stick with vallejo. My build's just average with many flaws thanx though.

I haven't looked back since i began to use Alclad aqua gloss, for me it's the best gloss varnish out there. Give it a try!

Nice build btw!

[shortCummins]

i looked it up, unfortunatelly im a kitchen modeller with an asthmatic wife. That orange sign with the black x kind of scared me, So untill i get a proper workplace i have to stick with vallejo. My build's just average with many flaws thanx though.

I haven't looked back since i began to use Alclad aqua gloss, for me it's the best gloss varnish out there. Give it a try!

Nice build btw!

I'm more or less in the same boat as you, for kitchen read living room and I'm asthmatic, I use Aqua gloss, so far (touch wood) I've had no problems, I do like the smell of it however its not interfered with my breathing in any way

[Apaleftos]

Hello again everyone,
after an unsuccessful application of varnish, i couldnt resist applying decals, so here are some photos

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The surface was very rough, so after applying a couple of big ones especially the red stripes at the root of the wing, i realised the decals wont like it no matter how much or which solution id use. So i decided to use some sanding sticks, the finer ones, at the spots where decals will sit. I have to say it was much easier but the red stripes didnt like the new surface either. Also the contrast is bigger now between the sanded spots and the difficult to sand spots. I started with humbrol decal solution because i ve used it before but it leaves some semitransparent marks around the decal, so i tried micro set and super sol. ive seen a huge difference however all the decals needed help with a toothpick. Im at that point where i just want to finish it and enjoy it, and wish for a better build next time. gloss varnish, wash, satin varnish and some minor brush painting and attaching and it will be ready

[1975GinjaNinja]

I would say it looking great - re the rough varnish I think you've done the right thing a very light sanding all over should sort it.

[paulr]

a "struggling modeller" - sounds like me, nothing ever seems to go right but practice practice
as modellers we are often our own biggest critics but i think what you've done looks really good.
i have seen the vallejo varnishes give that orange peel effect before. brushing them on i found its better to use a wide flat brush.
i appreciate your concerns around using aqua gloss too... is something like future floor wax available where you are ?

[Apaleftos]

After a long time not doing anything and after an unsuccessful varnish coat i decided to just have fun and finish this no matter the flaws. The main flaws are: A decal missing from a bomb, very very rough surface where the wings meet the fuselage(theres also dust and fibers stuck), some paint was pulled from the clear parts during unmasking, a little messy wash. I still have to paint the lights at the wing tips, but i will leave some things unfinished such as weathering the tires and other details because i just wanted to end this build. I enjoyed the build, it took me 2,5 years. Its my first 1/48 and my first with an airbrush. I had some trouble with vallejo model air but the biggest trouble was their gloss varnish. I think im going to have trouble with any varnish because i cant see where and whether i spray. If i find a good varnish in a a spray can ill stick to that. The result is below average but it will proudly sit in my bookcase serving as a comparison to my future builds thus showing the astonishing progress i will make.

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