HubertB

A smallish update, with workbench pics of the Cutlass. I have now finished the decalling. I created and printed the VA-83 specific markings, and used the Fisher decals for the rest. By the way, in case you wonder, the painting specs devised by the Navy and Cutlass were that the national insigna were to be "decals" on the 1:1 aircrafts. Which gave me a good excuse for not cutting masks ... I still have to add a last layer of varnish to seal everything, but am waiting for the additional parts add-ons. I am now in the process of painting the batch of small parts (some I had painted already, but forgot a number) and I had also to print yet another time the slats, as the large ones keep warping after a few days Unfortunately, it looks like this last set is going the same way ... . Oh well, not again ... Next "installment" will be with the mounting finished and all parts glued in place. Cheers for now Hubert

Ah yes, now I remember it ! As: 1) I felt the variation did show, even if not linked to the basing 2) I am wary of adding yet another few microns of paint, especially as the whole aircraft has been gloss-coated with Aqua_gloss 3) I have started adding some decals, I will use this technique on my next NMF aircraft. But it's now filed and thank you for the reminder. Hubert

Time for a new update. After a few weeks (a lot more than I antcipated or wished ), there is now some paint on the Cutlass. Some pics of the process, just to mention that this was un unncessary step: I tried to introduce some variation in the scheme by addng some randomised black basing. But the truth is that I am probably neither skilled - or patient - enough tothen spray the upper layers in a thin enough enough way for the underlayers to show through. .. First a pic where the attach points for the underbelly rocket pack have been added, made of brass sheet drilled and filed to shape. These are fragile, and I have lost a few in the painting process (one to redo as of this morning's inspection) .. And of the pre-basing ... And as where she stood yesterday evening before I started applying some decals : The paints used are MRP White aluminium, duralumin, dark aluminium, chrome (to show some of the shininess very visible on the the NMF Cutlasses), anodized aluminium, plus Alclad Aluminium, dark Aluminium. The magnesium parts of the Cutlass were painted in Silver lacquer, which I reproduced using MRP silver, Alclad Super Silver. I used aluminium foil on the "Metalite" panels of the Cutlass (mostly, but not exclusively, the wings. These were an aluminium and balsa sandwich, and were VERY shiny on the Cutlass. After the basing disappeared under the layers, I introduced some variation by using different tones of the paints listed above, sprayed in different patterns ... The difference is visible to the naked eye, yet subtle, and hopefully reproduces some of the real life effects, and willl, hopefully again, show on the pics ... You can also see the blue-with-white-trim markings of VA-83 aircrafts in 1956, and sported during the Intrepid's Mediterranean cruise that year ...These gave me a lot of aggravation, a lot due to operator's errors and sequencing, but the final effect is striking . I will reproduce the CO's aircraft, coded 301, which had characteristic diagonal stripes on the wings and flaps' ends. TTFN Hubert.

You should look at Maru’s last thread, or / then contact her. She’s been to Japan recently and visited a few shops there. Hubert

I have read Jadlam for the UK …. Hubert

Very well done, Kevin 👍 ! Hubert

Ouch ! An injured T-Rex on the loose must be dangerous for the neighborhood … Did you tell the authorities ? Hubert

Good-looking 410, Kevin 👍 ! Well done and great result, in spite of the difficulties you overcame. Hubert

It does. Although I have found that Kabuki COULD stretch when lifted and repositioned many times … Hubert

Well, at least they got the name right on the box… The issue is that they used a drawing (by a well-known aviation artist who has produced a lot of aeroplane drawings) that is completely wrong … Hubert

A 1/35 model occupies 76% of the volume of the same 1/32 model … That’s no micrometer issue for me, but then, each to his own (including sense of humor ) Hubert

Ah, a Val in a proper scale ! Hubert

She's a beauty ! Hubert

Yes, that is what I was thinking as well. But one of my friends, sadly deceased now, Martin Field, who produced dozens of masters for car models - die casts in 1/43, 1/32 slot-racing resin, etc -, aircrafts (he had done a 1/32 DH Dragon Rapide master for me, which I let go when Lukgraph released theirs) and even motorcycles in 1/12 and 1/9, swore only by self-etching primer, even for masters which were resin or, very often Renshape. So, I have kept in my mind this idea that self-etching primer could be of some interest even for resin ... And I agree with you about two component expoxy. I bought a two component varnish, that I do not dare to use in an my airbrush ... Hubert

Maybe wait for the other side before the Scotch ? For a steadier hand ... And a double at the end ? 🥃🥃

Looking very good, Rob 👍 ! It looks like you should go with automotive self-etching primer next time. And probably cheaper than modelling primer. Maybe you can get some from a local body-repair shop on your island ? Hubert

Fantastic pick, Carl. The only accurate Lightning in 1/32 … Hubert

I’d say VERY nice 😎 ! Hubert

There are better alternatives than Vector, now. And, even though it’s not needed for most yellow winged aircrafts, don’t go buying their R-1820, or Shvestov M-62. Because they could not understand the oil sump shape, they managed to distribute the 9 cylinders unevenly. On a radial 9 cylinders, the angle between each is 360/9 = 40 degrees, not 37 or 43 🤬 ! One interesting link for 1/32 engines. https://fpwmodelshop.pl/en_US/c/132-scale/51 As for Lone Stars, is he still in business ? Hubert

The Guardian of the Southern Frontier, always watchful …. Hubert

I really dig this Spit, Rod ! Hubert

I read somewhere that close to 30% od the mail orders were either "lost" (which means genuinely lost, stolen, or just not delivered for various reasons) in the logistics chain or returned, in which case they are are most often not opened but sent to the same guys who collect the "lost" parcels. Some guys have created a business buying by weight the "lost" parcels and reselling them unopened to people (they make a bet about the content) who then open the parcels and put the items on sale. and they all make a lot of money. I also heard that last year the parcels arriving in Europe from China, to individuals, were numbering to 800 millions ... Losing one's coveted item ordered abroad sucks, but it seems more than usual ... Hubert

I agree that Honda’s motto has always been that the engine was at the heart of any car - or motorcycle for that matter - and should deserve their core attention … A pity they have not invested as many efforts in the design of the outer body of their cars in the last 20 years : their designs have been pretty lame and uninteresting in this time period … Hubert

I replied already on LSP, but that is a fantastic piece of news ! I’m in ! (and in NMF, of course ) Hubert

6 cylinders for 250 cc … They DO love designing engines at Honda 🥰 … Nice wok, Rob Hubert