Peterpools Posted December 24, 2023 Author Share Posted December 24, 2023 Thanks Martin, much appreciated. Painting is my favorite part of any build and I've already had a few redo's as getting use to working in 48th scale just a bit of time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 24, 2023 Author Share Posted December 24, 2023 Thanks John, as always, you guided me through a very confusing part of the build for me and lesson learned - just ask first. 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 IT’S DECALING TIME With the paint work done, the Corsair was glossed with Tamiya X22 and while drying over night, I needed to make a decision about the decals. To be honest, the kit decals are fine and quite useable. I had been seriously considering using one of the decal sets in the Magic Factory Dual Corsair kit, which are by Cartograph and glad I did – the decals are superb. The Magic Factory’s kit decal sheet contains four sets of markings, two for each kit but only two sets of Stars and Bars are provided, as it should be, so down the road I’ll need to replace one set of US markings. I used the kit decals for the white sealant tape that goes over the oil access panel, as the decals needed to fit over the curved access panel lines, doubted the Model Factory decals would work as well and then added the missing detail & stencil decals from their decal sheet. The tape lines and stencil data for just this area consumed a good number of hours and some prominent carrier film to worry about. The Magic Factory decals included almost all the stencil data for the Corsair (I’m not a big stencil data guy), I didn’t use very many as I also wanted to save the majority of the stencils for the two Magic Factory Corsairs. It's been years since I didn’t cutout and remove the clear carrier film and the two “29” decals and parts of the white sealant tape decals have a lot of carrier film left in place and I was curious to see how well Cartograph decals would allow the carrier film to disappear - no time like the present to give it a go. The decals went down beautifully using the full Micro System, both Cartograph and Tamiya. I’ll now have to wait until after I apply the remaining two clear coats to see how I did. With the decaling finished and drying, I turned my attention to the remaining parts and at this point, almost all are painted, decaled where needed, ready to go and then the final assembly – the finish line is almost in sight. Please excuse the dust .. as usual, I forgot to dust the Corsair before taking the photographs 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANicoll Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Beautiful work, Peter! The shading of the paint is terrific beautifully done. And you are a master with the X-22. I've been pretty happy with Tamiya's decals as of late, but Cartograph is certainly the standard there. Looking forward to the next update. Chris 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 Thanks Chris, so very much appreciated. The kit has been a gem; all Tamiya in fit, detail, accuracy and looks. Agreed, that their decals have been improving and I have used them a few times in the past year. No trick with their X22. I thin out the X22 with Mr Hobby Self Leveling Thinner 60% thinner to 40% X22 and shoot at a working pressure of about 15 - 12 psi, using a .35 tip. A mist coat to start and then building up the layers. The last few layers, I thin out the mix to 2;1 thinner to X22 and it goes on nice and wet. Whie I almost always use a .2 tip for air brush work, when it comes to the clear coats I'm at a .35 for 48th scale models and for 32nd scale, I'm either at .4 or .5 as the wider spray angle makes for a smooth application. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANicoll Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Extremely helpful, as always Peter! As we know, excellent paint work is as much an art, as a science. But the science helps! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlrwestSiR Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 Peter, just saw this thread and caught up with your progress. Very nice work on the Corsair. I built one when it first came out. Nice low stress build. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 29, 2023 Author Share Posted December 29, 2023 Thanks Chris How very true. For me working out a technique that provides the results I'm looking for, is repeatable and easy to do. I try to keep it simple and most of my air brushing formulas and working pressures are the same. I'm also in the camp of counting drops, like being a few drops off one way or another would do anything but it's just how I do things. The exception is for very small amounts of paints for a small job, where every drop counts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 29, 2023 Author Share Posted December 29, 2023 Thanks Carl Completely agree and a pleasure to build - zero stress and as John b would say: a non-cuss kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 Lovely work Peter, I wouldn't expect any less from you. Clean, precise and beautiful presentation. Thank you for that . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 Wow, that's looking fantastic Peter!! Can't wait to see it put together! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 29, 2023 Author Share Posted December 29, 2023 Martin, Thank you so very much for the kind words on both the modeling and presentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 29, 2023 Author Share Posted December 29, 2023 Mike very much appreciated. Coming together nicely now and hope to roll the Corsair across the finish line this coming week. She has been a fun build and enjoyable build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocRob Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 Only some days a bit off the forum and bang, your beautiful Corsair is nearing the finish line, Peter. Your paintwork is perfect as ever, I love your soft edge camo. I feel with you about the navy colors. I think for my Corsair and Hellcat builds, I researched and tested more colors than ever before. Recently I mainly use, what AK offers with their Real Colors, which mostly look about right. Generally, I think, plane´s colors weren´t too unique in the field, depending on the theater, the age, the maintenance and color availability. Pictures of the time are sometimes hard to read and leave a lot of room for interpretation. Lighting and refraction are also to be considered. Decaling looks spot on and I have another reason for your first misting clear over the decals. At this late stage of a build, I wouldn´t like to ruin my decals with hot color / thinner mix. A misted coat dries fast and reduces the risk of the chemicals affecting the decals. Cheers Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 Rob, thank you so much for your very kind comments on the Corsair's paint and decal work. Completely agree as it takes a lot of time and work to select the correct colors as offered from the various manufacturers. I've pretty much now settled on both MRP and AK as my go to colors for all upcoming builds. I was finally to purchase the correct MRP colors for the Corsair and now have a choice between MRP and AK to use. Yesterday I was able to apply the gloss seal coat and right now I'm in between coats of Alclad Semi Matte Clear, which is just a little less glossy then my usual clear; Alclad Semi Sheen. So far, so good, see how it looks after a few hours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 DONE AND IN THE BOOKS As she rolled across the finish line, I couldn’t help thinking of what a pleasure the 1/48 Tamiya Corsair was to build. Only AM added was a Quinta Cockpit set, Eduard PE Seatbelts and Magic Factory’s Cartograph decals. Fit was typical Tamiya with clear and easy to follow instructions. The decals were sealed with one last coat of Tamiya X22, allowed to dry for a good 24 hours. Lastly the final Alclad Semi Matte clear coat was air brushed on and thankfully, no silvering was seen nor found. The last of the remaining parts and assemblies were added, the IFF and nav lights painted and the landing light finally unmasked. The landing gear and gear doors were a bit finicky but, in the end, all worked out well. I should have installed them as per the instruction sequence and just masked them off, which would have been a lot easier in the long run. The glass was unmasked, the folded wing assemblies added and she was done. A thoroughly enjoyable build. Reviewing the photographs, I realized I left off the pitot tube and the wing braces, which I'll add later today or tomorrow. Also, in some of the images, the Insignia White has a bluish tint, as the lights were set up too close, creating the bluish tint. 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Beautiful as always Peter. One of my favourite markings too. Thank you for sharing. M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Martin. Thank you for the very kind words - one of my favorite markings as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnB Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Looking really good Peter. As always, nicely done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Thanks John, so very much appreciated. Just glad you were there to help me over the paint color issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnB Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, Peterpools said: Thanks John, so very much appreciated. Just glad you were there to help me over the paint color issue. You are welcome Peter. Always glad to help out if needed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 John Just knowing you're a quick email away cuts down the cuss factor by over 95% 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnB Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 1 minute ago, Peterpools said: John Just knowing you're a quick email away cuts down the cuss factor by over 95% 😉 LOL 😄 Reducing cuss factors is a good thing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peterpools Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Absolutely is❗ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANicoll Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Peter, Just beautiful! The wing fold really works and overall looks terrific. Great addition to your collection. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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