F-16C Barak

[DocRob]

If you want to have better photos without much fuzz, take her out. If it is overcast it's perfect, the colors are right and the shadows aren't too harsh. If the sun is burning hot and bright, fix a cool drink, enjoy a good book and wait for some clouds.

Cheers Rob

[coolboxx]

I am missing the like button..

 

[GusMac]

Hi Rob, yes the brown will be going over the remaining black primer. As you say, not much call for black in the desert!

I started to try and paint the brown tonight but found that the blu-tack method of creating feathered edges to the camo doesn't work particularly well with these Ammo paints for me. Not sure if I'm using too high a pressure but I've got quite a bit of leakage under the blu-tack into the other colours. I've ordered some of the Tamiya flexible tape for curves so I'll try that next. Will give it a slightly harder edge between colours but many of the real aircraft have pretty tight lines so should still be ok.

Cheers, Gus

[DocRob]

Hi Gus,

if I look at the picture in the beginning of the thread, I think you will not be succesfull with that Tamiya flex-tape. It is not useful for tight curves like on the tailfin. I bought that stuff and found it useful on wide curved masking. Maybe reducing the pressure and adjust the thinning of the colors will be more promising.
What i found difficult about the blue-tack method, is that you have to spray in a right angle all the time, sometimes diiificult on an airframe. Another method is to spray on the contours of the camo with low pressure very finely and then fill in the rest the normal way. The secret is in subtle layering and giving the color enough time to dry.

Cheers Rob

[GusMac]

Thanks Coolboxx.

Clouds aren't something we're short of in Scotland Rob! The sunshine being too bright is however rare.

I have a couple of A4 sheets of Tamiya kabuki tape so I may trace the tight shapes like the fin onto that and cut out with a scalpel. Thanks for the tip though. 

[GusMac]

Finally an update. Life has been hectic recently with my eldest starting Uni in Glasgow and my wife and I celebrating our silver wedding with a nice break. However, there has been some progress.

Roughly the same view, with and without flash, to try and show how the mottling has come through. It's a bit more evident without the flash but still not as clear as to the naked eye. Ah well!

The Ammo paints are great - very easy to work with and clean up and the coverage is good. They thin down very nicely with Mr Levelling which seems to speed up the drying compared to the proprietary thinner.

Weapons done as well using Tamiya acrylics of various shades.

The Python 4's from Isracast are fiddly but very detailed. Will install the seeker heads once everything has had a gloss coat. 

That's this weekend's adventure. Hopefully the X22 doesn't react badly with the Ammo paint. 

As always comments welcome.

Cheers, Gus

 

[DocRob]

Looking nice Gus, the Barak is developing very well. I like the camo scheme and yes, the human eye mostly has an advantage above these digital cameras .
Shading effects are always difficult to depict with a camera. 
By the way, congrats to your festivities.

Cheers Rob

[GusMac]

Thanks Rob.

It certainly doesn't help that my 'photo booth' is the kitchen table with a small Fuji compact. Just can't justify the cost of a 'good' set-up to myself and my daughter has taken her nice Canon DSLR away to Uni with her.

Thanks for the congratulations, it's scary to think how the years have passed so quickly (and thankfully happily)!! 

[coolboxx]

Great work Gus and congratulations on your silver wedding anniversary. 

[GusMac]

Gloss coat on and no dramas at all. The X22 thinned with Mr Levelling went on great and absolutely no issues with the Ammo paints at all. Another tick for them! 

Decals next, so I'll post some pics once that's underway.

[Wingco57]

Any updates Gus?

[GusMac]

Not really Cees. Slight planning faux pas on my part. It just hadn't quite dawned on me that most of the stencils supplied with the kit are to suit the lo-vis grey colour scheme until I went to apply some the other night. Oops!!

The Sky's Decals set I have don't contain stencils so I'm now waiting for the Isradecal set to arrive from Aviation Megastore. They're meant for the Sufa but most of the stencils are identical to the early noughties F-16Cs, so I should get enough to work with. Thankfully the Israeli's seem to keep the stencilling to a minimum in comparison to some other operators.

[GusMac]

Okay, I'm calling this done. Haven't managed to post any updates recently as life has taken over for a variety of reasons but it's been finished in fits and starts as my means of maintaining my sanity.

 

I'll post some more pictures in the Finished area.

Next project won't start until the New Year.

[coolboxx]

Very nice Gus can't wait to see so finished pictures, I've got to have a go at a jet next year.