World War II: USA
Aircraft of the United States in WWII.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
FM-2 Wildcat - HobbyBoss/Vector 1/48
alpha_tango
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Posted: Friday, June 18, 2010 - 03:16 AM UTC
Hi Rowan

it is JPS (http://www.jpsmodell.de/) and has nothing to do with "Polly Scale" paint - afaik). At the moment I am focussing on the main u/c because I want to have it mounted before I apply decals (either way I will have many chances to screw up...)



thanks for watching and commenting!

all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Friday, June 18, 2010 - 09:05 PM UTC
I applied the first Techmod decals yesterday. these are thin but brittle and do not conform well (and I used Klear which normally sucks down even Trumpeter decals)



all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 07:04 AM UTC
Hello Echo

just in case some people are still watching (seems summer and football WC are stealing all the visitors). I added the remaining decals today and started a bit with the "colour modulation" .. but this is WIP and will change a few times before we (!) see the final effect



Also see the difference to the picture above I took this morning. Same location but slightly different angle towards the light to avoid reflections and of course different lighting direction...

here is a link to Hyperscale to a picture of the original a/c



The Grumman Wildcat in FAA Service by Bruce Archer

all the best

Steffen



_H_Dori
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Posted: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 07:29 AM UTC
Hi Steffen

I'm still watching even though this is my first comment on your wip thread. The engine looks fantastic and I can't spot any of your "alledged" mistakes

Paint looks great mate and I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on with this technique as it's certwinly one I'd like to try myself.

Cheers

Howard
alpha_tango
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Posted: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 08:04 AM UTC
Thanks for watching Howard!!

I will not use "color modulation" but I try to immitate the effect seen on the real picture .. so no new technique to learn from me. Honestly I do not like "color modulation" (as described in MIG FAQ DVD vol. 2), it looks too artificial for my taste, esp. on aircraft.

all the best

Steffen
MS406C
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Posted: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 11:32 PM UTC
Howdy steffen; I do not know if it is related to the film effect but I do not see the plane as a Glossy sea blue one. And if it is not so, it will be perhaps more clever to slightly mat it, then do the weathering and the wear and tear of the paint, then , back to some more glossy finish. My greek euro opinion! Cheers my friend; Jean;
alpha_tango
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 12:05 AM UTC
Cheers Jean

Thanks for your comment! I see you do not know my routine so a short explanation:
paint-->Klear-->decals-->Klear-->washing-->flat-->weathering--->done

IMHO this plane is defintely GSB but it is weathered + dulled on the upper side. I just tried to include some of the features I see on the original photo in the painting stage.
Yesterday I gave it another Klear coat and this morning a wash. I like the effect, but it is a bit too subtle for the photos and it will be probably lost during further steps but so be it. BTW I do not like glossy models. They look always toylike to me thus my model will get a flat finish for the sun burnt areas and semi flat/gloss for the rest and underside.

Here is a pic of the wash result:



all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 04:00 AM UTC
It's coming together



Vector prop completed (still need the decals). Vector wheels already installed.

all the best

Steffen
Mecenas
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Posted: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - 10:04 PM UTC
You're a Devil Steffen! Great looking model in less than a month. A remind you saying: "I'm a slow modeller"... Now I see what you meant.
alpha_tango
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 12:47 AM UTC
Hi Michal

Me, a devil? Why?

and I am slow!!!! of course this is one of the kits that is better than the average, but still it can be done in one or two weeks.

all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 02:22 AM UTC
Just a short update ... slow but steady



Still glossy after the decals are on. Upper side will get another flatcoat when all small parts are attched - you can see one of the antennas below the fuselage, the other above is hidden. the drop tanks are assembled, but still need to dry before they will be painted neutral grey. Not sure if I will really use the gun barrels or rather use some steel tubing... so still a lot to do til Thursday

all the best

Steffen
_H_Dori
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 05:17 AM UTC
Looks great Steffen.

I see what you mean on your paint technique. It's worked really well on the little Cat.

Howard
alpha_tango
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 07:28 AM UTC
Hello Howar

I like the effect too though it looks a little better on the left wing than on the right ...

Another picture the drop tanks are just plugged in and will get some detail painting for the braces and a slight wash



all the best

Steffen

all the best
Moonchild
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 09:21 AM UTC
This is really nice build Steffen, I like it.
md72
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 12:20 PM UTC
Nice looking little bird. Can't wait for the final pics!
litespeed
Staff MemberNews Reporter
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 01:23 PM UTC
Nice, looking very nice Steffen. I really like the head on view. What brand flat coat are you using Steffen?
tim
alpha_tango
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 07:45 PM UTC
Thanks a lot Anze, Mark and Tim!!!

Well two days left and still so much to do. I hope I get her done in time

all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 09:51 PM UTC
Attaching the small parts is not really fun. the more I add the moe I can break...



only a few things left: vac canopy (masking painting cutting), painting the exhausts, attaching guns and not to forget "the stick"...

all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 04:49 AM UTC
Hmm, I wanted to post the first finish picture now, but I noticed I missed a few things ... so there will be a pic tomorrow



all the best

Steffen
md72
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 05:28 AM UTC
Stefan, I hate to be one of 'those' kind of people, but what about the tail wheel? It looks sorta blue instead of black.
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 05:30 AM UTC
Have you read what I wrote above? you found one of the omissions (I have corrected 3 so far) ...

cheers

Steffen
md72
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 05:49 AM UTC
Well, the good news is that my eyes aren't deteriorating as fast as I though they were. Looks like you’re going to finish with a winner.
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 09:36 PM UTC
Well then, this is the last update (I hope) on my HobbyBoss 1/48 GM EAD FM-2 of Harold Nathan Funk:












Hope you like the model and have enjoyed the BLog. Critique welcome, but keep it civilized ...

all the best

Steffen
md72
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Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 03:28 AM UTC
Looks Good! BZ
jhoog59
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Posted: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 07:57 AM UTC
You model turned out great Ive really enjoyed following this build. Great job.