WNW 1/32nd Bristol F2b "McKeever"

[Chris Johnson]

As for your request re: your engine Chris, "YOYO" which in my flying days meant "you're on your own"!!

Yehhhh . . . I was afraid you'd say something like that. Whereas yours looks like the real thing, mine will be an exercise in creative gizmology.

Cheers,

Chris

[lcarroll]

Hello Lance:

For sealing the metalizer paints you are using, you can try Testors Metalizer sealer.  What has always worked for me is good old Future.  I always apply it with a Q Tip or as you say a "cotton bud".  It sounds as if air brushing might be the option with what you are using as the finish seems to be quite delicate.  Once the Future is dry, which isn't a very long time, you can handle it with ruining the finish.  There is a bit of luster loss, but you won't have to worry about it whisking away when you touch it.

Good Luck

Mark

Mark,
   Thanks for the suggestions. By coincidence I do have a bottle of Model Master Metallic sealer on hand, I'll try a test on some scrap, also with Future and let you know what works or not. The Alclad is simply the very best metal finish I've ever used, and lots of colour choices. Problem is it's very fragile and try as you may some will rub off; it needs a sealant or overcoat.
   And BTW, it's only those strange Brits and Aussies (Anzacs too??) that insist on calling QTips "cotton buds"! We Canucks prefer the brand name, as do you folks to our immediate South. As long as they keep making the great beers that they all do though, they can call em whatever they wish!
Cheers,
Lance

[mgunns]

As long as they keep making the great beers that they all do though, they can call em whatever they wish!
Cheers,
Lance

Hello Lance:

Sounds like a plan, and yes, I will hoist a cold Fosters, Molson or a Guiness and voice a hearty cheers.

Cheers

Mark

[lcarroll]

   I got the wings cleaned up and assembled today, pinned the ailerons as well. I finally realised how big this model is, definitely a two seater in proportions. It will (barely) fit into my present display cases so note to self............deeper cases required before any effort at the big two seaters and no Gothas for the time being!! I just realised how soon the expiry date of this GB is, and need to get going faster to meet it. Tomorrow is taping and shooting the pre-shade coat, hopefully I've got a little momentum going here.
Cheers,
Lance

[lcarroll]

Marginal amount of progress, got the wings pre-shaded and fuselage glued up.
As noted by several others the flat top and bottom fuselage seams are problematic. These photos were taken today after the second attempt to make the seam disappear, third treatment of Tamiya Putty is now drying and hopefully will finish this little challenge. First coat was Squadron Green Putty. Here's the bottom:

and the top seam:

   I used a darker pre-shade then in the past to provide maximum effect through the PC10. I don't have a photo however the undersides are done in reverse ie. the rib outlines are black as opposed to the margins or outlines to show the ribs through the CDL. The pre-shade paint is Modelmaster enamel Aircraft Interior Black which is really a very dark Grey.


    Today I'm a great fan of the camera, as I caught the one (I think) bit of tape I missed removing! Lot of taping however worth every minute if the pre-shading works out. Once the fuselage seam is completely fixed I'll pre-shade it a bit and do the empennage as well, then it's first finish coat starting with CDL on the bottoms of the flying surfaces.
   So far a slow but reasonable build, my first two seater and definitely a little more work then the "one-holers".
Cheers,
Lance

[Chris Johnson]

Nice work on the pre-shading Lance. I wish I had the same talent with an airbrush as you have as the one time I tried pre-shading, it didn't end up looking anything like this! I'm looking forward to seeing the colour coat.

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who struggled with eliminating that seam down the spine of the fuselage. It's a pesky problem.

I see you've already installed some control lines in the fuselage. Good thinking. I will undoubtedly wish I had of thought of doing that too.

Cheers,

Chris

[mgunns]

Hi Lance:

I know what you mean about those seams on a flat surface.  I make a slurry of Tamiya putty and MEK or MEK substitute and then paint brush it in the seam.  IT seams to work.  Pun intended.  The Tamiya and Squadron puttys don't seem to get into the depth of the seam and fill it.  What else works is CA glue, but you have to attack it right away or it becomes harder than the plastic. 
Your pre-shading looks the business and I am anxious to see how this turns out.  I think in the end Des should have a pose down to see who's is the most eye catching BIFF!  Let the championship committee decide and to quote a well known London detective who lived on Baker Street:  "Let the games begin!"
Seriously, good progress.

Best

Mark

[lcarroll]

Chris,
 The control lines installed ahead of the game are of mixed benefit; certainly prefer to have them anchored in before closing her up however working aound them (to say nothing of potential to inadvertantly lop them off) during the sanding, trimming, and painting is a bit painfull. As for the flat seam, yes, it`s a special treat!
Mark,
  I`ll try to get some MEK, I like the sound of your remedy. My bottle of Testors Liquid plastic cement says `contains methyl ethyl keytone`. Could I use that as a thinner .
   
   Thank you both for the positive comments.
Cheers,
Lance

[Chris Johnson]

Chris,
 The control lines installed ahead of the game are of mixed benefit; certainly prefer to have them anchored in before closing her up however working aound them (to say nothing of potential to inadvertantly lop them off) during the sanding, trimming, and painting is a bit painfull.

I tried it once and only just squeaked through by the skin of my teeth. I inadvertently over-sprayed the lines with matte sealer but didn't think anything of it until I started double threading them through the brass turnbuckles. The lines would hardly pull through and it was nip and tuck the whole way as the increased tension required to pull the lines taut put additional stress on the eyelet mounts, which caused several failures. Now I don't install any lines until I have my matte coats safely out of the way.

Cheers,

Chris

[mgunns]

Chris,
 The control lines installed ahead of the game are of mixed benefit; certainly prefer to have them anchored in before closing her up however working aound them (to say nothing of potential to inadvertantly lop them off) during the sanding, trimming, and painting is a bit painfull. As for the flat seam, yes, it`s a special treat!
Mark,
  I`ll try to get some MEK, I like the sound of your remedy. My bottle of Testors Liquid plastic cement says `contains methyl ethyl keytone`. Could I use that as a thinner .
   
   Thank you both for the positive comments.
Cheers,
Lance

Hi Lance:

Yes, you can use Testors as a thinner.  I use MEK exclusively as a cement, paint and putty thinner, brush and air brush cleaner.  It is cheaper than buying those bottles of Testors.  You can get it at your local hardware store:  I know, local for you is a 250 mile drive.  Next time you're in town pick up a pint or two of it.  There is also a MEK substitute which works just as well.  I keep the Testors bottles and reuse them for my cementing purposes.  If you use it to thin paint and airbrush, ensure you use a respirator.  The stuff is pretty caustic, but it works well with any paint; Testors MM, Humbrol, Testors Acryl, Tamiya Acrylic.  I have never used it with Future, not sure how it would work with that.

Best

Mark

[Epeeman]

Hello, Lance -

I've not really been following the GB builds recently, so have missed out on your excellent work so far - your engine detailing work is brilliant.

Regards

Dave

[Trackpad]

Nice work all 'round, Lance! Looks like I'm tail-end Charlie in this threesome, but that gives me a chance to learn from your efforts and those of Chris! Excellent work! 

[GAJouette]

  Lance,
Awesome works all around my old friend. I'm looking forward to seeing her wings when fully painted.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[lcarroll]

Dave, Gary & Greg,
   Thanks for the encouraging words. Progress is frustratingly slow for now as I've got 5 more days of work commitments until I can get busy again. Doubly frustrating as I find that it takes me a day or more to get spun up and back in the groove after an interuption. And then there's the snow piled up in the driveway again...........
Cheers,
Lance

[uncletony]

Lance, everything looks great! Engine details are awesome. Cool to see several folks building the same subject.

I am confused by your comments regarding problems with "Alcad" rubbing off. Do you mean (Testors) Metallizer?  I have found Alcad to be super-durable, no problems whatsoever handling it once it is cured (~2hrs). Metallizer (at least applied with the "primed brush" technique) is a  different story...