WNW Pfalz D.IIIa - NOW COMPLETED

[DaddyO]

Wowzer Nigel we need to talk you're getting too good at this my friend 

[RAGIII]

Beautiful engine details and painting. It all looks great in place!
RAGIII

[NigelR]

Thanks Paul and Rick, much appreciated. Paul, you are too kind but I have learned a lot from looking at all the builds and techniques people have shared on this forum. Being retired helps as well, as I have time to practice things!

[Dutch522]

Beautiful stuff, Nigel, and I'm with Sandy, those belts look amazingly realistic. And your powerplant is a work of art; I'm taking notes on all this in case this Eindecker madness ever comes to an end and I have the freedom to build something with two wings.

Dutch

[Dirigible-Al]

That engine looks so real!
Alan.

[Brad Cancian]

Outstanding work Nigel - that interior really looks the business.

Cheers

BC

[NigelR]

Thanks very much Brad, Alan and Dutch. I was hoping to post an update because I have been working hard on getting all the struts, undercart and small parts painted while closing up the fuselage and applying paint ready for decals. However, the modelling gods decided to laugh at me. I sprayed a clear gloss coat ready for decals and it reacted with the white painted areas. Not the black fuselage or the primed wings, just the white tail area. The gloss coat has gone like crazy paving. I will try to rescue this by sanding gently and applying more gloss over the top, but right now we are teetering on the brink......

[DaddyO]

Thanks very much Brad, Alan and Dutch. I was hoping to post an update because I have been working hard on getting all the struts, undercart and small parts painted while closing up the fuselage and applying paint ready for decals. However, the modelling gods decided to laugh at me. I sprayed a clear gloss coat ready for decals and it reacted with the white painted areas. Not the black fuselage or the primed wings, just the white tail area. The gloss coat has gone like crazy paving. I will try to rescue this by sanding gently and applying more gloss over the top, but right now we are teetering on the brink......

Arrrrrgh! as they say in the Beano (or at least they used to they probably say something different nowadays since it's a long time since I read one) Anyway back to the Arrrrgh! I'm sure it will come good Nigel - a nice calming show is what you need and hey presto one is coming on Sunday to forget all about crazy paved white paint and Pfalz's; at least for a few hours 

Cheers
Paul

[Brad Cancian]

That's a bummer Nigel, we've all had experiences like that. Do you think it was due to perhaps different paint types? What brands / types were you using for the base coat and clear coats? I've seen this happen when using 'hot' paints (lacquers, etc) over the top of acrylics, for example.

Keep at it, this one is too good to stop now!

Cheers

BC

[Dirigible-Al]

For all it's worth I would replicate what you have done already on scrap bits of plastic, basically creating exactly the same scenario again and practice repairing that rather than potentially digging a deeper hole for yourself trying to repair what you have already built. Best of luck

[NigelR]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Yes Paul, a nice day at a model show will help take my mind off it, so it's a good thing I'll see you at one tomorrow

Brad, it's a combination that I usually use which is Tamiya gloss out of a rattle can over Vallejo acrylics. I've had issues in the past with the varnish pooling if I am too enthusiastic with the spraying (so I tend to go in light coats) but never with it attacking the paint. It's probably a combination of too much varnish and the paint underneath not having fully cured.

The worst affected part is the rudder, which is fortunately not attached so I can strip and respray that. The underside of the white tailplane is also affected but I am hoping I can reduce the effect with sanding and then get a good enough finish that I can complete the build. And then never pick it up and look at the underside again!   

[RAGIII]

I am confident you will sort things out with the white paint. Looking forward to the update!
RAGIII

[Allan31]

Looks amazing Nigel, best of luck with the paint save, Tamiya is too hot for me, I just use Future.

[NigelR]

We are back in the saddle! The white paint on the stabiliser does not bear close inspection but the worst of it is underneath so can't really be seen. A bit of weathering later on will help distract the eye.

I've painted and glossed the fuselage and have started decalling, it's on to the lozenge next:

Tamiya is too hot for me, I just use Future.

I think you are right Allan. But I found I had a rattle can of Mr Hobby water-based varnish so I tried that and it is superb! Sprays really easily from  the can and gives a nice hard wearing finish. So I rushed out and bought several cans and it's working really well.

[RAGIII]

Excellent recovery, Looks Beautiful! That scheme is really striking!
RAGIII