'Harry Tate', WNW 1/32

[NigelR]

Painting all the markings is adding another challenge to this build IMO, but given the frequent poor quality of later WNW decals, it might be a sensible idea.... Looks like a good start to me.

[FAf]

Painting all the markings is adding another challenge to this build IMO, but given the frequent poor quality of later WNW decals, it might be a sensible idea.... Looks like a good start to me.

Thanks Nigel - I tend to think that masking and painting markings is easier than using decals in many cases, in the other cases it might be the challenge I'm after.

Difficult to be sure Fredrik, but I bet if we could see the original a/c in close up like this, it might not be so different? Great effort and a good result, to my eyes at least.

Warren

Thanks Warren and I'm sure you're right about the paint on real aircraft. However, when painting markings the white is problematic in the sense that it will be whiter, perceived whiter, when compared to the dark camouflage, but that dark colour isn't there to compare with when the masks are in place. The good thing about this is that one usually ends up with a good amount of white... here are some step by step pictures of one of the top roundels.



And after these fairly large and quick steps forward, it's back to the small details...

'


/Fredrik

[NigelR]

Wow, those markings turned out really well. No way could I mask and spray anything as effectively as those.

[PrzemoL]

Great results on the markings airbrushing. I wish I could achieve the same quality, as usually I have to correct some spots where the mask peeled off a little.

[macsporran]

Agree with above comments: that masking/brushing is just superb.
Sandy

[KiwiZac]

If I'm ever fortunate to build one of these kits, even half as good as this would be wonderful! Bravo!

[gedmundson]

Your engine and painted markings look spectacular. Are those commercially available roundel & serial masks (like Montex)? I searched the thread but couldn’t see where you’d said what you used.
Cheers,
Gary

[RAGIII]

Outstanding work Fredrik! Your Home made Masks are terrific, but it takes talent to get them to work this well.
RAGIII

[FAf]

Thanks for your support guys!

Nigel - you should have more faith in yourself! Get a set of masks and try it. 😃

Przemo - it happens to me too, just not this time. 😏

Gary - I suppose Rick gave you the answer to your question, the masks are made by me. But they are of course kind of commercially available, if you want them or similar markings just send me a PM.

/Fredrik

[WD]

Superb masking and airbrushing there. I hope to airbrush some roundels in my current build, we'll see how that goes. I'll use this as inspiration. 

Warren

[Brad Cancian]

Excellent work on the masking. I too am heading more and more towards masking markings, especially on British aircraft where colour matching rudder stripes to roundel decals is very tricky. Plus, it allows for ease of shading and weathering later in the build.

Nicely done

Cheers

BC

[William Adair]

The roundels look outstanding! 

[FAf]

'I hope to airbrush some roundels in my current build', Warren

'I too am heading more and more towards masking markings, especially on British aircraft where colour matching rudder stripes to roundel decals is very tricky. Plus, it allows for ease of shading and weathering later in the build.' Brad

Thanks William, Warren and Brad and everyone else who's been reading. I really think you all should try to mask and paint some markings and for a lot of reasons, but one very good one is what Brad points to in his comment - painted markings will behave exactly the same as the rest of the painted aircraft. And anyone who thinks I might be able to help with a mask or two, feel free to make contact.

I'm currently trying to meet a deadline in about three weeks, so things are moving quite rapidly now and the update might also be a bit quick...

When attaching the wing to the fuselage I stumbled on a few problems, the largest of which were the unexpected gap between wing and fuselage. Not too problematic though...


Rigging preparations - all wires glued straight into the wing and then they will be stretched using the eyelets that are placed in the upper wing.


It needs a gun... might have to put some darker paint on it and I'm not quite sure on whether I should have that stretch of ammunition belt protrude or not.


Just three images of progress - no struts, with struts and finally with an extra piece of tin plate to cover the base of the forward strut.




Attaching the upper wing was thankfully very straight forward. I hadn't quite realised how large this kit is, it's got to be my largest to date.


Rigging started, working from the inside and out.


/Fredrik

[NigelR]

Lovely work! This is looking very good indeed. What do you use for rigging, and have you coloured it in any way before fitting?

[FAf]

Thanks Nigel!
0.11 mm fishing line pre painted with Vallejo Metal Color. This time I went for Silver, but I usually use Dark Aluminium. And this time I also had to go back and add paint after installation for some reason.
/Fredrik