A WNW S.E.5a for Dave

[Vickers]

Thanks, NigelR.

[Vickers]

This beastie was a serious masking tape hog yesterday, but as of this morning the basic exterior paint in enamels is finished. The apparent difference between the CDL colors on the wings, ailerons, and elevators were caused by my lighting. For the uppers, I used a preshade of Floquil's RLM81 Braunviolet with an overcast of Xtracolor PC-10 Khaki. Below, Floquil's Butternut and their Warm Concrete, then oversprayed with a thin layer of their Grime. Like White Ensign Models paints, I find that the Xtracolor enamels require about 24hrs to dry.

I expect to start working with the ultra crisp masks that were produced by FAf, to which I've laid down registration marks for repositioning during the paint cycle. It'll be the first time I've used masks for an entire model and I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks again, FAf.









Paints:



FAf's wicked masks:

[bobs_buckles]

Excellent progress!

 

[NigelR]

More very nice work, and have fun with the masks. They look really effective on Fredrik's builds.

[FAf]

Looks like you're all set to give the masks a go!? It'll be a walk in the park for you!

I really like the idea of undercoating with RLM 81. I'll borrow that for some future build.
/Fredrik

[Vickers]

Well, I think that my first ever attempt at using vinyl masks for all of the major markings on a model was about 90% successful (images below). My hat's off to FAf, the masks he designed and produced for me were absolutely bang on in terms of dimensions and proportions. I did get some holidays and underspray in certain spots, but between the rib tapes and the wrinkles in the fabric it still turned out better than I had feared. Gonna respond to your latest comments prior to the images...

Excellent progress!

 

Thanks, Bob! This was a nine hour day and it went by in a flash.

More very nice work, and have fun with the masks. They look really effective on Fredrik's builds.

Thanks, Nigel R. I have some practice to do before I become anywhere near as deft with the masks as some guys here, especially Fredrik.

Looks like you're all set to give the masks a go!? It'll be a walk in the park for you!

I really like the idea of undercoating with RLM 81. I'll borrow that for some future build.
/Fredrik

Thanks, Fredrik. I ended up with some boo boos which I'll count down to inexperience and address with a fine brush. I generally prefer to preshade with a color that's just a bit darker than the intended finish color and Floquil's RLM 81 seemed like it would be a good one to use with Xtracolor's PC-10.

So, here's my initial result with Fredrik's masks. Paints used were Floquil's Japanese Navy Light Grey (a couple of passes to cover the PC-10 and CDL and provide a light foundation for the other colors) D&H Blue, Red, and Insignia White enamels. Gleefully, I didn't end up with any raised steps between the various colors. Although certain experts have argued over details of the markings that would've been on Rhys-Davids' machine on the day of the epic Voss dogfight, I decided to go with the late great Rowan Broadbent's instructions, hence the earlier tailband rather than the blue barbell and the wing insignia in the inboard position rather than centered over the struts. Some of those details may always remain in doubt, but as Dave Wilson used to say "Just build the thing!"

[NigelR]

That looks pretty darned good to me, I can't see any major boo boos. Very nice work, and it's all coming together nicely.

[FAf]

Success! 
I'm sure you can see some areas that aren't perfect, but, as Nigel says, I can't really see them. It really looks like you've mastered the masks and produced an excellent result.
Cheers, Fredrik

[Vickers]

I'm about to spray some clear coats (gloss followed by oil wash and clear matte) prior to attaching the various Gaspatch anchor points, then the gunsights and initial rigging. I put her back in the jig and glued the cabane struts to the fuselage. Gonna respond to your latest comments prior to the latest images...

That looks pretty darned good to me, I can't see any major boo boos. Very nice work, and it's all coming together nicely.

Thanks, NigelR. There were a few places where the angle of the spray created thin spots on some of the white trim on the insignia, especially where the fuselage roundels whent down over the wrinkled fabric. so I hit those bits with a fine brush to fatten them up.

Success! 
I'm sure you can see some areas that aren't perfect, but, as Nigel says, I can't really see them. It really looks like you've mastered the masks and produced an excellent result.
Cheers, Fredrik

Thanks, Fredrik. I've been hesitant to try masks for many years, but these were much easier to use than I'd expected. They seem to be just as easy as using decals once you get the hang of it.

On to the latest pics:

Yes, it has a motor, but I'll never see it again since the manifold shrouds lock it in once the hood is in place. Modelers who like to see their motors will have to display the model with the hood removed.





Starting to look S.E.5a-ish. Here she is fairly well-aligned in the jig and if anything is off by a smidgeon I expect that the interplane struts and rigging will work their magic and pull everything true:

[bobs_buckles]

Looks like you're on the winning straight!
Keep up the great work. 

BB

[NigelR]

Very nice engine. Byeeeee! We all do it, don't we. But you can see bits of it through the gaps around the exhausts, so it's worth doing......

The rest is looking really good.

[Vickers]

Thanks, Bob & NigelR!

I may have to do this one as a two-reply update since I took quite a few photos. I sprayed a thin layer of MM Metallizer Sealer to create a gloss and then applied an oil wash. It looks pretty heavy under this lighting but it's more subtle under normal light. Put the clear pieces over the flight control gizmos and added all of the various doohickeys on the forward upper fuselage along with the exhausts. The Gaspatch Lewis MG is on the rail and rigged. It was fun getting the line wrapped and centered over the caster wheel. Then everything received an overspray with Testors Dullcote- at certain lighting angles it has a pleasant sheen. Next up, drilling out the myriad holes for the Gaspatch turnbuckles and anchor points.















Additional images in next post...

[Vickers]

One thing I like about taking closeups is that taking a close look at the images often reveals itty bitty spots that require a touchup. Like where my forceps removed some paint from one of the exhaust brackets and that I'd forgotten to tip the ends of the tube sight with gloss. Gonna do that stuff right after I hit the post button.

[NigelR]

More lovely work, all those doohickeys mean she is really starting to look like an SE5a. Those markings look very effective and you've handled all the detail parts and painting really well.

[Dirigible-Al]

You're turning this into something really special now. Great workmanship.
Alan.