Morane-Saulnier type N ...(Special Hobby-1/32).

[Andi Little]

Guys .. many thanks, but I feel you're being to kind.

To-whit .... this latest update, I thought I might be doing alright? And it looked for all the world "not too bad"!! But - "MY GOD" what a bliddy mess when you see it through the cameras eye.
It looks like I've been painting in kiddies poster paints - and to a degree I have working with acrylics, and with a brush only - a cognitive choice. You can easily see where I've struggled with the various techniques and ending up building up layer after layer of goopy paint - the attempts at "knocking it back" with a couple of watercolour washes looks as though I've just dipped it in colour and flicked the surplus off.
BUT! ... I've chosen to post these updates as a reminder to me as to how better to proceed, and because they're honest; and I honestly also hope to do better.

The upside is I can see where all the mistake are, and I have at least a vague idea as to how to address them. And in mine own defence if you squint at them you get more of an idea as to what It was I was after - they look bliddy marvellous as thumbnail images!!?










I do feel like I've let the side down a bit ... so apologies for that. But I do also have it in mind to improve - alarmingly, hopefully!!

Cheers all.......................

[lcarroll]

Andi,
    If ever you want to become completely discouraged with your results take a few photos of your work, particularly in Machro Mode....................Oh! I see you've just done that!!
  Point is I think your progress thus far is great, your woodgrain right on the mark, and your detail is very nice. The photo process "bites" us all, and if you spend a few hours looking through past Build Threads here you'll find endless (and often dramatic) comments from the vast majority of us who are not at the absolute apex of this game!
  No need to apologise, it's all about enjoyment of the Hobby and you have the other part correct, make each project better then the last. There have been several near perfect Builds published here however if you asked the Builder he'd probably state that HE knows where there are several badly done or inaccurate parts/places on it......we are our own worst critics which is, in the end, a good thing.
   So don't worry, be happy, and enjoy your project, I quite like what you've done so far.
Cheers,
Lance

[Vickers]

Looks great to me, Andi.  I like your interior colors and weathering treatment. I'll be watching your build with genuine interest since the Morane N is among my very favorites. Have fun with it!

[mike in calif]

As the others have said, we are our own worst critics, your work is not so bad. I'd suggest a chocolate brown wash on the leather, but that's it. The 'pit looks busy enough, and the rigging is a good touch. Keep on keepin on!

[rhallinger]

Andi, the cockpit looks convincing and well-worn to me, with good colors.  As someone suggested, perhaps a dark wash would bring out more detail, but it looks fine to me as is.  I have built this kit, and my cockpit did not look as good as yours.  This kit's parts are on the burly side, fairly spartan and not petit like WNW, and there is a limit to what one can do with them.  Besides, when you close up the fuselage you will only be able to see the hint of busy-ness that you're looking for, as most of the detail will be lost to most lines of sight when viewing the model.

Keep at it, and don't be afraid to try new things.  We're all improving, and rarely completely happy with our results.  Still fun though!   I have come to believe that our current build is almost always our best, as all of us refine and improve our skills and techniques . . . and then of course, we all suffer the occasional disaster.  All part of the hobby!   Enjoy!   Keep up the very fine work.

Regards,

Bob

[GAJouette]

  Well said Bob,just what I was thinking.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Pete Nottingham]

Hi Andi;

I agree with the others your cockpit looks fine and we are our own worst critics, plus close up photos are notorious for showing up any small blemish which you can't even see with our own eyes.
Just keep going, don't get discouraged and you will find that each model you build will be just that little bit better than the last, but most of all it's a hobby, enjoy it.

Cheers

Pete.

[andonio64]

Andi, I feel the same discouraging feeling after taking pictures and publishing them to the forum... In that case I leave the camera on the shelf step back a couple of meters and look at the plane and finally I say to myself, That's good! And remember the many hours I enjoyed myself building it.
That's all about modeling in my humble opinion and interpretation!
By the way I really love your cockpit, how did you get thet chapped leather effect? Which colors and technique?

Antonio

[gfadvance]

Hi Andi,

Thought I had better just let you know I am keeping an eye on this build 

Looks great so far , mind you landing it in the "yard" is going to be a challenge 

[xmald]

Don`t be too hard on yourself mate! The woodgrain is perfect, the rest need some work still. I don`t know how accurate model of MS N you want to build but as far as I know there was no floor at all in the cockpit. Rudder pedals the seat etc. were just fixed to the frame. Both Special Hobby and Eduard made the same mistake by putting the floor in their models.
I know what you feel the photos are ruthless. Looking forward to your next update!

[pepperman42]

Looks great - keep going!!!

Steve

[RAGIII]

Joining the chorus to say LOOKS GOOD to me, and don't overanalyze based on close up photography !I have learned over the years to shoot photos at certain angles in order to make my models look better than they are 
RAGIII

[mgunns]

Hello Andi:

I too will chime in with the others and that being, don't be too hard on yourself.  Like Bob mentioned, the parts aren't that finely molded and once buttoned up, will disappear in the cockpit.  You are doing yeomans work on it and it looks good to me as well. 

Now, keep those cards and letters coming so we can see you progress through the build.

Best

Mark

[Andi Little]

Hey chaps ..............

Sorry I've been missing a while - I have been following the escapades of the board.

Well, after a bout of real life, and other assorted stuffs!! I've made some small headway with the build.

Nothing earth shattering, but I have managed to button that appalling cockpit into the fuselage - actually I spent a bit of time and pulled it together a little better with some artist oils, and it is barely visible within the confines of same: small recompense after the work I did trying to fettle it up!!
Anyhoo ... chucked some paint at it whilst at the bench - again in order to make life difficult I brush painted it on - plus dry-brushed a bit of light and dark with some powders for effect - not too cringe worthy yet so I'll muddle on.




More as and when it happens ...

[Andi Little]

Hi All ........................

I've been here all the time - albeit quietly hiding in the shadows. Been thinking a little bit too, and decided that rather than try to be original or different: I really ought to try and emulate you guys as much as possible.
Ergo ... I've invested in a couple of airbrushes, not as drastic as it sounds as I got quite lucky [unusual for me] on the 'bay. And boy, does it make a difference having a brush that works!!! - I know! but I've been struggling with a badly behaved brush for years, and not being prepared to be beaten I've tried this and that, if fact everything to get the bliddy thing to work - should of just chucked it in the bin - 'cos it singly did the most damage ever to my modelling mojo. These new ones are light years away, they run smoothly, are very "tunable" and just simply squirt paint when and where I want it.
Anyhoo ........... been having a play with them and getting a bit more confident as time goes on, so i thought I'd ressurect this thread, and although these last two posts are frighteningly similar they are worlds apart in manner.
I'm gaining a bit of momentum with this build again now, and raring to crack on with it. The crackle finish you see is hopefully the beginning of the distressed look I'm after, I've tried to put some subtle shading onto the wings and also a bit of bodywork under the fuselage - barely visible in this pic' I know.

Here you go then.........................



I know some of you will roll your eyes now? But do I clear the wings, affix the decals and then mount to the fuselage ... I've been trying to figure out the best way forward - but this isn't a natural process for me, and it's a bit of a learning curve.

Later ...............

PS ................................ Oh, I know I have to drill the mounting holes out for the wire fixing points.