First trials

[mgunns]

Hello Patrick:

This kit can try mens souls:  It was my first WNW kit and was a disaster.  However, I built another one and then another one.  I am attaching the link to my build log that may help you out as I point out some of the problems with the kit and with the directions and sequence.
http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=996.0

I hope you find it useful.  As to paint.  I agree, tamiya acrylics can be challgening to brush.  If you go over the paints with the thinner it will pull the paint up.  I think that is what is happening with you. 

Good Luck

Best

Mark

[coyotemagic]

Patrick, I hate to say this, but I have to agree with Mark and the others.  I absolutely loathe Tamiya acrylics for brush painting and since I invariably have to touch up my airbrush work with a brush at some point, I've quit using them altogether.  I am sure, however, that someone here will come up with a solution for you.  That said, your doing a fantastic job so far.
Cheers,
Bud

[IFF1418]

Hello Mark,

Thank you so much for the link to your log, which i'm going to study profoundly. I'm sure it will be of great help.
The problems with the clear layer : instead of a layer of clear Tamiya on the pilot's cushon, I used a few layers of clear fingernail color ( !!??) and added a layer of clear Tamiya. The result is not worse or better than de Tamiya layer, but it was worth trying.
Meanwhile i started the rigging of the cabin. I tried to make my first turnbuckles (thank you Des!). I will post some pictures soon. And now I'm going to read your adventures Mark.
Thank you Bud for the kind words. It's quite encouraging for me. This forum is full of very gentle people and i'm very glad i discovered it, and i'm amazed about the high standards of modelling of you all, something i can only dream of.

Very kind regards

Patrick

[IFF1418]

Hello Mark,

I read through your build log of the SE5.a and i must say it's quite impressive. Very good colours, very nice painting, extremely well buid. At the same time i realise that the choice of my very first airplane model was a bit to optimistic, i think i wil have all the difficulties in the world to obtain a decent result. I will continue to have your log beside me to avoid major disasters.

Kind regards

Patrick

[IFF1418]

Dear All,

Included some pictures of the SE5.a after the struggling with turnbuckles and wires in the pilots cockpit. Could be much better and hope that the next one will be more satisfying. I'm afraid that i will have some problems closing the fuselage as the pilots chair seems a bit high, in my opinion. Now i'll start the control panel (decals) which i will do also for the first time.

Kind regards

Patrick

[Chris Johnson]

I think you're making great strides here Patrick. She's looking good. These models are challenging and I know it's been a steep learning curve for me, so don't get downhearted. Patience is the key.

Cheers,

Chris

[coyotemagic]

The cockpit looks fantastic, Patrick.  You did a brilliant job on the control lines.
Cheers,
Bud

[IFF1418]

 Thanks a lot Chris and Bud, this is really encouraging for me. I thought it wasn't well looking. Maybe the pictures are masking some of my errors but anyway your kind words give me a lot of courage to continue.
Busy applying the decals. Have you any idea of the drying time? And is there any other layer one has to put above them?
Thank you!!

Very kind regards

Patrick
 

[uncletony]

Busy applying the decals. Have you any idea of the drying time? And is there any other layer one has to put above them?

I let them sit overnight before touching them. But then I let everything sit overnight.  I believe in letting things set.

You can seal them with Future / Klear. Be aware that Future/Klear darkens things slightly. You can also seal them with Dullcoat or clear coats of various types, test on scrap first if you aren't sure how it will look or how it will react with the decals and paint...

[IFF1418]

Thank you Bo!!

Patrick

[coyotemagic]

I agree with Bo 100% on that.  Speed is your greatest enemy in modeling.  I like to seal my instrument decals with a drop of this:
 http://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Paint_and_Construction/TES00003515/product.php?s=4&t=2&u=0
Looks like a glass lens when dry and gives the instruments depth.
Cheers,
Bud

[uncletony]

Duh, I didn't quite pick up that you were talking about the instruments. In that case, what Bud said

An alternative is to punch little discs out of acetate and affix with a tiny drop of white glue on top of the dial. Requires a precision punch set though.

[Chris Johnson]

Good luck with those instrument decals. Sometimes they drive me crazy. I set one in place and then it decides to rotate like a compass looking for due north. I coax it back into position and then watch it rotate out of line again. Drives me crazy. Other times I'll set them in place only to second guess myself that they're correct. Out with the magnifying glass because nothing looks so bad as an upside down instrument gauge when you see it in a closeup image . . . after the fuselage is buttoned up. 

Cheers,

Chris

[Dal Gavan]

That's looking good, Patrick.  I agree with Chris, those instrument decals have a mind of their own and you can't turn your back on them, until they dry. 

Dal.

 

[IFF1418]

Thank you Dal ! Indeed Chris these decals go there own way all the time. I even ended up with no glue on one of them and I had to glue it myself. Not looking good. I use a magnifying glass in anything I do on the model, my eyes have deteriorated the last 10 years. So every little error I make is magnified. Really scary.

Kind regards

Patrick