Author Topic: "Captured!" WNW Albatros DV in RFC Livery (Read 72917 times)

Trackpad · « **Reply #105 on:** April 08, 2018, 05:45:20 AM »

Hi, Troops!

Almost there: I've settled on the Gunze mix of their H-13 Off-White and H-313 Yellow, 1:1 ratio of both paint to paint and paint to thinner (IPA 99%), airbrushed at ~15 psi. Thanks to those who provided information and suggestions. I eventually settled with "it's easier to start light and go dark rather than the opposite!" Here is what it looks like:

As for the plywood decals, here's a test with the two I like best:

Of these two I tend to the upper version as it seems to be closest to the final colour. The lower version gives more latitude for applying the final varnish cover, but for me it also gives more latitude to cock it all up! I plan to over-spray the decal with a very thin filter of the base colour and then apply a second very thin filter of a clear yellow/orange mix.

So I'll start to apply the wood grain decals in a day or two, about one or two sections per day with any additional available time given over to other details of the build.

Thanks for visiting. Have a great weekend and a super upcoming week!

RAGIII · « **Reply #106 on:** April 08, 2018, 05:59:30 AM »

The upper one seems to have a nice warm straw look. Why go for something else when you have what you need ! JMHO,
RAGIII

Trackpad · « **Reply #107 on:** April 09, 2018, 09:30:07 PM »

Thanks for your input, RAG and RB.

I've got two panels in place now, starting on the five belly panels for some practice before I get to the more "exposed" areas. As I've only got one sheet of the "straw-coloured" panels (bought it a few years ago along with the "pale" sheet) I'm using the pale version along the belly and plan to use a mix of clear yellow and clear orange (1:1 ratio) to blend these in with the straw-coloured upper panels. Looks like Uschi changed their decal appearances relatively recently but I'm pretty sure that I'll have enough for the build.

One other "discovery" that might be of interest: I have a couple of phenomenally ancient sheets of Badger "Foto/Frisket Film," a very low tack film used for all sorts of masking. Whereas Uschi shows the use of a modern yellow tape to define the a/c panels (I have "Kamoi" tape), I'm finding the frisket film much better: lower adhesion (less chance of damage to already-decaled panels), it's clear (dead simple to identify the panels and mark out their lines and corners), and no damage to the decal sheet itself when I place the marked-out frisket panel onto it and then cut it out with a straight edge and an X-Acto knife. A quick Google search shows that the film is still available (I've had my last two sheets for literally decades!) and even the stock numbers remains the same: 601. If there is any interest, I'd recommend getting the matte finish as it takes pencil marking nicely when defining the underlying panels.

One or two more panels to be done today. I'll post photos when I get a decent number of panels placed. Have a great week, everyone, and thanks for visiting!

gbrivio · « **Reply #108 on:** April 10, 2018, 01:36:25 AM »

The lower panel looks almost perfectly as untreated plywood, the upper as it is varnished. Both very nice, but the upper is probably closer to the final look you need, so asking for less finishing work.
Ciao
Giuseppe

Trackpad · « **Reply #109 on:** April 10, 2018, 04:05:07 AM »

Hi, Giuseppe,

Thanks for visiting and checking out my plan. I'm happy to read that you think my use of the "pale" decals on the bottom of the fuselage will work once I "varnish" them. Ciao!

Trackpad · « **Reply #110 on:** April 10, 2018, 08:32:20 PM »

Hello, Everyone,

A short update to say that the decaling is progressing nicely at just over one panel per day. I've got three panels decaled along the bottom of the hull and decided yesterday that I'd try to do two very thin "partial panels" on the fuselage sides. In the latter case I started to use the "rich" version of the decals. Here's where we stand early today:

The three lower surface decals are looking all right to me. I've read that,when the various panels were applied to the frame, the panel edges were chamfered in order to overlap the edges and allow the nails to hold both edges with just one nailing line. That means to me that the "panel lines" between panels would have been very small and not very evident other than the grain differences (and nail lines) between the panels. I'll try to replicate that appearance as I go along.

Here's the "thin decal" noted above, just the narrow rear edge of a regular panel that has mostly been covered by the forward fuselage paint scheme. The difference between the colour of this decal and those on the fuselage bottom is not very great, but it is noticeable. I'll see this more clearly when additional "rich" panels are covered.

As always, comments, criticisms and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for visiting!

RAGIII · « **Reply #111 on:** April 10, 2018, 11:26:39 PM »

Gary,
You are very close to making me a believer in wood grain decals. If you know my preference has always been not to show a distinct grain pattern then you understand the depth of my compliment

RAGIII

Trackpad · « **Reply #112 on:** April 12, 2018, 01:00:00 PM »

Rick,

Many thanks for your compliment and the explanation of its depth. I very much appreciate your input.

Well, I'm apparently getting the hang of this more or less, as I've got two more panels in place today with a minimum of swearing, sweat and double scotches. My next update will be in two or three days' time when I've got a few more panels in place. Tomorrow I think that I'll be tackling the panel that includes the cockpit opening. Now, that will be interesting, I'm sure. Thanks for visiting!

GazzaS · « **Reply #113 on:** April 12, 2018, 02:33:44 PM »

I really like those woodgrain on those decals, even though I've never been sure how much detail should be seen in either scale.

Nice work!

Trackpad · « **Reply #114 on:** April 12, 2018, 09:23:17 PM »

Quote from: GazzaS on April 12, 2018, 02:33:44 PM

I really like those woodgrain on those decals, even though I've never been sure how much detail should be seen in either scale.

Nice work!

Gaz, thanks for your very kind comment. I'll be able to judge whether or not the overall grain effect is too garish once the paneling is done. If it is, I'm considering a very thin over-spray of the original base coat. That might give the suggestion of the grain rather than a more unrealistic or over-detailed appearance. Not sure yet, as I'm in uncharted waters right now. Fortunately, my compass still seems to work.

Thanks for visiting!

mgunns · « **Reply #115 on:** April 13, 2018, 06:31:06 AM »

Getting caught up on your build here Gary. I thought the previous wood color looked spot on, but; as you say, with filters and weathering it could have gotten darker, easier to darken than lighten. I have used wood grain decals to good effect and it looks like your work is progressing nicely as well. The color looks slightly grey but that could be the light and the reflection of the blue background. Looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

krow113 · « **Reply #116 on:** April 14, 2018, 01:51:09 AM »

Your being VERY careful with the wood grain decal application. I found breaking up the surface color prior to decal work helps to alleviate the repetitious or 'plain' look you are concerned with.
Making sure the knots are in different places helps too.
I used Uschi wood grain decals on my Gotha , I like them.
A translucent overspray when you have them all applied may help , check out the filters that are available , or a wet mix of a light tan overall can tie it all together.
Looks good!

Trackpad · « **Reply #117 on:** April 14, 2018, 02:06:07 AM »

Thanks, Krow. Glad to hear that you've used the Uschi decals and apparently like them. I hope to get a few more panels applied over the weekend, so an update should be available by/on Sunday. Thanks for visiting!

krow113 · « **Reply #118 on:** April 14, 2018, 02:15:21 AM »

No prob.
One really good tip for the decals is to keep the carrier sheet handy. If you bugger up the decal application , drop it back into the water , it will magically open up and lay flat ! , you can then try again or lay it back on the carrier sheet. I even let some dry out on the sheet and used them again . They are quite hardy.

Trackpad · « **Reply #119 on:** April 14, 2018, 05:31:52 AM »

Quote from: krow113 on April 14, 2018, 02:15:21 AM

No prob.
One really good tip for the decals is to keep the carrier sheet handy. If you bugger up the decal application , drop it back into the water , it will magically open up and lay flat ! , you can then try again or lay it back on the carrier sheet. I even let some dry out on the sheet and used them again . They are quite hardy.

Very good point. That idea will surely save decal sections to "live and fight another day." I'll certainly keep it in mind as I move towards the more challenging panels toward the tail section. Thanks for the tip!