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modeldude · Posted: Thu 01 Feb 2007 19:36 pm Post subject: Flak 88s Progress

Progress of Flak 88s build will appear here
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

I will be building the Airfix 1/72 kit. I'm going to use the splinter camo effect but have never attempted anything quite that complex before, so fingers crossed.
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

First picture is of the raised panel lines on the undersurface. I remember reading somewhere that raised panel lines are "not a good thing" and so they have to go.

And here is my attempt at rescribing the panel lines. I used the original raised ones as a guide and then Wet and dried the whole lot smooth afterwards. To be honest it doesn't stand close scrutiny with there being a few wayward scribed lines. But for a first attempt I'm reasonably pleased.

I havn't attempted the same process with the panel lines on the upper surface as I figured the splinter camo effect would all but hide them anyway. Here is the upper surface, filled, sanded and almost ready to go.

And lastly here's my pilot. Forgot the macro option again, and foolishly sealed him inside the aircraft before checking this photo.

See the grin on his face? Thats cause he knows he will be flying a jet. Other kit manufacturers please take note.....make someone happy...include a pilot figure in your kit.
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

Here's the underside painted. Having trouble regulating the spray area on my airbrush so unable to highlight in the way I would want to (middle areas of panels). The lack of detail at the front end of the aircraft is noticable, but I can live with it

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davecov · Posted: Tue 27 Feb 2007 00:19 am Post subject:

I really like the scribing! Even though I have scribing tools I don't use them at the moment. I just sand off the raised panel lines and leave the surface smooth. That's because I find painting over raised or lower panel lines with a brush can be frustrating at times - especially the splinter camouflage. Should I ever dust off my airbrush, then I would definitely go the scribing way. As it is, I enjoy my brush!

Dave
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

Thanks for the kind words, I do think the photo flatters to decieve a tad though ;) The biggest problem I found with the scribing was getting a consistant depth. It all looked fine until I came to sand it and then the shallower lines all but disappeared.

I also applied the chalk wash technique that I found after following a link on this site (thanks for that!) Initially it all went horribly wrong as the matt paint was too rough and the wash adhered to a large area. So a quick respray, followed by a brushed on coat of Klear gave me a surface that was much better for using this method. I’ve also tried to highlight the panels but don’t seem to have sufficient control over the airbrush yet (still a novice in that field).

Hopefully get the upper surface underway in the next day or so.
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

Here's the first stage of the splinter camo effect. An all over coat of brown, which turned out to be a bit darker than I thought it would be. Then I masked off the areas I wanted to stay brown using a masking film. The film is transparent so I've put a couple of the backing papers on the wing for effect.

Next will be a coat of the lighter green, which in turn will be masked off ready for the next stage. Then its just rinse and repeat until complete, when all the film can be peeled off. I've noticed the film has a tendancy to lift away from the matt paint so the finished item may need some touching up.

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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

At long last the process is finished. I am both pleased and a little dissapointed with the results (but mostly pleased

).

Pleased because as a total airbrush novice I think the effect has worked quite well.

Dissapointed because as a total airbrush novice I've made some elementary mistakes with the masking process.

Firstly the clear film I started off using was superb on a flat surface, but on a curved surface it was simply too "low tack" to stick to the matt paint, and this allowed some spray to seep under the mask.

Secondly, when I switched to low tac masking tape this was superb for curved surfaces, but my airbrushing was too heavy handed, and the build up of paint allowed some to soak under the edges. (Its also left slight raised edges to some of the colours).

So some touching up is called for, but I doubt if I will get the same even coated finish with my paintbrush as I managed with the airbrush.

The other problem I found was that building up the masked pattern piece by piece made it difficult to plan a uniform splinter pattern. Thinking three stages ahead was just too mind blowing, so the pattern probably does not stand up to close scrutiny. Anyway....here's some pics. Still a lot more work to do though....

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Owen · Posted: Mon 05 Mar 2007 21:51 pm Post subject:

Holy Poo!

That is pretty fine Splinter Camo, that looks really good.

I

it!

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FZ6 · Posted: Tue 06 Mar 2007 00:43 am Post subject:

That Splinter Camo is very impressive, you've done a great job there. I look forward to seeing the end result

farmroad38 · Posted: Tue 06 Mar 2007 08:05 am Post subject:

Is there a "jaw-dropping" emoticon anywhere? That is very, very impressive!
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JackJ · Posted: Tue 06 Mar 2007 09:12 am Post subject:

looking very very good

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davecov · Posted: Tue 06 Mar 2007 11:39 am Post subject:

A lovely job. What colours did you use?

Dave
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

Thanks for the comments guys. Whether it will look so nice after I’ve completed the “touch up” we will have to wait and see.

I used the following Tamiya colours,

Base coat – Flat Earth XF-52 (I thought it was a bit dark but its worked out ok)
Light Green - 5 parts Flat Green XF-5 to 1 part Flat Yellow XF-3
Darker green – Nato Green XF-67
Black – Nato Black XF-69 (with just a touch of black)
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Ratch · Posted: Tue 06 Mar 2007 16:51 pm Post subject:

For a first go with an airbrush you've done extremely well

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feanor · Posted: Tue 06 Mar 2007 18:15 pm Post subject:

Ayup Flak...

Fantastic splinter camo...

well done...
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88mmFlak · White Star Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 71

I really need to take more work in progress photos.

After a near disasterous attempt to use oils to give a shaded effect in the upper surface (seems to work so well in the magazines), I set to work painting the missiles. No idea what colour they should be so I made it up.

Once these wer glued on the project was finished. Final shots in the gallery.
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Radio Gnome · Posted: Wed 28 Mar 2007 18:24 pm Post subject:

There is some really great work going on in this group build so far, but I think your splinter job has half a nose ahead of the pack at the moment! Keep the great work up