The Lindberg F11C-2 Goshawk
Paint & Decalling
Now this thing is startin' to look like a plane! The paint scheme was taken from the Squadron book "Curtiss Navy Hawks in Action", as well as internet sources. Nothing fancy here, just Floquil Old Silver overall. The tail was Floquil Signal Red, toned down slightly with a little added brown. The yellow was ModelMaster 02 Gelb (yes, a German Luftwaffe color. Makes a great Navy yellow.).
The decals supplied with the Lindberg kit were, of course, frightening to say the least. I thought I'd try making my own. I'm glad I did, because it worked out better than expected. I first drew them up on my computer in my favorite vector illustration program (Macromedia Freehand). I then printed them out on clear decal paper, then coated the decals with Testors Decal Bonder. Use two good coats, trust me here. The decals went on like any other decal, and worked well with my setting solution.
Because my inkjet printer does not print white (like an Alps printer, for example), it was necessary to backpaint white areas on the plane before applying the decals. Yellow decals, such as the wing chevron, also required pre-painting a white backing on the plane first.
We're nearing the finish line now. Next comes the rigging, then the engine and cowl.
