My latest finished model is this 1/48 scale Ta 183 from the Amtech kit.

This was built O.O.B. and I used Model Master enamel for paint.

The model was put in the markings of W.Nr.603008 a Ta 183A-1a built by Fieseler.

This aircraft was the last Ta 183A-1a to see service with the Luftwaffe and after a very long service life it was deemed too worn out for further frontline duty and was used as a 'Schulmaschine' to help speed up the training of former He 162 pilots on how to fly the new type.

On to the pictures...








Matrixone

Shame they were a pig to fly, looked fantastic.

Great looking model Les, and once again your photography reigns supreme.

Can I ask how you did the worn metal areas? Did you paint the camouflage over a silver base and then rub it off, or was it hand painted?

cheers
Brent

Les, beautiful model and great photos. That one photo with the sepia tint is really beautiful.

Best wishes,


Ian

Thanks Carl, Brent, and Ian!

Brent,
The paint chipping effect on the Ta 183 fuselage was done mostly by using the salt weathering technique. The entire fuselage was first painted chrome silver and after the paint was fully dry I airbrushed the camouflage scheme and waited a few hours before using my fingers to rub the salt away from the models surface.
The wings were weathered almost the same way as the fuselage but instead of chrome silver I painted on a fake plywood surface.




Matrixone

Thanks Les, that makes sense and well executed too, and that plywood base looks very well done. I don't use an airbrush so the salt or hairspray methods are a bit tricky to pull off ...

cheers
Brent

Les,
Another one of your master pieces. I must confess that I look forward to your builds and short photo essays. Truly original and extremely well done.

Your TA183A-1a is just a spectacular build, weathered to perfection.

Joel

Thanks so much for the kind words Joel!

In a week or two another 1/48 scale model will be finished, this next one is the Do 335B-12 two seat trainer. I am adding some weathering to it now with oil paints.


Les

Les,
Looking forward to your post. I do remember from way back in the 1970's Monogram's D0335. I actually built it while we lived in Newport News, Virginia.
Joel

Joel,
I have built a couple of the Monogram Do 335's before and they were the best before the Tamiya kit was introduced. In some ways the Monogram kit was better, they gave you the choice to have the flaps down and display the rear engine which would be perfect for dioramas.
Speaking of Monogram kits...the Monogram Me 262 was (and still is) one of the better kits of this aircraft, the newer Tamiya and HobbyBoss kits have panel line detail on the fuselage in places where there should not be any because the full size Me 262 had the panel lines filled with putty and sanded smooth before painting, the Monogram kit has this feature correctly done. Why Tamiya and HobbyBoss did it the way they did is a mystery.

Here is a sneak peek at the next Do 335...


Right now I am adding some weathering details with oil paint, this is always a slow process for me not because oil paints dry slowly, I learned the hard way that its best to enjoy the weathering process and not rush it, haste makes waste!


Les

Excellent job. I like it.
I've just got myself the same kit and looking forward to working on it.

Fantastic build; amazing paint job and weathering, and work-of-art photos. I'm super impressed.

Thank you cnq007 and Brian!


Matrixone

Really cool Les, the chipping looks perfect. Did you have problems with the salt reacting with the paint, or is it a question of which kind of paint you use?
Thanks in advance.

best regards ro

Robert,

I use nothing but enamel paints and have had no problems with using the salt weathering technique with these paints.

When I paint my models I use an airbrush and I spray on just barely enough paint to get even coverage so my paint coats are very thin and this is key if you are using the salt weathering technique with enamel paint.
Thick layers of enamel paint might make it difficult to remove the grains of salt from the models surface so thinning the paint really pays off.

Thanks for your comments!

Matrixone