Steve,
One thing that I mentioned to you about pre or post shading every recessed panel line is that the end result often looks unrealistic as it has that checkerboard appearance. At least that's my personal view.

Perhaps one thing to consider is not doing all the panel lines. That way a more realistic random effect will be achieved.

Joel

Hi Jelger and Joel

Jelger thanks very much, I'm pleased you like it.

Joel, yes that sounds like good advice. I'm personally not quite convinced about my efforts yet, but I'm reserving judgment. In natural light the shading looks about right but lights and camera can make it disappear altogether or jump right out. In the end I'll at least try and keep the weathering consistent over the whole model so it gives an impression of age and use.

It's all an adventure.

Happy modelling

Steve

Steve,
Weathering is really a subjective adventure for us modelers. I've been around for a long time, and I seen the start of weathering back in the mid 70s, followed by one trend after another in a grand quest to real that magical realistic effect that one's trying to achieve. Now it's Black Basing. And I've already gone to a modified method of it to achieve the results I'm looking for.

Joel

Hey Joel

Yes, I agree. It's really all about achieving a look that satisfies our own tastes. And, with that in mind I've been giving the wheels a little attention. Some detail painting, a pin wash of black oil and then ground pigment applied to the tyres got the effect I was after. To get a used feel on the tyres I simply sprinkled ground pastels on a sheet of paper and rolled the tyre through it. Then I brushed of the excess.

Steve,
Love the way your weathering tires. I'm so impressed that I'm publically stating that I'm "stealing" your method.
Joel

Hey Joel

Please feel free. Its a small Xmas gift :-)

I've benefitted so much from other modeler's generosity with tips and techniques that I'm very happy to offer a little in return

Happy modelling.

Steve

It seems like breaking the rules is in fashion these days: our politicians tell us lies and we elect them; summer lasts until October, and ‘u’ and ‘r’ are no longer letters but words. So, just because I’m a dedicated follower of fashion, I decided to gloss coat a natural metal finish. Did it improve the look or make it worse? You tell me.







One thing you cant deny - it's a silver machine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yao_T2adl14

Steve,
OK, you asked.

1st off the white balance of the pictures look to warm which doesn't help compared to the previous set. There the NMF has the look and feel of a well cared for NM operational aircraft. The last set has areas that looks like polished Aluminum, and other areas that looks like polished Aluminum pope, while the gray strips on the fuselage looks like glossy paint. Now that could all be from your direct lighting.

The good news is finally those gray wing panels are starting to look more in the NM finish camp then the paint camp.

If you glossed it in preparation for decaling, my 1st choice is always Testors Model Master Sealer, as it's as neutral of a clear as you can get. I've also used Alcad 2's clears and they do work well, but take much longer to properly dry.

Joel

Hi Joel

I did, and thanks for the honest reply. The lighting is different. I was trying to isolate the background a bit more and turned off my bright 'daylight' lamp, so the warmer tint comes from a more standard bulb.

The smaller panels in grey are actually painted on the real thing (or at least it looks that way to me),so in that sense I guess you could say they are authentic. The larger ones are not, and well... its a journey!

I have to confess that I really don't like gloss coats. I find it hard to judge how much paint is going down and how smoothly. If it hadn't been for those wing panels then I might have skipped the whole process. I have a plan B for the Spitfire, but that's for next years blog.

You are tempting me to try new products as well. Maybe we need a modelers lab somewhere on the site?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

With warm(er) wishes

Steve

Steve the look of the natural metal finish looks very good indeed. I really like the effect you have achieved so far. However I am really not convinced with the two shades of grey on the panels on the upper wing surface. It looks a bit too much like the panels are painted and not natural metal. I have looked at many images of the Mirage III featuring a natural metal finish and although there is a slight variation in the panel tones I have yet to see one similar to the way you have painted yours. I am curious do you have any photographic evidence of this you can add to your log? Sorry to be over critical Steve, but you did ask!
I am really enjoying your log and the banter with Joel. Looking forward to the decaling and seeing some colour on your silver machine.
tim

Hi Tim

We'll first let me say thanks for joining in.

I admit those wing panels are inspired by artistic license. There is also a shot of the underside on page 16 of this blog that gives me some hope I haven't drifted off into a total fantasy world.

I want to do some work with oils and maybe Mr Colour buffable metallic paints to see if I can adapt the look. Even so it might not ever get to the point where it looks like true NMF. It's an experiment, and it might be a bad one. At the very least I'll have a good looking model (I hope), even if its not quite authentic. I can live with that but I know its going to irk some folks. Joel is being gentle with me - thanks Joel!

As for the decals I've already made a start and I'll post some pics soon.

Thanks again for dropping in. Its good to have you along.

With warm wishes

Steve

Decals, dee-cals or transfers? Call them what you will, those things we slide on to simulate markings can really make a kit pop. The decals supplied with the Mirage are lovely Cartograf items. The colours are strong and the details are well defined. What isn't quite so good is that a few of the larger ones don't fit. Given the problems encountered with the rest of the kit I’m willing to believe that this is down to specifications supplied by Italeri. Whatever the reason its another frustration to add to the long list already complied. Once I realised the problem I became more cautious and tried to compare the decal with the kit area it was supposed to fit. The biggest and hardest to fix are those around the engine intakes. The decal needs to fit a complex curve and has cut outs for the gun ports. I tried one, and everything was wrong. After a few minutes of fiddling, I abandoned the attempt and decided I would have to mask and paint.

Knowing that I would be masking around the front I didn't attempt any more of the decals there, and I switched my attention to the rear. Armed with a wide brush and Micro-Set and Micro-Sol I got to work. Here are the results so far, and by the way the ‘Sol is working so some of the decals are still in the wrinkly phase:

The Cartograf decals certainly make this kit pop Steve and really add many focal points to your build.




You are certainly having to fight this kit all the way to the finish line. A real pity. Despite that your build is looking stunning. I think I will be acquiring one in the new year.
All the best and happy Christmas
tim

Hey Tim

Thanks very much. If you want a challenge this is certainly the ideal kit. Budget a few psychiatrists sessions into the price, and it'll be a happy experience.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm schizophrenic
And so am I

Right, onwards!

Happy modelling and happy Christmas too.

Steve

There’s a point in most big negotiations when someone just feels like giving in and saying ‘OK, you win!’ I looked at the Mirage’s decals again and had one of those moments. Then I thought about all the time I’d spent on her and decided to press on. With a base coat of clear down I felt confident using more aggressive masking products, which was good because the tape I use is flexible but very stick. After some time spent getting the curve right I masked an area to prevent overspray and launched at it with Tamiya XF-7 mixed with Tamiya Clear and thinners. It took a few layers to get a rich colour and there’s a small difference in tone between the paint and the decals, but generally I’m pleased with the result. It makes me wish I’d sprayed more of the red areas.

Got to love that rouge. Attention!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HdCkki5K_w











Drat. I just saw some pesky overspray in the shot above.

New Year resolutions. Did you make any.? A new year is usually a time to start things, but I’m happy because I have finished something. After a year of work the Mirage is done. Sure there are things I could do to make it better, but there always are, and I’m stopping here. She’s weathered with oils and resplendent in her decals.

I bought this kit because the subject and scale appealed to me. I had no idea it was going to be a test of my modelling skills, patience and perseverance. I have to say that it is one of the worst kits I have ever owned. I won’t go over all its faults; they are catalogued here, but suffice to say this would have been a bad kit in 1970, in 2017 its almost a con. My advice is don't buy it.

There are so many imperfections and compromises involved in the end result that it pains me to even think about them, but, - and its a big but - to my eye the end result isn't half bad. Its close to what I hoped for when I started. Its a long way from perfect of course, but given the kit problems and my own mess-ups, I do like the result.

So here we are in January 2017, and its journey’s end for the lovely French lady of the skies. Here’s what a year of work resulted in. Oh and here as well, is some suitably Francais music to help you watch. I wish you a year of peace, fun and creativity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKeelQHm2o8





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Steve you are being very modest. I think it looks stunning and well done on completing your build. The weathered natural metal surface is excellent as is the cockpit detail. The decals really add lots of colour and interest too. You must get it up in the gallery.

Well done once again.
tim

Well done Steve, the end result is amazing.
The pains you had to go through to fix a 'state ofthe art' kit don't show in the end result and that's maybe the best praise you can get.
That windscreen fix !!!

I think the grey wing panels work well too. Now that the markings pop, the panels don't draw your eye.
Congratulations on a great build!

Hi Paul and Tim

Thanks for the verdict on the end result. It has been great to share the adventure with you. The Mirage is now sitting proudly in my display cabinet and I am resisting the urge to take it out and tweak various bits.

I'll figure out how to post some images in the gallery.

Next up - the Spitfire!

Happy modelling guys, and thanks again for all your encouragement.

Steve

Wow! That turned in a very beautiful model! I enjoyed your build very much, with all the solutions that you found to tackle the beast.

The painted red on the intakes is excellent, the curves looks very good.

My deepest respect for your perseverance!



Jelger

Hi Jelger

Thanks a million. It was a journey in all sorts of ways, but its good to get a completed kit out of it in the end. The painted areas look a lot better then the decals - I'm going to try and work this way on the Spitfire as much as I can.

Thanks for checking in and seeing it through to the end.

With warm wishes

Steve

HI

I've been following since the beginning and to quote the old adage, you've made a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Well done.

Tom

Wow, this looks amazing! great work Steve.

Hey Tom and Hyder

Its been great fun and a right pain at times. Thanks for taking the time to drop by and for your kind words. I have to say, the support from guys here really helped me along, so thanks for keeping me company.

Happy modelling

S

Steve this is a beauty and you should be very pleased.

Doug