Hi penpen HHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWLLLL!!!!
I've read about this method for paint chipping and I've seen models done using it. It's a bit to random and not very realistic, for the effect I'm after. The paint would come away, mainly starting around panel junctions and particularly removeable panels. The Maskol/White glue method leaves rounded edges, but that wouldn't be the case with the paint flaking on Japanese aircraft. I'm toying with the pull off with tape method, but this to can be a bit to random and unpredictable. Mainly because it's done by laying the tape on and pulling it off and hoping for the best. The main problem with using silver pencil, or any medium used on top of the finished scheme is that it looks like that (on top) which is not correct. My thinking at the moment is: By using something like Alclad (which will take paint) first, then add the colour coats, then remove colour coats from areas you want. Problem is how? Sanding works but the edges are to graded, tape may not pull the paint off. This is what I intend to try and in about five years, when I get around to doing it, I'll report back LOL
But thanks for the suggestion penpen, there may be some trials to conduct in that direction aswell. Maybe I'll need to get to the Grand Master stage before I Maskol (master) it. (about another 20 years):-)
Mal

Glad that I was able to help you guys... :-)

Hi Roger,
I said I would post a picture of my F4U-1 instrument panel so you could see the affect of scratching in the dials. The 2 on the left and all the smallest dials have been scratched in. The rest are the kit instrument decals punched out, using my punch and die. First off I painted the dials white, masked them with white glue, painted the panel, removed the white glue, added the decals. For the scratched in ones, I gave them a thin coat of black then scratched in the dials using a No11 scalpel blade. The glass is simulated with 2-3 coats of Klear. Its not perfect but when hidden under the cockpit coaming, what can be seen looks good :-)

Hi Pugilist
I was going to put this on here at a later date but Pugilist asked a question about the Sutton harness, so I thought I would put this up now. Something else to talk about Roger.

As you can see this is the harness as used in the Spitfire and Hurricane. This picture is My Hurricane Mk IIC with the canopy off. The belts are made from the paper wrapping inside the foil of scalpel blades, with PE buckles by Reheat, works quite well.

This is the harness in my Typhoon made the same way.

As you can see this is almost finished, so I will be posting completed pics soon.
Mal
PS. Pugilist, why don't you join the Spitfire group build?

Nice looking instrument panel Mal, I just hope I'm up to it

The seat harness look damn good too, I was thinking about getting some aftermarket ones, does anyone produce the whole thing, straps and buckles?

Is there anything else, aftermarket-wise, I could consider for this model? I have just bought some PE for the Sherman I am going to start soon, so might as well go the whole hog and use some on the plane too

Roger

Hi Roger,



Don't worry Roger, you wont have a problem with the instrument panel. Yes there are some good seat belts (the whole thing) I've used Re-Heat but Eduard do some pre-painted ones and they are very good. I wouldn't worry about any after market sets. With the instrument panel sorted, the seat belts sorted and the antena wires sorted, the only other thing I would consider is dropping the elevators. 9 times out of 10 you would see a Spitfire with it's elevators drooping. I wouldn't cough up for a detail set for this as it's relatively easy to do. I will be doing it on mine because I can't let this go, but you don't have to. Of course there is nothing to stop you buying a control surface set, if you want. :-)
Soon, hopefully, I will be completing the cockpit on my Corsair and you will see some Re-Heat seat belts.
Mal

Just checking out the thread and I must say Nice work. I love the chipped paint. It looks very good.

Nice detail work on the interiors.

A control surface set????

:-) Sorry Roger, forgot you normally build targets

A resin set that includes the Ailerons, Rudder and Elevators. You don't want flaps as Spitfire flaps were all or nothing and pilots could get fined for taxying in with them down. If I were you though I wouldn't worry about any of that. Do it on your next Spitfire.
Remember, you can't have to many Spitfires :-)
Mal

:-)

Thanks Scott :-)

Alright folks, I want in on this. I haven't built a Spit since I used to slap kits together with no paint, not caring about thumbprints on the canopy. Then I'd run around with it outside making machine gun noises at the birds until I could hear out the window my wife yelling "Your 31 years old, what will the neighbors think??" #:-) Seriously though, I was about 8 when I built my one and only Spitfire so this should be fun,

I picked up the kit today, and as it stands now I will doing the black wing bird of 92 Squadron. I figure I will also be trying to drop the flaps for the first time.

NOTE: Any plans I make are subject to change as my ADD medicine wears off.

:-) Hi Tim, and welcome on board, dropping the flaps will be fun, you do realise that you will need to open the door on top of the wing as well, it allows for the linkage. 2 things, first Spitfires were rearly seen with flaps down, after landing and secondly, I have a set of etched flaps, that I won't be needing, because of point one. You can have them if you want them, assuming I can find them.
Mal

Thanks for the offer, Mal. I'm actually rethinking that decision as I sit here. I'm having one of those rare spurts of genius. I was looking through some of the aftermarket acessories and decals available and I may be doing something different with mine. I have to think about it and see if I still like it tomorrow. Here is my idea: mount it on a board (for hanging on a wall) with one of the wings stuck through the board. Surround the area where the wing goes into the board with some white fluffy stuff so it looks like the Spit is just starting to roll slightly heading into a dive out of the clouds. What do you guys think?

I've got plenty of time. I'm sure I'll come up with something else by the start date.

Hi Tim, and welcome to this elite little group. I like your idea of the plane in the clouds, that could be neat if it comes off. I think I'll be happy if mine just looks remotely like a Spitfire #:-)

Hey, we could have quite a piggy squadron here by the time we've finished

Mal, why on earth would pilots be fined for taxiing with flaps down? I just can't see it yet, though I'm sure you'll enlighten me soon. :-)

Roger

:-) Tim, PM me your email address, your idea with the cloud and a base would look even better with what I've got pasted to the base. It's my desk top wallpaper, a painting by Robert Taylor of Robert Stanford Tuck, gaining his first kill, a Messerschmitt Bf 110 over Dunkirk. It's a superb painting, looking from above his Spitfire down past the burning 110 to the beaches of Dunkirk. You could hide Tuck's Spit with the cloud and do your thing with the wing of you model.
Roger


A Spitfires flaps are either up or down, flying off carriers to Malta they needed mid flap so chocks were trapped in the flaps for take off, after take off, flaps were lowered, chocks fall out, flaps were raised (just a bit of extra info there). So when a Spit lands flaps are fully down. After 3-5 sorties and more a day during the Battle for Britain pilots were exhausted. They sometimes even fell asleep in the cockpit after landing. If you didn't put your flaps up after landing a scramble wouldn't allow you the time to do a pre-flight and if you tried to take off with flaps down, you would likely bend your Spit, and we wouldn't want that now would we. So you got fined, so the story goes, for leaving your flaps down. Basically it's a dumb thing to do, much like a victory roll.
Flaps down do look cool though
Mal

Thanks Mal, I knew there'd be a logical explanation. Makes sense when you think about it. Like the idea with the picture Mal, very interesting. I expect mine will just be sitting on a runway though, adventurous enough for me. :-)

Roger

Well well, Mal and Favorisio, looks like you've got a great thing going here ! First time I'm seeing this much enthusiasm in a group build. And great work too so far, from what I'm seeing.

Wish this much jazz was there in our Luftwaffe Group build too! Sadly, I haven't seen much of the rest of the gang posting any pics on their kits(and I'm also guilty, I agree )... Wake up folks, what's going on?

BP.

Hi BP :-) so are you saying that you want to join the Spitfire group build :-) ?
Remember, you can't have to many Spitfires
My Bf109E-3 will be completed in a couple of hours (pics on the RRB. Far to much armour there ), and I need something to shoot it down. I'll be building a Mk V as well, maybe even a Mk IX, or Mk I Hurricane. How about a Hurricane group build, mmmmmmmm now there's a thought, I do need a Mk I Hurri in my collection, Baders LEoD, would be the one, at the time of his first kill during the Battle for Britain. Roger I have a Robert Taylor painting of this as well :-)
I've just thought, is the mention of "Messerschmitts" a dirty word on a thread for a Spitfire group build
Mal

Yup, couldn't agree more ! An absolutely beautiful plane to build. I have done one already(its in the gallery, take a look if you want...shameless plug !). However, I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on another Spit here in India. 1/144 is avlbl, but I find it too teeny-weeny to handle, afte I grew up to 1/72 and 1/48! Would love to make a Spit in RIAF colors, tho!



All the more power to you! I'm wondering whether to do a Mistel combo of a Me-109 and my Ju-88 A4. The Ju's a dog of a kit, and I think the Me109 should just add that touch of glamour !



Well, I can take you up on that, and have 4 Academy 1/72 Hurris waiting! Have designed decals myself for two Hurris of the RIAF, and am working on a RAF Hurri OOB. One more Hurri is waiting to be made up in trop decking, and have made the decals for those too! So once I am done with the LW build, I think we can definitely go in for a Hurri build. Say sometime in May then...BTW, here are my decals...


Sigh.. what am I gonna do with my 1/48 Hawker Hunter and 1/72 B-24D Liberator then. These poor things have been on the bench for two months now !

Cheers,
BP.

:-) BP, Hurricane group build is on. Looks like we're going to end up with a BoB Campaign as well :-)
Love it
Mal