Whiplash

Yes, WinDVD has a screen capture feature. I used this when getting reference for building Redford's Porsche in Spy Game lol It worked great. Check your DVD program that is on your computer for a screen capture feature.

Thanks to Bob Silva for the GREAT deal on the Focke-Wulf Ta154 kit. I still can't believe how fast I got it and especially what I got it for!! Bob, you are the MAN! Thanks :D

I have filled the wheel wells with a craft glue that I discovered while building model cars. I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but it's clear and is made by Elmers. This stuff dries into a rubbery solid and will not damage paint or plastic so I think it's gonna do the job. I'm gonna start painting this afternoon but may not get to find out how the mask worked for a week or so after I'm completely done with my painting, but I'll post a reply and let y'all know how this stuff works out and post a picture of the bottle and more details if it works good. Model airplanes a

That is a cool tip, RS, but couldn't work for this particular plane (the BF109) because the gear doors don't cover the whole wheel opening. I'll store the tip in my head for some other plane though! :blink:

Ok, blu-tac it is :blink:

Blu-tac!! That's a great idea! Hey, do you think something like rubbery tube silicone might work?? I'm pretty sure that won't shrink...

I've ran into a problem in preparing my plane for painting and would like to ask your advise. I painted the inside of the wheel wells before I assembled the wings and now need to tape up the wheel wells to keep from getting the camoflauge color inside of the area. Did I make a mistake by painting the wheel well first? Should I find a way to tape up the wheel wells from inside (and if so, how?) or should I go ahead and paint the underside of the wings and then tape around the wheel wells and spray them again? (should be easier) I hope this makes some sense, it's kind of difficult to explain

Very cool stuff! Thank you all

Ok Jason, that makes sense. I think I will prefer the look of pre-shading but am not sure I'll be comfortable doing it quite yet. Im thinking I might just try the washes first to see how that goes until I feel more comfortable building the airplane models. I HATE having to strip and repaint models and am trying to avoid that at all costs. The great thing about the washes is that I can just remove it with detergent and water if I mess something up. thanks

Oh, I see! ...but wouldn't the black on the outer edges of the panel lines also show through? Most examples of pre-shading that I've seen have the panel lines filled in with no apparant regard for keeping the paint inside the recessed areas. Thank you for your response, Thomas!

I see how folks are shading panel lines by painting them black before painting your normal color over it. What I want to know is what do you do after that? do you take a blade and scrape the paint from inside the panel likes, and if so, how do you keep from removing the black too? Would I be better off trying to fill panel lines with a chalk wash? I've never shaded panel lines before. What's a fun easy way to do this?

Krylon also makes a white primer that I use all the time. I'ts all I use actually...it does tend to be a little thick, but is quality stuff. I'd second the recomendation...their paint isn't all that bad either! Plasticote also makes a good white primer, it's the automotive quality primer. Avoid Rustoleum primer like the plague, it's terrible!!

Andy, you can get your part at http://www.rexart.com for less $$ than shipping alone will cost you from dixieart...if you don't mind ground shipping that is. Dixieart is a fine company and a great place to get an airbrush from, but for a part like a needle, 9 bucks shipping seems like a little bit much to me. Of course I don't know where you live, so maybe you can't do ground??? Edit: Well, going by your local time I'm guessing (I don't know) Ireland?? Iceland?? Either way, I see you will be shipping overseas if you order from the states which it seems all the places I've found operate o

I absolutely agree with Chris. Castrol Super Clean!

I'd normally say that your paint is not thinned enough, but since you have used the thing for a year and a half, it kind of rules that out. Are you maybe trying a new paint?