Wolfgun33 Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Wow. The paint job looks great! Very nice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 (edited) On 5/8/2017 at 3:11 PM, Wolfgun33 said: Wow. The paint job looks great! Very nice! Thank you Wolfgun! A small update. Masking takes the most time as usual. Edited May 17, 2017 by Janissary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 And here it is with a thin coat of Tamiya X-22 gloss coat, ready for the decals: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ziggyfoos Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 (edited) The build is coming along excellent, really nice paintjob. Don't forgot the red intake warning marking continued on the splitter plate (the "stripe" on the plate): Not sure if it matters for your build, just pointing it out in case you missed it, not meant to be a critique. The cannon blast area wasn't quite as large you represented (the whole control access panel). It was only the very rear of that panel and primarily only covered the area immediately inboard of the cannons, can see the relative size of the area compared to the size of the gas ingestion plates above it (these close-ups are from their cruise book): Edited May 17, 2017 by ziggyfoos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 Ziggy, thanks so much for the info. You're absolutely right on both accounts. I was aware of the red continuing on the intakes, but I honestly hit the limit of my patience and skill there. I could not figure out a way of masking it without making a mess so just left it like that. I saw one museum A-4 (USS Midway I think) painted like that which was the excuse I was looking for :) The blast panels is a total screw up on my part! On the port side, there is still a panel I will need to paint between the metallic panel and the cannon well, but I think that currently bare panel is what I should have painted in the first place! I think I will do that, but leave the other panels as they are (hopefully others won't make this mistake). I will unfortunately be using the VA-93 decals I posted on the first page, despite all the issues you correctly brought up about that set. Since I am giving this model away to a friend, I hope he won't mind the inaccuracies :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 (edited) Finally onto the decals. I had major cracking problems with the old decal set, which I discovered unpleasantly with the port side tail flash. But at the end, all worked ok. - Applied two coats of Testors decal bonder, about 10 hours apart. - Cut the decals close to the artwork as the decal bonder essentially created a new layer of clear decal. - Once in place, the decals reacted superbly to Solvaset. - Cut through the panel lines and rivets and reapplied Solvaset. - Future thinned with windex as the final protective coat. Edited May 24, 2017 by Janissary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fefster Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Great Work!! I Like Janissary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Gorgeous work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 The decals look great! Glad you were able to save them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Tweeker Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 Awesome Build Janissary! Looks way cool! I'm finishing up a HAS A-4B at the moment..... Love these HAS Scooter kits! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted June 11, 2017 Author Share Posted June 11, 2017 Thank you everyone! I very much appreciate it. A few more pics from the latest stages. Oil washes and cleanup: After the oils, I satin coated it with Vallejo matte/satin coat, then weathered it a little bit more with oils and pastels, then applied a thick coat of Future to blend everything together. Also attached the slats and horizontal stabs: I am also planning for a base. I found Mike's (mgrandison) awesome tarmac image files here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/184516-132-printable-tarmac-files/& Thank you Mike for making these available! I downloaded the 1/48 Navy Master and had it printed at FedEx: Finally, everything is dull coated and ready for the last sets of painting (the canon panel area mostly), pastel weathering for leaks and grime, and the assembly of the remaining bits: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 A few pics of the latest stages. Using the nice demo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSy8by13Uvk, I tried to add a few details to the otherwise bare seat: A lousy first try, but will have to make do: For the base, I attached the printout to a thin poster paper to give it some thickness, then attached everything to the base using 3M's spray adhesive: Other bits and pieces: The kit is nicely detailed that come to life with a wash. Masking the nose LG tire was definitely not easy, but satisfied with the result. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 I attached the air brakes in a slightly cracked position, just to break the monotony of the surface. Also attached the tanks: Starting to come together: I will remask and paint the canon area Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Very beautiful! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 I'm trying to finish my own A-4 and wish it looked half as good as yours. I always enjoy following your builds. Thanks for all the in progress photos and descriptions. Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted June 28, 2017 Author Share Posted June 28, 2017 Thank you both very much, I appreciate it. While I enjoy sharing these pics, they sadistically reveal all the screw ups too. I always cringe the first time view these pics on the computer. More masking and fixin'. Alclad Stainless Steel this time, followed by brownish feathering. Also visible are the various antennas, pitot tube and sensors I just attached: Some dirt and grime using Mig AK enamels and generic oderless mineral spirits: After 3-5 minutes of drying, working the dirt with a brush until a layer of dirt is left behind: Starboard side a little less prominent: Canon barrels painted in flat black, then rubbed with pencil dust, followed by a very light sliver dry brush. I was going to dirty up the sides of the cockpit too, but decided to leave them clean: Only the HUD, snakeyes and the canopy details remaining! Hopefully the next set of pictures will be the last of this WIP. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 Final stretch... I decided to use only one Snakeye. Painted and weathered with Tamiya colors: There is nothing to hold the canopy up, so used a jig for alignment and support and CAed the canopy. After it dried, I added a triangular piece to joint from the inside for further strength: Further weathering of the snakeye. These washes are really practical (they are enamel so dry much faster than oils), but they are so expensive. I only have three bottles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) Finally finished! Thank you all for the tremendous help with my questions during the build. Final pictures Edited July 1, 2017 by Janissary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) . Edited July 1, 2017 by Janissary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Outstanding work! Giving me some ideas for my own Skyhawk builds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 Thank you Dutch! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted September 8, 2017 Share Posted September 8, 2017 Beautiful work, Janissary! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spad Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 You are always at the top !!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Awesome work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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