Migrant's *Finished* Stang

[Clashcityrocker]

Looking very nice (saving the superlatives for the finish)

Nigel

[Migrant]

I know it is terribly inaccurate, but I love the blue. So 1970s warbird.

Jim

I prefer to view it as an accurate model of an inaccurate plane

(How do actually get a mask that clean without getting paint spills or rough edges!?)

I don't, usually I was fortunate with this one. I only use Tamiya masking tape for sharp edges because it really is the best on the market. For virtually every other masking job I use Parafilm, because it's so thin, is translucent and leaves no sticky residue. Oh, and I use good old cling film for quickly covering large areas. I guess the other factor in achieving sharp lines is that the paint is airbrushed, I doubt I'd be able to achieve as clean an edge with a paintbrush (although I'm sure some people could).

[Jagewa]

Great work, and I do like that scheme.

Cheers
Jim

[splash]

Fantastic work as always.

I have just ordered some Parafilm to give it a try.

Regards Splash

[Dirkpitt289]

Simply gorgeous

[Migrant]

Thanks again for the comments. I printed out the decals on my ALPS and have begun to apply them:




As you can see, the ALPS white isn't totally opaque so I usually create two decals for each marking – a white underlay, and then the coloured decal to go on top. I have to wait for the first batch to dry, then coat with Future and allow that to cure before adding the second decal, so it takes a while.

Alas, I have screwed up. When I came to dry fit the flaps I discovered my measurements were completely off on one of them, and the stripes don't align from wing to flap:



It's even worse on the underside:



So, I have to strip the paint off the flap and re-do it, which is a pain. Still, other than that it's been pretty straightforward so far

[Sissel]

Groovy!
Seeing the second pic I get a resemblance to flowers, must be the shape of the colors.
Shame the stripes don't align. I know what really happened, they warped.

[Migrant]

Groovy!
Shame the stripes don't align. I know what really happened, they warped.

That happens a lot...

Second set of decals are on and settling down, and in the meantime I've begun respraying the flaps.

[BlohmWolf]

Still looking great as usual Mike.

[lancfan]

That is stunning, top job Mike.

David.

[Migrant]

Thanks BlohmWolf and David

So, I stripped the flaps and completely re-masked/repainted them. Then...



Note to self: Alclad dries fast, but not that fast Third time lucky?

[Molly-new]

Doh! Bad luck with the finger print. The decals have come out a treat. You mention ALPS, is this a printer designed to do decals?

[Migrant]

Doh! Bad luck with the finger print. The decals have come out a treat. You mention ALPS, is this a printer designed to do decals?

The ALPS is long since discontinued, but for the time being the supplies are still available. Its big advantage is its ability to print white, and then to register other colors exactly over the top of the white to create one-off decals. And unlike ink-jet decals the inks are water-proof and light fast.

[Migrant]

I'm calling this finished. I loved this kit, so much so I've already ordered another. It's not without its faults, mainly the wing/fuselage fit and the very shaky undercarriage, but it's everything I want in a kit: cheap, accurate, well detailed, good overall fit but challenging enough to hold my interest. I caused a few issues by my own clumsiness and it certainly won't win any awards, but I kind of like how it looks. And, I have one completion for 2014

[philp]

Looks good in blue and I always envy what you can do with decals.