Paul's Tiger Meet F/A-18 Hornet **FINISHED**

[PaulBradley]

Thanks, guys.

Not much of an update for this weekend - it's all been terribly frustrating....

I'm trying to work on 4 models at once, but not getting very far with any of them. The Hornet SHOULD have received a coat of light grey today, but I cannot get the paint to work - it just won't spray properly through the airbrush. I have had quite a frustrating time with Xtracrylix of late - this is the 4th colour in a row that's misbehaved. Not sure what the deal is - I'm not doing anything differently. I had to stop today, as there's nothing worse that forcing the issue. I've stripped my airbrush down and the parts are soaking overnight in a pot of lacquer thinner - should clear up any gunk build up that might be affecting the workings.

I have two days off work later in the week, so hopefully I can catch up a bit.

[AndrewR]

Is it just xtracrylix that's misbehaving Paul? No odd changes in humidity?

Get some proper paint Vallejo Air and airbrush with ease.

[Jagewa]

Oh, bad luck there Paul.

[PaulBradley]

Yesterday was as dry as a bone, so humidity wasn't the issue, and I airbrushed Metalizer paints with no problem the other week. It appears to be the paint - perhaps it goes off after a few years? Most of my pots are 3-4 years old, but I do properly shake and stir them before use. Never had this many issues with them before; it is most disconcerting.

[AndrewR]

Yesterday was as dry as a bone, so humidity wasn't the issue, and I airbrushed Metalizer paints with no problem the other week. It appears to be the paint - perhaps it goes off after a few years? Most of my pots are 3-4 years old, but I do properly shake and stir them before use. Never had this many issues with them before; it is most disconcerting.

That does suggest the formulation is not stable in the long term - it's quite difficult to test that without waiting to see. Did they get any extreme cold or hot temperatures perhaps? Cold does make Vallejo paint coagulate!

[PaulBradley]

They are kept in a wooden chest in my den, so the temp is quite stable -60 to 80 degrees.

[AndrewR]

They are kept in a wooden chest in my den, so the temp is quite stable -60 to 80 degrees.

These acrylic suspensions are tricky to keep stable - much more difficult than enamels or lacquer based paints. Do you have a more recent Xtracrylix tin you could try out?

[PaulBradley]

Good tip - I'll give that a go over the weekend.

[PaulBradley]

Well, that solved that issue......

Gave my airbrush bits a good three-day soaking in lacquer thinner to get rid of any residual gunk. Tried the same paint - no dice, behaved just as strangely as before. Tried a pot of Xtracrylix LAG - worked perfectly. Threw out the Lt Compass Gray I was attempting to use...

I always put the date of purchase on my paint pots. The LCG was bought in Jan 2010, the LAG in April 2008...

Conclusion - I don't have a clue! Upshot - the F/A-18 has a nice coat of LAG. It is a bit warmer than the LCG, but I think it looks better anyway and more like the tone I see in photos. Once I've sprayed a second coat, I'll darken up the LAG to give the second grey seen on the a/c. So - back on track and I hope to get the painting finished this (extended) weekend!

[Jagewa]

Yay!

[splash]

Good to see you have sorted the problem.

When I built a HobbyBoss Hornet as part of the Bug GB I found using Payne's Grey oil paints for a wash worked well, to bring out the detail and break up the bland grey look.

[PaulBradley]

Nice one, Alan! I have a similar method for weathering, which will be applied in due course.

Probably no update today, as we're going to see our dog breeder friends so I can take puppy photos for their website.

[MarkyM607]

Nice one, Alan! I have a similar method for weathering, which will be applied in due course.

Probably no update today, as we're going to see our dog breeder friends so I can take puppy photos for their website.

So you've finally gone to the dogs!!

[PaulBradley]

See here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildwest ... 3648852490;

This is our friend's facebook page.



Gave the Hornet a further coat of LAG, then darkened it up a little and sprayed a coat of that over the appropriate areas:





...and do you remember this chap?



Been saving it for this, so I could paint them at the same time.....

[PaulBradley]

Got most of the decaling done today. The stencils hide in the paintwork, being light grey....Luckily, the tail markings make up for that. Big time!





Syhart's decals are very well done, but this set is sized for the Academy kit, and the tail decals are slightly too large. This means losing some of the picture at the bottom edges, unfortunately.