Tamiya 1:48 He 219

[adampolo13]

Mr. Mac - I always enjoy your build threads. Your work is consistently amazing!

 

[JMac]

Mr. Mac - I always enjoy your build threads. Your work is consistently amazing!

Looking good J

Thanks guys. Hope I won't disappoint.

Well below is three hours of camouflage painting. Doesn't look like it does it? I'm having some airbrush/paint issues - I still haven't got my pressure and thinner (even though I'm using Vallejo Model Air) dialled in. I'm getting inconsistent spray and too much overspray. I'm sure I can clean up/touch-up problem areas after I've finished the spots. I personally think my airbrush need a solid ultrasonic cleaning, I'll have to see if I can track done a bath or borrow one.

Until next time.
Jason

 

[adampolo13]

Hey JMac,

I was having the same issue with a bottle of Vallejo Model Air last week. It turns out that the mixture of the paint coming out of the bottle was off. I took the nipple off the bottle and used a Tamiya paint stick to stir it up really well. After that, no problems.

Also, this is the Ultra Sonic Cleaner I have. I use it at least 3 - 4 times a month. Works like a charm!

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Ultrasonic-Jewelry-Eyeglass-Cleaning/dp/B001DKDAVW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406745260&sr=8-1&keywords=ultra+sonic+cleaner

 

[JMac]

Thanks Adam; I've been really shaking the bottles, but this one is older - I'll give it a good stir before my next paint session. Also a friend is going to lend me his ultrasonic cleaner, so I'll make sure the AB is clean before I attempt any more spots.

 

[rookie]

Looking sharp J. I assume you are free handing the camo? Great job.

 

[JMac]

Looking sharp J. I assume you are free handing the camo? Great job.

Yep. My shaky, spastic version of free hand airbrush. I'm so used to using masks, free hand makes me pretty uncomfortable - one of those skills I always want to improve but am hesitant to start.

Quick update, the paint has been thoroughly stirred, rolled and shaken. I've used an ultrasonic tub (lent to me by a friend) to clean my airbrush. I'm ready to give this another try...

Jason

 

[JMac]

I finished off the camouflage RLM 75 spots on Friday. Yesterday I airbrushed more areas of RLM 76 (between the spots) in order to cover earlier overspray. The camouflage isn't perfect, this model build seems to all about touch ups...

I'm not sure sure if it was having super clean airbrush, or the vigorously agitated paint, or another try with the "new" clear Vallejo airbrush thinner. Whatever it was the stars aligned and everything sprayed great. I managed to spray the remaining topside camouflage in about hour and a half, (the RLM 76 session took about the same amount of time). After I finish a few small touch ups this morning, I'll be moving on to the detail painting.

Again sorry about the photo quality. I did try to set up my diffusion box but the model is too large to fit, just natural light on my bench this morning.

As another side note, does anyone find the clear Vallejo thinner works better with Model Air than Model Colour, and the vice versa with the old milky white thinner. Maybe it's just me.

Thanks for stopping in and taking a look. One step closer to completion. ;D
Jason

 

[JMac]

I've been away on holidays with my family, (good trip, got to hike to a site with 505 million year old fossils), so not a lot of building going on.

I'm currently detail painting the landing gear bays, update (with photos) soon.

Jason

 

[rookie]

The rate you are going this thing will be a 505 million year old fossil by the time you're finished
Only kidding mate, missed your previous post, the camo looks awesome, looking real good J.

 

[aaron.zylman]

Wow. Really stunning finish! It's always tempting to hurry a paint job, but remember it's a good rule of thumb to spend at least as long painting a model as you do constructing it. Take your time with the touch ups and really polish it off!

Aaron

 

[JMac]

The rate you are going this thing will be a 505 million year old fossil by the time you're finished
Only kidding mate, missed your previous post, the camo looks awesome, looking real good J.

OK, I'll put it in to high gear... ;D Should get done in the next year or five, or so... ;D

Wow. Really stunning finish! It's always tempting to hurry a paint job, but remember it's a good rule of thumb to spend at least as long painting a model as you do constructing it. Take your time with the touch ups and really polish it off!

Aaron

Thank Aaron. I appreciate it.

Well I do have a fairly large update today. I've managed to keep this build moving (slowly) even though I'm back at work, taking some courses, and still renovating our house. Part of the delay has also been my own version of modelling attention deficit syndrome. As usual I'm trying to finish off more than one thing (our local IPMS starts up again next week).

Most of the major painting is done. The landing gear bays got shaded, high lighted, washed and detail painted. These actually look better in person, my desk lighting always messes up the photo colours...
Here's what everything looks like roughly.

Landing gear and flaps got attached.

And the landing gear doors began their journey to the land of weathering...

I still have a lot of work to do on them.
I'm really happy how this is shaping up (finally).

Thanks for looking.

Jason

 

[adampolo13]

Looking very good indeed J!

 

[JMac]

Looking very good indeed J!

Thanks Adam.

 

[JMac]

I can almost taste completion... ;D

Painting - DONE!
Decals - DONE!
All the little bits glued in place? - DONE!

Now just panel lines and weathering left ...(oh and flame hiders)...

The nacelle landing gear bays are not 100% (getting the CMK resin and the Tamiya plastic to play nice with each other was more difficult than I thought it would be), but I don't want to obsess - I want to finish.

Thanks for stopping in and taking a look.
Jason

 

[adampolo13]

sharp looking bird you got there Mr. Mac!

 

[JMac]

sharp looking bird you got there Mr. Mac!

Thanks Adam.

Finished the panel lines this morning (couldn't sleep, so I got up). Tried the Flory model wash products, a friend often uses them on his armour builds - he lent me a few bottles, so I thought I'd give them a try. Worked out great! Super easy; the only problem was handling and moving the model (because of all the little antenna bits). Cleaning up the excess takes some time, and I've licked too much paper towel - but nothing stained and it filled all the panel lines really well. I used a grimy brown and it seems to show nice on the blue and black areas of the aircraft. I don't have any pictures right now, I'll try to post some later today or tomorrow.

Jason

 

[adampolo13]

JMac, nice score on the flory washes. I have a set myself and I love them for panel line washes as well. Although, now I keep a bowl of water in the cave so I don't have to lick the paper towels .

 

[JMac]

JMac, nice score on the flory washes. I have a set myself and I love them for panel line washes as well. Although, now I keep a bowl of water in the cave so I don't have to lick the paper towels .

Adam - I'm hooked with the Flory washes now - I'll have to get a set when I can...

Well, it's been a while since I've done some solid modelling. I've been picking away at a number of builds, but truthfully I've been distracted with Bungie's latest game release...

But I did manage to get the Uhu done. I was actually a little torn on how much I should weather it, it the end I decided to keep the weathering light, maybe I'm lazy but I like the look as it is...

I've not been happy with my photos this whole build. I tried out a new camera this time - I don't have the depth of field setting correct yet. I plan to set up a dedicated area for photo lights and back drops when our house renos are complete(isn); maybe over the Christmas break.

Thanks for following along on this rather protracted 1:48 build.

Jason

 

[adampolo13]

Absolutely great finish JMac!

 

[zappa]

Awesome Jmac!
I assume you're bringing this the the meeting next week.

Zappa