Weathering begins over a satin coat with chipping using silver paint.
My first attempt at chipping the high traffic area of the wingroot was done with both handpainting and sponge but the result didn’t look right quite right.
After checking references and input from a modeler friend I repainted the area and tried it again and I think it looks better now.
And then of course something goes sideways. In this case a piece of the R letter tore off.
I quickly patched it up with a small piece of unused markings from the sheet.
Another angle of the wingroot chipping and the boarding side of the cockpit.
I then added a panel wash using thinned Abteilung Starship Filth.
The wash also helps to tone down the starkness of the chipping.
I also added streaks, fading and grime in random spots but this is really more visible on the bottom.
Next I need to tackle the typical exhaust staining on the nose.
This was carefully done with thinned Tamiya X-19 Smoke.
Looks alright I think.
Then it’s time to install the landing gear. These were allowed 24 hrs to cure to get a solid connection.
The canopy masking was then removed and I attached the rearview mirror and the light.
The other clear parts were also attached with the light housings all painted in aluminium.
I then handpainted the small dome on the tail.
The boarding ladder, pitot tube and light (the base was painted silver) was attached to the bottom.
By this point, I had finally broke the mast on the tail and I remade it using a small piece of styrene rod. I then carefully cut a groove onto the tip so the antenna wire can sit properly.
Now we come to the biggest challenge of the whole build: installing the antenna wire. I succeeded after multiple multiple multiple attempts over the course of an hour. The wire used was XXXXXXXX which attached nicely taut using CA glue.
But what is this I see? The antenna is sitting ON the mast which is wrong.
Since I couldn’t leave it well alone I tried it again. This time I used the tip of my knife to make a very small groove on the tip of the mast so I can ‘insert’ the wire. At this point I told myself I need to find CA glue gel that doesn’t dry instantly which should make this ordeal much easier: knock it down to a 8.5 from a 9.
In any case, I then carefully sanded down all the errant drops of CA glue that plopped onto the fuselage when the wires didn’t stick to the mast and touched them up with handpaintng and I’m finally done with this build.
Build Log
Pt.1 – Construction | Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing | Pt.3 – Painting & Finishing
