Agreed, doing a great job man...
**** DONE: 1/48 Fiat G.55S Torpedo Fighter - Mediterranean Theater of Operations
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Crimea_River
Marshal
Defintitely.
Wildcat
Major
Looking really nice!
- Thread starter
- #105
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Replacement decals enroute... thinking Wednesday ETA. Cutting it close but I should be able to wrap this by the deadline.
- Thread starter
- #108
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
It feels like I've been in a holding pattern for ever on this build. The GB deadline is just around the corner and I've yet to receive my wing decals. I was hoping for delivery yesterday but it looks like today will be the day. Hopefully I'll be able to put the finishing touches in time!
To speed things up, I've given the bottom a pastel panel wash.
Had some issues removing the wash this time. Every once in a while, the edges of the wash will stain and be hard to remove. This resulted in more aggressive wiping and even some touch-up paint, making the effects of the wash less noticeable. This is not going to be a heavily weathered model due to the plane not seeing actual service so I'm ok with the results.
Exhaust stains were airbrushed in 3-4 steps starting with a broad brown base. A little bit of black is added to the mix with each step and sprayed in a ever tighter pattern. The trails get shorter and darker, ending with black.
The exhaust pipes are finally snapped into their troughs. Fit was very tight and permanent without glue... no way to get these out now.
During the weathering process, the usual snapping of fiddly bits occurred including the tiny glass elements of the gunsight and the long tail wheel. I will not attempt reattachment until weathering is finished.
To speed things up, I've given the bottom a pastel panel wash.
Had some issues removing the wash this time. Every once in a while, the edges of the wash will stain and be hard to remove. This resulted in more aggressive wiping and even some touch-up paint, making the effects of the wash less noticeable. This is not going to be a heavily weathered model due to the plane not seeing actual service so I'm ok with the results.
Exhaust stains were airbrushed in 3-4 steps starting with a broad brown base. A little bit of black is added to the mix with each step and sprayed in a ever tighter pattern. The trails get shorter and darker, ending with black.
The exhaust pipes are finally snapped into their troughs. Fit was very tight and permanent without glue... no way to get these out now.
During the weathering process, the usual snapping of fiddly bits occurred including the tiny glass elements of the gunsight and the long tail wheel. I will not attempt reattachment until weathering is finished.
Totalize
Tech Sergeant
i have the Kristal Klear and you know it just looks exactly like PVA glue only considerably more expensive.
tigerdriver
Staff Sergeant
love the exhaust stains
- Thread starter
- #112
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Thanks Dave! It's one of those tricky little deals at the end of build that can make/break a model IMO. The wing root can be a difficult area to lay down a smooth exhaust track and you have to make sure that your strokes are unimpeded BEFORE the paint starts flowing. It can also be difficult mirroring similar curves on both sides. My natural and smoothest stroke is going left to right so I'll paint the exhaust on the port side with model facing me right side up but will flip the model upside down for the starboard side. I've learned to use highly thinned paint in all aspects of my work... it may take more time but it goes on finer and you have more leeway when it comes to an errant spray.
chris brown
Senior Airman
Looking good, John. I agree the exhaust stains look sharp.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Stunning model John. I do a similar thing with the exhausts, though the last couple did not stat with brown.
- Thread starter
- #115
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Finally got my top wing decals in the post yesterday. I ransacked EBay looking for the cheapest 1/48 Italian fasces, ideally from a California seller to speed up delivery. Found this set 109 set from Sky Model and will only use the two decals... seems like a waste but it will go in the spares box.
Decal locations have been prepped long in advance so it is just a matter of sliding them on and doing the Microset/Microsol thing.
We are definitely close to completion now. After weathering the top, one more thing remains... attaching the torpedo!
This took a while. Attachment is via four microscopic points of photoetch to the fuselage bottom... no locating pins or slots. I was having a hard time of it, eventually butchering the fine PE harness and marring the finish of the torpedo. Had to resort to the trusty Coke can and cut out a replacement harness. I made it a little wider than the PE piece to help with attachment and to cover up the previous damage on the torpedo. It's not the securest connection but I got it done...
Whew... that done, I put the finishing touches on this Torpedo fighter by attaching the vac canopy and pitot tube and adding an aerial of fishing line. The Silurante is now complete! Here are some photos with the good camera to chew on. Finished post and pictures will be added soon!
Decal locations have been prepped long in advance so it is just a matter of sliding them on and doing the Microset/Microsol thing.
We are definitely close to completion now. After weathering the top, one more thing remains... attaching the torpedo!
This took a while. Attachment is via four microscopic points of photoetch to the fuselage bottom... no locating pins or slots. I was having a hard time of it, eventually butchering the fine PE harness and marring the finish of the torpedo. Had to resort to the trusty Coke can and cut out a replacement harness. I made it a little wider than the PE piece to help with attachment and to cover up the previous damage on the torpedo. It's not the securest connection but I got it done...
Whew... that done, I put the finishing touches on this Torpedo fighter by attaching the vac canopy and pitot tube and adding an aerial of fishing line. The Silurante is now complete! Here are some photos with the good camera to chew on. Finished post and pictures will be added soon!
Great job!
Looks great so far!
Wildcat
Major
Excellent!
chris brown
Senior Airman
Another beauty! Great job.
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