vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Peter, well done! The chaulk is really a nice touch!
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
I have a sufficiency. 8) I hope! Well maybe just a little more.
No problem Peter. The info regarding the hatch came from a scale drawing, and, checking further, meant that the hatch was added in later production batches, and retrofitted to earlier aircraft by November. As mentioned, there were exceptions, and some earlier aircraft, particularly in the 'L' series of serial blocks, still didn't have the hatch fitted as late as mid September. I was going to do the 1/32nd scale kit as a survivor of the Battle, now in the Science Museum, London, which doesn't have the hatch - until I discovered it still had the early, fabric-covered wings !
Thank heavens for good reference pics !
Look'in good Pete!seems more and more the hard demarcation lines look better in 1/48 and esp. 1/72.Now start getting into 1/32 a slight blur seems to be the trick.Cheers
Look'in good Pete!seems more and more the hard demarcation lines look better in 1/48 and esp. 1/72.Now start getting into 1/32 a slight blur seems to be the trick.Cheers
I agree. In 1/48th or smaller I think the hard lines look more realistic.
Wayne, masks were sometimes used, but it was mainly done freehand, often following chalked lines, which is why you'll always see variations in the basic patterns, particularly on rudders, and the area beneath and to the rear of the cockpit.
Whenever possible, as with most details, it's best to have a reference photo of the specific aircraft being modelled. The very fine feathered edge looks almost hard - edged even up close in full size, so virtually impossible to truly replicate, even in 1/24th scale - so go for a hard edge. BUT ! It depends what the aircraft is, the date of manufacture and where etc, as there were true hard-edge, fine feathered, soft edged, and fully feathered finishes on various RAF types, and different Mark to mark sometimes.
One thing to look out for is the edge spray itself - this was sometimes done last, giving a 'shadow' effect in certain lighting conditions. This shows up in photos, when the light is at the right angle, as a darker line.
Of course, there were similar variations with Luftwaffe patterns, depending on aircraft type, factory, pattern, date, etc etc.
It's a 'dangerous' path to take to go for hard-edge in small scales, getting softer the bigger the scale, so again, reference pics!
Get into 1950s and 1960s RAF camouflage schemes, and this can be a real trial of detective work !