Were I to build a model that was camouflaged in matt paint, I would be pretty fastidious when it came to surface prep, even though I know that the likelihood of seeing anything under the paint would be pretty minimal. The fact that a ‘silver’ finish highlights absolutely every mark, makes this initial work all the more important.
10th February 2025
After the frivolity of the weekend it was back to work with a bang this morning. Attention turned away from the Magic Factory Skyhawk and back onto the Airfix 1/48 Anson that now needs to be completed for Brett Green and Model Airplane International.
Having built much of the airframe last week and been able to leave to it dry out properly (not something I often have the chance to do!) this morning’s joyful tasks involved cleaning up any seam lines, filling any gaps and then finishing off much of the model’s construction ready for painting, none of which I was looking forward to! But, needs-must and all that, so I had no option but to get it done.
The biggest issue as I saw it was the aircraft’s construction. Having a fabric and metal skin, I approached the clean-up stages with some trepidation. The Airfix kit is a complex affair, driven largely by the the Anson’s less than flowing lines, the need to offer turreted or plain upper fuselage decks and the aforementioned constructional elements, where cloth meets metal. Add into that rather heady mix the delicacy of the kit’s stringer detail (particularly noteworthy over the upper wings and fuselage) and you can see why clean-up was going to be less than straightforward. Oh and did I mention that I had already chosen the ‘silver’ Royal Navy machine so any filling sanding and final finessing, had to be almost perfect to stop any shoddy work showing through an inevitably unforgiving layer of Aluminium dope, and natural metal. Yeah, it was a headache.
As with any job like this, I do as I did today: I pull up my big boy pants, drop a few tunes, grab the sanding sticks, and set to work. In the image above you can see the sponges and other materials that I used this morning. What you can’t see is the dust that that lot created! Much like the building work that we had done last year, the flipping dust seemed to get everywhere, changing my oh-so-lovely joggers from a fetching shade of black, into something more akin to medium grey. Seriously, how does an object so small, create so much mess?
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In total, it took around five hours of work before I was happy with the sanding, several rounds of abrading, layers of Black VMS superglue and thin Roket Hot superglue, being used to deal with any unwanted gaps of which thankfully, there were precious few. Once done, I sprayed all of the seams and joints with the same interior green used for the cockpit, thus revealing areas needing further attention. That is now drying out to sanded away in the morning to ensure that all surfaces are perfectly smooth and scratch-free, ready for painting.
Writing this and I guess for you guys, reading it, my approach may seem like overkill, but I don’t see it that way. Were I to build a model that was camouflaged in matt paint, I would be pretty fastidious when it came to surface prep, even though I know that the likelihood of seeing anything under the paint would be pretty minimal. The fact that a ‘silver’ finish highlights absolutely every defect on the surface of the plastic, makes this initial work all the more important. I simply cannot accept from my own hands obvious errors under the paint that I know could have been dealt with, had I spent even a few more minutes sanding and smoothing everything out properly. Yes, it’s goddam boring and yes, I’d rather do anything but. Even so I try time allowing, to prepare the surfaces as well as I can and then when it comes to the painting, I can lean into the process and focus only on the application of colour and not be distracted by mistakes I know I should have dealt with before picking up my airbrush, filling the cup and pressing the trigger.
I guess the answer to the question “where do you draw the line?” is simply, when the model is ready, or in some cases, when I’ve run out of time! I really do try and get joints and surfaces as close to perfect as possible, which is why my models seem to take a lot longer than I expect most of the time. Ah, the need to be perfect – it’s a burden I’m sure most of us carry!
So that’s been my dust-filled day. Tomorrow should be more fun as paint starts to be applied. I’ll also be able to touch up the decals on the Skyhawk and then apply a sealing coat. Tow models running towards the finishing line – whatever next?!
See you tomorrow.
I HAVE A NEW BOOK THAT I’M CURRENTLY FINISHING OFF!
A quick reminder that I’m finishing off my latest modelling guide, this time on the A-4 Skyhawk. The planned print run is selling out fast, so if you would like to be sure of a copy, please check out yesterday’s update where you will find plenty more information.
DAY’S MUSIC CHOICES
Today has been an unashamed return back to the Ninties to listen to some of the bands and their albums that I loved during that mad decade of music! Here are today’s collections:
The Stone Roses: Second Coming
Shed Seven: Going For Gold
The Seahorses: Do It Yourself
The Charlatans: Up To Our Hips
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: WHY HAVE I NEVER BUILT A LIGHTNING?
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A TRIP TO BRISTOL…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A RELAXING DAY…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: HOW MANY MORE KITS DO I HAVE, HALF STARTED?!
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: 2025 ALL WRAPPED UP!
Wow! I built a dozen back around 1980. Entered them as a collection at the IPMS USA Nationals. Didn’t win…
Yes, stop procrastinating……build a Lightning🤣
Who knows, you might even consider publishing another bookazine on building the BAC Lightning as well?
I am glad that the man was talked down. It’s definitely hard to see without knowing the outcome, until later.…
sadly(?), I’ve at least 15 models at various stages of completion. 2 I started back in the 80s, iirc I…
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
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