Though the application of the paint was fairly easy in the end, I spent some time experimenting with colours to ensure that there would be a differentiation between the fabric, metal and what appear to be wood(?) areas on the aircraft.
13th February 2025
With deadlines fast approaching, today was all about painting the Anson’s exterior finish and then dealing with the Skyhawk’s limited layer of weathering. Both of these tasks were in the main fairly straightforward, all of my prep work having been for the Anson and all of the paintwork finished, over the surface of the Skyhawk. Despite being straightforward, let me tell you something, I was still fearful that something could go wrong today. Fearful of screwing up the Skyhawk so close to it’s completion and fearful that if I cocked up the Anson (bearing in mind its metal finish and my need to nail it first time) I wouldn’t have a chance to rectify mistakes so close to my delivery of the article to Brett…
As it turned out, the day pretty much ran on rails. Before painting began, I did something I almost never do: I decided against my chosen scheme and went for another option. Having elected to build a Royal Navy machine, I contacted Brett to see if he was happy for me to build the Portuguese example instead. So why the change of direction?
Simply, despite loving the application of decals, I really don’t enjoy doing it over metal/silver/aluminium finishes with multiple tones and patinas. I’m often concerned that gloss coats, decals and then sealing coats, will dull down all of my paintwork taking the model from an interesting finish to one that is rather flatter in appearance. That was certainly the case with the Anson and those RN numerals on the fuselage sides and undersides of the wings., both of which would almost certainly have needed gloss coats and then sealing coats once dry. The Portugese aircraft was a lot plainer with less markings, so that meant I could focus on the finish knowing that there would be minimal gloss work, decalling and sealing coats to disturb what I hoped would be, a reasonably flawless finish.
Though the application of the paint was fairly easy in the end, I spent some time experimenting with colours to ensure that there would be a differentiation between the fabric, metal and what appear to be wood(?) areas on the aircraft. This involved mixing the fabric colour from LP11 Silver, and XF80 Royal Light Grey (five parts silver, one part grey) the natural metal from decanted AS12 Bare Metal Silver and then odd panels from LP38 Flat Aluminium. Here, you can see how those colours play with each other on the spare rear deck: AS12, LP11/XF80 and finally, LP38. The differences are pleasingly noticeable so having checked their tonal relationship, I was happy to apply them to the model.
As it stands, the model is around 75% complete, there still being a lot of masking around the nose. Truth be told, I’m not sure that the model should be this panelled, an overall finish being way more likely. Despite those misgivings, I prefer it looking as it is, simply because it would have looked really dull in one overall colour. I would of course weathered it and brought out panels with shading, but the additional use of metal colours makes the model more pleasing to me, despite what you might call artistic licence coming into play.
Speaking of artistic licence, the Skyhawk is now almost complete, today involving the washing of the panel lines to bring them out. Despite the real machine being pretty-much immaculate whilst in the scheme that I’ve chosen, I wanted to define those surface details, so used a Panel Line Wash to shade each one.
For some time now I’ve wanted to complete a model aircraft in the style of those Hasegawa builds that would adorn their boxes and catalogue, the finishes being clean, only broken up by delineated panel lines. This model is a close as I have got to that look, the lines being darker than I would normally recreate and yet still pleasing to my eye. It may be the first time I’ve tried this; I doubt very much it will be the last!
So that’s been my day. One focussed entirely on painting. All being well, both of these will be set off down the home straight tomorrow and that any potential pitfalls are now, fingers crossed, behind me.
See you then!
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TODAY’S MUSIC CHOICES…
It’s been a really varied day of music in the studio with some old favourites and some new suggestions being played whilst I happily worked away. Here’s today’s list:
Pet Shop Boys: Please
Pet Shop Boys: Actually
Spandau Ballet: Through The Barricades
Simple Minds: Celebrate, Live At The SSE Hydro Glasgow
Icehouse: Man Of Colours
Boom Crash Opera: These Here Are Crazy Times
James Reyne: James Reyne
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: SNOW, WALKS AND RANDOM PERIODS OF SLEEP…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: AIRBRUSHED PAINTWORK AND IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: TOMCAT ASSEMBLY…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: STILL UNWELL…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: LURGY, LEGO AND A TAMIYA TOMCAT…
I’ve just completely revamped mine, and I’m still refining it, and making a few 3D prints that will fill some…
My sympathies- I’m on day 6, and feeling just a bit better. Good luck!
Hope you get over the flu but soon Spencer. Without sounding a bit, how can I put it, full.of doom.…
That’s a great kit, enjoy.
Hope you feel better soon!
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
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