Bolleken's 1:72 stuff

[Bolleken]

Bruce, you are absolutely right about the Horten. Really, I like that discussion here so please let's keep it.
Today I tried the new Vallejo Metallics with very good result. Maybe you can try them too.

Marius, did you try the gloss black undercoat that comes with the colors, or just the colors? I'm thinking about the exhaust for the MiG when I was asking you about testing. A lot of color tests I have done are on plastic spoons or knives first and I see similar test methods online. I will try these out based on your recommendation. Cheers, mate. I'm learning a lot from your work.

Hey Bruce, I had to airbrush the anti-glare around the cockpit. I took Tamiya's glossy black. So I put it around the exhaust area too. Then I put on a mixture of Aluminum and Vallejo's black primer. Die the exhausts itself I used the mixture without primer. Good result too.
Just try, the worst to happen is that you have to dump a kit...

[speedgraflex]

Marius, metallizer finishes work great, nice masking to contain the overspray: your work looks tight, and the color mix has greater depth, also the exhausts now have a more realistic sheen to the highlights. Did you use light layers and multiple passes, do you vary direction of the painting flow over the surface?

[Bolleken]

Marius, metallizer finishes work great, nice masking to contain the overspray: your work looks tight, and the color mix has greater depth, also the exhausts now have a more realistic sheen to the highlights. Did you use light layers and multiple passes, do you vary direction of the painting flow over the surface?

Hi there.
This morning I mounted the nozzles to the Rafale.
I think it does not look that bad.
Bruce, yes, for the metallic colors I used different directions and intensities. For the white too. I assume, when I am ready to finish, I will use different directions and glossy intensities for to give the white and the decals more variety and structure.


In addition to my Rafale I did some trials on a bearcat with Vallejo aluminum. The dark shades are the result of mixing aluminum with primer black. In my opinion the colors are great, by sensitive when they are not primed and ore sealed with any kind of cote.

[speedgraflex]

Marius, your work on the Rafale looks incredible, the white cured so nicely against the details, too and the nozzles have a feeling of metal under extremes of heat and pressure. The testing of the Vallejo Metal Colors is what I am studying with thanks—for acrylic, there is variety, a successful aesthetic and true characteristics of metal finishes. What's the base color of the mule? Is this dark blue plastic, followed by a base color of gloss black than the metal color? Lookin' absolutely the business, honestly and makes me reconsider using AS-12 Tamiya Bare Metal as well... you wrote that the finish is delicate. How fast does it dry???

[Bolleken]

Marius, your work on the Rafale looks incredible, the white cured so nicely against the details, too and the nozzles have a feeling of metal under extremes of heat and pressure. The testing of the Vallejo Metal Colors is what I am studying with thanks—for acrylic, there is variety, a successful aesthetic and true characteristics of metal finishes. What's the base color of the mule? Is this dark blue plastic, followed by a base color of gloss black than the metal color? Lookin' absolutely the business, honestly and makes me reconsider using AS-12 Tamiya Bare Metal as well... you wrote that the finish is delicate. How fast does it dry???

Thanks for your words Bruce!
I am tensed regarding the progress you make on your flying wing...

There is no base Color for the bearcat-mule. It is the pure dark blue plastic metalized with Vallejo. I think drying process was very quick. But to be honest, I airbrushed it yesterday and took it aside while cooking for my kids. So I am not able to answer precisely.

[speedgraflex]

Marius -- yes, counting down to releasing the Horten, feels good, but really ask myself "Why did it take so long to finish? I don't know if you do this, maybe everyone does, although there are fast builders on the forum I think! I understand your XF-11 very well, the accuracy and attention to the details. Soon, the Horten flies, maybe Wednesday or Thursday. Apologies for my grammar; it is after 4 am. I'm excited to try Vallejo and want to try soon... I have a batch of paint coming for the 1/48 ZM Ta 152 H-1...but your results make me wonder if I should buy Vallejo for the project instead.

Your Rafale A is progressing, and I am looking forward to your next steps... and further projects. Do you only build 1/72 scale craft, with a preference for aesthetics? These jets you are building are pretty incredible. The Horten is my first jet aircraft.

[Bolleken]

Have a good sleep Bruce… 
Don’t worry about your grammar…U know I am a German guy with limited English skills… so I would never complain about your grammar.

I always suggest to use paints you are used too. I started with Humbrol enamels, followed by MM and Revell Aqua’ s. Now I prefer Tamiya and I always struggle with metal cotes. That’s why I tried Vallejo.


Yes, I only build 1:72 because of personal, historical reasons and because of limited space in my house. “With a preference for aesthetics” - I like that, but this might be a coincidence or the result of studying industrial-design.
Currently I am trying to collect and build all the Matchbox aircrafts. That’s where it all starts with when I was 5.

And I really love the Horten. I have several built so far, 3 by PM (1 single seater, 2 twin-seater (one of them is a modified single seater) and 1 Revell. One more Revell is on stock and one PM (already cut into pieces, will be a Lockheed XP-229V/UHS (=> Kenneth Arnold UFO or an US-navy version completely orange painted) too. The Revell version is a great kit with some inaccuracies and some poor fitting. Nevertheless the result is convincing. Some pics attached, interested in your opinion.

-Echo thoughts-

[Duke Maddog]

Marius, brilliant job on your Rafale painting. I cannot get my white to look that good after spraying; much less give it variation afterward! I always seem to have a brown smudge or spot on mine; or even some other imperfection which shows up later. I envy you your ability to spray such a perfect white coat.

Magnificent Hortens too. I've only built one; the PM one, and I'd be embarrassed to post it here now given how spectacular all of yours are. I love the silhouette shot against the setting sun!

I also understand why you only build in 1/72 scale. I also only build 1/72 scale aircraft for several reasons as well. One is like you said: limited room, but mostly I like to keep my collection consistent in scale. All my aircraft match the scale of my armor and vehicles. Along with this keeping most of my collection consistent; it also gives me many opportunities for diorama possibilities should I ever find room to make any.

Well done on all your models Master!

[Bolleken]

Well Duke, thanks for the compliments!

To be honest, it was a loooooong journey to find a white, which enables me to do a white finish. I failed with Revell (horrible), Humbrol and Modelmaster. Then I tried glossy white by Tamiya, and it worked. And to be honest again, I guess it looks better on the photos than in reality. The pre-shading was a good idea this time, because it is not too visible and underlines the structure. The job on the Rafale has not been finished yet, so there is a lot of space for me to spoil it.

Yeah, the Horten is a beautiful plane in general. The PM-kit is very basic and it is difficult to do a good job on it. I guess your one looks good, so don’t hesitate to show. Also my Hortens look better on the pictures than they are. Next time I’ll try to improve.

-Echo thoughts-

Marius

[Stikpusher]

That is a beautiful collection of 229ers. And your Rafale is looking very sweet as well! Airbrushed whites have never been much of a problem, but metallics... now there are some challenges.