SPA Modeler

jkim wrote:

Stikpusher wrote:You don't happen to be in the drafting side of engineering? I know it's all CAD now, as opposed to pencil and paper...

I started my engineering career when the industry was transitioning from hand drafting to CAD. I did a little drafting using technical pens on vellum but was soon tasked to learn a new software package called AutoCAD. I remember having to learn the program on a Packard Bell 286 without a mouse!

I'm in the process of transferring my past builds from Photobucket to Postimages.org. I may be able to resurrect this thread when I complete this transfer. In the meantime, here is an older build of mine. This is the Hobby Boss 1/48 Fw 190D-9 kit that I built in 2014 as Blue 12 (WNr 500570).

How did I miss this one?!?! That is one gorgeous Fw 190!!! Well done!!!

BlackSheep214 wrote: How did I miss this one?!?! That is one gorgeous Fw 190!!! Well done!!!

Thanks! Since my reintroduction into the hobby, this was my first Dora. I did a little bit of internet research to come up with the color scheme for Blue 12. After spraying the basic camo colors, I distinctly remember thinking... "Wow, this is a really strange looking bird!"

A note to myself: must take airbrushing lessons! Or force JKim to build and paint my kits!
Really, I cannot stop being awestruck by your artistic level!

Yeah, guys like John in the room make you step up your game...

Simple paper masks can help achieve that fine demarcation line.

Superb Builds Jim

Here's a Nachtjager that I build in 2015. This is the Hobby Boss 262 B-1 kit that came out before the night fighter (B-1/U1a) version was released. The B-1 kit seemed to have most of the night fighter parts included minus the decals so I decided to go for it.

Beautiful work John! That is quite the Masterpiece!

That Swallow is a showstopper. I was pretty pleased with the Mäandertarnung I achieved on my 262, but painting all those tiny circles must've been a real challenge. Which needle size did you use for that kind of work, John?

Thanks for the comments! Torben... I was trying to replicate the archive photos of Red 12 and based my painting on an analysis by Pat Donahue that was posted at the IPMS Vagabonds website...


http://ipmsvagabonds.com/page3/page52/page52.html

My normal airbrush is a Iwata HP CS Plus with a 0.3mm needle but I switched over a Paasche V with a smaller needle and tip (0.254mm) for the mottling. Once the paint mixture and air pressure was dialed in, it wasn't too difficult to execute the mottling pattern. I like to use Post-Its in the masked areas to test spray the patterns prior to shooting the model.


The wavy finish on your 262A-1a/U3 turned out very well. I also liked the black basing you did but it pretty much disappeared under the wavy camo! And the little shroom on the base!