SPA Modeler

I like the sound of this color. What paint brand did you use to mix up the color?

Stewart,

It’s purty, ain’t it? I like that hue-changing property a whole lot, and I think it’ll look nice on the model.

Carlos,

I used my Tamiya paints for this. If you’re interested, here’s the formula Straggler gave me. This is Mr. Greg Springer’s formula for use with Tamiya paints:

100 parts XF14 IJA Gray
40 parts XG49 Khaki
3 parts XF53 Neutral Grey
3 parts XF2 White XF2
2 parts XF7 Red XF7

All that with the moveable control surfaces and the gear bay and doors had me reeling. I've gotta give you 1000 kudos for trying across the board to get these all to work because I'm pretty sure you went through great pains to make it all happen. This thing is coming together nicely Ken. Really nicely. Continuing to watch this one.................

100 parts... wow, that’s a lot of paint... in 1/32 that would be fine, but smaller scales....

Thanks for the formula sir!

Joe,

Thank you for your comments. I sincerely appreciate them.

And you aren’t wrong- I tried really hard to make them work. I’m not disappointed that there were fails, even with the effort I’ve put into them. It was a good learning experience and even though I was unsuccessful, I learned a lot of valuable new skills that’ll help me with the building part later on. I’m happy with it.

Carlos,

Yeah buddy. And I tried reducing the formula by percentages. Unsuccessfully. So I bought glass jars to keep the mix in. I love that color so for me it’s good to have it on hand at all times.

Okay, lads, I’ve been looking forward to saying this...


Hot damn we’ve got ourselves an airplane!

I feel like I should have built a hangar in my backyard to build this beast in:






The ailerons work! These were far easier to build than the control surfaces on the horizontal stab, they were designed much more simply:


And the flaps do too! Here’s no droop, and with droop:




So what is that? 4 and 1/2 out of 7 control surfaces successfully built? That actually isn’t bad for a first-timer when it comes to movable flaps. Solid C+, just like in French class when I was in high school— maybe not good enough for Paris, but down here in Cajun Country it’s just fine, cher!

Okay. Next I’m either going to turn my attention back to the engine, work on the landing gear, or do some more weathering in there where the oil tank is. Whatever I do next will have to wait until tomorrow, because I need a break

Looks awsome Kenny! That custom color is going to look sweet on there.

Just checking in with the Big Zero build! Thanks for posting your work on the movable parts. Interesting to see the engineering that went into it. But I agree with the others in that I don't really see it as something especially desirable or necessary on a scale model. I think I would've treated the situation the same as you... if it works, fine but if it don't... just secure it in the position you want. The Zero is a big plane isn't it? Not quite Thunderbolt or Hellcat big but large nonetheless especially compared to, say, a Bf109.

Looking forward to the paint work... it should look really cool with the custom mix you've come up with.

I'll be driving up to the Bay area this week so no modelling updates from me but I'll try to check in when I can!

Color looks awesome! I remember the big debate over the color long ago, I think Fermis might remember that too.

Love watching your work, can’t wait to see the color in action!

So when you say 100 part of this color and 40 parts of another color, etc... how are you determining the parts? By the number of drops? By styringe levels?

Clint,

I think so too! I’m expecting a lot out of the modulation and hue shifts once I see it on the airframe!


John,

Thank you! I’m glad I could give you a look!! Travel safe too, my man! And fish if you can (of course).

PZ,

Thank you sir! I’m enjoying this project so much and I can’t wait to start painting, honestly! I want to run another test or two before I do (decided that tonight) but it’ll commence soon!

Mr. Black Sheep,

I feel like a proper idiot now because I never asked that question when Mr. Millman sent me the formula! I used drops, out of plastic pipettes the gala use for essential-oils.