SPA Modeler

well done! They look great.

Thanks Lyle!

Got the starboard side done:






Man. I can’t believe it. Literally last week, at around this time I had just finished the third re-paint on the wings, and I’d finally gotten something I was happy with. And now, a week later, this bird is getting markings. I’m thrilled. It felt really good to put the crosses, the big yellow 1’s and the weeping ravens on there. I’m very pleased with this model.

She's really coming togeather Kenny! Nothing like getting the markings on a build to really get a idea of how she's going to look finished. I'm really interested in how you are going to start weathering.

Very nice! The decals look great!

This would not have been possible without you guys encouraging me and without Carlos saying “...you got this.” We gonna bring this one across the finish line boys! A few more stencils and markings to go, and then the canvas will be ready for the oils and the washes and the pencils and the pigments. I’m stoked! Thank you all for your encouragement!

Love it Kenny! See how the markings seem to "level out" all of the perceived inconsistencies of the camo finish? That bird/umbrella emblem is classic! Great tonal variation on the yellow!

John,

Yes sir, absolutely! Take the starboard side, just ahead of that squiggle. I was following my reference pretty well there, but wasn’t happy with the aesthetics of it. But then I added the big yellow 1, and the ace of hearts marking, and BOOM! Visually it works very well now! Same with the wings. The insignias pull the overspray camo and the splinter scheme together. It really is amazing how that works. Without being silly, I really do think this is part of the “magic of modeling” and it’s what makes me enjoy the hobby. Part of it anyway. And thank you for the kind words!

I didn’t have time to do more with the markings on the Emil today, it being Halloween and all. We got pumpkins for the kids to paint, and Casper the Friendly Ghost DVD’s to watch with them from the library. But I did get about a half hour during their nap to work on two pieces from Bartels’ G6:

I’m pretty sure this is part of the oil cooling system. The metal is Alclad Duraluminum and I splattered some of MiG’s dark red brown panel line accent wash with a stiff brush to simulate some oil spots. I’ll do a stain on there with oil paint tomorrow probably.


Here’s the ammunition feeder for the cowling guns:


I primed it with Tamiya Matte Black, then Alclad Duraluminum, and then I masked off some areas where I figured chipping might occur, and after that I sprayed those areas with NATO black, then laid down some Flat Black nearby, and then Gloss Black mixed 1:2 with Flat Black for the rest. I figured being in there so close to the engine, operating out of Greece, that paint wouldn’t stay semi-gloss black very long. So I came up with a tongue-in-cheek idea: “Shades of Black” and painted it that way. Then did dry brushing with Model Master aluminum.

“Shades of Black”, chipping is a good way to weather something, but another way to do it is to also show gradual paint wear from exposure to things like heat. Any color you want! But it looks subtle and lovely with black I think:


I need to tighten these up a bit more and add some pigments. I’ll do that tomorrow.

Looking good!