SPA Modeler

Shiny & Chrome...

So far the belly is done, and the decals are on. After a horrible moment (one of the "8" screwed up) all went well. Close call.

There are different opinions if the machine wore Balkenkreuze on its wings or not, I left them out in this case.

Via Photoshop I created a sign and most probably I wont go for the lasercut variant (but Ill keep that in mind for later projects).

Only smaller parts are left, ant these are the most time consuming I guess.






Mr. Gabler himself will sit in a chair in front of the machine (comes from Eduards Luftwaffe 1944 set):

This is looking so magnificent! The metal finish appears flawless; something I just cannot do! I also love the groundwork. That's going to be a great place for Mr. Gabler to lounge in.

Same here - I was always a bit afraid of doing bigger metal surfaces and decided to make smaller projects first. After having tried several metal colors for years now and regarding their abilities (look, endurance, time of drying, price and especially "does it come off after masking or not?!), I found that two metal colors are best:

Humbrol Metal Cote

and

the new range of Vallejo acrylic metallics.

Some like acrylics, some would prefer good old enamel stuff. As always, its a matter of personal taste and availability. If you can get those, go for them for a try and youll be very pleased. Especially the Vallejo colors are idiot safe . Put them in your airbrush and thats it. Black primer comes first, for the Messerschmitt I airbrushed a dark aluminium first, until the white aluminium was used. It comes even better: you can polish them! Regarding the endless details off the Bf 109 like panel lines, rivets etc. it would be a real shame to cover them with thick color.

I've been using the Vallejo Metal Color paints and I love them! I'll be using them on a certain build very soon.

So far I am a true fan of Alclad II paints, but looking at this perfect build I think I should give those Vallejos a go.

Lucas, the presentation is again(!) just wonderful! Having a figure of the pilot on a chair in front of his fighter is typical of your work: you always find a way to add life to your dioramas!

addendum.

One thing I learned from figure painting is the following: never ever put a clear cote over metallic colors, that looks wrong. A plane modeller will put a clar cote over dull colors to avoid silvering of the decals. I thought about that here too because the Eduard decals are quite glossy - on the other hand this would ruin the result even if you seal it flat again.

Mr. Gabler is a bit tired (he was a Luftwaffe flight teacher btw) and takes a seat in his chair. I made a sketch for the cloth pattern in Photoshop and printed it - Eduards instructions are very helpful here because they include the measures for the cloth (9x35mm):

Eduard gave measure for the cloth piece on the chair? Is the chair given with the kit?

Tigrazor, thanks for the tips on the Vallejo metal colors. I have two large aircraft all in bare metal finish that I might have to try on these colors on. It's just been a struggle getting the primer coat smooth enough for a black gloss color. I'll see if I can pick some up next week.

Youre welcome Duke..

Thomas, these figures are sold seperately (see p.1. ).

Great stuff! Keep it coming!!!