SPA Modeler

Man that pastel wash make a huge difference!

Thanks guys! The pastel wash is definitely a significant step in the weathering process for me.

Here is the model after the pastel wash. The rivets stand out when you are close to the model but they fade away as you get further away, which is the effect that I want.

Stunning work John. I really like your pastel washes, simp!e but very effective.

Thanks Stuart! This pastel technique was much more commonly used when there weren't as many model-specific products available.

Need to apply the flat coat but I'm procrastinating until I can get the drop tank painted. No, the two are not connected but for whatever reason, I keep failing on the drop tank and I'm fixated on getting it right. I'm on my third attempt trying to get the hairspray chipping right. The first time, water seeped down to my fingers holding the drop tank and that scrubbed of a big chunk of paint. The second time was botched when my clear coat was applied too wet and the finish "spider-webbed" because of the hairspray layer. All the more tedious as the paint stripping process destroys the wiring work I've placed to simulate the fuel lines. Oh well... that's modeling.

I think the third attempt is looking good as I've successfully put a clear coat in preparation for the decals. Hopefully I'll have a successful update to share today.

After a few failed attempts, this is my final coat of RLM 76 Light Blue on the drop tank.


After hairspray chipping.


The drop tank after the decals and a flat coat.


The ETC rack was painted RLM 66 Dark Grey.



Temporarily mounted on the yet to be weathered fuselage bottom.

Drop tank looks awesome. The welds look great.

Damn..... that tank really looks great.

Thanks guys! Appreciate the comments

speedgraflex wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:35 pm John!

I have not been following from the start (I just finished page 1 which set the scene and whetted the appetite) but my first response upon seeing the chipping effects was “Brilliant!” Then I went back to see more.

All the best—cheers, my friend!

Thank you Bruce! Always a pleasure to hear from you!

In preparation of the flat coat to come, I masked off the metal portions of the wing bottom so they wouldn't be adversely affected by the flat.


Here is the model after the flat coat...





After the flat coat, I gave the model the first round of post-shading effects. Essentially a highly-thinned mixture of black and brown that is traced around the panel lines and edges and also streaked, front to back. I find that this technique works the best if it is built up very slowly.

This keeps on amazing me. Paint, weathering, details...all just amazing.