SPA Modeler

mostrich wrote:It'd be hard for me to find the proper words in German, but in English it's nearly impossible. Anyway, I'll try:

Wunderbar. Ganz große Handwerkskunst. Eine Hommage an Kurt Tanks Werk.

Thank you Torben. I took some elementary German language in high school so I can make out the gist of what you've said without resorting to Google Translate!

I'm a great fan of Kurt Tank's creations so there is a part of my build that seeks to pay homage to Professor Tank's work. So that is kind of you to say.

I really appreciate you taking this time to explain a lot of your processes on this build. You have help to spur me on in attempting another aircraft paint job through your excellent work on the last couple of builds that you've pulled off. Good lookin' build and thanks for sharing it all with us John.

speedgraflex wrote: to whatever Torben wrote. It sounds right. To evoke Kurt Tank is correct. The care is here in every frame. I was going to respond later to your comments in Lyle’s thread—I personally believe your model photography and documentation is incredible.

The Model is O U T S T A N D I N G. Only superlatives will do! What an intriguing little series of blobs, and how brilliantly you handle the repair—gives a new dimension to the way air brush pattern sprays work to add back the painted surface! Of the small details, I still personally find the red/white striping set off by a delicate, scale appropriate series of washes (more like “blending” to me), oil stains and exhaust smoke do really appear all of a piece. I don’t mean to give short shrift to the upper camouflage techniques, the cockpit canopy is so beautiful, the interior cockpit is likewise quite stunning. I certainly feel that the extended “pause” mid-process worked for the benefit of both you and the build itself. Also it is wonderful to learn of your upcoming trip—all the best to you, John.

Thank you Bruce! It was another fun build and I enjoyed sharing it with you. There were some very positive things that were accomplished like the increased strength of all of the glue joints and the magnetized spinner to name a couple. There were also some things to remind me that I have a long way to go in modeling including more foibles with flat coats that I thought were behind me. The tires still don't fit the image that I have in my mind of what worn tires looks like so that is another area I can improve upon.

Although I am going to try a couple of non-Dora subjects, I will eventually return and do another D-9 as I have a Late War D-9 kit (Big Tail) on the shelf. Markings for that one would be limited to the 2-3 reported D-9's with the Ta-152 tails including Brown 4 and Black 6...

jkim wrote:

KennyX wrote:I’m over here racking my brain about what could’ve caused that cloudy dustiness to occur. From everything I read, it’s usually the other way around. It looks cloudy but that goes away with the clear coat. And I know you’re aggressive when getting that salt off of there after the fading process... weird. But you overcame it. And that’s very good.

It's something that happens with clear flats. If you build up a flat coat in successive layers, it will eventually start to develop a white cloudiness that makes the model appear dusty. Which makes sense when you think that, on a microscopic level, a flat finish is rougher (more valleys and hills) than a gloss coat. And I think it can be compounded by salt. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if salt were a primary ingredient in flat paints.

All I know is that funky stuff can happen when you spray a flat coat after you've done a salt fade effect.

Hm. Lucky thing I sealed my salt fade work with a gloss coat. I always use gloss or semi-gloss until the final round, then I use Flat Clear.

I've learned to apply the gloss before flats as well. Stuff picked up from the automotive side of the house I guess....

That is one advantage of old eyes. It simply looks magnificent to me.
Bravo!

mustang1989 wrote:I really appreciate you taking this time to explain a lot of your processes on this build. You have help to spur me on in attempting another aircraft paint job through your excellent work on the last couple of builds that you've pulled off. Good lookin' build and thanks for sharing it all with us John.

My pleasure! We are all responsible for encouraging, inspiring, motivating and cajoling people to BUILD. I'll always try to do my part in payment for all of the techniques that I have learned and used and will continue to learn.

Note to self... seal salt fade with gloss before flat.

I am looking forward on how you make the insulators for that aerial.

Paul wrote:I am looking forward on how you make the insulators for that aerial.

I'm planning to use pieces of brass tubing as I have done on previous builds...