1/32 Hasegawa Fw190D-9 Black One

[speedgraflex]

Wow, I love that P-38! I would be tempted to try high content salt water washes on the flat surfaces. I don’t know, I feel you did a great job on the lower wing surfaces and fuselage. I salute you. That is incredibly impressive. I feel you hit your goal there with a bullseye! I hesitate on the sides, and I hesitate to write more about the cowling because these need to have a used appearance around hatches, canopy sliders and in particular the gun cowling needs the final “flourish” that comes from scrapes and scratches depending on degree of usage... but certainly recharging weapons would create a series of scrapes and scratches because the ammo belts hang off the sides. Also I wonder if there are any records of repairs, or combat related issues that might be documented in his diary or in any research materials? Honestly I feel you are in great shape to continue. If you choose “oil dots” or whatever the technique is, the result will add! And it appears you still feel you are not quite there yet, so... but I advise making a test on a scrap first... particularly before fading the upper engine cowling finish further... please take my comments with a grain of salt...

[jkim]

Went to work on Black 1 last night. Unfinished business with the salt fading technique. I decided to give it another go. One good reason for it is that the water applies SO much nicer for a flat finish than the gloss.


Same deal as before... sprinkle salt, let dry and mist some highly thinned gray over the works. The results for the 2nd time around? A little bit better but still not great.


Some areas were overdone, like the starboard wing. But overall, the effect swung too much from way too strong to non-existent. I think I would've been better served to use a more uniform spray pattern instead of trying to apply the gray in random streaks.


I was disappointed by the results. I toned down the overcooked areas using Micromesh and then sprayed another flat coat. That's when the salt frost gremlins started appearing again and I could feel some anger boiling up. Disappointment and anger... not a good combo. Sometimes you just have to leave it behind. Just walk out before you do something drastic and regrettable. So I called it a night and not too pleased with where Black 1 stood.

It was a good move. Today, I sat at my work table and saw that it wasn't that bad. I hadn't made a big move forward as I had hoped with the 2nd application of the salt technique but I didn't go backwards either. Since the salt technique is pretty rough on the finish, a number of little nicks and scrapes had appeared on the model. So I set to work spraying the frosty areas and repairing the nicks. That positive accomplishment put me in a better mood. Another flat coat and then a move to something new: chipping.

I applied chips using a silver pencil for the dark uppers and a regular pencil (soft lead) for the lighter lower parts. I was working under the magnifiers for the early going, which resulted in a lot tiny chipping that was hard to make out. I beefed it up a bit and made my way around the entire aircraft.




I try not to rush during chipping because it is easy to get lazy and you start losing good pencil orientation, which is a perfect 90 degree from the modeling surface.




The nice thing about pencil chipping is that you can wipe out any errant chipping very easily. And it leaves a little dirty smear that I can use to add to the wear effect. You can also purposefully use the pencils to create subtle streaking effects this way.



I feel much better about where Black 1 stands. I'll probably go over the chipping again with a few different colors. I like to mix in some browns which adds a little rust or dirt accents to the model.

[speedgraflex]

John, your work looks amazing. When the additive/reductive process of working moves too far in one direction, that is when moving away is best. It may have been a difficult (I know how hard it was, I feel the conflict in the narrative) but you made the right choice. Just taking stock of your Black 1 where she stands at the moment is amazing. You are adding so much right now, but all of the work "underneath" these effects is incredible! Absolutely beautiful. Very inspired by the way you have generated so many tones and forms with your superb airbrush work!

[jkim]

Thanks Bruce! Walking away and getting a fresh perspective is always helpful. Especially when frustration and impatience starts creeping into the build process. I'm happy with where Black 1 is at right now. No more salt fading. I'm going to look into an oil filter treatment on the upper wings to give some tonal variation but I'm going to do a test first to check the effect of different oil colors on the RLM82/83.

[speedgraflex]

These are extraordinary artist’s oils. The combination of linseed and walnut oils in the formula makes a smooth, light application possible. I have no affiliation with their makers.

http://blueridgeoilpaint.com/product-ca ... il-colors/

My plan is to pick up 40ml tubes of earth shades, plus titanium white, to try out weathering techniques.

I still plan to try the Thomas Mayer method of tinting Future as well. Glazing is the way.

[jkim]

I am in evaluation mode right now. I've done a test of some oil filtering on a random 1/48 wing part but I'm not sure I want to do any further weathering to the uppers. I think I have a decent amount of tonal variation and wear on the upper surfaces so it might just a matter of dialing in the correct amount of flatness and maybe a little bit more chipping.




I bought a wooden model jig that I'm testing out as well. It comes a little late in this build but it should provide a better base for my future modeling projects.



A little sneak peak at some of the previously completed parts as they are dry-fit to the Dora. The beautiful Henri Daehne prop looks great. At some point, I am going to secure the spinner onto the backplate, which will hide that glorious hub detail.



Here is the previously painted drop tank in place. I have to make sure that the level of wear/weathering is consistent. You can see that the color of the drop tank is slight different than the bottom of the aircraft, although both are RLM76. This is ok, actually preferrable, as I like to show some of the variance in paint mixtures that was likely to occur during wartime.



A nice thing about the jig is that it elevates the model and allows a view of the undersides without having to flip the model upside down.


I'm almost ready to move on to the next phase, which will be the permanent attachment of all of the external doodads such as the landing gear, flaps, canopy, antenna, etc. I'll do a thorough inspection of all areas and do any necessary paint repairs before proceeding.

[speedgraflex]

This moment is quite breathtaking, John! I was wondering about previously painted integration, less with the tank (which is a separate component) and more with the landing gear covers. I am very curious to see how those covers look against the underwing surfaces; also the canopy frame and rails above. I am so excited! You must feel a sense of real accomplishment—you have done so much to create such realistic surfaces and corresponding surface effects. Congratulations!

Addendum: the Daehne propeller assembly is a work of art... but it is the way you painted these detailed surfaces that brings his work to a new level.

[LyleW]

For me, this is beyond words I can invent. Went to my Thesaurus and it started smoking. Speechless. I am in awe of the way the salt treatment mottled the camo colours. Amazing work. Subtle and amazing.

[jkim]

Thanks Bruce! I think we can be our own worst critics. I know I'm like that when I take pictures. I usually hate my pictures after first review. I need to walk away and re-visit them after emptying myself of the expectations that had built up prior to shooting. I had a certain vision of what the salt fading technique was going to look like and I was quite disappointed when I didn't hit that mark, especially after that 2nd try. But looking at it now, it DID leave its mark in its own way and I'm glad that I can see that now.

Lyle... thank you for confirming that you can see the effects of my two salt fading attempts. And yes, you are right, I can see them too.

[speedgraflex]

Your work is amazing, John!