Cleansing Diversions July 27, 2014

As I was getting too intense with the LAV, I put it aside to take a break, and I took one an unfinished one from the shelf and started a new one from scratch.

The Testors Typhoon is standard Testors fair, but for me a quick build to try some painting techniques.

The Hasegawa 72nd scale  B-17 on the other hand, is a fine kit. Almost like Tamiya, this one almost fell together, everything was a fine fit. I got this from Dave at a recent Club day form the Swap Table. Thanks Dave!

I thought this might be a quick build, only two sprue's of parts and most of them large, but the build was quick, yes.. the painting, however.. I have already spent more time in finishing than building.

I wanted the seams to be completely gone so I used putty and then MR surfacer and did a trial primer, seams still there. So more putty, more sanding and it was ready to prime.

Since it had raised panel lines, pre shading (and post shading) are my only avenues for panel demarcation. So I painted the many panel lines with black, top and bottom, a lot of surface on this one.

The bottom was supposed to be Neutral Grey, but the Tamiya XF53 was too dark. I found a reference on the web, XF-53 with 1/3 rd white - tried that - looks good. My technique, as I saw Brett Green do years ago, was to fill in the colour between the preshading, and then mist the colour overall after. I did this for top and bottom. The top was supposed to be OD 41 which is supposed to be close to FS 23070 or 33070. I found a reference in IPMS Stockholm to 1 part XF62 Olive Drab, and one part XF49 Khaki Drab. This works for me. I painted between the preshading and misted over the whole topsides after.

OD 41 was used on USAAC aircraft until 1943, then replaced for the USAAF with FS 34084.

TO do this right, and according to references, there are a lot of small painting details. The top colour carries down on the lower undersides of the nacelles (eight sides to mask and blue tack), and under the tail as well. Then there are the de-icer boots to mask, which are straight on the wings, but curved on the horizontal stabilizer. Blue sticky tack for that too. The underside of the front nacelle carries the green all the way around, this needed two different maskings to accomplish.

Then there is the colour to represent fade on the control surfaces, which were fabric, while all other surfaces were metal...

Usually my patience starts to wain at this point but I am getting past it. A few more things to do and I can clear coat and decal it. Then put on the wheels, propellers and engine hubs.. Can't wait!

So far...