Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 28, 2023, 04:56:57 AM

Quote from: McColm on June 28, 2023, 02:57:28 AMWould you had as many problems if you had bought the F-35C and added parts from the
F-35B?

Probably, but they'd have been a different sort of problems. Plus 1/72 F-35C kits are as rare as hen's teeth, there are only two I think, and they're VERY expensive.

At the moment, in 1/72 there's only one kit by Orange hobby. It's not that rare and so far, i've seen two different boxes of that kit, one with the aircraft carrier's tow tractor, which is the one i have and a more recent one with a pair of AGM-158C LRASM missiles. Both are in stock at Superhobby in Poland. Not sure if they're either 3D printed or resin molded, or are injection molded styrene... and yes, at 40€ plus shipping, it is an expensive kit to chop up but it still is the only game in town until the Italeri kit comes out... still, i have a feeling that it's not going to be much cheaper than the Orange hobby kit...

Now I've got some more paint, even though I'm not at home yet, so I've got one of the first coats of top colour on the F-35D.

And as Halfords Grey Primer isn't THAT far off Dark Slate Grey you can see what the upper surface will look like, without it's disruptive camo of course.

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The RAF's heavy bombers in WWII tended to have black fins, and I've tried that on the Thunder, but I'm not quite sure how it looks. Of course it'll have some commemorative 80th Anniversary design on there eventually, but I've yet to draw that up.

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For some obscure reason all F-35s have all their internal bits, wheel and weapons bays, painted white, no idea why, and I've tried that on the Thunder too, but I'm less than convinced. I've half an idea to do them in WWII style Interior Green instead, what does the panel think?

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It's still an operational aircraft, just wearing commemorative clothes, I'd stick to the standard internal colours.

Hi Kit,
My understanding on the white interiors for gear and weapons bays is that it makes it easier for the ground crews to locate leaks.

Quote from: philp on July 01, 2023, 05:15:31 PMHi Kit,
My understanding on the white interiors for gear and weapons bays is that it makes it easier for the ground crews to locate leaks.

USN has been doing that for donkeys years.

It still looks strange in a totally black underside. And it's the very devil of a colour to paint as well. I think it'll need 3-4 coats at least.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 02, 2023, 03:01:20 AMAnd it's the very devil of a colour to paint as well. I think it'll need 3-4 coats at least.

This is where good masking & a quality airbrush come into their own.  

What's this 'airbrush' thing about which you speak? 

I'm a died-n-the-wool hairy stick user, but I'm passed out on Tamiya masking tape, and have the empty spools to prove it!

Just occurred to me the fan is the ideal base for a dorsal turret...

              

I don't want to shock ya Kit but you can get white spray paint in a ...can .
White primer is great for that 😄

Yeah, I've got maybe 4 cans of Halfords Appliance White, the airliner modeller's 'Go To' paint for most schemes.

It may be a bit too gloss for the gear bays etc. but who's going to be looking, they're underneath after all?   

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 02, 2023, 04:21:33 PMYeah, I've got maybe 4 cans of Halfords Appliance White, the airliner modeller's 'Go To' paint for most schemes.

It may be a bit too gloss for the gear bays etc. but who's going to be looking, they're underneath after all?   

Well the real things are gloss ..it's easier to clean then a semi or flat sheen paint so your sounding pretty good right now 😉

Just LOTS of masking to do.

I hate that just slightly less than PSR or painting wheels. 

Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 02, 2023, 03:38:09 AMWhat's this 'airbrush' thing about which you speak? 

LOL! Work of the devil!