A-4 M J

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

The colours evolved through my as yet unpublished Alternative History of a resurgent militarist Japan locking horns with a still communist Soviet Union in the mid-eighties. Long story shortened, the disputed Kuril Islands become a battle ground and my Skyhawk (and previously seen Sea Harrier) are involved.

Because the transit to the islands is over the dark bluey grey/green northern Pacific then the colours used should reflect this. I decided to utilise all RAF tones - not necessarily current colours :-

The lightest tone over 80% of the underside and the centreline drop-tank is Medium Sea Grey (MSG). The next lightest, counter-shading the underside, beneath the intakes and on the rear fuselage is Light Slate Grey (LSG). The next lightest covering 60% of the upper surfaces is Ocean Grey (OG) and the final darkest tone is RAF Blue Grey (B/G).

The pattern came to me quite easily and was just about right after three attempts - I have based it on the pattern used by the first A-4/TA-4's seen in low vis greys in the mid to late eighties.

First actual in-progress painting pics will follow soon !

Ian

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Medium Sea Grey sprayed, ready for masking.






Ian

[Captain Canada]

Some guys just can't get it right, can they ? I think it would look better with a ratio closer to 79 % and 62 % for the uppers and lowers, respectively.




Can you point me in the direction of your Harrier again, pls ?

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

OK here's the MSG all masked.





Next, the Light Slate Grey (LSG) was sprayed on under the leading edge of the wings to approximately .25 chord and up the intake flanks, front fuselage and the rear fuselage.











the last photo as well as showing the gap beneath the fin (!), shows the difference in tonal value between the MSG and LSG.

Ian

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

As this is written, the next coat of paint (RAF Blue/Grey) is drying in the Autumn sunshine, but here's the model as it looked this morning, with the LSG areas masked off.







More tomorrow - I think !
Ian

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

In the meantime, here's the loadout, as you can see the British tandem panniers required a wee bit of 'adaptation' !





Ian

[Brian da Basher]

Looking good, Ian! That's one awesome load-out you've got in the works!

Brian da Basher

[nev]

She's haulin' some serious iron  

I think the camo scheme is gunna be rather like a Rolf Harris painting - and I can't quite guess what it is yet

[ysi_maniac]

   

[Captain Canada]

Wow.....that is starting to look really good ! Love the weapons load. Did you spray them as well ? They look really sharp.

 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Paint finished !



This is the RAF Blue/Grey sprayed and masked.... forgot to take a pic before the masking !  :dum:

















And that's it.... paint done. The tonal value between the RAF Blue /Grey and the Ocean Grey looks more pronounced than it is in actuality. I guess it's the flash/lighting set-up.

On to the decals....

Ian

[Brian da Basher]

Woah!! That's an absolutely killer paint scheme Ian! Hat's off to you!
:salute:
Brian da Basher

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Decals on, next a light oil wash into the panel lines.







As you can see I changed my mind about two things. The slats will be deployed and the loadout just looked WRONG. So I ditched the panniers idea and loaded just one GBU under each wing.... looks much better.

Ian

[Captain Canada]

Wow ! That's really looking the part now, my friend !



Can't wait to see her on her legs !

 

[nev]

Those Hinomarus sure bring it to life  B)