SE5A 1/48? scale Artiplast Kit--Allan in Canberra

[Allan]

Hi Ranger,
What I did was place some tape on the wing and then use a pencil to write the squiggles.
Then remove the tape, stick it onto a piece of plastic sheet and use the point of my sharp knife to cut out the pieces.
Then restick them onto the surface of the wing.
Then spray.
Allan

[Brian da Basher]

You're off to a smashing start on the camo, Allan! The shapes are very interesting. Having SE-5s in Africa isn't as far-fetched as one might think because they formed the core of the South African Air Force after W.W. I (in very colorful markings, too!).

The General Modeling topics part of the board was still there last time I looked. I sure hope the interweb didn't get hungry and pop over here for a snack again.

Looking forward to your next update,
Brian da Basher

[Allan]

Thank you Brian and all for your kind comments. Here's the plane coming along nicely--have to decide on the decals now!
And have bought some Tamiya clear yellow for the struts--looking forward to using it.
Allan in Canberra

[Brian da Basher]

The more I see of your SE-5, the more I like it, Allan! I think all the time you took cutting the masking for your camo pattern will really pay off and make this one of the most eye-popping SE-5s around!

Brian da Basher

[sequoiaranger]

I REALLY think that jigsaw look is effective and bold. It works well.

In fact, and I mean this in an imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery way, I think I will use the technique (though in soft edges) along the fuselage sides for my He-113M as the Germans try to make their Italian-camo-ed plane conform roughly to the German-camo look then in use in the North African desert.

[Allan]

Thanks, Brian and Ranger.
Ranger--best of luck using my tape technique. Making the tape stand a little proud of the surface might be a little tricky. You could gently lift the edge using a pointed toothpick or perhaps lay a length of thread under the tape, but getting the thread to match the wiggles might be really hard.
Allan in Canberra

[Weaver]

Nice job Allan! 

SR: you could try this to get a soft edge: roll Blu-tack into a "snake" of uniformly small diameter between two plates (glass if you've got it) and stick that around the edge of mask to lift it.

[Allan]

More photos. Inevitable paint bleed under the tape near the cockpit. Will touch it up tomorrow once it's dry.
Allan in Canberra

[NARSES2]

Looking good Al

[Sisko]

I really love that camo scheme!

Nice blend of colours and loving that jigsaw camo scheme!

[Brian da Basher]

Looking good, Allan!

You may have a better way to clean up the bleed-through, but here's a quick tip that seems to work well on my airliners: I lightly sand over the bleed through with fine grit sand paper (2000 is what I use). Then I go back and touch up anything that needs it by hand. The nice thing is this saves me a little on the touch up painting. Your mileage may vary.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment of this wonderful project!

Brian da Basher

[noxioux]

Great looking bird.  I hope to have the courage to build a biplane sometime soon. . .

[Allan]

Hi fellows,
Here's one of the two machine guns I'll attach just in front of the cockpit, uisng perhaps white glue or even a dab of varnish.
I'm slowly choosing some decals for this bird, and my bag of leftover decals clocked in at 494 grams!!!!
Allan

[Cobra]

Awesome Job So Far,Allen bet that Many Decals can be an RPIA!!!!! Keep up the Great Work!!!!!! Dan

[Allan]

Thanks fellows and here's the decal decision-making process, just holding interviews with interested decals.
Allan