Moments of Zen

[DogfighterZen]

That's so cool!! Vector-Viper.   Good work putting them spare Raptor nozzels to work.....      Maybe I'll copy your homework some day now that I know a good way to use them.   

Go for it, the world needs more Vector-Vipers! 
These came from the Revell Raptor, it has 4 pairs, 2 for closed and 2 for open nozzles. I used the closed ones on the Raptor kit so these were just waiting for their day in the spare parts box.

[zenrat]

Thats usefull to know.  I need some 2D nozzles for my RAAF J20 and J31.

[DogfighterZen]

Thats usefull to know.  I need some 2D nozzles for my RAAF J20 and J31.

Yup, the Revell Raptor has 8 petals but only 4 plates for the interior surface so you'll have to choose which one you want to use on the Raptor kit. Funny that you mention those two... A couple of days ago i was very close to clicking on the buy now button on a J-31 with similar thoughts in mind but i also want to change the nose and a few more things. 

[zenrat]

Aries do resin & PE replacement nozzles for F-22 kits.  They include all the parts back to the turbine. I have asked HLJ to put a couple of sets in my private warehouse ready to ship from Japan when it's possible to do so again.



https://www.hlj.com/1-72-scale-f-22a-raptor-exhaust-nozzles-for-academy-ars7265

[DogfighterZen]

Those are exactly the ones i bought to use on my first F-16W, Fred. 



I still have one of them and was planning on using it on this build but later found the Revell parts in the spares box and decided to save the Aires one for a future variant.

Ok, with the arrival of the decals, i can finally finish the Monogram Spitfire. Better than that, it'll be a what-if!
So, the PoAF(Aeronáutica Militar before 1952) had the Spitfire Mk.Ia and a few V variants but in 1945 refused the offer of 120 Spitfire Mk.IX airframes made by the British government preferring more of the Mk.Vb... 
The Monogram kit is of an early Mk.IXc so it more than qualifies for a subtle whif. 





The scheme will not be exactly portrayed as was supposed to be cause i'm keeping the duck egg green on the spinner so i'll have to paint the stripe on the aft fuselage with the same color.
This means that both the Mirage and F-16 will be waiting for a bit longer cause i wanna put this Spitfire in the display cabinet.

[zenrat]

Those are exactly the ones i bought to use on my first F-16W, Fred. 



I still have one of them and was planning on using it on this build but later found the Revell parts in the spares box and decided to save the Aires one for a future variant...

Thanks mate.  Good to hear they are OK and get the DFZ thumbs up of approval.

[DogfighterZen]

Thanks mate.  Good to hear they are OK and get the DFZ thumbs up of approval.

 

One detail that might be of interest, the Aires F-22 nozzles are to be assembled open but that's a minor detail cause it's easy to tweak them to display closed nozzles.

So, regarding my current builds, the spitfire has its markings and is almost finished but there are still a few details to add. I've managed to snap the rear view mirror off and lose it. It's around the bench somewhere but i won't waste another 15 minutes looking for it cause it's something easy to scratchbuild in 1/48.
Had to remove the pitot tube i'd already glued to the underside of the port wing so i wouldn't lose it too.
I have to say that i like these decals a lot, worked perfectly with some microsol.



I've also been using this build to try to improve my weathering skills a bit without ruining the model and overdoing it and it seems to me that the hardest part (besides achieving a convincing and realistic look) is knowing when to stop... Still, i don't want to make it look too beat up, just with some wear and tear of a few months in service.
Laid a bit of AK grey/blue camo paneliner enamel wash on just a few areas where i believe there would be more dirt and the access panels would be more noticeable. Managed to spill that wash bottle on the bench and instead of a half full bottle of it, now i have about a third of that half bottle...
Did some dry brushing with Vallejo aluminum on places like wing roots, on the top of the wings around the access panels for the ammo and guns, canopy framing and a few other spots.
Will be trying oil paints for weathering for the first time on this one so lets see how that works out...
I've read somewhere that the Merlin engine would leak oil easily, especially after being pushed to it's limits in combat so, i'm off to google some reference pics of the Spitfire's belly to see what it looked like...

[zenrat]

That transfer looks painted on!

[NARSES2]

That transfer looks painted on!

They've certainly gone down well over those rivets 

[DogfighterZen]

These are very good indeed, i'll have to buy more for future 1/48 builds i have in mind. 
I'll be finishing up the remaining details tonight and take some pics tomorrow morning but my missus wants to go shopping in the afternoon so i probably won't have time to post the finished product before dinner...    

[ChernayaAkula]

<...>
I've also been using this build to try to improve my weathering skills a bit without ruining the model and overdoing it and it seems to me that the hardest part <...> is knowing when to stop... <...>

Ain't that the truth?  I've read that the trick is getting to the point where you say you just need one more step - and stop there.
I swear that would've worked on a Foxbat I built recently. Was adding some wear and tear on the anti-glare panel. Looked good, but I thought it needed just a tiny bit more. Turns out it didn't.

[DogfighterZen]

<...>
I've also been using this build to try to improve my weathering skills a bit without ruining the model and overdoing it and it seems to me that the hardest part <...> is knowing when to stop... <...>

Ain't that the truth?  I've read that the trick is getting to the point where you say you just need one more step - and stop there.
I swear that would've worked on a Foxbat I built recently. Was adding some wear and tear on the anti-glare panel. Looked good, but I thought it needed just a tiny bit more. Turns out it didn't.

Well, i said i wanted to give the Spitfire a light weathering from a few months of use but i guess the chipping came out a bit more like a year or so of a somewhat careless handling by ground crews.. and the gun ports look like it had just landed from a training sortie at the range, although they're covered...
Guess the ground crews would be too busy to clean up and paint the aircraft but i can always say it's represented in 1952 before the "Aeronáutica Militar" and "Aeronáutica Naval" were disbanded and all aircraft in use by both branches were turned over to the then newly-formed PoAF.
But in my defense, most pics i've seen of dirty Spits had the wings roots well chipped and faded so, i don't think i'm that far off. Also, going by the look of their F-86s and A-7s when in use, i can say that it would be very normal for them to have heavily weathered and dirty Spits.

I've never tried weathering with oil paints and last night i used some burnt sienna from Van Gogh on the underside of the Spitfire to get some oil stains and streaks like i saw on some pics and obviously, it's not perfect but i'm fairly satisfied for my first go with the stuff. I did have to mix a bit of Humbrol smoke pigments to the Burnt sienna to make it darker cause it's the only oil color i have at the moment but i will buy more colors, that's for sure.
Should've had some black and white oils on some panels to create streaks and fading of colors to give it more tonal variation... I find it a fun process but i will not be doing it on all my builds.
Well, time for some food and then i'll be back on it to get it finished.

[NARSES2]

I'm not that good at weathering, indeed I'm hopeless at it, therefore I always finish my models as if they have just been prepared for the visit of a visiting high ranked dignitary or two. Either that or for the airfield's open day, before the local kids have been let in 

I admire people who can do it well.

[DogfighterZen]

I'm not that good at weathering, indeed I'm hopeless at it, therefore I always finish my models as if they have just been prepared for the visit of a visiting high ranked dignitary or two. Either that or for the airfield's open day, before the local kids have been let in 

I admire people who can do it well.

Well, that makes two of us, Chris. I'm just having fun messing around with the stuff and i don't get frustrated if it doesn't go that well. To me it's a bit like bmx "stunt" riding, It's my fault if the stunt attempted goes wrong so can't whine about it too.
What's cool about the oils is that if there's an acrylic gloss coat, the stuff can be worked for a long time as it takes a bit to dry and doesn't soak into the paint layers.
Well, gotta go shopping now or the missus will spank me....

[NARSES2]

Well, gotta go shopping now or the missus will spank me....

No comment 

Well, that makes two of us, Chris. I'm just having fun messing around with the stuff and i don't get frustrated if it doesn't go that well. To me it's a bit like bmx "stunt" riding, It's my fault if the stunt attempted goes wrong so can't whine about it too.

Absolutely the right attitude  Enjoy