Ahoj Comrades of the Early Soviet Jet Kits

Last time you could all see how good I am with silver finishes



After having received a lot of good advice (thank you all), I first had to clean up the mess



Then try to find the recommended products

What better occasion then the first local scale model show after summer



Scaleworld is a yearly show held by KMK - on the 2nd Sunday of September - and only a half hour drive away

One of the 3 rooms filled with club stands, vendors...



And the contest tables



With plenty of fabulous models

Look at the weathering in this small 1/72 diorama



1/35 scale flakpanzer "Keksdose" - sturmgeschützschule, Burg 1945



The KMK show always offers a lot of VERY fine weathered models in the contest

1/35 Panzer IV Ausf. B, Normandy summer 1944



Pictures rarely do the models justice

1/35 BT-7



I'm also happy to see more and more Czech modellers visiting Belgium with their models



A very nice 1/35 scale vignette

Title : Closed!!! No fuel left over for the enemy, France 1944



A 1/35 scale Soviet Churchill tank in winter camo

A first for me - looks great



Note the dirt on the tracks and the body of the vehicle

1/35 scale Nashorn



Somewhere in Europe, 2025

SF category



A highly detailed 1/48 scale MiG-21 in Cuban colours



Sadly, lightning conditions weren't always optimal, but you can see the amount of work done to upgrade this kit



I haven't seen many Bubbletops in Soviet colours

1/48 scale - and note the weathering again



There were not many aircraft models in 1/72 scale, this Tracker being one of a few



Together with this Neptune



Based on a picture, a Stuka towed by a Panzer I

1/48 scale



A wrecked MiG-23, a model I saw for the first time some months ago at Modellbrno



1/48 scale Eduard Hellcat - detailed and weathered to a high degree



A beautiful Avenger in 1/48 scale



Note the bucket of water in front of the windshield on this 1/48 scale Me-109



Diorama's which tell a story are always interesting



I think you can guess what it is about

1/48 scale



The KMK show usually also has some very good figure modellers entering their latest work in the competition



Amazing paint work



Making the figures look like real

Look at the face, the skin, the rat, the weathered lamp, the rope... too many details



So natural...



So real...



My favourite



Title : Spring is in the air



Outside several R/C tanks were engaged in little battles



Inside a restored Kübelwagen could be admired



Or you could watch several demonstrations by master modellers

Here Spencer Pollard is showing his techniques for painting boxes and wooden crates



Many vendors were seducing us with their latest products



I can not resist sales with everything at 5 euro



I rescued this poor kit



And somewhere else I found this while looking for "something special" for our early Soviet jet mini GB - 14,90 euro



But I didn't expect to find this

I have been looking forward to this kit very much, and here it was - 25 euro for a very decent looking model of a very interesting subject

Cool !



But, I was on a mission

I also had to find me some NMF products

Isn't that Alclad over there... ?



It was

So I bought myself some Alclad bottles (I was impressed there were so many different shades) and the TS-30 rattle cans as used by Vic



Now about rattle cans...

I did try them about 20 years ago



On a Tamiya 1/35 scale Tiger

It didn't work well on the edges



And I even tried it on a car model



The dreaded "orange skin" effect



Meanwhile I had bought several of these cans, but they disappeared soon in the darkest corner of a closet - until now



Now 20 years later, I was ready to give it another try



After just about one minute of spraying I ended up with this



Though I still have some "orange skin" effect

Maybe I have to spray thinner coats... though this isn't easy with a spray can



But it's definitely an improvement over my earlier efforts with Vallejo silver

And much quicker too, what I like VERY MUCH

I hope to be able to finish this little MiG now pretty soon, so I can deal with the other lingering projects as well - as I'm dramatically tempted to start something else by seeing all the magnificent subjects on this forum

Thank you all people

Take care




* * *
William De Coster / Belgium / past builds on HS : Plastic Stories

1/72 - Airfix - Spitfre PR.XIX : Part I (incl Flying Legends 2011 show report) - Part II - Part III - Part IV (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.1)
1/72 - AGA - Polikarpov I-3 : Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part IV
1/72 - KP - MiG-15 UTI : Part I - Part II (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.2)

Just like the perfect woman doesn't exist, I will never build a perfect model.
Puts me on a par with God

I cracked up on that one.

Great pictures and GREAT save on your Mig. I wouldn't worry too much about a little orange effect...I figure the metal wears and will pick up light differently so all in all will look just fine.

Great post as usual.

Cheers.

Regards,

Dan From Tacoma, Washington USA

The orange effect is hardly notecable - and it is only in some areas

I liked the rabbit vignette also very much - modellers do have humour

Thanks for the comments Dan, appreciated

* * *
William De Coster / Belgium / past builds on HS : Plastic Stories

1/72 - Airfix - Spitfre PR.XIX : Part I (incl Flying Legends 2011 show report) - Part II - Part III - Part IV (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.1)
1/72 - AGA - Polikarpov I-3 : Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part IV
1/72 - KP - MiG-15 UTI : Part I - Part II (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.2)

Just like the perfect woman doesn't exist, I will never build a perfect model.
Puts me on a par with God

Wonderful save on the MiG; the rattle can did fine, should look great in decals. Do try the Alclad though--I think you'll be amazed. (Trick is, loooow pressure and light coats.)

And amazing show pix--I truly can't believe the quality of the work, especially the figures. Sigh, I'm such a rank amateur.

Stuart

Especially because it is so quick - 1 minute - and DONE, even though it is not perfect yet, I don't think anything can beat this

I will try the Alclad too despite more work is involved, but I think I still got to find my way in all these different Alclad shades

And Stuart - you're no rank amateur - remember the guy who pulled a marvelous Defiant out of the Airfix Defiant ?

* * *
William De Coster / Belgium / past builds on HS : Plastic Stories

1/72 - Airfix - Spitfre PR.XIX : Part I (incl Flying Legends 2011 show report) - Part II - Part III - Part IV (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.1)
1/72 - AGA - Polikarpov I-3 : Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part IV
1/72 - KP - MiG-15 UTI : Part I - Part II (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.2)

Just like the perfect woman doesn't exist, I will never build a perfect model.
Puts me on a par with God

You've outdone yourself, William - again! There is so much in this post to look at, marvel at, laugh at, intensely scrutinize, right-click-and-save and otherwise drool over that I don't know where to start! Man, I look forward to your posts even more than I look forward to payday - and that's saying a lot!! Very good save on the MiG-15 finish; a great improvement with the rattle-can spray, 'orange-skin' effect notwithstanding. Heck, it's barely noticeable, except for the macro close-up photos! Very well done, buddy.
Best...Ted...

Current Build:
Mad About Migs Pt. 1; Mad About Migs Pt. 2; Mad About Migs Pt. 3

Tall Tales:
Kanal Kampf: A Spitfire Story
Cold War Incident
The Lucky Mig

Previous WIP Builds:
Matilda Makeover Pt.1; Matilda Makeover Pt.2; Matilda Makeover Pt.3; Matilda Makeover Finish;

The Big Spit Pt.1; The Big Spit Pt.2; The Big Spit Pt.3; The Big Spit Pt.4; The Big Spit Pt.5; The Big Spit Pt.6;
The Big Spit Pt.7; The Big Spit Pt.8; The Big Spit Pt.9; The Big Spit Pt.10; The Big Spit Pt.11; The Big Spit Finish;

Me109 Pt.1; Me109 Pt.2; Me109 Pt.3; Me109 Finish;

Vickers Tank Pt.1; Vickers Tank Pt.2; Vickers Tank Pt.3; Vickers Tank Pt.4; Vickers Tank Pt.5; Vickers Tank Pt.6; Vickers Tank Finish;

Connies Pt.1; Connies Pt.2; Connies Pt.3; Connies Pt.4; Connies Pt.5; Connies Pt.6; Connies Pt.7; Connies Finish

This was just a local Belgian show - they're not so impressive as some Czech shows, though the KMK local show always has nice armour and figure models with great weathering, always looking forward to it - not much plane stuff though, so only a small report, glad you liked it

MiG is doing well, much better then I thought, not perfect yet, but... well.. maybe next time





* * *
William De Coster / Belgium / past builds on HS : Plastic Stories

1/72 - Airfix - Spitfre PR.XIX : Part I (incl Flying Legends 2011 show report) - Part II - Part III - Part IV (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.1)
1/72 - AGA - Polikarpov I-3 : Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part IV
1/72 - KP - MiG-15 UTI : Part I - Part II (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.2)

Just like the perfect woman doesn't exist, I will never build a perfect model.
Puts me on a par with God

G'day William,

Yeah, that Orange peel effect = paint dries in air before it hits surface. I think Tamiya spray cans are the best out there. Their quality is outstanding. I find once dry you can polish with 1200+ grade wet-n-dry sand paper and water,the surface and re-coat...........works like a charm. No more peel effect. Tricky to spray silver anyway. I find its a balance of screening the paint in a gravity brush and the lowest pressure possible. Airbrush tip distance from surface of the model is key too. The screening of the paint helps stop clogging of the paint in the brush esp if you leave it standing. I find Pollyscale platinum silver for railroad the best water base. You can sand it when dry to a nice sheen for a silver painted surface like under German F-104G, Hunters etc. But a smooth natural metal surface is tough. I know Don Hinton has won awards for silver/natural metal in IPMS Nationals. Might give him an email and he may be able to help. Good luck with the MIG build.

PHIL

I was wondering what caused the orange peel effect - so I could maybe prevent it next time. Paint drying in the air... hmmm... let me think what I can do about this... maybe spray closer and outside out of the wind... could be a good first step

Thanks for the tip about the 1200 wet'n dry, I'm a bit reluctant to try it on this silver finish now (the orange peel effect is hardly notecable), but maybe I can ressurect my little Camaro, after 20 years... if I ever get in a car mood again

As far as I know these MiGs were painted silver - not NMF, so I don't have to stretch my abilities yet

Thanks for the comments and answers Phil, take care

* * *
William De Coster / Belgium / past builds on HS : Plastic Stories

1/72 - Airfix - Spitfre PR.XIX : Part I (incl Flying Legends 2011 show report) - Part II - Part III - Part IV (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.1)
1/72 - AGA - Polikarpov I-3 : Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part IV
1/72 - KP - MiG-15 UTI : Part I - Part II (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.2)

Just like the perfect woman doesn't exist, I will never build a perfect model.
Puts me on a par with God

I forgot about the Tamiya silver can, good stuff. Seems your metal finish woes are over, good job.
And another fantastic report, great reading, THANKS !!!

Thanks,
Allan

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

Multiple Mosquito Build, 1/72: Intro Part 1 Part 1.5 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Fini

Fathers Day A6M2: Intro Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Finish

Airfix Stuka 1/72: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Finish

Airfix Hurricane 1/72: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Finish

Airfix Orion III: Build Tutorial Finish

Yep - I think I hit mother Lode with these Tamiya spray cans - have to thank Vic for this. It looks much beter then anything silver I've done before, and it's so QUICK - love it !

Glad you liked the report - it was only a small one, next month I hope to do a bigger one again - eDay is on the horizon

* * *
William De Coster / Belgium / past builds on HS : Plastic Stories

1/72 - Airfix - Spitfre PR.XIX : Part I (incl Flying Legends 2011 show report) - Part II - Part III - Part IV (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.1)
1/72 - AGA - Polikarpov I-3 : Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part IV
1/72 - KP - MiG-15 UTI : Part I - Part II (incl. Pilsenkit 2011 show report pt.2)

Just like the perfect woman doesn't exist, I will never build a perfect model.
Puts me on a par with God