Looking superb now richard , those decals are going to be a test though!! Cheers tony
Richards Kinetic 1/48 F-18D
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Thanks for dropping in John, I know you're not a jet fan too but all the same it's nice to have you along. Years of being a graphic artist helps with the painting and airbrushing. Just like riding a bicycle, you don't forget and apply the skills to a different format.
Cheers,
RichardComment
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Hi,
Commenced on the decalling...so far the butt area is complete...
No frills just immerse the pre cut sheet in luke warm water (in our climate its just plain tap water) leave the decals on the sheet and place on a paper napkin, slide off whatever you need to apply either onto the area or pick it up with forceps depending on how small it is. Arrange the decal using a brush soaked in with water, wicker away any excess water then apply Mr Mark Softener, let that settle for a while and then with a cutip roll away the excess fluids and any bubbles trapped. Let it settle further until it dries. The decals will hug the surface. Any bubbles remaining is pricked with a sharp blade and more MMS added.
You will see some white clouding which is the MMS reacting to Future...no need to panic as a coat of Future later will eraze the cloudiness and leveling the decal film. The matt varnish is coated if preferred lightly for a satin finish.
Cheers,
RichardComment
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Thanks Christopher, Paul, Joe and Steven...yup quite a sexy butt.
Watching the decals crinkle can give you goose bumps while waiting for it to settle down and hug the surface.
I just can't wait and normally use a cutip and roll over it to squeeze out any bubbles trapped.
Close ups can really reveal things you can't see with the naked eye so touch ups will be needed...
The satin surface will be rubbed down with the next coat of varnish and then a semi-matt coat...to hide the decal edges.
Still the other wing and starboard side to finish. Surprisingly the wing decalling was the most difficult...twice decals folded on itself and I had to pry them apart. Even the K on the left fin came apart. I just placed them back on the backing sheet which was still wet and did some revovery micro surgery. :smiling2:
I think I can breath a little now.:smiling6:
Cheers,
RichardComment
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Finally the decals are done on the plane...
So while this is curing I painted the WW covers and this is the thing I hate about navy jets...why must they have that red edge. You can either mask and airbrush but I decided to paint by hand.
Needs touch up before I paint the other side...
The trick to get a neat painted edge is to concentrate on one side and don't worry about the other. Once the edgehas been painted then flip it over and spray the other side towards the edge at an angle and away.
Once that's done (not shown yet) then clear coat and pin wash that would soften any imperfect brush work.
Cheers,
RichardComment
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It's a wow from me on those decals Richard.
I've had then fold over on them selves, but as you say the wet brush soon cures this.
I gave up on a cup of water, just place the decal on a ceramic tile and added a couple of drops of warmish water , they soon lift, the trick being to catch them as they start. How long did those take, must have been an hr a least if not longer .Comment
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