Italeri 1/72 F-35 B Lightning II

[Guest]

Chris,
Glad to know that the accident with the nail varnish remover didn't right off all your hardwork.

It was very close! I had visions of this in the bin, or at least having to strip it and start again!

I've just finished repainting the damaged grey areas and it looks pretty much good as new. Crisis averted I think.

[Guest]

Final update for today.

I'm calling the painting finished. I can't face any more masking and am seriously considering monocolour subjects from now on.

So much masking for a couple of panels, leading edges and tails....

[Ancientmariner]

Looking great, really excellent finish. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

[Guest]

So much masking for a couple of panels, leading edges and tails....

There’s a knack for picking subjects that are easy to build. If I ever find out how, I’ll let you know

[Jim R]

Hi Chris
Well despite the near disaster it does look good. Very eyecatching.
Jim

[Guest]

Looking great, really excellent finish. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

Thanks James. Decals shouldn't take long and then it's on to 'phase 2'.

There’s a knack for picking subjects that are easy to build. If I ever find out how, I’ll let you know :smiling3:

There must be some kind of an algorithym for this. Maybe it's something like ((skill / skill actual) + (time / time actual)) x patience / cost??

Hi Chris
Well despite the near disaster it does look good. Very eyecatching.
Jim

Thank you Jim. It's this kindness that keeps me going sometimes!

[Guest]

Update No. 14 - Painting finished and decals

This post is mainly to let out my frustration! :tired::tired:

I finished painting it. I think in total I've sprayed paint 7 times. I also applied the decals.




And this is where the trouble starts. I noticed after I had sprayed a coat or two of the gloss varnish & real steel mix that the primer had bled into the air intakes, so I had to mask and repaint and revarnish them. When I was taking off the masking pretty much every decal under the masking came away on the tape and were unsaveable.

I assumed that this was down to too little varnish, but I have just masked the doors for internal painting that have had a couple of the metallic varnish, a decent coat of satin and then a coat of matt on top, and the decals are still coming away. Th decal adhesion with these Italeri decals is horrible.

I am going to finish it, but I feel nothing for this model anymore!




I've been looking at the Tamiya offering of this kit too and the sprues all look exactly the same, however the Tamiya decals are totally different and the painting guides are much more comprehensive and accurate.
For £10 more I'd go for the Tamiya over this one!


:angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry::angry:: angry::angry::angry::angry:

[Guest]

....they are the same.

[colin m]

Stick with it Chris. I can see it's been hard work in places, but you've done a great job so far.

[scottie3158]

I agree with Colin you have invested to much in this and it still looks good despite the issues you have been having.

[Tim Marlow]

Yep, agree with the guys. Push it over the line. If you don’t you’ll always regret it.....it is looking splendid by the way!

[Guest]

Thanks chaps! Getting there!

I've been busily working on the array of doors on this one and have them installed. I've also given it a grimey clay wash. Since there are very few panel lines and they are already highlighted with the paint I'm leaving it at that.

Barring a single decal, the wheels and the exhaust this is finished. Phase 2 yet to start!

[boatman]

Thanks chaps! Getting there!

I've been busily working on the array of doors on this one and have them installed. I've also given it a grimey clay wash. Since there are very few panel lines and they are already highlighted with the paint I'm leaving it at that.

Barring a single decal, the wheels and the exhaust this is finished. Phase 2 yet to start!

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HI Chris well im not a fan of these lightnings as i liked the E -E LIGHTNING far better but you have made a wonderfull job on this plane you must have the patience of a saint to get all them zigzag lines right very well done
from another chris :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2:

[Guest]

Thanks Chris!

[Steven000]

Looking good Chris, almost there :thumb2:
I took this one of my list for now, too much masking misery :smiling5:
Have fun finishing it!
Steven