Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker B Trumpeter Scale 1:32

[Tim Marlow]

For canopy (and other clear parts) polishing I tend to use these…

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/abrasive-pads-micro-finishing-cloth-albion-alloys-2000-p14760/s14760?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=albion-alloys-abrasive-pads-micro-finishing-cloth-2000&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrKzY36Pc9wIVl4BQBh1GiQAIEAQYASABEgKrPvD_BwE

I then finish by working through these…

The final finish looks absolutely like glass.

[arb65912]

AJ, I don't know what polishing compounds are available in New Jersey, but Tamiya sell one that's often used. Also any compound used for polishing scratches out of automobile paint should work.
Pete

Thank you, Pete!

[arb65912]

For canopy (and other clear parts) polishing I tend to use these…

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/abrasive-pads-micro-finishing-cloth-albion-alloys-2000-p14760/s14760?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=albion-alloys-abrasive-pads-micro-finishing-cloth-2000&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrKzY36Pc9wIVl4BQBh1GiQAIEAQYASABEgKrPvD_BwE

I then finish by working through these…

The final finish looks absolutely like glass.

Thanks, Tim! :smiling:
I am sure it will look like glass, the broken one. :tongue-out3: But as I said above, it is totally OK.

[rtfoe]

Hello, Richard. :smiling:
Better late than never, right? Thank you for the reply.

Is there a thread here with your friend's build so I could take a peek?

Yes, it seems to be too narrow, so I broke it....:smiling6:

My name is Polish so probably the close pronunciation would be "and-jay" , second close would be Russian Andrej and in my airplane places I just go by AJ, which is much easier as very few can spell or pronounce my real first name.

Hi Andzrej or AJ, :smiling2: unfortunately my friend isn't in this forum but our local group chat and with housekeeping on my phone I don't save any of the images. I could check his FB but that's another minefield. He didn't actually break the canopy but had hairline fractures along the top of the canopy while trying to fit.

Cheers,
Richard

[arb65912]

Hi Andzrej or AJ, :smiling2: unfortunately my friend isn't in this forum but our local group chat and with housekeeping on my phone I don't save any of the images. I could check his FB but that's another minefield. He didn't actually break the canopy but had hairline fractures along the top of the canopy while trying to fit.

Cheers,
Richard

Hi Richard.
Thank you and no problem, if you can find him on FB, great, if not, I will ask things here. :smiling:
So far, I get answers for anything I ask about, sometimes even few. Love the response rate in these forums and friendliness. :thumb2:
I assume that hairline fractures are not deep so one can fix with sanding and polishing which I will be doing as well for my broken canopy.

As far as canopy positioning, I am not sure where it should be anyway, even with the fuselage side, most likely.
I will investigate and might ask here as well.

[arb65912]

Today I was excited to try the AK Interactive Grey Surface Primer. :smiling:

First, I thinned it about 1 to 3 with same brand thinner and it did not work, splatter. :disappointed2:
I have no experience at all with setting up pressure and trigger position (Grex Tritium.TG7) .
I used 20 psi and trigger in the middle of the range and needle is 0.3 mm.

Then I tried straight from the bottle, and it worked, the results were only depending on my lack of skills.
Tomorrow I will try sanding and scratching to see how hard and resistant it is but for now, I love what I see. :tongue-out3:

[rtfoe]

Fractures are harder to rectify as they appear in the clear plastic and not on the surface so it's either to get a new canopy or live with the fracture. He had the canopy opened so it's less obvious if you want to look into the cockpit.

Cheers,
Richard

[arb65912]

Fractures are harder to rectify as they appear in the clear plastic and not on the surface so it's either to get a new canopy or live with the fracture. He had the canopy opened so it's less obvious if you want to look into the cockpit.

Cheers,
Richard

Thanks, Richard.
I was looking for new canopy, they used to make a replacement but not anymore as far as I could search.
I will leave with the fracture, see my original post, it will totally serve the purpose.
I will have canopy closed so it is another factor.
Cheers, AJ

[Jim R]

Hi AJ
Good progress and it sounds as if your enjoying things. The balance between air pressure, paint dilution and spraying distance is something that gets easier the more you practice. There are no hard and fast rules. Those Tamiya polishing compounds which Tim recommended are very good.
Jim

[arb65912]

Hi AJ
Good progress and it sounds as if your enjoying things. The balance between air pressure, paint dilution and spraying distance is something that gets easier the more you practice. There are no hard and fast rules. Those Tamiya polishing compounds which Tim recommended are very good.
Jim

Thanks, Jim.
Practice makes perfect they say so it will get better. I think that in addition to what you said, brands will act differently to some degree.
Yes, I do enjoy everything a lot!!!! :smiling:

[Jim R]

brands will act differently to some degree

Very true. I have fallen into the trap of buying lots of different paint brands. I fell for the advertising :rolling:
I wish I had found one I really liked and stuck with it to get used to how it behaves.

[arb65912]

Very true. I have fallen into the trap of buying lots of different paint brands. I fell for the advertising :rolling:
I wish I had found one I really liked and stuck with it to get used to how it behaves.

Yes, it gives me a headache with all these available items, I try to read reviews, but some are simply contradictive.

[arb65912]

I wanted to show you the short video (not scale modeling but sure creating something) of my SU-27 B in so called Plane Maker.

This is the program associated with flight simulator that will allow developer to make Flight Model of the aircraft.
What you see is only made for the purpose of calculating all parameters for the Flight Model.
What you will see in simulator, is 3D model that will need to be made in software called Blender and exported so it goes together with whatever is created in mentioned above Plane Maker.

There will be tons of work on both programs, but it is a start.

Cheers, AJ

[arb65912]

Today, I also played with airbrush.
I prepared everything, ready to start.
I pressed the trigger on airbrush, NOTHING!
I am thinking, OK paint is too thick, I diluted, pressed the trigger...NOTHING, not even a drop, just air coming out.
I diluted even more, it did not look right, it was looking almost like water, tried again... NOTHING!

At this point I started thinking, what is happening, it cannot dry THAT fast.
I looked at the front and pulled the trigger (at the angle so I do not spray in my face in case it starts working. :tongue-out3:
I looked closely and what did I see?
Needle is NOT moving. BINGO.
When I was cleaning the needle last time, there is a little nut that needs to be tighten so the needle can be moved back when pressing the trigger and I simply...... did not tighten that nut.
Isn't that a great lesson learned? A bit hard way but still. :nerd:

Attached are repainted gear wheels wells and nose gear well as I used WRONG paint, I used Ocean Grey and it supposed to be bluish grey.

[rtfoe]

Today, I also played with airbrush.
I prepared everything, ready to start.
I pressed the trigger on airbrush, NOTHING!
I am thinking, OK paint is too thick, I diluted, pressed the trigger...NOTHING, not even a drop, just air coming out.
I diluted even more, it did not look right, it was looking almost like water, tried again... NOTHING!

At this point I started thinking, what is happening, it cannot dry THAT fast.
I looked at the front and pulled the trigger (at the angle so I do not spray in my face in case it starts working. :tongue-out3:
I looked closely and what did I see?
Needle is NOT moving. BINGO.
When I was cleaning the needle last time, there is a little nut that needs to be tighten so the needle can be moved back when pressing the trigger and I simply...... did not tighten that nut.
Isn't that a great lesson learned? A bit hard way but still. :nerd:

Attached are repainted gear wheels wells and nose gear well as I used WRONG paint, I used Ocean Grey and it supposed to be bluish grey.

One good lesson I learned is to add a small drop of thinner into the paint cup fir a dry run. This loosens any tiny left over dried paint residue and to see if the flow is good.
Good start on your 3D wire frame. Yes the fracture on the canopy will not be a problem as you only need shape and dimensions in your actual work. And if you're not a revit counter then leaving the fracture as a new canopy is impossible to obtain is okay. Try dipping the canopy in Future Varnish...it might seep into the fracture and lessen the outcome. It's worth trying.

Cheers,
Richard