Hasegawa 1/48 F-22A Raptor

[Guest]

This is coming on well John. It does seem odd that a recent kit should have fit issues like that but it does make for an interesting, if frustrating, build.

[John]

put it together and masked it, although still got a few bits to build before I start spraying

I think my eye's are failing me, I thought I had filled the bit on the wing until I took this picture looks like I need to do a little more.

The tip of the rear tail looks ok though

[Guest]

I think we sometimes forget how much bigger in real life these pictures show the kits on screen. I am doing a really small project at the moment and it looks OK until I see it 10" across on screen and the faults just jump out at me all the time. You have to judge by eye when you are building.

[John]

It is a bit deceiving and does show up any flaws

[John]

I've not abandoned this build just been a bit busy this past couple of weeks.

Today I have built the landing gear, rockets and bomb bay doors and seen that's it's been a nice day I've been sat out primeing it all I must say I've not been one to prime before painting but I know a lot of people do so it can't do any harm giving a try

no pictures because I'm still sat outside using my iPhone and have just opened a can so not going to do any more today but plan to start painting tomorrow got to enjoy the weather while it's here don't get it that often.

[Ian M]

I some times just take a few pictures after primer and before paint just to put them up on the screen. I have a good look at them. This avoids to much handling of the primed kit its self and as you have observed, makes it real easy to see the problem areas.

Looks like you are on top of things though.

Understand fully about enjoying the good weather. Me and the neigbour started on 80m2 of block paving in our driveways today. God my body aches!

Ian M

[Guest]

I have been in the garden all day, clearing a weedy bit and gravelling it prior to putting a really nice little water feature on it. two trips to B&Q for bags of pebbles. Calculated that five would do, bought six needed ten go back and by another six. Hay ho, no modelling at all today.....

[Guest]

John, I see that www.modelsforsale.com now sell the super metallics. Cheers Derek

[John]

Thanks Derek I've found them from one of my suppliers but they are out of stock at the moment, I will keep an eye out for when they come back in.

I've done a bit more today, I've sprayed the edge of the wings FS17875 White, you can't see in the pictures because I masked it ready to spray the rest of it, I've used Xtracrylix FS16440 Light Gull Grey and found mixing it with a little water gave much better results than using thinners

Finished the bay doors off

So far there has been no major problems with this kit, in fact it's been really good, the only real problem was fitting the two half's together but maybe I could have got a better fit if I had taken a bit more time.

The only other problems I've had have been of my own doing, if you look at the pictures of these rockets one of them has a fin missing, I had it in the tweezers then it vanished

The only other thing happened today, I don't know what it is, I think it's an ariel or something but it's been there all the way through the build now it's vanished as well, it's the opposite side of this pic

Next thing is the dark pattern on the wings, I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, I don't know if to make a stencil out of masking sheet or risk it free hand, any ideas?

[Guest]

Coming on well John. Freehand or mask.... I am sure it really depends on how soft edged t has to be. If it is hard then masking is the only real option though quite how you mask these large 'flat' areas that are full of curves I am not sure.

[Guest]

Hi John what about usingblue tack od plastacene rolled into sausages, add this to the kit to form the pattern you want then spray inside the sausages once the paint is on take the blue tack away it creates an nice edge.

hope this is helpful

scott

[John]

To try and get the correct pattern I decided to blow up the instructions, place a piece of clear perspex over it, stick some masking tape to it and cut out

I knew I was going to get sharp edges

So once I had removed all the tape I went round the outside of each shape freehand with the lighter grey, it's give it a more blended finish

I think it turned out ok, just spayed it with Klear so leave it till tomorrow to do a bit more

[Guest]

Hi John, Lookig good, are you going to have a go at the Super Metallic Paint? Looking forward to seeing the finished Aircraft, should look spectacular. Cheers Derek

[John]

Hi John, Lookig good, are you going to have a go at the Super Metallic Paint? Looking forward to seeing the finished Aircraft, should look spectacular. Cheers Derek

No not on this one, it's out of stock where I would get it from but as soon as it's in again I will get some.