So this is my fourth model, and I'm really enjoying this! Still mostly using my son as an excuse, but everyone sees through it now and I'm roundly if fondly decried as a nerd and a geek. No change there then!
This is the start of Airfix's latest (I think) Zero which comes as part of a Dogfight Doubles kit I got reasonably cheaply, about £15. As I'm doing this all on a shoestring, I've really only got the paints that come with the kit and no hope of any extras. That would be premature, anyway, I'm still just using these 1/72 models (that belong to my son, remember?!) to practice on before buying myself something more substantial.
So I've just started this one, and I don't get much time on it, but I've now completed the cockpit and thought I'd post some photos because (a) I'm quite pleased how it's gone, and (b) I'd really like to know what else I can do. With this one, I've painted it (wrong shade of green I know but it's all I have), having found a reference photo of a zero cockpit that shows a black instrument panel and far more detail than could ever be fitted into a 1/72 scale afaik. So I've tried to give an impression of something like this with some black detailing and panel - fortunately the Airfix decals have lots of white on them (that you can't see before you put it on the model) so that seemed to show up OK. Drybrushed with silver to bring out some detail, and used some more silver to indicate wear on seat edge and pedals. Finally sealed with Humbrol Clear and experimented with a wash of some of my wife's old oil paints in some thinners. Another layer of clear to seal that in. Don't have anything to do a matt coat with, and not sure I'd want to anyway.
Is there anything else I could have done (or can still do) here? Ultimately none of this will be visible, but I'm learning loads as I do this.
Two issues here - firstly, the pilot included with the kit doesn't seem to fit in the cockpit!!! Not sure if he's slightly out of scale or something? You can see him (unpainted) in one of the shots below. I'll either leave him out, or perhaps I'll give him a double amputation at the thigh... we'll see.
Secondly - how do you deal with the heartbreak of doing all this work, and then sealing it up never to be seen by human eyes again...?!
So - any advice for a keen but slightly clumsy beginner?
Progress photos:
Zero cockpit - for reference. This is a modern, flying restoration, so not the original parts by any means, but at least something to aim at for an overall impression.
[ATTACH]68475.IPB[/ATTACH]
Various bits - shows unpainted pilot figure who I can't make fit!!
[ATTACH]68476.IPB[/ATTACH]
And the final finished cockpit! So - what do you reckon? [ATTACH]68477.IPB[/ATTACH]
(You know to ignore my dirty fingernails, right?! *blush* Things to remember when taking photos...)
This is the start of Airfix's latest (I think) Zero which comes as part of a Dogfight Doubles kit I got reasonably cheaply, about £15. As I'm doing this all on a shoestring, I've really only got the paints that come with the kit and no hope of any extras. That would be premature, anyway, I'm still just using these 1/72 models (that belong to my son, remember?!) to practice on before buying myself something more substantial.
So I've just started this one, and I don't get much time on it, but I've now completed the cockpit and thought I'd post some photos because (a) I'm quite pleased how it's gone, and (b) I'd really like to know what else I can do. With this one, I've painted it (wrong shade of green I know but it's all I have), having found a reference photo of a zero cockpit that shows a black instrument panel and far more detail than could ever be fitted into a 1/72 scale afaik. So I've tried to give an impression of something like this with some black detailing and panel - fortunately the Airfix decals have lots of white on them (that you can't see before you put it on the model) so that seemed to show up OK. Drybrushed with silver to bring out some detail, and used some more silver to indicate wear on seat edge and pedals. Finally sealed with Humbrol Clear and experimented with a wash of some of my wife's old oil paints in some thinners. Another layer of clear to seal that in. Don't have anything to do a matt coat with, and not sure I'd want to anyway.
Is there anything else I could have done (or can still do) here? Ultimately none of this will be visible, but I'm learning loads as I do this.
Two issues here - firstly, the pilot included with the kit doesn't seem to fit in the cockpit!!! Not sure if he's slightly out of scale or something? You can see him (unpainted) in one of the shots below. I'll either leave him out, or perhaps I'll give him a double amputation at the thigh... we'll see.
Secondly - how do you deal with the heartbreak of doing all this work, and then sealing it up never to be seen by human eyes again...?!
So - any advice for a keen but slightly clumsy beginner?
Progress photos:
Zero cockpit - for reference. This is a modern, flying restoration, so not the original parts by any means, but at least something to aim at for an overall impression.
[ATTACH]68475.IPB[/ATTACH]
Various bits - shows unpainted pilot figure who I can't make fit!!
[ATTACH]68476.IPB[/ATTACH]
And the final finished cockpit! So - what do you reckon? [ATTACH]68477.IPB[/ATTACH]
(You know to ignore my dirty fingernails, right?! *blush* Things to remember when taking photos...)
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