1/48 Airfix Spitfire Mk.Vb trop.

[Wendall]

Jason: Super result on the Spit. The black base video is very interesting. Well worth trying.However, is it only suitable for a camo scheme involving black? I sensed that the author was partly using the black base as a better way to emphasize panel lines (which it seemed to do). Perhaps, for a camo scheme not involving black, all the black base could be over-painted in the two camo colours, (using his mottling effect with suitable colours on both colours) so obscuring all the black (except in the panel lines) and getting the mottling on both the camo colours. Yes?

Thanks for the comments Steve, I'll try and answer some of your questions. Matt (the author) said he hadn't yet used this technique on a desert camo. I thought I'd try it anyway. I'll hopefully explain how I interpreted the process with some in progress shots:


First marble coat of each colour after the black primer. Random mottling all over with a little bit of block colour On some access panels.






Second I've added lighter and darker shades of the base colour. Targeting areas of wear and shadow that I could see in reference photos. This step covers most of the black.






Finally the blend coat to harmonise the whole thing. You actually don't see much black after this step.






The key for me is, whilst pre shading specifically targets panel lines; many aircraft do not, in reality weather that way. There is a patina on the airframe that builds up over time with stains, leaks, touch ups, crew footprints, age, extreme conditions and such. This is what I think this technique can more accurately depict, it isn't designed to target the panel lines unless that is how your subject aircraft weathers in reality.


I think that this method adds another dimension to the overall finish of the model and gives real a real depth and patina to the finish that I haven't managed to achieve before. Also, I used noticeably less paint to cover the black primer than I have used to cover grey in the past.


I'd like to add that this IS my first attempt and could probably be finessed quite a bit. It also requires the addition of panel wash and other weathering techniques to get to the finished article.


Give it a try and let me know what you think


Edit* don't know why my pictures are sideways....

[Wendall]

Has to be the best Tropical Sitfire I have seen to date. Great paint job.

That is high praise indeed Graham. Thank you! Now how do I get my head out the door...


Thanks for the great comments and questions chaps.

[Guest]

The paintwork looks great, Jason, and thanks for posting the video - it's produced great results and I must try it one day.

[Guest]

Excellent work all round.

[Guest]

have seen this technique used before and it is a lot better than doing panel lines I think, I'm not an expert by any means but nearly every plane build I see looks like a photoshop contrast boost gone wrong! Glad to see this has not been painted like that and the finished article is all the better for it!