Phantom weathering

[Dave W]

Can't work out if its bare metal or grey primer showing in the photos of weathered Phantoms.Looks like bare metal in the one below.Also looks like he paint has been touched up around the back cockpit with light grey.Anyone got any thoughts about this?.

[Ian M]

I think you might find that the camouflage in the lower photo was painted over the top of the gull gray USAF paint job. As was often done due to needing to get the aircraft out quick.

Aluminium primer is normally etching primer and stick like the proverbial to a blanket. I can imagine that the camouflage has worn away and exposed the primer. places of extreme wear, I can also imagin that the primer get a clobbering as well.

So if it was me going mad I would paint it allu, then primer, then camou, and if need be the camou again. Chipping and weathering between coats... :-/

Ian M

[geegad]

thats one knackered plane

[Dave W]

Sounds a bit scary chipping and weathering.I can barely manage a panel wash!.I will have a little go though.

[geegad]

im sure you will pull it off buddy

[Ian M]

Have a go on a scrapper, and see how it goes. I to would be very careful about trying something like that for the first time under a SIG build.

Have a try with the salt method :-)

1. spray metal colour. leave to dry.

2, spray with water, sprinkle salt (I find the course best as you get loads of different size salt grains), where you want the bare metal to show. Leave to dry. Some will fall off.

3. Prime let it dry. repeat step 2 for where you want wear to show the primer.

4, paint the final camouflage. Once all is nicely dry, scrub off the salt. Some will be a bit stubborn and will need a bit of water to loosen it.

Should you wish to do the photo you posted, I would say the best way to continue, would be to spray the kit with hairspray, then paint the final camouflage. When that has dried, you can wet it with water. Loads of water, as it will need to get through the paint. This will make the hairspray dissolve and the paint can be rubbed off, some times you can even get it to peel.... ;-/

Ian M

[Dave W]

Thanks for the advice Ian.I will try the salt method.I don't have the skill to make an exact replica of the paint damage on Scat XXVII.So I will do a bit around the nose,on top of the intakes and maybe the intake and wing leading edges.

[Ian M]

Good man, but as I suggest, try it on a junker first.

Ian M

[flyjoe180]

Crikey Dave, that is a war worn aeroplane if ever I saw one.