Steve's 1/32 Special Hobby P-39

[stona]

I'm over the last, past the elbow and into the finishing straight!

I've made this one very matt, because that's how they seem to be once they've been in Russia for a while. I even broke out the oils and did some filters to knock everything back even further.



I should have some time to get this finished over the next few days, and even take some of my notoriously dodgy photographs!

My next post for this one will be the finished article in the GB thread as I'm now confident that I will get it done

[adt70hk]

I'm over the last, past the elbow and into the finishing straight!

I've made this one very matt, because that's how they seem to be once they've been in Russia for a while. I even broke out the oils and did some filters to knock everything back even further.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1214586[/ATTACH]

I should have some time to get this finished over the next few days, and even take some of my notoriously dodgy photographs!

My next post for this one will be the finished article in the GB thread as I'm now confident that I will get it done :smiling3:

That's brilliant Steve. Thanks for taking part and doing something out of the usual for you.

ATB.

Andrew

[Waspie]

I'm over the last, past the elbow and into the finishing straight!

I've made this one very matt, because that's how they seem to be once they've been in Russia for a while. I even broke out the oils and did some filters to knock everything back even further.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1214586[/ATTACH]

I should have some time to get this finished over the next few days, and even take some of my notoriously dodgy photographs!

My next post for this one will be the finished article in the GB thread as I'm now confident that I will get it done :smiling3:

I think the matt finish is very true to life, as once in the field the last thing mechanics/fitters want to do is polish a working serviceable aircraft. They are war machines not show pieces and as such are treated accordingly. No, I think the matt is deserving of an operational aircraft!!
Brilliant work, brilliant build.

[Tim Marlow]

I think the matt finish is very true to life, as once in the field the last thing mechanics/fitters want to do is polish a working serviceable aircraft. They are war machines not show pieces and as such are treated accordingly. No, I think the matt is deserving of an operational aircraft!!
Brilliant work, brilliant build.

Not sure about this to be honest. In one WW2 RAF pilots account I’ve read he stated the finish was down to the particular pilot. Some liked em shiny because they went faster (less friction), and some liked em to matt down because they didn’t reflect them sun when turning……
Not sure if it was the same in Russia though.

[stona]

Not sure about this to be honest. In one WW2 RAF pilots account I’ve read he stated the finish was down to the particular pilot. Some liked em shiny because they went faster (less friction), and some liked em to matt down because they didn’t reflect them sun when turning……
Not sure if it was the same in Russia though.

I know literally nothing about how the Russians treated their aircraft.

In the RAF it was forbidden to alter the surface finish in any way, and instructions for the cleaning of the surfaces were detailed. Some senior figures, who effectively had a personal aircraft, may have bent this rule. Waxing or polishing was specifically forbidden because it both compromised the camouflage and permeated the surface making repairs a much larger undertaking. This is the most concise of the instructions for cleaning an RAF aircraft I have, others are more long winded and detailed.



The Americans, at least some of them, waxed/polished their aircraft. I have heard from my old mucker Nigel Julian, who interviewed survivors of the 8th Air Force's 56th Fighter Group for his book(s) that several ground crews confessed to using various products, including automotive polishes, on their airframes.

To me all the images of aircraft in Russian service look well used. I'm sure they were well maintained and the original American finishes were tough enough, I don't see much chipping or evidence of touch ups. The repairs would have to be done with 'equivalent' Russian paints (like the over painting of the blue of the US star on the port wing of this model) and I don't see much evidence for it. I don't get the impression that they were too bothered about the finish of their aircraft.

[scottie3158]

That looks great mate.

[The Smythe Meister]

I'm over the last, past the elbow and into the finishing straight!

I've made this one very matt, because that's how they seem to be once they've been in Russia for a while. I even broke out the oils and did some filters to knock everything back even further.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1214586[/ATTACH]

I should have some time to get this finished over the next few days, and even take some of my notoriously dodgy photographs!

My next post for this one will be the finished article in the GB thread as I'm now confident that I will get it done :smiling3:

Blimmin' Eck that's nice :thumb2:

[Waspie]

I know literally nothing about how the Russians treated their aircraft.

In the RAF it was forbidden to alter the surface finish in any way, and instructions for the cleaning of the surfaces were detailed. Some senior figures, who effectively had a personal aircraft, may have bent this rule. Waxing or polishing was specifically forbidden because it both compromised the camouflage and permeated the surface making repairs a much larger undertaking. This is the most concise of the instructions for cleaning an RAF aircraft I have, others are more long winded and detailed.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1214629[/ATTACH]

The Americans, at least some of them, waxed/polished their aircraft. I have heard from my old mucker Nigel Julian, who interviewed survivors of the 8th Air Force's 56th Fighter Group for his book(s) that several ground crews confessed to using various products, including automotive polishes, on their airframes.

To me all the images of aircraft in Russian service look well used. I'm sure they were well maintained and the original American finishes were tough enough, I don't see much chipping or evidence of touch ups. The repairs would have to be done with 'equivalent' Russian paints (like the over painting of the blue of the US star on the port wing of this model) and I don't see much evidence for it. I don't get the impression that they were too bothered about the finish of their aircraft.

What is worth mentioning. There are several types of maintenance.
Peace time! You do everything properly!
Battlefield!! Fuel em, arm them and if they’re on the ground long enough - wipe a rag over them!!
Aircraft are for flying and fighting.
I once went into battlefield mode. Knackering. All higher command want are assets to fight. They don’t have to look pretty!!