lancaster cockpit metalwork

[Guest]

Good tip Richard, ta for that, its easy when you know how eh

[Guest]

Aidan - don't write of making your own masks entirely, I've just done it for a WWII bomber too (a Hampden). It's strangely satisfying! Maybe try it before your masks arrive, see what you think (easy to take the tape off with a toothpick without damaging the canopy).

What I tend to do (think this is fairly standard): I take some Tamiya masking tape (just the right stickiness) and stick it down onto my cutting surface. Then I cut it into sections around 1mm x 3mm with a very sharp craft knife - these tiny bits will be used like jigsaw pieces to build up the mask for each pane of the canopy. I manoeuvre them into position with a toothpick, starting at one corner of a pane and work round the edge. Getting round corners turns out not to be so difficult, am relieved to report.

Once I've 'outlined' that particular pane of the canopy, I fill in with slightly larger bits of tape. I end up piling tape upon tape, but that doesn't seem to be a worry. Then I seal it all with a coat of clear varnish (I use Humbrol Clear) and then paint over that once it's in place on the model. This time I'm going to try the technique of painting the interior colour as primer before fixing to the model, then painting the whole thing as usual.

Question for the experts...! Anything wrong with painting Clear, then interior colour, then spray priming (i.e. so it ends up having primer over the interior colour), before exterior colours go on?

Trickiest bit for me is handling fiddly bits where panes meet at an angle, I end up cutting tiny triangular shapes out of the tape to use there. Must be said that masking this way may not be perfect. It's satisfying, though, as I've said, and I also find it slightly hypnotic and very relaxing. Hours fly by! Takes a while and specs required (I use a cheap magnifying glass to check on my work from time to time, but don't use a loupe as Laurie suggests). The magnifier tends to make it look awful, you need to be a bit forgiving of yourself when looking in detail...!

Actually what would be really interesting is if you were to try both - mask up a canopy, then when your pre-cut masks arrive, use that on a different canopy, and let us know how both went and which you prefer.

Next plane I get with even slightly complex canopies I'm going to try a pre-cut set too, just so I can decide for myself if they're worth it.

[Guest]

If you are going to use three different paints in that way, unless they are all of the same type, I would always do a sample piece first. It doesn't take long and it takes away any doubt. Paint the canopy sprue as a sample so you are using exactly the same plastic as well.

[Guest]

Aidan - don't write of making your own masks entirely, I've just done it for a WWII bomber too (a Hampden). It's strangely satisfying! Maybe try it before your masks arrive, see what you think (easy to take the tape off with a toothpick without damaging the canopy)..

I undertand completely what you say.I'm just short of time. Easier and quicker to use a mask.

[Guest]

If you are going to use three different paints in that way, unless they are all of the same type, I would always do a sample piece first. It doesn't take long and it takes away any doubt. Paint the canopy sprue as a sample so you are using exactly the same plastic as well.

Of course, stupid of me. I've got a spare from the kit I'm working from (a variant piece I won't be using), I'll try that. Will even be able to see how effective the technique is...

Aidan - fair enough!

[Guest]

Sorry Laurie, I was probably being very brief as I was worried that everyone did this anyway and would think was being condescending by mentioning it. I saw Stona say very recently that he paints the primer coat by brush but it is all the same either way. By putting the inside colour on first you make it visible on the inside of the canopy and therefore visible through the clear plastic. The top coat is then only visible on the outside. If you get this right it looks extreemly effective.Its the same technique the RC car boys use on thier lexan car bodies where they paint the insides of the car body rather than the outside. It is soooo easy to get it in the wrong order when over laying colours!!!

Thanks Richard just my brain not working hard.

Laurei

[Guest]

Aidan pre-cut masks are a great time saver, particularly on something as complicated as a Lancaster. I used them on my 1/48 build......thank heavens.The outside of the framework is in the camouflage colours, just follow the scheme through the "glazed" areas.

The interior colour is debatable. I did mine interior grey-green after the preserved nose section in the IWM.

Cheers

Steve

I agree with this (masks). I used Eduard masks for my 1.72 Lanc, 1/72 Spitfire and 1/48 Spitfire. They take time to apply on a Lanc because of the many windows etc. but they go on easily (you can adjust them a little before pressing down) and a needle can be used to lift a corner (after painting). Very successful.

It would be useful to arrange things so that you can use both hands (without having to hold a magnifying device—I use a headband magnifier).

[Guest]

paint the inside of the canopy cockpit green humbrol 78 in order to crate that effect that it is also painted on the inside

[stona]

paint the inside of the canopy cockpit green humbrol 78 in order to crate that effect that it is also painted on the inside

But lighten it first, it's too green!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for your suggestons.The masks have arrived so I'll be making a start.