The SAAF Forum

I wanted a ice easy "shake 'n bake" build to regain some more build mojo.
I got the Hasegawa 1/48 A-4 E/F Skyhawk that Vlamgat gave me many years back out of the stach and started building it.
Sofar the detail out of the box is really very nice and the only thing I will do is to sand off the molded on straps on the seat and do PE for that to add some "feel" and depth to the office.

T

Check out the detail of the main UC bays.

nose gear bay

office

Next to dress up the seat and to dirty the bays.

T

Theuns don't dirty them too much. Why don't you paint the gear bays black then overspray with white. Gives a nice impression of shadows.

I was not planing to make it to dirty, just a pinwash to give more feel.
What colour would the hydrolic lines be, bare allu?

T

from these pix it seems the lines and hoses in the bays were also white so I will just do a pinwash to what I already have.
https://www.google.co.za/search?q=a4+sk ... ILzFuUN4EM:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/153 ... 1399_b.jpg

T

All white. Easiest way to spot leaks. Don't forget the red trim to the doors.

Here is the basic office completed,I had some extra harnasses to dress up the seat a bit


The black pannels on the sides were painted black and then I used a blade to scrape off the paint on the raised areas, works well.

T

looking like a scooter now


the top of the wing has a step where the slat goes, will have to fill and sand smooth
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff4 ... 661339.jpg

T

After battling with my ab I decided to go ahead anyway an paint this shelff queen.
I have lately had a liking in Naval aviation. Here it is with the primer on, I did a few spots of white to lighten the grey like it faded and pre shaded pannel detail.




T

_________________
How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

I used a trick I got from Malcom. I used a red permanent marker to outline the red trim on all the gear doors. It worked way better and neater than trying to paint it.

T

I learned from Malcom that my pin washes were to dark and heavy so on the all white bottom I did a mid grey pinwash to show some of the detailing. It does not show up well in the pix but to my eye looks just about right. As for the top I might go with Malcom's pastel trick to show some pannels.




T

Looking good, seems like the mojo is making a comeback

Mojo slipping away fast again
I sparayed the tamiya ts13 ot the can onto a test piece, all want well, then tried it on the bottom white, all fine but then when ontlo the top grey it &*%^ed up the the grey. I will have to see if the grey can be sanded and redone....if not I messed up a beautifull model

T

That's a shame, I hope you can sort it out. I use the Tamiya X-22 sprayed with my airbrush all the time for my clear coats and have never had any issues, it is really fantastic. It's especially good for car and motorbike models and usually gives a superb shine.
Maybe there was just too much that went on at once? The few times I have used rattle cans that has been my issue so I would usually decant into my airbrish unless it's a metallic shade as that clogs up the airbrush.