Looking to start another project....
I've never successfully done a Bare Metal finish aircraft... Think I would like to give it another shot...
I have three potential candidates in the stash, an F-100 Super Sabre, a Kaman Huskie and an F-104C Starfighter all in 1/32nd scale...
What would you suggest?
I intend to do the creation process from start to finish...
I'm leaning towards the Zipper, (F-104C) done as Blue Jay 4 from the Star Trek episode "Tomorrow is Yesterday"...
Any opinions?
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One of the most difficult finishes to replicate.... Semi- Polished Aluminum....
What do you all think...
I have a can of spray paint that looks just like Semi-Polished Aluminum but it's 30 year old stock the new formulas don't look as good. I used in on my chromoly crank arms on my BMX bike (yes I'm in my 50's and have and ride a BMX bike) and they look just like semi-polished Aluminum.
I've tried some of those before, yes they put an aluminized sheen on a surface, but not like an actual metal surface....
This is what I'm trying to replicate....
Other modelers have done it....
Here's some shots of my first attempt... Intakes and shock cones...
And the fuselage....
In the sunlight....
In this last picture, you can see the reflection from the garage in the surface....
I've only seen three other bare metal finished aircraft models done to this level of realism... Two were from Europe and one from Canada... I have reached out to one of the modelers and he told me how he did it... The only paint on that plane is the initial flat black primer the finish didn't come from spray paint....
Not an easy finish to replicate...
Not sure how accurate it is but I read somewhere that using Brasso can achieve a decent metallic finish on plastic.
Brasso is a polish, and from several modeling forums I just checked, the solvent in it attacks plastic making it very brittle...
Personally, I'd go for the Hun since you already have it, but if I had my druthers I would build the Lockheed F-94 Starfire or the Northrop F-89 Scorpion. I just always liked the looks.
Thank you Ed,
I have all three aircraft in the stash... The one closest to starting with the materials on hand would be the Zipper (F-104C), followed by the Huskie (H-43) and then the Hun (F-100D) I'm leaning towards the Zipper cause it's the one I'm most familiar with, I have complete research, direct examples of what one should look like when done properly and most of the extra detail parts to complete it.... The Huskie is next as I have some of the research done, two of the kits and the interior detail sets are on the way.... Besides I just finished two choppers and need something different... With the Hun all I have is the bare kit no research and no parts to correct some of the deficiencies of the kit... (Model companies seldom get everything correct) With the Hun the nose needs a complete replacement as it's the wrong shape... That would be a must have...
I think I've settled on the F-104... Time Period, sometime around the 1962 William Tell meet which is the lead pic in this article... (and the lead-in to the Star Trek Episode) The only F-104 pilot/unit at the meet, they walked away with the trophy that year... The Aircraft, #70914 and pilot, Capt. Charles E “Chuck” Tofferi, were lost over the Plain of Jars, Laos, October 20th, 1966, during the Vietnam War..
So, there is a historical context to it as well...
Morning nowhere...you must have a lot of patience to do that...good on you..
Just practice and practice and more practice.... Been doing it since grade school... Still hacking plastic, but that has grown into just about any material I want to use now.... Patience is built into the hobby.... And you acquire it by practicing... {chuckle}
Not to change the subject but I am thinking of renewing my model building with a LC-130 Hercules, LC being the ski equipped variant. I am looking for decals of Navy squadron VXE-6 and am coming up short. Anyone got any ideas where I might find those? I had a fair amount of hours on those birds going to and from Antarctica in the late 80's,
Any progress?
Well yes and no... I put the Zipper on Hold for a Run at the Kinetic F-86F-30 Sabre... and as I got into it I found out the included engine only barely resembles a correct J-47GE-27 which powered them over Korea... So I've set out to model one in software and 3D print it...
Here is an example of a test print...
That's where I'm at right now.... Kinda taking many paths at the same time.... {chuckle}
Still making progress....
And another....
Eventually I'll get there....
I am looking into getting and getting into 3D printing for models. I made the error of thinking it would be a simple process but man I was wrong. I found a pretty basic unit to start out with called a Anycubic Photon Mono SQ for $169.00. Someone told me I have to obtain and pay for a license and also need separate software for the device. Machine does not even come with resin or plastic. Come Tuesday I am going to call the company and just talk to them.
I have been using the Original Prusa i3/MK3S+ for over a year now and find it to be a highly reliable, good quality machine. I use Fusion 360 (free for single users) for design and the Prusa Slicer (awesome software) for slicing the STLs into machine code.
This goes along with my previous post regarding the LC-130 ski equipped Hercules. This would be a perfect project to fabricate the landing gear skis. Very little in the way of after market products on this that I am aware of.
Well I thought I would post a long overdue update... I had to take a break cause of some serious medical issues, but now I'm in treatment and back to working albeit at a much slower pace...
In the meantime I arrived at a place that my proof of concept, 3D printing on the J-47 successfully concluded...
And the F-86F they were powering....
That's what I've been doing in between doctors visits twice a week...
Laters...
NWM
Any further updates on how the F-104 is progressing?