Eduard 1:48 BF 109 F2

[andreww]

Yesterday evening I made a bit of a start at the white wash. Black primer, a thin layer of RLM 70, some white grey, light gull grey, aged white and a final blending layer of insignia white to get to a level I was happy with. Now she'll rest for a week while I'm at work, and once I get home back to it.

Thank you all for the positive comments!!

Eric / Jester, this will be my first time using the decals with removable carrier film. I'm excited and nervous.

[kyledehart5]

I have one kit with those decals and I’m pretty terrified myself. Lol

[fermis]

Nice!!!

I love the Eduard 109's!
In fact...I just started a pair of 109's.
A Hasegawa F-4 and the Eduard will be in the key of G!

[andreww]

I have a stack of G's (5 or 6 of em) from Eduard sitting downstairs waiting for me to open boxes as well. Should keep me busy for a year or so.

[Tojo72]

Looks great,I'm going to attempt a whitewashed FW-190 will be following yours.
Please continue to elaborate on your process !!!

[andreww]

Tojo,

I'll be sure to post lots of photos. I use Vallejo model air acrylics, their thinner, flow aid and gloss mediums. So far, I have started with 2 flow aid, 4 thinner, 2 white grey drops to build up the mottle. Through a 0.4 nozzle / needle at 10 to 12 psi, an inch or two from workpiece to airbrush. Then the same mixture in a few spots with light gull grey, aged white. My final layer is 3 flow aid, 6 thinner, 2 gloss medium and 2 insignia white, again 0.4 needle / nozzle and 10 to 15 psi. This is a wide mist (3 to 4 inches) over everything to blend, maybe up close a few spots for some additional coverage. The gloss medium adds transparency to the last layer, I find. I top coat until I think 'one more layer will do it'and I stop. I set it aside for a few hours, and look at it again. I find as the last layer dries, it can change transparency. I would rather stop short and have to do one more layer than go overboard and have to figure out how to remove a layer.

[jester75]

Good tips on airbrushing Vallejo acrylics Andrew. I’ve always struggled with them but may give them another shot using your ratios.

[kyledehart5]

I also appreciate the ratios as I struggle with almost any acrylics.

[andreww]

Kyle and Eric,

I still have to watch for tip drying. I keep some cotton swabs and cleaner handy to wipe the needle / nozzle, and at the end of a 15 or 20 minute paint session (at most), put those parts into an ultrasonic cleaner. I have found Vallejo of course does not react well to isopropyl alcohol. Better clean water.

[kyledehart5]

Appreciate the tips. Everyone will have to find a way that works for them but it is very nice to have a jumping off point in case I decide to try Vallejo acrylics again.

[TJ]

I've heard so many people struggle to spray Vallejo, it's good to see somebody put it down on what works.

Me, I'll stick with my Tamiya, Gunze, and AK Real Color

[stikpusher]

Mar 16, 2024 3:26:17 GMT -5 TJ said:

I've heard so many people struggle to spray Vallejo, it's good to see somebody put it down on what works.

Me, I'll stick with my Tamiya, Gunze, and AK Real Color

You and me both. Those are trouble free brands!

[andreww]

Well, with my Vallejo white grey and some thinner, I managed to finish my white washing. I have to paint wheel wells, exhausts and get some black green around the canopy, then onto some gloss and decals.

[kyledehart5]

That’s looking great

[buddho]

Wow. A beauty of a build progressing here...

[keavdog]

Wow that looks awesome!

[andreww]

Thank you all, very much. Before I knocked off for the evening, I masked and sprayed some RLM 70 onto the canopy, re sprayed the white grey on the antenna, some 02 on the landing gear and bay, and finally some Alclad Burnt Iron and Transparent Smoke around the masked exhaust stubs. Tomorrow will be painting the wheels and the PE exhaust shroud, and the next day some Alclad Aqua Gloss.

[kyledehart5]

Oh yeah. She’s really coming together

[406 Silverado]

That color modulation looks perfect on this Andrew. Thank you for the tips on the Vallejo paint usage. I found this winning combination on accident through trial and error over the years with their paints. Once figured out.....it goes rather smoothly. +1 Karma to you bud.

[handiabled]

Fantastic paint work!

[andreww]

Last night and this morning I got wheels painted up and washed.




I also started with Balkancruz markings. On the wing bottoms, I removed the carrier film on the new type Eduard decals. In doing so, I was 2 for 2 in damaging the markings, and had to touch up with some masking tape and paint. I flooded the decal in mineral spirit for about 20 seconds, and gently worked with a Q tip. Much like I have read, the carrier film started rolling away. On each one, it look a spot of the white with it. Didn't seem to touch the black. But, the result, wow, just looks painted on. I'm not sure if I'll keep trying this, or just leave the film, as even with the film and some Micro Sol the decals settle down gorgeously. It's one thing to touch up the straight lines on the Balkancruz, but all the kill tallies on the tail? Hard pass.

[andreww]

I decided I was never going to learn to work with the Eduard decals if I didn't try, so this morning I tried a new technique, gently rubbing the film with a Qtip soaked in mineral spirits. It took a lot longer, but I didn't damage anything (or at least very minimal damage).   I did kind of break through over an access panel on one of the green hearts, but that just makes the access panel look accessed, and should fill in with a pin wash anyhow.

I was cursing Eduard's 2 part Hakencruz when my port tail inside folded itself in half during application, and several attempts to gently coax it back to flat didn't work. So, I found a spare that wasn't quite the correct size, but had the outline I needed. A fine tipped brush and some black paint and I think I'm back in business.

Odd, when I look through several of my other 109 kit offerings from Eduard, every decal sheet comes with a 1 piece Hakencruz, just not the F2. I thought this was because of laws in Europe, but maybe something changed? Anyhow, onto a final gloss coat and finish up the pin wash.

[tucohoward]

Very nice, Andrew! I like your approach for the white wash finish. I love the new Eduard decals and also use the mineral spirits method.

Jay

[TJ]

Just catching up with your progress. Fantastic

[andreww]

Jay and TJ,

Thank you. I've spent today finishing out the pin wash, satin coating and setting on wheels. Tomorrow should be finishing up the canopy and the associated fiddly bits and painting exhaust shrouds. The end.is in sight.

Jay, once I got the hang of the new decals, I really did appreciate them. Amazing how cleanly they lay down, how thin the marking is. I really like not having the edge of the carrier film to bury in clear coat or to see in the pin wash. A game changer for sure, just like masking and painting, without having to align masks. I wonder if and when other manufacturers will adopt this process?

Throughout, this has been the reference photo I've been using for the look I'm hoping to achieve.  I've been lucky to have found one from that Era in colour.

[kyledehart5]

Excellent progress!! That is looking awesome and great work with the Eduard decals.

[handiabled]

The markings on that paintwork looks sensational! I would be hard pressed to see that you had any difficulties with the decals, they look perfect. Nice find with the color picture

[cbaltrin]

Great work andreww ! 

[andreww]

Well, I will be moving this one into the completed builds section in the morning after having attached the canopy and some EZ Line antenna wire this evening. It was fun.

[jeaton01]

Outstanding! I plan to build an F pretty soon but it will be the Zvezda kit.