Richard's Dragon 1/72 He 219 A-0 UHU Night Fighter

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
Masking looks neat. Takes ages and not a pleasant task. Do you mask over the line and then cut to the line with a sharp scalpel? That is a way I have heard of. I tend to try to cut the tape to fit which is not always possible. I do have some of that Tamiya tape for curves. Have you tried it?
Jim

[rtfoe]

Hi Jim, I try as much not to go over the line. I normally do two more than half lengths and start at both ends meeting in the middle. Haven't tried the curve tape yet. Some of the guys in my build group have used it...must ask them to let me try some.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Ok, this is my painting process for canopies. I start with the first layer which will be the inner frame color, then primer and then the body color.



I was doing both the Uhu and F-18 canopies in tandem. The Uhu had an inner frame shade of RLM grey mixed with a bit of black and the F-18 had a satin coat of black.




Primer on and waiting for the body color next. I layered the primer until it blended with the rest of the aircraft. I would spot primer over puttyied areas first before a final coat.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi,
I've also worked on the wheels. Painted base with nato black then the edges with a mixture of medium grey and earth then the rims using a Faber Castell circle template as a mask gloss black.



Wanna guess which is the cast wheel? :smiling2:

So the all black rims isn't a new design on cars these days...Uhu 219 spotted them first. :smiling4:

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
Thanks for the masking info. Clever idea for the inner frame colour. Something I've not considered.
Jim

[rtfoe]

Hi Jim, you're welcome, I won't take credit for this method as it's been used by many. Surprised you've not come across this method...this is one of the ways we get away with painting the numerous Panzer IV wheels and airplane wheels. :smiling6: Perhaps it's been taken for granted that everyone knows it and not mentioned the method.

Cheers,
Richard

[adt70hk]

Hi Jim, you're welcome, I won't take credit for this method as it's been used by many. Surprised you've not come across this method...this is one of the ways we get away with painting the numerous Panzer IV wheels and airplane wheels. :smiling6: Perhaps it's been taken for granted that everyone knows it and not mentioned the method.

Cheers,
Richard

Well done Richard. Lookign very good. I came across the wheel technique in a Vallejo book. I have the template but haven't given it a try yet.

[rtfoe]

Thanks Andrew, you should try it sometime. Try and get templates of both Metric and Imperial as that will give you more choices of circles to fit.

Cheers,
Richard

[adt70hk]

Thanks Andrew, you should try it sometime. Try and get templates of both Metric and Imperial as that will give you more choices of circles to fit.

Cheers,
Richard

I actually bought a template last year when I saw it. It's so simple is at the level of genius. I need to go back though and make sure it's both standards though....

[rtfoe]

Hi,
Progress has been a bit slow. Have picked up another abandoned kitten so time is spent getting it to the vet for vaccinations and check ups.
I did manage a bit of bench time...

Time was actually spent on blocking the vents on the wing leading edges with putty and deepening the entry. I had forgotten to paint the interior of these vents as far back as the end of the wing so plastic could be seen through these vents when light shone through the thin plastic. I repainted the vent interior black.



I have highlighted the undercarriage and fitted the wheels before they got gobbled up again. Painted and masked the props and given a base coat to the exhausts.

Cheers,
Richard

[AlanG]

Really impressed with this build Richard

[colin m]

Hi Jim, you're welcome, I won't take credit for this method as it's been used by many. Surprised you've not come across this method...this is one of the ways we get away with painting the numerous Panzer IV wheels and airplane wheels. :smiling6: Perhaps it's been taken for granted that everyone knows it and not mentioned the method.

Cheers,
Richard

Or if, like me you also work on old cars, you will have a great collection of washers. Nice heavy (ish) metal washers which stay put even with an AB firing at it.

[rtfoe]

Really impressed with this build Richard :smiling3:

Thanks Allan...not going to town with this build but it has its moments of challenge and animal intrusion. :smiling2:

Or if, like me you also work on old cars, you will have a great collection of washers. Nice heavy (ish) metal washers which stay put even with an AB firing at it.

Colin, yes washers are good as well, the hole in the center permits the hub nut to peep through and only needs tape to cover it. :thumb2:

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Today I have managed some bench time to work on the radar antenna. They're a mixture of plastic and etched metal. They give two types of arrangement...I chose this which looks like the Predators mouth... :tears-of-joy:



Care has to be taken with the etch for the middle assembly as they require twisting after bending. I broke one off and stuck it back with cyno. Should have annealed it so its more plyable.



Just stuck on the left array of main antenna. I have already masked off the undercarriage. Will finish of the primming. Itching for paint on.

Cheers,
Richard

[AlanG]

I chose this which looks like the Predators mouth... :tears-of-joy:

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That would be the FuG 220 (SN-2b) radar set up