discussion Dave's ICM 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VII

[Dave Ward]

A little more filler & sanding, then ready for paint - no primer coat this time..............

Two thin overall coats of Vallejo Model Color Medium Sea Grey, thinned with South Gloucestershire tap water.
Looking in my paintbox, I found some Humbrol Acrylic PRU Blue - I can't remember how well this sprays! I'll leave the MSG to harden off overnight, before masking up & spraying the underside.
Dave

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Looking good Dave...
On the home straight now eh ?!
Ah,.....
MSG....The "Michael Schenker Group",now there's a blast back to my school days!!

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good Dave...
On the home straight now eh ?!
Ah,.....
MSG....The "Michael Schenker Group",now there's a blast back to my school days!!

…and there was me thinking it was monosodium glutamate…..

 

[Dave Ward]

I knew it was a mistake adding that aerial - Whilst masking up, I knocked it, straightened it, & finally knocked it off entirely. Unthinkingly I CA'd it back on - should have left it off for now - I blame Taylor Swift - Spotify is playing her acoustic tracks..................
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Hmmm - one of the worst airbrush days I've had in many years. I used Humbrol Acrylic 230 PRU Blue. The pot was tightly sealed, about 3/4 full. I tried a test to see if it was IPA compatible - it wasn't. Mixing with tap water to my normal consistency - about 5 seconds of spray, then nothing - cursing - strip airbrush down, clean, another 5 seconds of spray. I then ditched my paint mix, cleaned the airbrush - mixed up a new lot of paint - 5 seconds of spray.............. By now I was getting a little annoyed, so I grabbed my back up airbrush, this managed a little better, but I had to withdraw the needle partly to get full covering on the undersides

Not the best of finishes, but by this time I was out of patience. I have a little PRU Blue left for touching up, but then it will go in the bin - I reckon age must have something to do the problem. The two airbrushes have been stripped & had an ultrasonic bath & now seem to be OK. What should have been a 20 min. job turned into 2 1/2 hours of aggravation!!
I'll give a bit of a touch up in those areas that need it, then give an overall gloss varnish spray, ready for the decals
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

This thing is really putting up a fight - there aren't that many decals to add - I managed 4! Two wing roundels & the tail flashes. Others, like the wing walks fell apart when shown water, and other waited until I was trying to put them on the surface before exploding into confetti! The early ICM decals are poor, but these are unusable. :angry:
I'll have to go into the spare decals box & see what I can find - I might end up with spurious squadron codes & serial number - but I might be lucky
Dave

 

[Geoffers]

Ow I feel your pain Dave :confounded:

I had the same problem with disintegrating decals, very frustrating.
Hopefully you’ll find suitable replacements and tame the beast.

Geoff

 

[Dave Ward]

OOOOh - I do have some suitable decals, but it means cutting into sheets for specific aircraft, so rather than do that & put the problem of missing decals off to the future, I've ordered some replacements - from Hannants - as they offer free delivery of decal sheets & PE frets...............
Dave