Weekend Update 12/8/13

[peteski]

Peteski-- Glad to see that you painted your Cobra in my favorite paint scheme.  Beautiful work!

I'm glad you like it!  Yellow just didn't look right.  I actually used a nail polish to paint that model: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails True Blue.    The classic blue with skunk stripes scheme is also my favorite.  Now if I could only afford the real car....

The reason I chose that nail polish (besides the fact that it was a lovely color) was because the metallic particles in it were very fine.  Most metallic hobby paints have larger metallic particles, which, especially in a smaller 1:43 scale model, look way out of scale.  This is really noticeable when taking close-up photos of the model.  But this nail polish has a very finely ground metallic powder which looks good, even when photographed up close.

[bnsfdash8]

I've also been weathering NS 5273.

[Roger Holmes]

Peteski-- Did you brush or spray the nail polish?  Your photo shows a perfect paint surface.  I can paint the snot out of model trains but when I help my wife with nail polish I make an awful, lumpy mess.

[peteski]

Peteski-- Did you brush or spray the nail polish?  Your photo shows a perfect paint surface.  I can paint the snot out of model trains but when I help my wife with nail polish I make an awful, lumpy mess.

Airbrushed (using my trusty Badger 200).  Nail polish is quite viscous - it had to be thinned at least 50/50 with lacquer thinner.  I don't have the exact formula - I thin it until it feels right. I only used 1/4 of the 1/2 oz. bottle for this model.  The white stripes were also painted (I didn't think the kits decals would work well on all the compound curves of that body).  I masked them (Tamiya tape) and then used Accupaint white. It is quite opaque and goes on very thinly. The model was then clear coated with 3 coats Testors "one-coat" lacquer.

If you make a lumpy mess, you are probably over-brushing.  You need to load the brush with the lacquer, then just spread the lacquer quickly, without repeat strokes. That is especially important when over-coating previously applied layer. 

[central.vermont]

If you make a lumpy mess, you are probably over-brushing.  You need to load the brush with the lacquer, then just spread the lacquer quickly, without repeat strokes. That is especially important when over-coating previously applied layer. 

Pete,
I didn't know you were such a closet beautician. 

Jon

[spookshow]

Gettin' there -



Cheers,
-Mark

[peteski]

Pete,
I didn't know you were such a closet beautician. 

Jon

Closet? What closet?  I'm in the open baby!   
But seriously, when the finish is lumpy while brushing the paint on, that usually indicates that you futz around too much with half-dried paint surface.  The same applies to all paints and surfaces - whether it is a finger nail or a plastic model.


Nice water bottles Mark!

[nickelplate759]

Finished these a couple of weeks ago.
IM kits, Microscale decals, TruColor paint (not in that order)




(lighting is poor, oh well)

George

[mplsjct]

Mark you realize most people look at you pics and quietly think...... totally awesome!!

I agree, very impressive work.

[TrainCat2]

I have been spending many weeks now commuting 2-3 times a week to John Hopkins to see Jamie who has been in a clinical trial for her disease. Unfortunately, no good results. We are back home and I can get back doing TrainCat and some modeling. Here are progress shots of the Canyon Diablo Bridge where I am now starting to build and test fit the interior sub-assemblies.

[PAL_Houston]

I don't know if that's true Jason, but thank you regardless. 

...

md

Most assuredly it is true.  Some of us are so speachless we are unable to tell you though!!

[wazzou]

I have been spending many weeks now commuting 2-3 times a week to John Hopkins to see Jamie who has been in a clinical trial for her disease. Unfortunately, no good results.

Sorry to hear that Bob.  Wish you some good fortune.

[PAL_Houston]

Owing to being "iced-in" since Friday, spent the weekend working on the Flag Center and temporary staging modules.  At Flag Center I completed wiring the switch panel, tested it on the bench, and then installed it in the fascia:



The main challenges with this were related to a bad batch of LEDs, and a multi-meter lead that went to open circuit -- that, of course, causes all sorts of consternation (and erroneous conclusions, followed by voluble and voluminous 4-letter words, strung together into ... well, you know!) trying to figure out why certain circuits weren't working!!

I also wired in 3 of the 8 tortoises in this are that are installed...4 of the other 5 won't be installed until the permanent track is laid. 

I also had enough righthand turnouts to put together a temporary 4-lead version of staging.

[Cajonpassfan]

Bob, that bridge is stunning, amazing workmanship.
My thoughts are with you and yours.
Regards, Otto K.

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  "The corrugated duct is a copper wire wrapped like a spring around a music wire core...."  Interesting technique.  Is it yours, or is it common in the vehicle modeling world?  Sounds like there may be some things we could learn from them.