sky's aka shane dicast and plastic collection

I have been asked to try to describe how I painted my models to get details.

The main models I work with are hagasawa or tamyia as they are very nice models when made.

Tools I use are good knife, sizzors if using fret parts, cotton buds, different paint brushes, paint thinners for water base try not to use other thinners it buggers the paint I have done it or a spray gun when im rich

First is i fill any gaps using model putty as some kits are not a good fit, I use tamyia putty basic type its good and drys hard and is easy to sand smooth, I start with not to heavy sand paper and work right down to very fine. You can get model sandpaper made by tamiya in packets

Getting ready to paint the model. First some people use warm water with dish wash and wipe and then let dry best to rinse model to get dishwash off as im not sure how it would react with the paint, it gets all oils off so the paint will stick to model, cover parts that you dont want paint on eg canopy's and other parts. Paint or spray model I use tamiya under coat grey or white it will show up the defects so you can sand to get smooth before top colours.

The top colours I use is tamiya and italeri acrylic Matt colors I try to put on thin first with one colour then put the other colour if two tone camaflage its also good for internet to look for patterns or have books at hand to get different markings for different countrys and try to mix the paint to get right colour.

Once you are happy with paint put the markings on I just use warm water until it just starts to move you can get a product thats good for markings and makes the detail stick to model around tricky parts, then flat clear to seal the model.

The tricky part is to add some detail eg oil/fuel stains , heat shimmer from exhaust stack or the back end of jet as they always come out the factory nice and clean no marks or dents, so to add detail for panel lines you can use thinned down paint just a bit darker to show the detail or use panel paint made by tamiya it comes in different colors 4 I think once it dries I use a cotton bud and enamel thinner on bud to wipe off it works the same way to do a wash cover the model in thin paint and then wipe off with a paper towel the paint will work into the panels, also you can add fuel stains heat stains from exhaust always from the back end I use black dry brush and different colors until happy with it, exhaust is usually white because of heat and a bit of oil colour and run with the wind front to back the same with oil marks work with the way the wind goes other details are repairs done in the field use a lighter color

im not a pro painter but they look ok for me

Many thanks Sky, fascinating stuff and it certainly works.

getting close to finish the su, the next one will be a 1/24 hawker harrier and its big

i will be watching.
i love hawker aircraft.

thanks tony, here is a sneek peek at it.

thats purdy sir
me like.

I shall be watching the Harrier build closely. It's one of my favourite aircraft too and I have a similar kit waiting in the loft for a rainy day.......I shall look and learn

thanks Andy, well i got bored and started the harrier i have started the Pegasus 11 Mk 101 engine now its primed and now to put the paint on.

Very nice Sky.

The 11-21 "Big Peggy" makes a rather pleasing noise for a jet engine as it winds down to idle after a vertical landing. For some reason, the similar noise created by her bigger sister, the 11-61, is rather grating in comparison. Don't know why, and neither do the engineers who designed and built her. I was working for Rolls-Royce plc at the time and did a lot of the initial testing of the 11-61.

I've got several Harrier kits waiting to be built, including this and the Airfix 1/24 Sea Harrier. Any hints you can give in the construction of yours will be much appreciated, Sky, particularly if you find (and overcome) any issues en route to completion. It's a long time since I've built a proper static model so I've forgotten most of what I learned.......

so far its going together ok, i have been working on cockpit area and in side and pilot .

painting i have on my living room wall.

well done a little more to cockpit area now i am x eyed but getting there.

well its been slow as work all ways gets in the way. i have started to put together the mold on the kit is not that great so will have to use model putty to fill some gaps and then sand. so here it is so far been working on the gear doors yes they move.

Looking good Sky!

I always thought the poor fit of Airfix model parts was something plastic modellers had to live with until I made a Tamiya Mustang a fewe years ago - the fit was almost perfect.

What filler do you use Sky, I've still got about half a tube of "Squadron Green Body Putty" that I bought in the 1970's and still appears to work OK.

very nice.
some good detail in that model sky.