How's this for timing. We reach the last day of 2011 and I put the finishing touches to the Ford Truck.
After letting decals dry, the model was given a blast of satin varnish to seal them in and tone down the sheen of the sides. I know the real thing would have been gloss painted, although the paint probably wouldn't have held its shine like modern ones do, but in my opinion, satin looks far more realistic for a miniature.
Sheen was a problem with the black paint that followed. Brushing Humbrol is normally simple but for some reason the stuff insisted in drying with an eggshell finish. A good stir and second coat sorted this out which was a relief. Mind you, the first go looked annoyingly good with not a brush stroke to be seen !
Finally, the cab glazing was put in with Krystal Klear. Not perfect, but adequate for this model. I'm really surprised that the kit didn't come with clear plastic parts for this, it would certainly have been easier. The windscreen was too large and curved for the glazing liquid to be placed in with a cocktail stick or small screwdriver - the paddle end of the Tamiya paint stirrer did the job though. Mind you, even that took a couple of attempts.
Were I to build this model again, the biggest change I'd make to the process would be spraying in matt rather than gloss paint. I think the finish would be better (no dust or paint collection around detail) and I could go over it with acrylic gloss varnish to give the transfers somewhere nice to sit. Even though there would be a subsequent satin coat, the final paint thickness wouldn't be any greater as I had to put plenty of base colour on with the poor coverage of the gloss.
Anyway, that's the last project of the year. Time to get back to something serious now. In the meantime, Happy New Year everyone.
6 comments:
Great job. You will have to build a US industrial switching layout now to go with the truck :-)
All the very best for 2012!
Couldn't you have some of a clear plastic folder to make the glazing? I use it on some of airfix lorries and bmbers and it looks good as it's thin.
Well, I do have an HO Shay tucked away somewhere...
Clear plastic would work. The trouble is it's very fiddily to cut and for this model I'd have to bend it for the windscreens too. Truth is, that I couldn't be bothered to go that far. This time anyway.
That's come out very nicely Phil; I often come across old kits like this on club sales stands at exhibitions, etc., and they are usually at "give-away" prices. It's heartening to see that the old decals have worked so well with your customary attention to detail. Although I've used Krystal-kleer before, I've never tried it on a large window like those....will have to give it a go on the Cooper-Craft Bedford ML I'm currently working on as the glazing in the kit is pretty poor and the windscreen openings far too small.
Ah yes, the Cooper Craft Bedford. I have a second one of these tucked away since I threw the first out as unbuildable rubbish. CC kits (apart from this one) are superb, possibly the best available so I don't understand what went wrong.
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