Tamiya 1/48 Dewoitine D.520

[5Craven]

Another update and the end is insight, just in time as well. I can now say that the airbrushing is done and I have learnt quite a few things in the process, but first the last prep stage was done with some Humbrol 11 aluminum on a few selected area and then a light application of maskol with a sponge around a few key panels, engine cowling, ammo covers and cockpit access, to show some light chipping wear.



I didn't want to go over board with this as the aircraft, when finished, will be one fairly recently introduced into service. I then applied the underside colour, did a little masking and applied the first upper surface camouflage colour. I then masked this off with a photocopied and cut out paper mask attached to the model with blutack.



I was fortunate that Tamiya included a to scale painting guide which I could just copy without worrying about scaling it up. Unaware of some possible problems I did the next colour and repeated the process before spraying the last colour. And now to the unmasking!!

Ohh poo!



Getting the blutack off turned into a right fiddly mess! But with a little gentle persuasion I got it all off in the end. So how does it look? Well I think about 7/10...



There are a couple of areas where I didn't get the first mask quite right meaning you can see the undercoat and given my basic airbrush kit I was not spraying the colours at a consistant pressure which meant that in some places you can see a sight hint of the second colour under and at the edge of the third.



I will have to do a little touch up, with brush, on the blue/grey. I think I will have to leave the green under the brown well alone and mark it up to experience. Then a coat of varnish and on to the decaling.

[Nige201980]

Looking good mate and first time with an airbrush I take my hat of to you.

[T3hGuppy]

Even with the issue you had great job dude.

The camo pattern is really nice.

[UKscalemodeller]

I have always prefered the three tone french camo.to the RAF schemes, nice work, the issues you had with blutac and showing through are sent to test us. Great work.

[Coen]

Well done David, that method is a tricky one on a good day and it looks like it didn't go too badly. There's always clean up and touch ups afterwards.
The white undercoat makes it a bit more challenging as you have to make extra sure to get everywhere.
Nicely done Buddy.

[5Craven]

Thanks for all the kind words guys, much appreciated. Hope to have some pictures up soon of the decals applied on the model.

[5Craven]

May be a bit of a delay with photo's. Tamiya decals are living up (or should that be down) to their reputation. Just had one long decal split into 5 parts! I think I may have saved it but this may take some time

[Paul]

Nice work David, sorry to hear about the decals but I know where your coming from.

Use white tack rather than blue tack, as it leaves no,oily residue behind and is much easier to remove.

[Lee]

Great work Dave, really good for your first bash with the AB

Tamiya decals = GRRRRRRRRRRRR.......... nuff said!

[T3hGuppy]

Sorry bout the issue your having with the decals dude.

The mossy ones I did where great no issues at all.

[5Craven]

Right a really quick update here. As mentioned above yesterday evening was an exercise in frustration especially since Tamyia went to the trouble of getting a third party to actually print the decals for this kit in the first place. To be fair most of them did not split, only the long thin ones. (Which are really difficult to sort out!!) However these decals despite being quite thin simply won't conform to the panel lines and anything bigger will cause to colour layer to detach from the main carrier film. They are also not very opaque. So time to name and shame, here is the company responsible..



After working on the build last night I manged to get one side completed. The long white arrow front section split into 5 sections, the end section rear of the 6 split into 3 pieces. I have been unable to do anything further today as I have been driving up and down some of the major UK trunk routes all day and I am to tired to do something so fiddly tonight.

[5Craven]

Final update before the reveal later in the week! Last of the decals applied, cursing ended and everything sealed in with a gloss coat. To be honest if I had had the time I may of bailed on the decals and gone for an AM set however now I have finally got them on I am pleased I persevered with them. They are far from perfect its true but it was satisfying getting them looking OK. Then I went and used another new product for me, one of Flory Models washes.

This is the OH GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE photo.



So the last couple of bits to do, tidy up the wash, seal it all in with a matt varnish and add the stuff that would have been broken off during painting, wheels, antenna and final PE details. Then the reveal photoshoot! See you all in the reveal section soon.