Some more part preparation.
First, I recommend giving the primed parts a wipe with a polishing stick. or if you have used MRP a most coat of Mr Levelling Thinner. This helps make sure that you get a perfectly smooth surface.
I painted some lights, I will fit the transparencies and mask them off.
Now, you will all have been told, paint light colours first. Most people also think that yellow is a problem colour for coverage....
Well not only can you turn that first rule on its head but you can get a perfectly even, solid, lighter colour over black even yellow, wherever you want to.
I can demonstrate with the propeller. First I marked off the prop tips. I cut a piece of masking tape to size and apply it to the tip of the prop as below.
It needed a bit of adjustment to get it level and then, another piece of tape placed snuggly up against it.
remove the tape from the tip, repeat on all prop tips, extend around the back and all the prop tips are masked with exactly the same width.
Above I extended the masking down the blades and masked the hub as well, as that too needs a coat of yellow.
A quick look at how I am holding the spinner, a piece of sprue superglued into the hole, don’t use much c.a. just a little and it will snap way when done.
Here is what I am spraying with.
First a few very light coats of the sand primer, it is slightly matt and an ideal base for yellow. Don’t worry about getting a solid colour, not necessary.
Now your chosen shade of yellow. Again only a few light coats are needed.
A perfect solid yellow sprayed over black. Who said yellow was a problem, who said always spray dark over light!
so, why spray a black primer anyway? When you want to modulate and vary a topcoat for a more realistic weathered effect. There are times when black basing is not the best method, my F/A18 for instance, but for most WW2 aircraft it can really enhance the realism of the model. Also it creates shadows deep in detail often in places your washes won’t touch.
Here is an overall shot of other parts now sprayed with their top coats. There is still some detailing needed. And weathering.
The black basing certainly helps the appearance of the wheels, for some other parts I wanted a solid colour. The tyres are sprayed with MRP’s very nice tyre rubber colour, the best I have seen. A dry brush with brown pigment is ll they now need.
Finally - the prop, masking removed.
Perfect.... a spot of weathering is now needed....
The missing part is on its way, so
Airfix have told me.....