Steampunk : The Aviator (Dieselkits 1/35)

[draken35]

Yesterday I've airbrushed some AK Xtreme Metal on the Aviator.
I'm happy with the result obtained with the Burnt Metal. Polished Aluminium gived excellent result but not the one I was wishing... Better to airbrush Aluminium!

But! As it's frequently the case with metal paints, the Polished Aluminiumrevealed lots of lines caused by the 3D printing process (see the arrows photos 3&4)... Unacceptable, of course.
So, today I decided to make a step back.
First step: paint is removed (Q-tip, toothpicks and methanol).
Second step: I put the plane on a piece of paper; mark the lines and the number of rivets on the papersheet ; sand ALL the rivets of the wings (of course, I will re-create all those rivets - 134 in total); wash the plane and, as you can see on the last photos, 3D printing lines are lesser then before but still there; my next step will be to eliminate them...

[No.1]

So much for but worth final results!

[draken35]

That's life... 

[modellius]

Like it a lot !

[draken35]

So, lot of work...
I've applied Mr Surfacer 1000 on the wings; then the new sanding phase have taken a looong moment (approximatively 10 hours). I placed the Aviator on the paper sheet again and used masking tape as a guide for rivets. I prepaired +/- 250 rivets (principe of precaution) then I glued a total of 156 on the wings...

[No.1]

  golden medal for this extra work!

[modellius]

Great !

[draken35]

Thank you friends!

After having airbrushed a new white base, I've begun to paint some details in red (Due to all the rivets, I prefer to work this way).

I've also progressed on Linda. Not the traditional way to do: I will finish by the flesh paint. AK 3D acrylics are used.

[No.1]

 

[modellius]

Looks great !

[draken35]

Progress on Linda - but she's not kind at all!
To resume: when I received the kit, the hat was broken on the back side. I sent a mail to Der Sockelshop and I received a replacement part (good customer service). Then as you know, I've broken Linda's right hand fingers - I repaired my mistake with stretched sprue. During a painting stage, a can of paint falled... onto the figure and broke the front part of the hat! Fortunately, to repair was easy - But so doing, I broke the annulus finger of her left hand, abose the hat! Fortunately again, the finger was still on my cut map and I glued it in place - but the broking location was visible... Best solution I've found is to offer her a ring... (made in stretched sprue, of course...)

OK; now be calm and quiet, baby! 

...And as you can see, painting is in progress.

[No.1]

You have Golgotha with this kit, hope you will finish it without any additional problems...

[draken35]

Well, hope so...

[modellius]

hard work so far but fell out nice, keep it on mate !

[draken35]

The Aviator was airbrushed with Tamiya XF-12 black as base for AK Xtreme Metal (I prefer to use Tamiya or Gunze matt Black better than the AK Black base from AK, as this last one react with the Tamiya tape...).
Turbines painted in red (Gunze H3)