Aerocraft Models MB.3 & MB.4

[Gondor]

After repeated sanding of the joints on the MB.3 I decided to change the colour I was using as a fitness mark. As I have been using superglue as a filler, it has been drying clear, which has meant that you could see the black paint I had been using as a witness mark through it, makeing knowing if I had fixed a defect difficult. The change in colour made this much easier, and I actually found that I was happy with the results on both models. So the next step, put the wings on!

As both aircraft are almost the same, other than the engine and armament, the same jig could be used for both aircraft.



Above, the MB.3, below, the MB.4



Both pictures were taken before glue was applied, but you get the idea.

[Gondor]

Latest update, with unfortunately not much to show in it.



Both props were very easy to build, as each blade is keyed and designed to fit in only one way. Someone somewhere is bound to try and fit them differently, but as I said, they are designed to fit one way, which is trying to idiot proof something. There will always be a more ingenious determined idiot.

[kerick]

That's some very tiny work there! It looks excellent! A radial MB anything will get some people's minds all convoluted. Now paint it in RN or FAA colors!

[Gondor]

That's some very tiny work there! It looks excellent! A radial MB anything will get some people's minds all convoluted. Now paint it in RN or FAA colors!

Funny you should say that....

[Gondor]

Finally getting on with the painting now that I have decided what markings to pinch from aftermarket decal sets 

[Gondor]

Let's start this post with a picture or two.





The MB 3 at the top, and the MB 4 at the bottom.

Now, both together, with another couple of items glued to the MB 4, including the engine cowling.



The wheels are ready for paint, and I found a way to hold them without damaging them.



Both of the kits are on their undercarriage. A word of warning, though, the fitting of the main undercarriage legs is tight, so tight they could be tighter than a duck's donkey, and that's watertight.

Wingtip lights are what I am going to do next. These are printed in clear resin, and I intend to drill a very small hole from the inside surface into the tip so a drop of colour for each bulb can be added. Madness, I know, but I feel that if I don't push myself a little, then I will never improve.

[Gondor]

A bit more progress to report on tonight. There are still loads to do, though. It almost seems that as soon as I tick another item off the list, another two add themselves to the list.

First up, the seat was fitted to both aircraft. No point in showing both kits, so the MB.4 will stand in for the MB.3 where necessary. The only difference between them at this stage is the cockpit colour. Interior Green for the MB.3, Black for the MB.4.



Next up were the gunsights.



Followed by the windscreen for the MB.4. I did not have the windscreen painted for the MB.3 at the same time. It's the first item on the list for tomorrow, though. You can just make out the gunsight through the windscreen, even at this scale.

The wingtips were drilled out a bit to give better definition. There is a dimple already on the inner face; I simply enlarged it a bit.



Here is the drill I used.



Only 0.5mm in diameter, I have smaller. I then painted the holes, two red and two green. I always remember that Port is Red, and that Red is for danger and should be Left alone. The other side must be Green, which is Right.



I later painted the inner face of the wing tips in aluminium. I still have to decide what colour to paint the undercarriage bays and doors. I had better make up my mind quickly, as they need to get painted tomorrow.

[zenrat]

Port is left, both of which have four letters.  And port wine is red.

[DogfighterZen]

Those two are looking good.

[Gondor]

The current state of play.



I was going to just use Hataka paint for both models, but I don't think I will have enough time to apply three or more coats of paint by brush, as they appear to be quite thin. So tomorrow I start using my Humbrol enamel paints to sort of speed up the process. It's a trade-off between coverage and drying time, which I am thinking the enamels will win. It will be a close run thing with the MB.4 as that needs all three camouflage colours added, where the MB.3 only needs two; however, I think that I will have to give the MB.3 another coat of the base colour that I have put on as well, and only two days in which to finish them both.

[Rick Lowe]

Port is left, both of which have four letters.  And port wine is red.

And Right/Starboard also both have more than four letters.

Alistair, don't the acrylics dry quickly enough to get 2-3 coats on in the one day? 

[Gondor]

Alistair, don't the acrylics dry quickly enough to get 2-3 coats on in the one day? 

Yes, but they are still thin, which is why the MB.4, other than the white, horrible colour to get right. They do dry rather quickly, but not quickly enough to paint an aircraft this size as if it were the Forth Railway Bridge. That might work for a larger aircraft, such as a Lancaster, but for this size, they have to sit and dry for a bit. The only downside to this is not having all the colours in enamel. So it looks as if, although I will be taking the models to the show, but they will not be finished.

[PR19_Kit]

In my experience Hataka colours cover pretty well, but I only use the Blue Line ones for brush painting. One or two of them cover in one coat, but usually they need a couple, and you can do that in an hour, unlike Tamiya acrylics which take AGES before you can 2nd coat them without the 1st paint layer picking up. 

[Gondor]

In my experience Hataka colours cover pretty well, but I only use the Blue Line ones for brush painting. One or two of them cover in one coat, but usually they need a couple, and you can do that in an hour, unlike Tamiya acrylics which take AGES before you can 2nd coat them without the 1st paint layer picking up. 

It also helps if you have primed the subject first as well, which I didn't   

[Gondor]

Some further progress pictures to bring people up to date.



The MB.3 now has its second upper surface colour added. For some reason, I feel like putting Omani markings on it at the moment. Must be the colours.

Next up, the MB.4







That's all for the moment. Something will get more paint on it this evening, and hopefully I can finish them off tomorrow in readiness for Saturday.