Update to Academy F16 CJ 1/32

[Boltgun88]

Saved the last post to a word document.  Sounds excellent.  How thick are each of your coats of Future?

Thanks again,

Mike

[Bill L2]

Hey Mike. Thanks for the comments. The "wash" follows a list of other processes that I complete before washing the panel lines. Of course first I paint the model. I like to use  the "post shade" or "diffused shading" method. For a course in this technique go to Hyper Scale and do a search for the name Greg Cooper and his article on Post Shading a Gekko will surface. Great article. Also Lee is very good at this and shared some of his techniques with me.

Once the painting is done I coat the model with three coats of Future. You can also use Tamiya Gloss. I let each coat dry for about two hours before spraying down a new coat. Spray at a high PSI. Once this is done let the Future cure for about two days. After two days I apply decals. Let decals sit overnight then find any silvering and fix that. After decals have set and all looks good I seal the decals with two more coats of Future. Then I let this set for about two days. Now I am ready to wash the panel lines. I use enamel paints for this. I mix a portion of gloss black, blue, and brown or raw umber for the wash. I find a pure black wash to stark. I mix these until I have a color that I am satisfied with. I mix the paint with some Testors enamel thinner and then start washing the model. I go about three part thinner to one part paint. But you will have to find a consistency that you like. I like to glob mine on and make real mess. Some prefer a more controlled wash. I like my jets dirty! I let the wash dry overnight and then begin to wipe off the wash with Testors enamel thinner. I wipe carefully in the direction of the airflow. I use an old cut up T shirt and q-tips to remove the wash. I then let the model sit over night and dry out. I then remove any residue left over from the q-tips and wiping rag. I then go back over the panel lines with a very thin line of Tamiya Smoke, mixed with a little brown. This must be very thin almost an 80 to 20 ratio, 80 percent thinner to 20 percent paint, sprayed at a very low PSI. Once done I then spray the model with Testors Dullcote. Thats it. I like this technique and I am still refining it.

Good luck Mike

[Boltgun88]

Bill,

     I am very interested in how you do your "wash".  If you are able, could you please break this down to the third grade level [I had trouble there and it's a long story......]  Seriously - When I was an avid builder - this was the weakest part of my game.  I would love to have you break it down by the numbers for emulation.  I have a strange and unnatural terror/aversion to the part where you put a "wash" on and then "WIPE" off the surface residue........... That thing looks stinking awesome - kudos.

Cheers and apprish,

Mike

[ipmsesadmin]

Very Nice Bill keep them coming

regards,
Tony

[Bill L2]

Well I have the majority of the painting done on this kit. Now I will go back over some areas with a very diluted light ghost gray to blend the colors together and clean up some areas. Then I will start putting the model together.

Initial paint


Wash/Gloss black mixed with Burnt Sienna and a little blue





Highlighted with the air brush with a very thin mixture set a very low pressure covering the panel lines/Tam smoke and a little brown