F4 Phantom

[Model Maker]

Thanks for advise on soft edges!!

I have read about both approaches, but am leaning towards the roll coils as Luke indicated. My concern is related to not mixing the 2nd and 3rd colours along the soft edge. I'll just have to be careful with the airbrush to keep the second colour (medium green) away from the edge where the dark green meets the tan.

I've decided to repaint the tan base colour as it's too brownish. No issues since there are no panel line details on the model.

[J Luke]

I kept the masks on as I added the next colors. I painted the tan, masked with tape and sticky tack, masked the light green with tape and sticky tack, then painted the dark green.

[J Luke]

Something else I've found is that it works best if you put the center line of the coil over the edge of the tape and press down firmly enough along the center to seal it over the edge of the tape, but not so much that you pinch down the edge, that gives me the best results.

[Model Maker]

Thanks for all the info Luke!!

You have confirmed my planned approach which is great! Nice to hear I wasn't too far off the mark. The internet indicates the masking ropes should be 2 to 3 mm in diameter for 1/48 scale models. I think I will go with the 3 mm since I may have some difficulty always keeping he air brush perpendicular to the surface.

[Model Maker]

Top side of fuselage repainted with a slightly lighter shade of tan. Although the literature indicates the tan is a federal standard colour, the online photos show vast differences. No doubt due to field repainting and the fast fade rate of the tan.

In any event on to the next colour of the camouflage once this coat has time to cure before adding the masking.

[J Luke]

Very nice! You've probably mentioned this before, but what kinds of paint do you use? You mention mixing your own.

[Model Maker]

I use Tamiya XF (Flat) paint for most of the model coverage and sometimes supplement with craft paint for minor brush on details. Tamiya isn't a great paint to apply by brush but it's a wonderful paint to airbrush. It's also readily available in my neighbourhood.

The Tamiya line doesn't always have the required colour so you have to search the internet for the applicable blend (formula) for the colour. The underside of the F4 was a blend which worked out well. But the original tan formula I had and even the subsequent formula didn't seem to match the Federal Standard colour, so I had to come up with my own formula which seems to look acceptable. We'll have to see how things work out when the two green camo colours are applied.

[lastvautour]

Field unit paint would definitely fade, so many variations would be acceptable.

Louis

[Model Maker]

Have opted to mask most of the model using Frisket film rather than masking tape. Wanted to minimize the number of seams. The Frisket film is fairly wide and has a more gentle tack to it than masking tape. Labelled all the sections with the respective colour so I don't goof when air bushing the light and dark green sections of the camouflage.

Will be initially using rolled AK masking putty ropes only where a light green section meets a tan section of the pattern to create soft edges where these two colours meet. Once the light green has dried a sufficient time, will then lay down ropes of AK masking putty where the light green meets a dark green section to provide a soft edge between these colours.

This is definately the most complicated camo pattern I have had to airbrush.

[J Luke]

Looks like you've got it well laid out! I look forward to the finished product.

[lastvautour]

Looks promising.

Louis

[Model Maker]

Finally getting around to air brushing the camouflage. Tried "AK Camouflage Elastic Putty" to mask the two shades of green. Worked great, but discovered it flows if left too long. I tried to obtain a feathered look where the colours meet, but wasn't successful with it. I'll no doubt try on another model down the road.

The putty was great for masking. No paint crept under it!

On to the detailed painting of the canopy and rear exhaust panels.

[J Luke]

That looks great! Well done!

[lastvautour]

Excellent cam.

Louis