1/32 Hasegawa Mustang Finishing comments welcomed
Looking for recommendations on how to finish coat my P-51D.
I started building the Hasegawa Kit S12 - 1/32 scale P-51D back in the mid 1980's getting about 90% done with the intention of a OOB build, planning to use the kits decals.
Well, about a year ago I pulled it out of storage after about 33 years. I finished the paint scheme and then started to prep the decals only to find the decals had completely solidified!
I wanted to keep the Man O' War scheme the paint was done but could not find after market decals. I then realized Plaza Japan was actually selling the ST5 kit with an improved Man O' War decal sheet for an awesome deal. Now I have a second P-51D to build in 1/32 scale with a nice set of AeroMaster decals - gonna decide between Tender Terror or Ol' Flak Joe
This kit was originally painted in 1987 with Testors Spray Enamel Metallic Silver. Invasion stripes, anti-glare panel and upper surface camouflage all painted with Humbrol Enamels.
Future/Pledge Floor Gloss was used to prep for the decals with great results.
Now that all is complete, I wanted to get a uniform finish - should I just spray the complete model with the Future/Pledge acrylic finish?
Looking for some recommendations...just wanting to finish this guy so I can put it on my shelf but don't want to mess it up.
Thanks!
Hi George @georgeswork!
You may spray Future allaround, to seal everything in, but you will end up with a gloss allaround finish. I believe the antiglare panel and green top coat were matt (satin at most).
In cases like this, I usually go with a satin (towards matt) finish allaround compromising mainly the aluminum ultrashine and retain the olive drab matt-iness.
Noone will strongly blame me for not having an ultrashine metal finish. After all, we are talking about a real war workhorse!
All the best!
Thanks Spiros – so Future all around for the gloss.
What would you use for the antiglare panel to get a satin or matt finish?
Hi @georgeswork!
You can pick your favorite color brand satin or matt varnishes.
I mix Humbrol Gloss and Matt Varnish at a ratio of roughly 50/50 for "satin" effect and around 20/80 for "matt" effect.
In your case, I would spray satin allover and leave it like this. Future will give the olive drab on the wings and fuselage an unrealistic shine. I would also mask lthe red painted parts and leave them "glossy" as they are now.
Hope I helped!
Thanks for the recommendation Spiros - I'll pick up the Humbrol products soon as most stores have opened up in the last couple of weeks. I wasn't sold on applying the overall gloss finish and wasn't sure how to proceed. I have my old bottles of Micro-Flat & Micro-Gloss but I just don't want to chance it.
Cheers
This is a great build George. I built this kit as a kid in the 80's so it's with some nostalgia that I admire your build. I can't wait to see the end result.
Thanks Morne,
I'm glad it packed away well. It is a pretty unique camo scheme that caught my interest decades ago. I'm just glad I did not have to spray over it. this model originally a build for one of my brothers. I just wanted to keep the original scheme.
To get a satin or matt finish to Future I add Tamiya Flat base, and isopropyl alcohol to thin it down and airbrush with a large nozzle. Depending on the amount of flat base added you get a satin or matt finish.
Thanks Gordon.
I still haven't got to this yet. My enamel airbrush has parts on order so I do not want to try an enamels.
Hopefully, I'll have time to test your suggestion later this week.