The aforementioned Hasegawa 1/32 Shiden-Kai now, after sitting for years, has it's wingtip lights fixed, checked over, cleaned up, ready for paint. We're going full Scale-a-ton on this one. This refers to a fella on the Innertube who's paint jobs I REALLY like. It involves a base coat, then small "squiggles" of a very light paint over the whole surface. Then a lightened base color is applied randomly, finally the overall color is applied lightly, leaving some of the "squiggles" to show thru. It's kinda like a fancy pre-shading, and results in great tonal variation I usually tried to achieve by lightening and darkening the base color. It has lately been referred to as "blackbasing", The same technique using a black base coat, or also called "mottling".

I will not go into the incredibly annoying troubles I had with my various airbrushes, as I don't feel like discussing it, but the job got done well enough. Tomorrow hopefully the overall coat will get done. Also ordered today Montex Masks #K32276, a set of paint masks and decals for the Shiden I want to do, just discovered on the Net today. Hopefully the mail brings my paint supplies from Sprue Brothers, and I can resume the Hayabusa. Sayonara

6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Really impressed with your mastery of this technique. Crossing my fingers for your success on the final 'blend' coat.

BTW- Interesting background on first 3 pics... Is that model sitting on your cooker?

You're on a roll here Bill... This is another welcome addition to the group. I have never tried painting anything using this method before.

Your Shiden Kai looks superb, Bill. I love the mottling pre-shade technique. I will be watching this closely as I complete my Shiden Kai. I have chosen Kanno's well known plane but I will also paint the Hinomarus. Probably not the serial numbers, though. Are you planning to do any chipping? I would say it not obligatory for the squadron and period though probably for Kanno's plane. I am really happy you rescued this one, such inspiring work!

That's a great rescue operation, Bill @billkoppos.
Love the painted and not decalled stuff. Makes my decalled planes look like cheap toys!
Looking forward to this one!

WOW !
Your sprayed on markings look wonderful Bill... and I agree, they are much better than a decal any day.

Nice work bud... Two thumbs up.

Resque operation couldn't turn out better, @billkoppos!
A masterpiece is emerging.

Shiden is away in it's revetment for the night. What's the number one (ichi-ban) problem in model building? Anybody? Everybody? Where do you put them when they done. My latest prolific outburst has strained the areas to put stuff to the limit. The last one, Hayabusa, still sits on the dresser where the wife says everyday "when are you going to find a place for that?" Making matters worse is, I got Cats. Lots of Cats. You don't leave things just anywhere when you have Cats. Won't go into small house, no basement, etc. don't want to bore you. (You're already bored? Sorry).

So happens right here next to my beloved PC is a bit of space where the last c**p printer I had chose to die. So it is the temporary (ha) revetment for the Shiden Kai. The Homare engine power egg is finally installed, after I remembered to paint the inside of the cowling. Speaking of the cowling, it fits beautifully snug on the nose, so much so that I can leave it unglued and removeable, for future gazing upon my engine work. Also helps that the prop has a poly cap, also removeable. This prop is a bit of a project itself, 3 colors, yellow tip stripes and 4 decals later, she's done. The landing gear is holding her up now, a couple of detail mods being done, and a couple I should have done.

Sleep well, Shiden, tomorrow you get your glosscoat and the weathering begins. I decanted a jar of Tamiya TS-13 Glosscoat for the airbrush. Let's see how this goes. Hope the paint doesn't get to dark.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.