Hi All

I have started painting with Alclads Black Gloss Base and as a side note you may find this interesting.

During my research for this aircraft I noticed that many pictures that survive of the aircraft seemed to have a semi gloss finish to them and I finally found out why. When the P61 was first introduced they were painted in either a matt olive drab on the upper surfaces with matt black undersides or completely matt black.

Three P61's were prepared for an experiment with searchlights the first was finished in the olive drab paint ,the second in matt black and the last one in a gloss black. It was found that both aircraft with the matt finished could be easily spotted and held in the searchlight beams but the aircraft with the gloss black finish disappeared in the searchlight beams. All P61's after that were finished in a gloss or semi-gloss black paint.

Being a gloss undercoat you can get an idea of what the finished aircraft will look like but for now this is how she looks in undercoat. also you can see how the panel lines/rivets have popped.

More soon

Andy

Interesting detail on the paint finishes Andy. Would never have thought about that but now you have explained it i can see how it would work with the light shining back from a glossy surface - very interesting indeed.

Lovely finish and certainly brings out the panel details

Al

Hi looking superb Andy cheers mick.

That really looks great can`t wait for the finish Phil

looks great Andy.Which paint did you use?


Carl

Hi All

More paint in the form of Alclads Aircraft Aluminium has been added although the pics make it look patchy in normal light its a nice overall covering. The engines have been started and im making them up into sub assembly's to aid in the painting of them.

The last picture is of a P61 being rearmed but your probably wondering why go to the trouble of Alclad just to paint over it. In the picture look at the wing leading edge its chipped and has lost lots of paint, this was common on Pacific aircraft at the time the reason why was a lot of runways were made from crushed coral.

On take off and landing the dust and debris thrown up was like sand paper that would chip/wear away the paint on many surfaces of the aircraft. so some serious chipping in places is in order.

More soon

Andy

Hi Nem

Thanks for looking in.I will probably use chipping medium to get the effects needed for the weathering did you also notice the chipping on the rear fin and the balloon chipping on the central rear stabilizer a typical sign of debris hitting this part of the aircraft from prop wash.

On another note the front dome was made of plexiglass as mentioned before here's a picture of one with major chipping/destruction from a hailstone storm:-

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/41869471508959463/


Andy

hI aLL

Started to assemble one of the engines after painting there is still some etch to add to the cylinder heads and the ignition loom at the front end. I also made up one of the etch cooling gills for the cowl which has improved the cowl no end.

More soon.

Andy

Have you sealed the clear cowling piece, I read in my Corsair F4U-A kit that they recommend sealing the clear parts.

Also Loving what your doing, can I ask do you do all your painting with an airbrush or do you do some hand brush work also.

As I tend to do both on my builds.