Doing camoflage model aircraft finishes: guidance needed

Thanks, PV interesting concept but I wonder how well it would adapt to camoflaging a model aircraft. The dipping process would concern me

I was also thinking of using an air brush or sprayer for camo application.

Just looking for ideas now but I believe butyrate dope/spray application holds the edge. I'm hoping more will show up here on the modeling forum.

I'm sure that Ron Cribbs will be following this too.

SD,

I was looking at the monokote page and they also sell paint that is compatible with monokote and fuel proof. You could mask and spray it on or air brush...........

Was just parusing Micro mark and came across this masking material.
http://www.micromark.com/Parafilm-M,7551.html

PV:

Thank you for the link to parafilm it looks like a good way to apply camo finishes to models.


In my duck hunting days I applied camo finishes to aluminum boats so I've familiar with the principles of camo painting on a larger scale but not on something the size of a model aircraft. The principle involves confusing the outline of the object which, on a model aircraft, would mean light colors below and darker colors above much as fish appear naturally comoflaged in nature.

How many fish have you seen with dark underbellies?

SuperDave wrote:PV:

Thank you for the link to parafilm it looks like a good way to apply camo finishes to models.


In my duck hunting days I applied camo finishes to aluminum boats so I've familiar with the principles of camo painting on a larger scale but not on something the size of a model aircraft. The principle involves confusing the outline of the object which, on a model aircraft, would mean light colors below and darker colors above much as fish appear naturally comoflaged in nature.

How many fish have you seen with dark underbellies?

You will have to bear in mind that WW2 camo patterns for British aircraft bore no resemblance to what is used today. Spitfires normally had dark earth/dark green upper camouflage, placed in irregular shaped, sharp-edged patterns, the undersides were "Duck-egg blue (or green)" which is a colour constantly argued about in scale model circles, since the exact colour is unknown, and varied depending on where the a/c were painted.
There are plenty of coloured 3-views of Spits on the web to pick a pattern from.

Wilf

.

Wilf:

Most likely, in the rush to get Spit's into the air for combat against the Luftwaffe in the 1940 "Battle of Britain", there was no particualr camo pattern used by the Brits and each plane was probably unique as to pattern.

The Guillow's model box has an excellent pix example to follow in doing mine. Now to find an air brush for the application.

Mudhen wrote:
Using thin cardboard - no thicker than a 3x5 card, cut out the shape of the camouflage for a particular segment on the model. Apply small, spherical dollops of modeler's clay, (about the size of a pin head,) underneath the cardboard cut-out. Have several pieces of clay for outlining each edge and following the shape of the cut-out, but inset from the edge by a 1/4 inch. Then press the cut-out onto the model. The closer you press the cut-out, the sharper the edge, but it will still fade. Then airbrush your color over the mask.

Yup -- works great. I sometimes cut a single long mask, then by using one end or the other and flipping it over, I can get multiple patterns.

A good double action airbrush can also be used to freehand patterns.

SuperDave wrote:Wilf:

Most likely, in the rush to get Spit's into the air for combat against the Luftwaffe in the 1940 "Battle of Britain", there was no particualr camo pattern used by the Brits and each plane was probably unique as to pattern.

The Guillow's model box has an excellent pix example to follow in doing mine. Now to find an air brush for the application.

True, and of course the pattern/colours varied across all marks during the war, and even from season to season. In these pictures the earth/green is an early 1940 Mk 1, the second is a Mk9 in "Spring" camouflage of earth/grey

Wilf

I prefer the latter of those two.
Much more pleasant.

nitro:

I can visualize where the former would be more appropriate for the operations in the North African desert.

BTW, my late US Army vet father-in-law once told me of accidently shooting down a Spitfire during the North Africa campaign that came over his unit low and fast. The plane crashed but the British pilot escaped unharmed but irrate.

My f-i-l salvaged the plane's compass which I still have in my den today.

No, I'm NOT returning the compass!

SuperDave wrote:nitro:

I can visualize where the former would be more appropriate for the operations in the North African desert.

BTW, my late US Army vet father-in-law once told me of accidently shooting down a Spitfire during the North Africa campaign that came over his unit low and fast. The plane crashed but the British pilot escaped unharmed but irrate.

My f-i-l salaged the plane's compass which I still have in my den today.

No, I'm NOT returning the compass!

Cool i wish i had that compass:)
BUt that thing of shooting down the Spit, well it was his fault for showing off or being uncautious or whatever.

In aircraft combat operations planes are often shot down by "friendly fire' especially when their nationality isn't known and they fly low and fast.

My f-i-l took the Spit down using a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and after the Spit pilot's initial rage they became friends until the Brit was returned to his unit after several months.

Both have been deceased now for over thirty years.

SuperDave wrote:In aircraft combat operations planes are often shot down by "friendly fire' especially when their nationality isn't known and they fly low and fast.

My f-i-l took the Spit down using a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and after the Spit pilot's initial rage they became friends until the Brit was returned to his unit after several months.

Both have been deceased now for over thirty years.

Bar!
I like those weren't they sort of the first automatic rifle or portable machine gun.
It was shot from the ground

SuperDave wrote:In aircraft combat operations planes are often shot down by "friendly fire' especially when their nationality isn't known and they fly low and fast.

My f-i-l took the Spit down using a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and after the Spit pilot's initial rage they became friends until the Brit was returned to his unit after several months.

Both have been deceased now for over thirty years.

"friendly fire" incidents happened quite a bit during WW2 be it poor communications or mistaken identity. My Grandfather who just turned 90 told me he shot a couple of his pals in Normandy who thought it would be funny to pop out from behind some hay bales wearing German helmets. He told me that when he was very sick once, not sure why he did, but he hasn't said much to anyone before or since.

cribbs74 wrote:

SuperDave wrote:In aircraft combat operations planes are often shot down by "friendly fire' especially when their nationality isn't known and they fly low and fast.

My f-i-l took the Spit down using a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and after the Spit pilot's initial rage they became friends until the Brit was returned to his unit after several months.

Both have been deceased now for over thirty years.

"friendly fire" incidents happened quite a bit during WW2 be it poor communications or mistaken identity. My Grandfather who just turned 90 told me he shot a couple of his pals in Normandy who thought it would be funny to pop out from behind some hay bales wearing German helmets. He told me that when he was very sick once, not sure why he did, but he hasn't said much to anyone before or since.

Shot dead?
that would be a terrible joke on themselves.

I can't imagine anyone "clowning" like that on the battlefield. It's a good way to get shot dead and get visit from a "Sky Pilot".

Remember the tune by that name by Eric Burden and "The Animals"?

cribbs74 wrote:

SuperDave wrote:In aircraft combat operations planes are often shot down by "friendly fire' especially when their nationality isn't known and they fly low and fast.

My f-i-l took the Spit down using a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and after the Spit pilot's initial rage they became friends until the Brit was returned to his unit after several months.

Both have been deceased now for over thirty years.

"friendly fire" incidents happened quite a bit during WW2 be it poor communications or mistaken identity. My Grandfather who just turned 90 told me he shot a couple of his pals in Normandy who thought it would be funny to pop out from behind some hay bales wearing German helmets. He told me that when he was very sick once, not sure why he did, but he hasn't said much to anyone before or since.

Nitro, Not sure if they were shot dead to be honest, he didn't go into detail. he seemed pretty upset about it though.

SD, I am sure clowning did happen as we only see the glorified stuff on TV/movies or hear stories from time to time. He gave me a book a few years back written by a field officer in his regiment. Basicially it told the story of the regiments journey from beginning to end. It did have a lot of photo's some that my grandfather were in. The things was most photo's were of guys just hanging out and goofing off in various places throughout Europe. The stories of various battles were detailed and the pictures were shot to coincide with the events. Some were somber but most not. I have been active duty for 17 years and we have a good time even when things around us are not so grand it kind of breaks the tension. Either way just relating a 'friendly fire" story that stuck in my head.

Well I suppose i would feel like that weather they were dead or alive I am sure being shot isnt the nicest feeling!

nitroairplane wrote:Well I suppose i would feel like that weather they were dead or alive I am sure being shot isnt the nicest feeling!

Nor is being intentionally shot at awaiting round that might have your name on it.

Thats is true!

SuperDave wrote:

nitroairplane wrote:Well I suppose i would feel like that weather they were dead or alive I am sure being shot isnt the nicest feeling!

Nor is being intentionally shot at awaiting round that might have your name on it.

It's not the bullet that has your name on it you have to worry about...it's all those other ones marked "To whom it may concern."


Wilf