Italeri 1/72 X-32 construction

Ekki
Following.

Katya Hodgson
I hope I don't disappoint. 🙂

Maciej Bellos
Following

Katya Hodgson
Filling the gaps, and doing a bit of painting on the AMRAAM missiles.

There's one gap inside the intake that I don't think I will be able to fill, but as it runs along a panel line, I think it should look fine as it is once painted.

Katya Hodgson
So, turns out spraying citadel white over the colour of the kit's plastic makes this light grey-white colour, which is very close to the colour of the real thing.

Katya Hodgson
Underside and AMRAAMs are done.

Martin von Schreckenstein
i remember building this one when i was like 15. looking a lot better on your side

Katya Hodgson
It had a bunch of fit issues, there's also a large gap inside the intake that I can't fix because I have no way of getting in there to fill and sand it. :/

Bart Goesaert
Can't you glue some sanding paper onto a stick to fill and sand it (large wooden stick for brochettes?)

Katya Hodgson
Well i'm not even that great at filling normal gaps, let alone hard to reach ones like this...

Katya Hodgson
Engine area, landing gear bay, and weapons bay are now painted.

Bart Goesaert
I use a tool coming from the paintshop: [img1] then some sanding, either a stick as mentioned above or a sanding stick like this: [img2] you can cut these as you wish to reach some places. Sanding paper on a stick, or folded a few times can help too... Limit is your imagination...

google.de/search?q=m..iw=1920&bih=1098

Patrick Hagelstein
Looking good already! 👍

Katya Hodgson
Weapons bay and landing gear complete, the aircraft is now fully assembled!

There was almost an awful disaster with the weapons bay, but it seems to have worked out.

Bart Goesaert
looking good

Katya Hodgson
Canopy masking removed, it seems to have mostly worked apart from a few smudges.

This thing is so chubby...

Dave Flitton
Looking good so far -

Katya Hodgson
Thanks, I really am going to have to try a clear coat though, otherwise I am not sure about the decals, and I am never going to be able to do panel lines.

It's very intimidating though as I have never done a clear coat before.

Patrick Hagelstein
A clear coat is just like any other coat, only clear. 😉 Just be sure you put it on wet (not like dripping wet) so you get a smooth even surface to work on. Hang in there, you're doing great! 🙂

Katya Hodgson
It's also that the stuff I have is enamel, and I am awful at thinning enamel...

Martin Oostrom
Just remember that for the panellines you need a different type of paint than the clear coat. If one is enamel, the other should be acrylic. Otherwise you remove the clear coat when cleaning up the panellines.
She looks great!

Katya Hodgson
Oh... but I only have enamel for clear coat, and my panel line accent is enamel too...

Bart Goesaert
And just to add, when not sure of the thinning, use a test-object like and empty bottle of tin can. When the paint is ok on this surface (no paper, because that absorbs water, moisture), it will be ok on the model...

Dave Flitton
Try using a thin mechanical pencil for your panel lines

Cuajete
Well done so far, Katya!

Katya Hodgson
I need to get another gundam panel marker...

Patrick Hagelstein
Or try to find an acrylic clear coat. That way you might be better off thinning it and you can still use the Gundam marker for the panel lines. You can use Johnson Pledge 'revive it' floor polish (Also known as Future Floor Polish to modelers) to spray a clear coat but be sure to clean your airbrush afterwards as this stuff dries to a hard surface.

Katya Hodgson
This stuff?
amazon.co.uk/Pledge-..tore-x/dp/B000ARPH4C

My only previous experience with an acrylic coat was some humbrol acrylic spray varnish I had, but all it ever did was make the paint come off, so I never even really used it beyond some tests. 🙁

Normally I use Tamiya panel line accent, but for this I would have liked a gundam panel line marker (mine ran out/was damaged) as it would have been fairly easy to draw them on, and not have to worry about cleaning up any excess.

Patrick Hagelstein
Yep! That's it! 👍

Katya Hodgson
I don't think I can afford any at the moment... 🙁

Michael South
It looks like your well on your way to a nicely built kit. Well done!

Donald Dickson II
Looking good. 🙂

Katya Hodgson
Thanks, just needs a clear coat and then I can try the decals. Sadly they seem to be water damaged, even though the kit was sealed when I got it, so I don't know if they will work or not.

Patrick Hagelstein
If the glue hasn't washed away under the decals you might be able to use them still. If they are only yellowed, taping them to a window pane facing outwards helps to restore the color by exposure to UV light.

Katya Hodgson
I have not tried them yet, i'll upload a picture so you can see.

Katya Hodgson
There we go.

Patrick Hagelstein
Looking at picture 18, the decals themselves seem quite alright. It's the backing paper that is discolored. I think you should be fine. I've worked with far worse looking decals and they performed well.

Cuajete
I agree with Patrick 👍.

Katya Hodgson
Oh good, that's a relief.

If I can work out how to use it, i'll use the Pledge stuff tomorrow (if it arrives) as a clear coat, and then get the decals on.

Michael South
I suggest airbrushing it straight from the bottle no need to thin. That's my experience anyway.

Katya Hodgson
I'll have a go. 🙂

John Thomas
Outstanding work.