Scale Aviation Modeller International — November 2017

weathering and burnt effect were

now added using Hot Metal Violet

and Sepia, Steel Pigments and

different washes. The airframe

was given a clear coat of Alclad

Aqua Gloss in preparation of the

forthcoming ordeal that was to

present itself- decaling. I say ordeal

because there were more than 500

(yes- five hundred) decals! The

main airframe markings were

straightforward and easy enough

to apply, but there was an absolute

myriad of stencils to be added and

this took me the best part of thirty-

hours to complete. These were

then sealed with another gloss

coat. I then set about weathering

the surfaces as I like to try and

achieve an authentic finish on all

my models. Once I was happy with

the look I added a coat of Hataka

Lacquer Flat Coat and when this

had dried I used a dirt and grime

wash, which soaked nicely into

the flat coat, leaving only faint

traces, but adding a bit of depth to

the weathering. Although pleased

with the result, my reference

material showed that the finish

just too flat. So, I used some 3600

grit Micromesh to rub down the

airframe, leaving it smooth, and

then I sprayed on a couple of

coats of Gloss on, then buffed it

with a couple of different grades

of Micromesh, 6000 and 8000,

and this gave me the finish I was

looking for, dirty but shiny. I then

turned my attention to dirtying up

the wing fuel tanks and painting

and detailing the weaponry. This

aircraft carried quite an extensive

array of armament, made up of

AIM-7 Sparrows under the fuselage

and AIM-9B Sidewinders plussix

Mk.82 bombs with fuse extenders

on the underwing pylons.

The missiles were all glued

together and seams removed.

The AIM-7s and AIM-9s were

then given a primer coat and then

painted Gloss White, before being

decaled. The Mk.82s were sprayed

Olive Green with two Yellow bands

The Mk.82s were painted Olive Drab

....and the colour built-up

gradually on the upper.....

Missiles and bombs on the

LAU-7 launcher

The airframe was

first primed....

Tanks and weaponry ready

to add to the Phantom

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