Camouflage

[Mike Griffin]

Once you have your base color on, what kind of mask do you use to shoot the camo patches on? Is there a really simple way to do it?

Thanks

Mike

[Howard Rush]

If it's just dope or acrylic lacquer, a regular respirator should work. 

[proparc]

Windy videos!!!
Call Windy, and he will send you EVERYTHING you could ever want to know. His Spitfire has especially beautiful camo.

[wwwarbird]

 On this modified T-Rex project, the blue/grey base color was sprayed first. Then I went back and used a small Badger airbrush for plastic modeling and just freehanded the Olive Drab.

 Before you point the airbrush at your plane, take the time to look at and study a lot of photos and develop a plan. Then, take more time to visualize how you can adapt a chosen pattern to your model. It's not a bad idea either to practice a little spraying on a sheet of cardboard to get a "feel" before you take aim at your model.

 Patience in preparation of your plan will usually provide the best results. I spend a LOT of time just looking at my models before and during the painting stages to figure out my next move.

[Norm Faith Jr.]

Hi Mike, I've done a few...my favorite color scheme. The Angel was done with latex and clear-kote...The Novi was done with automotive base, color and clear-kote. All "free-hand."
Norm

[Michael Boucher]

Hi Norm, Great looking camo finishes. Could you explain both finishes more?  Thanks, Mike 

[FLOYD CARTER]

I could have used an airbrush, but instead went the masking tape route (miles of it!).  Paint is all-Brodak, right out of the can.

Floyd

[phil c]

Camo can easily be done free hand with either a sprayer or spray cans.  A few light pencilmarks to show where the edges go and just spray the darker color over the lighter.

[Air Ministry .]

Most full size stuff has soft edges . packers under the mask to keep the edge off a feww mm will get it if spraying , experiment on scrap as regards hight.
Needs paint going on dryish . look at pictures of your suject to estimate the overlay / softness of lap .

[Norm Faith Jr.]

Hi Norm, Great looking camo finishes. Could you explain both finishes more?  Thanks, Mike 

Sorry Mike for taking so long on your request. (school is about to start) The Novi camo started with a picture of a "full scale Spit." I've always thought that a Novi would look good done in Spit Fire decor. The Novi is covered with polyspan, nitrate dope and the usual sanding primer. I mixed automotive base coat to achieve the desired colors using the picture. Using an airbrush I sprayed the light color first, only in the areas required; again using the picture.
I did the same with the darker color. During the application of the dark color, I pull the gun back (technique) from the surface near the edge, allowing the color to "fog and fade" into the lighter color. The panel lines and rivets are done with a flexable straight edge and a fine point sharpie. The insignias and markings came from a Spit Fire decal sheet. The entire airplane is then airbrushed with automotive clear-kote, canopy and insignias included. I did not attempt to "rub it out." Looked good enough to me. The angel was done basically the same way except the colors were mixed with Red Devil latex enamel. The use of the latex seemed to add more weight to the plane than the automotive paint. All of the application was done free hand with no "guide lines." I learned how to do camouflage in the Air Force, watching our painters do the Camo on F-4s. They had a "by the book" paint scheme to follow, but in the end; no two F-4s were identical. Each painter had his own "little style" that was unique and recognizable by his fellow painters.
Norm