Kinetic Israeli F-16I "Sufa" (Storm) Finished

[Greg Kimsey]

So, I was delayed starting the topside camo because of the '65 GTO build. I have parts drying so I thought it a good time to start on the camo. I mixed the FS33531 using Tamiya XF56 Buff and XF2 white, then thinned 50/50 with Mr Color leveling thinner. Using the provided blueprint I followed as closely as I could freehand with the airbrush.

 

[moon puppy]

This mottle post shade is going to be interesting.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Using my UHU Museum putty I masked off to paint the brown. Once that dried I masked the brown and painted the green. For the green I used Vallejo Model Air Green Zinc Chromate #71.094 since it looked closest to the photos and paintings I saw. The color is SF34424, but I did not find a Tamiya mixing conversion formula and I was out of Val 71.321, and this looked close on the bottle. It is a little intense. Also, it is very transparent. I will get the right color and repaint the green areas.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I used Tamiya cockpit green IJN XF-71 to tone the green down. The previous green made a wonderful base and I like the results here. I think I will take the rest of Sunday off and do something else for a while.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I forgot the photo I guess. Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Well, I "think the painting portion of the program is finished. Next will be sealing then weathering. There are some flaws but overall I am happy, except for one little booboo I JUST saw on the rear left stabilizer (horizontal part of the tail?)

You can see the GTO has its first coat of white in the background.

And this is just a cool photo using the flash to show off the Vallejo Game Air color "magic blue" in the ...turbine (?)

 

[paddy]

Paint really is your forte well done

 

[moon puppy]

Yeah those artistic type really show us how to do it.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

As you guys may remember, decals are my Achilles heel. I swear, they hate me. I finally got it done. I removed some that started to flake off. I just don't know what I am doing wrong. I use a glossy finish and I use Micro Set and am very patient and some still delaminate or tear on me as I apply them. I taped off and painted a few of the straight line decals that delaminated, and hand painted some sections of the bird graphics on the tail. Ugh! I sprayed three coats of gloss finish to try and level out the edges, sanding with a fine sanding stick along the edges between coats. The edges are "mostly" unnoticeable now. Moving on...

Despite all of that, I have started the weathering process. Before I started I remade the little splines sticking out from the wings, tail, and stabilizers. No matter how careful I was during the build I ended up breaking off every single one. I remade new ones with stryrene rod and piano wire. I shouldn't have wasted my time because I have broken off 5 of 15 already and have only weathered the bottom. I reapplied three before giving up and will wait until the final final step.

For the weathering I am using oils. I mixed raw umber and raw sienna 50/50 for a more desert-like color, and am using paynes grey instead of ivory black for a more bluish "black"

 

[moon puppy]

I stumbled on Paynes Grey a while back and was amazed how it behaved.
I wonder if it's the decals themselves or maybe humidity? Perhaps setup a decaling station down in the bomb shelter?

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Photo dump! Finished with the weathering and added the ordinance and fuel tanks. All that is left is drying time and matte finish, then hopefully better photos.

 

[Rhino]

Yahweh's rapier.

Soldiers of The Scroll tremble at Her approach.

That's just COOL!

 

[moon puppy]

Lovely work Greg! I hate to see the F16 with all these bumps and protrusions this is a really good paint job!

 

[centaur567]

Flawless. VERY nice!! Gary S.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I hope these photos look good on your screen!

 

[moon puppy]

Love it Greg. Did a great job on the painting, looking at the decals they look painted on. Well done!

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Love it Greg. Did a great job on the painting, looking at the decals they look painted on. Well done!

Thanks Bob!

 

[paddy]

Tip top job Greg, i really like this if its any consolation i broke off all the spiny bits on the wings of my SU27, replaced them with piano wire then broke half of them again........