omg...Omg...OMG!!! :zen :zen :zen Can't tell you the feeling I have right now. Satisfaction. :zen :zen :zen
The antenna are done.
I took BMF and wrapped the base of them, measuring 22 scaled inches being exposed. I did some rough guestimations based on pixel count and overall hight of the antenna to come up with 22 inches being expose. If I'm wrong, too late. Measured twice, cut once. So far so good..found the size of teh hole on the spine and drilled out the bottom of the antenna oh so carefully, found .8mm rod worked well for support, cut a length and started test fitting. Looked good. I beveled off the bottom of the antenna slightly to get the curvature of the spine, test fit again. looked good...CA time.
Lesson learned. Should have had the antenna in place when painting NMF. That way the root of the mount would look more uniformed and seamless. Ended up drybrushing MM Chrome to clean up where the CA marred the alcladII finish. Maybe a clear coat will blend the two. It's not bad but I can see it.
I promise to never, EVER attempt to scribe a access panel freehand again. that's suppose to be the access panel for the antenna, it would have been a field modification, I think the guys in the field would have done a better job that this.
I'm a happy camper folks! I tried some of Ian's dry pigment work, putting any mask on this scares the bejesus out of me but I can see the effect he's talking about. Look at this picture around the ammo bay covers, I used burnt umber pigments around there. Whatcha think Ian (waiting on Ian to get registered again, he was one who got deleted.. )
I may do some more pigment work on it, already dirtied up the tires. I'll try and get some better pictures this weekend if weather permits and call this DONE!
The antenna are done.
I took BMF and wrapped the base of them, measuring 22 scaled inches being exposed. I did some rough guestimations based on pixel count and overall hight of the antenna to come up with 22 inches being expose. If I'm wrong, too late. Measured twice, cut once. So far so good..found the size of teh hole on the spine and drilled out the bottom of the antenna oh so carefully, found .8mm rod worked well for support, cut a length and started test fitting. Looked good. I beveled off the bottom of the antenna slightly to get the curvature of the spine, test fit again. looked good...CA time.
Lesson learned. Should have had the antenna in place when painting NMF. That way the root of the mount would look more uniformed and seamless. Ended up drybrushing MM Chrome to clean up where the CA marred the alcladII finish. Maybe a clear coat will blend the two. It's not bad but I can see it.
I promise to never, EVER attempt to scribe a access panel freehand again. that's suppose to be the access panel for the antenna, it would have been a field modification, I think the guys in the field would have done a better job that this.
I'm a happy camper folks! I tried some of Ian's dry pigment work, putting any mask on this scares the bejesus out of me but I can see the effect he's talking about. Look at this picture around the ammo bay covers, I used burnt umber pigments around there. Whatcha think Ian (waiting on Ian to get registered again, he was one who got deleted.. )
I may do some more pigment work on it, already dirtied up the tires. I'll try and get some better pictures this weekend if weather permits and call this DONE!