[WWI] Painting tips for Albatros wings?

[Mark Shannon]

I paint the wing camouflage first, but only after masking the unpainted
radiator.  You want to avoid building up color over the detail as much as
possible.  After the camouflage is dry, I mask it off around the radiator. 
If you paint away from the masking when doing the wing colors, you won't
build up a ledge of paint at the edge of the radiator.

These radiators were dipped in molten solder, so their new color would be a
dull silver tone.  I usually use Model Master 'Burnt Metal" metalizers for
the radiators, but that is only a start, as I also use black oil washes and
drybrushing with silver paint to achieve the final tones.  If you use
artist watercolors for your washes, you don't need to cover the metalizers
with sealer or Future/Kleer.  I like using Floquil metallics in general,
because they appear to have the finest metalizing pigments and are
relatively tough and durable.  I've experimented with matching the very
delicate metalizers with a mix of Floquil silver and bronze or gunmetal. 
It is very subtle and tricky to keep it a discolored silver, rather than a
light bronze color.

Unfortunately, the Floquil Military colors line is no more.  Their
Napoleonic Violet is a good base for mixing any of the suggested
mauve/lilac colors -- Model Master II has the same name in their line, but
it is not as bright as the Floquil.  For the dark green, pick one of the
olive or greyish dark greens, or I also like Humbrol #3 Dark Brunswick
Greens.  FS # like 34079, 34096, 34097 and 34127 for 'greens' or else one
of the olives like 34086, 34159, or 34201 might be a good base.

Mark Shannon
shingend at ix.netcom.com



> [Original Message]
> From: Bill Michaels <bill_michaels at verizon.net>
> To: <wwi at wwi-models.org>
> Date: 9/1/2008 4:09:17 PM
> Subject: [WWI] Painting tips for Albatros wings?
>
> Hello all,
>
> After years of building mostly 1.72 stuff,  I'm now building an Eduard
1.48 scale Albatros D.V for the first time.  (Weekend Edition.)
>
> My question:  how do you 1/48 Albatros veterans paint the wing radiators?
I'm looking for ideas on colors to use and techniques for masking.  Is it
easier to paint the wing colors and then mask and shoot the radiator, or
vice versa?  (And what color(s) should the radiator be?) 
>
> TIA for any advice......
>
>
>