This is my first build for this GB, have ordered an extra bottle of decal solvent!




I have a second kit if i get time, not a F-16A though.

watching this with interest i hate painting white and those decals will be a nightmare, but after seeing you cars im sure this will be easy for you

Thanks for the confidence boost Mark.

Might start removing bits tonight.

The white doesn't bother me, too many white and daglo Mclarens under the belt!

i better start mine then

A little bit done over the weekend, inbetween bouts of decorating and bed shopping!!

Will put some pics up this evening.

The decals are worrying me as the instructions say the scheme is red white and dark blue, on the sheet the blue looks distinctly black and the red is not as bright as I would expect. Searched on line for new decals but none found, will have to carry on with what I have.

Pics from a low productive weekend, modelling wise!







Two halves not glued yet and canopy and flyboy just test fitted.

Hopefully a bit more tonight.

great start

And I was considering doing this in 48th. No chance if you are :o :P :D . Looks good mate.

Don't be shy benyboy, it would be nice to have a big brother in the GB.

Home early today so should get a couple of coats of white on and maybe some gloss.

I started building on these a few days ago (albeit the non-Thunderbirds kit) and was quite surprised, and pleased, with how easily and cleanly it went together.

Primed last night with good old Halford white primer and a few blemishes sorted out.


Tonight two coats of Vallejo Model Air and a couple of coats of Lakeland Quickshine.


I am in Warrington tomorrow evening so will give it a chance to dry so probably start the decals on Saturday evening.

Thanks for looking.

looking really good warren

Nice stuff Madmonk,

I'm going to follow this one closely as I have the same kit near the top of the stash and I've been squeamish about it cos of the decalling. I enjoy decalling and seem to have a certain ability with it but I've read too many magazine reviews over the years where paint has been required to fill gaps in Thunderbirds kit decals from different manufacturers.
More power to you.

Phil.

Phil, the decals were the bit of this kit that I wasn't looking forward to. They looked faded and the white was a bit yellowed. The colour scheme on the box looks like it should be red white and blue but the red is not as bright as I would have thought and the blue is definately black!

That said apart from the colour and the over large carrier film they have been very nice to apply, nice and thin and settled down well with just one application of micro sol.





There is some touching up to do, mainly on the tail leading edge and some of the black where it cracked probably due to age.

I knew these decals would be the problem with this kit.

Having applied 2 coats of Quickshine last night I have just checked on it an all the decals are now completely matt!! The painted areas are nice and glossy but the decals have a matt finish. Any one any ideas on what happened and how to get the decals glossy.

idd put several coats of Klear on them, it will provide a 'ner plastic' film on them but also gloss them

Thanks Mark, but I don't have any Klear, the Quickshine is an alternative from Lakeland and has worked well before on both aircraft and cars. The Mclaren for example.

I put a coat of Xtracrylics clear gloss on one of the wing undersides before work this morning so will see how that has gone when I get home.

Well a couple of coats of Halfords universal clear have sorted it out, only problem is some of the surface detail has been flooded but at least it is now glossy.

Hopefully get wheels and canopy on this weekend.

Not much to report, got the wheels on, just need to apply a coat of smoke to the canopy and that should just about see it done.

Calling this one done.


More pics in the gallery.

cool mate that looks good very clean, like a thunderbird should

Cheers Mark.

The kit is really nice but those old decals were a mare!! The white is a little yellowed and it took 4 coats of clear before they went glossy!!

Nice model, well done.