DesTROYers Revell 1:144 QANTAS Airbus A380-800 FINISHED!!!

[Adam the Akrodude]

Feel for you Troy. Airliner paint finishes is a entirely different skill set I understand. Not into building airliners (yet) myself, but can see myself getting into building some from the Golden Age - 30's to 60's at some stage. I have a lot to learn about achieving the best finish before then. In the meantime, I've been using my little 1/48 aerobatic aeroplane builds as "technology/skill" test beds. Much easier to experiment on little builds rather than stuff up big builds.
I've found Gunze/Mr Hobby flat white is a brilliant undercoat and polishes up nicely as well, same with Tamiya flat red, but it goes quite a bit darker when hit with a semi-gloss clear coat. I know the airliner guys use a lot of rattle cans which is fine on big builds, but not so on little builds.
I still have to decide on the best type of finish for my red & white RB-51 - I like Eric's polishing technique - that Comet was absolutely flawless!

Anyway, keep the faith and keep working on your techniques. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

[RayS]

Alright, apparently Airbus grey is BAC 707, which is FS16515. I have ordered a jar of lifecolor from BNA and should have it Tuesday.

Troy

BAC707 grey is in fact, known as 'Boeing Grey' which is FS16515. It is also referred to as Voodoo Grey as the early F-101s were painted in this colour. Available from Xtracolor as X301

That being said Airbus does have its own grey (available in the Xtracolor range; Airbus Industrie Grey X359) but in most cases airlines request BAC707 grey for wings, etc on their Airbus airliners.

[hrtpaul]

I know the airliner guys use a lot of rattle cans which is fine on big builds, but not so on little builds.

I use Tamiya spray bombs on all my build, big or little and don't have a drama at all. Since discovering them, I haven't looked back and I won't use anything else. And the Tamiya fine white primer has been a Godsend for any white paint jobs I've done as it covers beautifully and is very smooth right outta the can

[DesTROYer]

Oh, and I pushed one of the undercarriage bays up into the body today too. Ray, It nearly got hung off of the curtain rail, this afternoon.

I WILL SOLDIER ON. IT WILL NOT BREAK ME. NEVER AGAIN!!!

[tor lives]

You think this is causing ya grief......try dealing with the 1:1s every friggen day
This is one type I don't have hanging from the "curtain rail of doom".
I am just thinking Troy.......maybe the best thing to do would be to "caustic soda bath" her and get her back to bare plastic, so that you can perhaps start the painting process again. Failing that, you could try to sand away the problem paint work, but you will obviously start to loose surface detail if you elect for the sanding solution, (that's why I love the caustic soda option......it doesn't damage the surface detail).
One final thing......are the tail planes already attached?????, cause in my experience, it is far easier to paint and decal the Qantas red "tail sache" prior to attaching the tail planes, (makes her easier to handle during the painting process as well).
TOR

[DesTROYer]

I'm going to sit on the couch tonight and give the tail a sanding with micromesh and see if I can get it all smoothed out and cleaned up. I still have enough of the humbrol left for some patch ups and another coat if need be.

Yes the horizontal stabs are attached. Yes, I realize now it would have been easier to leave them off for this stage, but I wanted to fix the joins up, so I didn't think about it at the time.

Don't worry Ray, Ill get her done and she'll look the goods.

[tor lives]

I'm going to sit on the couch tonight and give the tail a sanding with micromesh and see if I can get it all smoothed out and cleaned up. I still have enough of the humbrol left for some patch ups and another coat if need be.

Yes the horizontal stabs are attached. Yes, I realize now it would have been easier to leave them off for this stage, but I wanted to fix the joins up, so I didn't think about it at the time.

Don't worry Ray, Ill get her done and she'll look the goods.

If anyone can do it mate.....you can. Given the tenacity and skill you have demonstrated in the past, the big ol A380 will be a walk in the park for you
TOR

[DesTROYer]

Finally after three 40th birthdays and an interstate wedding, I managed to get back onto the modelling bench this weekend and back to work on the A380. Paint has been applied and future clear coat is now curing. I'll be glad to see this one fly off to its owner when finished.

After all the drama with the white, the Airbus grey went on great.








The Qantas red still isn't as smooth as I would like, but it'll do. I'll start the decals this week sometime.

[DesTROYer]

and yes Ray, I repainted the inside of the winglets grey.

[tor lives]

I know ya haven't really enjoyed this one Troy, but she is coming along nicely.
TOR