Redback

I am getting close to painting my 1/8 TF Corsair, which I plan to do as a British version.

In a lot of pictures it seems that the camoflage is painted with a kind of soft edge between the colours rather than a masked type finish (this seems to be quite common and I assume is the result of spraying the full size without masking).

Any tips on achieving this look with the model? I have access to an airbrush but have not used it except as a mini spray gun. No doubt a skilled air brusher could do it all freehand, but I need to cheat!

Appreciate any tips

Terry

Greg Wright

My Feedback: (6)

HI Terry this is my p-47 that is almost completed the way i do it is free hand with my airbrush at a very low airpressure setting on my compressor.

Joe Lott

Terry,

I did the 3-tone color scheme on my corsair with the soft edges by turning down the spray volume on my airbrush and overlapping the colors. Don't know how tight your camo pattern needs to be, but if it's pretty large areas of contrasting color, I believe it would work. My air pressure was around 20 psi, using latex paint.

wulf190

My Feedback: (19)

Terry, if you don't trust yourself free handed, you can use 3M soft edge masking foam available at better auto finishing paint stores. It works well for Luftwaffe bird schemes.

Mike

Redback

Thanks guys,

Gotta get some practice before I get to the bird itself

Terry

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

I plan to use the 3m tape method on my F-16 that I'll be doing a camo scheme on.

You spray over the tape, never into it. I also plan to practice on some cardboard first as well.

CGAV8R

My Feedback: (2)

Free hand airbrush camo is not that hard at all. When you are spraying your pattern, always spray back into the direction of of the color you are spraying. You can create a good soft line with the overspray going back into the color you are spraying. Kind of hard to discribe, but I hope you get the idea.
Aaron D.

SCALECRAFT

My Feedback: (13)

Hi All

In Fine Scale Modeler, I saw method were one cuts a pattern from thin card stock and supports it above the surface (1/4)" to be protected, then sprayed next color as needed, thus providing a soft border between colors.

Try it on a board first. You'll get it.

steve

sweetpea01

My Feedback: (10)

that is where the 3M tape comes in. Its flexible enough to do compound curves and raises the line above the surface giving the soft edge.


Both methods work

Vintauri

My Feedback: (25)

Any time you use tape you'll get a line. If you support the card stock above the surface you prevent major overspray while aloowing the paint to blend into the next color with just minor overspray. Buy some white tagboard to practice on. Also as mentioned earlier try to spray into the color your working on not directly down or out into the other color. That will help limit the overspray onto the opposing color.

Dai Phan

My Feedback: (2)

Hi Terry

Since this is a large plane, the less you have to worry about overspray because any over spray in this scale is impossible to detect (within reason of course). This is what I would do:

1. Paint the lower color (I think light gray) in the lower half of the fuse and wing.

2. Mask the bottom and paint the upper color.

3. Remove the mask. You will see a hard seperation line between two colors.

4. Take sandpaper and knock of the "ridge" that separates the two colors.

5. Get a cheap airbrush ( I bought several at Micheals I think Badger 250?) and spray the darker color at the junction while pointing the tip toward the darker color. Practice on a piece of cardboard to get the right PSI, distance and nozzle control. You will be able to achieve a nice soft feather between the two colors.

The reason I like to mask first then do the soft edge is that by masking, I can open my nozzle wide and don't worry about excessive overspray so I can cover the plane more quickly. Free handed method without masking works well for small plastic models but on this scale, it would take so long to paint. I used this method on my Albatros but you should have a little more soft edge than in mine. DP