PAINTING FEST

Two very different models in the paint shop

It's not uncommon for me to be working on a number of projects concurrently, usually progressing through similar stages such as painting, transfers, weathering etc at the same time. This saves a lot of hassle as the workbench only need be set up for one undertaking rather than cluttering it up with all sorts of glues, tools and materials. However, this last week has been a bit different...

In the next issue of Model Rail magazine (MR202), we're looking at the painting and finishing processes in depth, so I needed to cover lots of different approaches. Therefore, the Class 90 project has been progressing, with airbrushes employed to get the main livery applied, hand brushes stepping in for the detail work. There's also been a wee mishap along the way when the masking tape pulled away some of the blue paint - only a small patch near the roof line, but it demanded a few hours of extra work and - most annoyingly - another 12hours for the enamels to cure. This hasn't happened to me for a while, but it's actually perfect timing, making for an excellent 'What if it goes wrong?' fact panel in the article!!

The other loco being finished is the great little ARC Models kit of the Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST that I built a few months ago, using the Hornby L&Y 'Pug' chassis. I've been painting this one with aerosols and by hand (without fingerprints, ha ha!). It's years since I last used aerosols for a 'proper' loco finish and the Revell rattle cans have proved excellent. It's still a pain to get the paint evenly distributed around the boiler, so it takes a bit of care and patience. An airbrush certainly isn't any quicker in this respect, but it is easier to control, once you get the hang of it. Again, all will be explained in MR202.

I've a few bits to finish off on the '90' before it's ready for a varnish coat and then both models will receive transfers and, in the case of the 'kettle', some nice lining too. Although applying decals can be a chore, the fact that they help the models to come to life always makes it worthwhile....