So the theme for the first part of this post is "one step forward, two steps back". Ominous foreshadowing!
Another first on this build for me was using the hairspray method. Bought some hairspray with a handpump which sprayed out a pretty blotchy pattern on the hull. No probs, scrubbed it off with some warm water and used my novice airbrush skills to apply the hairspray. Jackpot! A nice even layer. Then on with whitewash and once again, my new bargain price airbrush put on a nice coat.
![20240221_155326.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116753&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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But...I put it on too uniformly and thick. When I started chipping it, I just wasn't getting the worn and faded look I was wanting. Sooooo, off to the sink to scrub off my layer of white and hairspray.
I did leave the bogies etc. alone as the thought of scrubbing them clean was a bit depressing. There will be mud and lots of washes on all of that area so I'm ok with the heavier white.
![20240223_141823.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116763&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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![20240223_141850.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116762&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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Regroup, and got less enthusuastic with my coverage. Dat's better! Something I'm finding with airbrushing is that I can, and need to get out of my rattlecan mindset of complete coverage because with a rattlecan that's about what you get with the volume and wide spray pattern they deliver. Less is more, Mike. Less is more.
![20240224_232003.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116758&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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![20240224_231955.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116757&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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On with the chipping and scrubbing. It is a lot of fun! I like how some areas came out, others less so, but overall it gives the blandish billboard KV-2 more surface interest.
![20240306_154716.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116761&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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![20240306_154800.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116760&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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![20240306_154834.jpg](./download/file.php?id=116759&sid=124921a540a0ad855be3102a87bac8d2)
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Next steps--mud, washes, some filters to get a wider colour palette on the tank, a bit of rust and soot on those distinctive exhaust stubs, and lots of of detailing to do around the acres of this tank with some tarps and straps, and oil tanks.
Mike.