Um... Airfix 1/72 F-16A

[Stikpusher]

It should be a tight feathering. Not hard edge, but minimal overspray.

[Stuart]

Yeah that's what I thought. I think I might knock up a test mule and see if I can replicate it, shouldn't be too hard.

[KennyX]

I admire folks who can pull off that soft edge. I’ve tried, and most of the time I’m not happy 100% with my results. Just need more practice.

Now, I believe it was either Big Duke Maddog or Mr. Black Sheep, one of those fellas, shared a video concerning Luftwaffe mottling -with a brush- and if I’m not mistaken in that video is an interesting technique for using minuscule amounts of thinner on a clean brush to diffuse the edges of the mottling, and the results are similar- a nice, feathered edge that looks scale.

If you’ve not seen it lemme know and I’ll try and dig it up.

[jkim]

It's always best to refer to the real thing and as Carlos has posted, that edge is somewhat soft. Tricky to get those right using an airbrush. Even more challenging with a brush!

[Stikpusher]

Hey Stuart, when you get around to the Tamiya F-16C, here is a good example of the current scheme. The light ghost gray on the bottom was eliminated, and it’s now gunship gray 36118 over neutral gray 36270.

[speedgraflex]

Hey fellas, Is it possible to do a hybrid approach and airbrush the edge only? Or is that cheating things a bit? That edge looks sprayed.

[Stuart]

Hey Stuart, when you get around to the Tamiya F-16C, here is a good example of the current scheme. The light ghost gray on the bottom was eliminated, and it’s now gunship gray 36118 over neutral gray 36270.

Thanks Carlos, that matches with the research I've done. That's an interesting photo though, the gunship grey is behind the cockpit like the earlier A's, rather than halfway down it like the later C schemes I've seen.

Also interesting that the Sidewinders are grey and not white.

[Stuart]

Hey fellas, Is it possible to do a hybrid approach and airbrush the edge only? Or is that cheating things a bit? That edge looks sprayed.

I'm sure its possible Bruce but not having a functioning airbrush puts the stops on that - I've done overspray effects before with a stippling brush that worked well, but nothing this tight. I'll sort it out.

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Carlos, that matches with the research I've done. That's an interesting photo though, the gunship grey is behind the cockpit like the earlier A's, rather than halfway down it like the later C schemes I've seen.

Also interesting that the Sidewinders are grey and not white.

Yes, sometimes it helps to look at photos of certain aircraft to be sure of the paint scheme because of variations like this. With F-16’s, F16.net is an excellent resource, as they have a very comprehensive database on every F-16 ever made, with photos of nearly each individual aircraft.

As far as the missiles go, they have not been white for a LONG time. US air to air missiles have been made in light ghost gray since around 1980 or so. Any white live AAM seen afterwards was old stock. Some air to ground missiles such as the Standard, Shrike, and HARM, are still white. Others, such as the Maverick can be OD or Gray depending upon version after the color change.

[speedgraflex]

Hey fellas, Is it possible to do a hybrid approach and airbrush the edge only? Or is that cheating things a bit? That edge looks sprayed.

I'm sure its possible Bruce but not having a functioning airbrush puts the stops on that - I've done overspray effects before with a stippling brush that worked well, but nothing this tight. I'll sort it out.

Can of Tamiya gray extra fine primer? It’s very thin because it carries no pigments.