I have the Model Alliance decal sheet
Every time I see a photo of a Hunter, I can't get over just how attractive of a aircraft that is. That's one of the best looking aircraft ever made.
Pat
You're right, but that very quality makes it quite a difficult aircraft to model, especially in the smaller scales.
I've found that models of sleek, streamlined aircraft can very easily start to look very toy-like. The eye is drawn to detail and lumpy bits. Long, unbroken curves tend to make the model quite boring. On the other hand, something as ugly as an F-4 almost always looks interesting and convincing as a model.
With aircraft such as the Hunter and Spitfire, it is important to try and break up the clean lines of the aircraft. The later marks of both aircraft work better as models. Griffon Spitfires are nowhere near as sleek as the early versions, while the Hunter FGA9 has all sorts of underwing stores, an odd bump on the rear fuselage and fairings and aerials sprouting herr, there and everywhere. Those can look quite interesting.
But try modelling a Spitfire I or a Hunter Mk1. You have to drop the flaps on the Hunter and model the airbrake slightly drooped. Those early Hunters had a high-gloss finish which also helps to make the finished model look very toy-like. You really need to make a totally flat finish and then *very* carefully introduce a slight eggshell finish. You also need to highlight the panel lines and carry out some subtle weathering. It *is* possible to build a Hunter Mk1 in 1/72 without having it look like a toy, but it's not easy. Likewise with a Spitfire I. You need to droop the elevators, deflect the rudder and show the canopy and cockpit entry hatch open, just to break up the lines a bit.
Another thing that tends to cause a model to look like a toy is a light, uniform colour scheme. Say, a pale grey uppersurface. US Navy jets are very popular, but the classic USN scheme is very difficult to portray convincingly. I've lost count of the number of publicity photos I've seen for the next re-pop of the Hasegawa F-4 (whether in 1/72 or 1/48) that looks like a toy because of the lack of contrast on the uppersurfaces and the gloss finish. You can't just spray the light gull grey on in a single coat and leave it at that. You need to mask off various panels and spray them in a subtly different grey - sometimes two or three shades. Then you need to highlight the panel lines. It takes a lot of work. I've lost count of the number of USN subjects that I built, only to be disappointed with how bland the scheme looked. I eventually gave up on USN subjects and it's only in the past couple of years that I've tried them again. It takes a lot of work but I'm finally starting to produce results that I can be satisfied with.
Oh... and panel lines. What about that F-22? There doesn't seem to *be* any panel lines on the real thing. Even photographs of the real aircraft look like wooden mock-ups. What are the chances of building a convincing small scale model of that?
Ever seen a F-117 close up? It looks like its made out of plywood sheet, like some cheap movie prop. The RAM tape over the junctions of the facets doesn't help either, as that makes it look like its held together with black duct tape. One thing about those super-smooth stealth surfaces like on the F-22 and B-2...it they ever get damaged, they are going to be a bitch to repair.
Pat
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