I finished the Revell (China) A10 Warthog just now. My skill level is better than when I started building last October yet this Warthog build isn't my best work.
I need lots of practice in so many aspects of plane modeling that I won't bore you by listing them but will cover a few.
95% of my painting is by brush at the kitchen counter ( I haven't gotten any paint on it --- Yea, Right ! My lovely wife is very good about it.
I did spraycan painting during December in my woodshed when the temp was 45 F. It was Ok sometimes but most often I was disappointed. When the weather is good I will do more outdoor (woodroom) painting. Any air-brush work would have to be done outside and I doubt modeling will be a warm weather hobby for me. I don't own an airbrush and doubt I will have one soon, if at all. I did a computer case in the shed and am proud of that. Not because it looks professional but because it is technically my best work. I had hoped to follow that pattern in my modeling but it isn't coming easy. Perhaps if I built the same model ten times in a row ? That's a joke.
This build was my first using seam filler. Man that stuff drys fast. I planned on using the finger technique to smooth but that is as effective as gluing plastic with Elmers. Thus I had more in and on than I wanted and was bummed. I have researched techniques since. My plan is to never buy Revell (China) again and in this way avoid having to use the crap. Due to Usenet posts in rec.models.scale I didn't cross all Revell of the list and this moment at the counter I have a
1/72 Revell (German) F4U-5 Corsair. I may report on that.
I decided that it's time to buy some crazy glue. I want faster bonding because my craft is weak and my hand not steady.
I learned that it is waaaaayyyyyy better to use larger brushes for wider areas. It may be intuitively obvious to some but it took me a spell.
If your doing camo it's best not to do one of the colors as an overall cover then fit the pattern on the remaining space. It might be Ok to do but not yet for me. There are too many coats on some areas which obscures the raised surfaces.
I purchased Mico Set and Sol. Get some. It makes decaling much better. I had an easier time placing the decals and the Sol makes errors less noticable.
The paint scheme used was eyeballed from the box cover. I can easily transfer an approximate pattern to the model. It isn't exact. I would "call it close enough for me." The color scheme is my own. I didn't have the colors specified exactly so I made due with my available colors. I was real close to doing the A-10 in sands and browns but did grey and two shades of green.
I like the brushwork. It is a pleasant way to spend wintertime.... at the counter.... watching the Red Wings play hockey. I believe that a brush paint model can be done well enough to please any builder/collector. It would be nice to be that expert. I will strive for that as my goal just because.
You can see the build here.