Finally, the blue coats were deemed adequate. They are no more than adequate, for the following reason: I simply couldn't get the paint/thinners mix right this time. I really should work out a systematic method of getting the proportions right.
I know a bad worker blames their tools, but I do think I need to seriously consider a new airbrush. My venerable Badger 120 is showing signs of age. Before anyone makes any recommendations, please bear in mind I do not like those dual-action triggers. I prefer to set the spray size and then just fire away. I can keep things pretty consistent that way, without having to press and twiddle all at once. I'm just old skool with this kind of technology.
Anyway, carefully lifting the masking tape revealed it could have been a lot worse. I used the traditional masking tape this time, instead of the experimental aluminium foil masking I used on Richard's coaches. That technique needs a fair bit more testing, I think.
I got a bit of a ridge along the masked area, annoyingly. That will make lining difficult, so it'll had to be dealt with by a sharp blade. I also noticed the masking went on with a slight bow, dipping towards the tumblehome slightly in the centre of the bottom.
After a quick attempt at cleaning up, when more of the blue started to come away from the cellulose grey than I felt comfortable with, I decided it would be prudent to clean up as best as possible and give the sides a coat of satin varnish to seal things.
While that was drying, I tackled the laser-cut plastic ventilators. As ever, the cutting was indifferent, but luckily I had been sent a pair of BSO vent sheets as well as the missing SO sheet. Two BSOs equals one SO, as far as main window count goes, and the SO toilet vents were adequate.
I gave the sheets a squirt of Hafords grey acrylic primer, then decided I really should have rubbed the laser cut burr down before I started.
Do you ever get the feeling you're having one of those days? So, fine wet and dry was applied to get the worst off, and then I gave the whole shooting match a squirt of the BR grey. Into the Advanced Drying Facility with the sides, while I got on with something else for a while to settle my nerves.
Some time later...
The varnish had dried nicely, so I retouched the worst of the chipped blue with a fine sable brush. I left that to dry sufficiently that I could attempt the lining. I figured it would make sense to do the lining, then I could see the dipped section mentioned earlier and be able to retouch with a bow pen and fine brush up to the white line.
Tools. I first tried the gouache on Richard's coaches, and it was pretty successful. The key is getting the paint thinned sufficiently that it flows from the bow pen and doesn't "ball up" on the surface. I found the ideal consistency is slightly thinner than a typical well-stirred new tin of Humbrol enamel, if that makes sense. I loaded the bow pen with a brush, rather than dip it in the mixture, wiping off excess from the outside faces on a kitchen towel.
I use an 18in aluminium rule made by Linex. It has a rubberised back which prevents it slipping, and the measuring edge has a slight undercut which prevents paint or ink wicking underneath. I'm getting enough practice now I can more or less line out a BR coach without needing to mark it up first!
With the gouache I find I need a couple of passes with the bow pen to get the coverage. This doesn't always go to plan, but being water-based, it's fairly easy to clean up with a dampened cotton bud. In the case above, the paint on the end of the bow pen had begun to dry. In such circumstances, I wash the whole pen out in water, and clean it up with towel, reload and try again.
Here's the gap between the white line and where the blue should be. You can also see the flaking edge. Heather was not a happy bunny, and created a fair old fireworks display when she saw it.
Not to worry, it'll be alright on the night. How about corners?
Rounded corners are a proper nightmare. I created a series of templates many moons ago, designed to allow me to create the lining for BR steam locos. Happily, the template for the inner red line is just right for the BR blue/grey lining, or near enough anyway. In order to hold the small template I used a blob of blu-tack and a cocktail stick. To draw the corner, I find it best to draw it in short steps, rather than majestically sweep around the curve - mainly because it's all but impossible to do the latter with a bow pen as you have to maintain the orientation to keep the paint flowing.
Most of it went according to plan. A little tidying up with a fine brush and suitable paint is all that's needed.
I'm now letting my nerves settle again. Final tidying will be tomorrow, I think. Each side will then get a coat of gloss varnish for the transfers, and finally a coat of satin to seal it all in.
I still need to paint the inner sides, and paint the ends where the gangway connections go. Once that's dry, glazing and final assembly. We're nearly there.
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Now, I can't get my head around how much paint is actually contained in a half-ounce cup. What's that in metric? A tinlet? Half a tinlet?
