1/48 Monogram ProModeller SB2C Helldiver

by Jim Birchfield aka A-4Silverfox

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This is the well known ProModeller kit of the SB2C, built straight out of the box, with ignition wiring added to the engine and a length of Hardee's Hamburger Restaurant drink straw used for the life raft tube in the rear cockpit. The build was relatively easy and all paints used were Model Master. The fun began after decaling was completed and a coat of DDV (Decal Dulling Varnish) was applied. After an hour's wait I examined the results, and was surprised at how glossy the finish was. SO another application of DDV was applied and another hour given for drying. Same results; a high gloss finish. Thinking that maybe I had thinned the DDV too much, I added more to the mix, cranked up the pressure on the air compressor and gave the model a healthy coat. Waited an hour, but same results...high gloss finish. I then poured out the thinned DDV mix and went straight to the unthinned and sprayed what was left in the bottle. By this time it was late so I cleaned up the air brush and the shop and went to bed. 

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The next morning, about mid-morning I returned to the shop, removed the cover over the kit and nearly dropped it out of astonishment. The model was coated in what appeared to be a nice cover of frost....white with the under-lying paint scheme barely visible. I touched a small area on the tail to see if the frost was frost, and it wasn't but it was dry. The first thought was "I'm gonna have to re-paint this thing". But then the proverbial light bulb went on and I went to work weathering with an oil wash mix of burnt umber and black. I let that dry for twenty-four hours then began dry brushing the finish using the remnants of the paints used for the three color scheme. The results are what you see here.

Jim

Photos and text © by Jim Birchfield aka A-4Silverfox