Model Forum / General / Models / February 2008

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?