TSR-2: Gloss or satin finish?

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Eddie Bermuda - 30 Mar 2009 21:35 GMT

Finally got around to building one of my 1/72 Airfix TSR-2s. This one
is "from the box" and in prototype white (next one will be a what-if
wrap around scheme like the Vulcans ended up in).

Currently decalling it so it's glossy, but should the final coat be
gloss or satin? The pictures I have are inconclusive, and in this scale
which would you recommend?

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Nigel Heather - 30 Mar 2009 22:16 GMT

I imagine the actual aircraft was quite glossy but at 1/72 scale I
personally think satin would be more appropriate.

Cheers,

Nigel

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David Williams - 31 Mar 2009 10:17 GMT

>I imagine the actual aircraft was quite glossy but at 1/72 scale I
>personally think satin would be more appropriate.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Nigel

Well last Thursday I was standing next to the one in the RAF museum at
Cosford and it looked pretty matt and scruffy ( but big and chunky and
seriously impressive)

Cheers,
David

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Alan Dicey - 31 Mar 2009 23:41 GMT

> Finally got around to building one of my 1/72 Airfix TSR-2s. This one
> is "from the box" and in prototype white (next one will be a what-if
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> gloss or satin? The pictures I have are inconclusive, and in this scale
> which would you recommend?

Anti-flash white is a glossy finish, but at 1/72nd a high gloss finish
is going to look wrong for anything other than a concours automobile.
I'd take the edge off the gloss by adding some satin - you should get a
faint highlight rather than a brilliant reflection. None of my TSR-2
pictures show any kind of highlight, reinforcing the idea that satin is
appropriate.

The Cosford machine has been repainted, so it isn't necessarily an
accurate guide to the appearance of the original finish.

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Flakmonkey - 01 Apr 2009 12:39 GMT

>> Finally got around to building one of my 1/72 Airfix TSR-2s. This one is
>> "from the box" and in prototype white (next one will be a what-if wrap
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> The Cosford machine has been repainted, so it isn't necessarily an
> accurate guide to the appearance of the original finish.

The Cosford one is in its original finish - it's the Duxford one that was
repainted, but they used paint manufactured to the exact specification as
the original finish. The Cosford machine is on the satin side of matt - as
if you'd buffed a matt finish with a soft cloth. More of a sheen than a
shine.

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Eddie Bermuda - 05 Apr 2009 21:16 GMT

I used satin and I'm happy with the finish.

The pictures I have of the original look pretty scruffy, and having
spent 20 years around development jets they do get worn out pretty
quickly: I should imagine the white went off very rapidly!

>>> Finally got around to building one of my 1/72 Airfix TSR-2s. This one is
>>> "from the box" and in prototype white (next one will be a what-if wrap
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> if you'd buffed a matt finish with a soft cloth. More of a sheen than a
> shine.

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Model Forum / General / Models / April 2009

TSR-2: Gloss or satin finish?