Resin Gnat

Łukasz Gliński
So, I decided to start this guy as my first ever resin kit. While the cockpit parts are being sanded and painted, I started experimenting with painting the resin parts.
And I need your expertise. I have tried using the following:
- AK resin primer spray,
- AK classic black primer spray,
- Mr Finishing Surfacer 1500,
- GX 1 paint.
All applied on the resin fuselage, pre-cleaned using the acryl paint remover.
All of the abovementioned can be easily peeled off using yellow Tamiya tape.
I'm afraid all the masking will not work, have your say please.

Erik De Smet
Maybe you should give the resin a very fine standing to give the primer more grip on the surface ?

Łukasz Gliński
After closer inspection the surface seem to be a bit polished-like, I hope 1500 sanding sponge would help it.
Any other recommendations? I consider testing Alclad primer and paint today as well. And there are some enamels in the stash too 🙂

Alec K
I would say that if a lacquer-based paint like Mr. Surface peels off, it's probably surface roughness (or lack thereof), or surface contamination. I am not sure if the acryl paint remover has any oil-removing properties (it may in fact be the problem), but I would try a degreaser (a dish soap liquid works).

Looks like an interesting project 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Hi Alec, many thanks for your input. After couple of experiments I found out that matting the surface using a copper brush improves the AK primer adhesion dramatically. Will try the degreaser too 🙂

Alec K
👍

Dave Flitton
Try a self etching primer from an auto store

Łukasz Gliński
Thx for the hint, Dave, I'm afraid it's barely possible during the local lockdown.

Maciej Bellos
Following!

Oleg Bogolei
Hm.. Very....interesting choose of the model...

Łukasz Gliński
Welcome Gentlemen 🙂 Oleg, I bought it years ago when the styrene Gnats Mk.I were not available at all. And as I want to start some resin kits and detailing sets, I thought this is something I could experiment on 🙂

Oleg Bogolei
Wish you good luck! It is realy interesting experiment

Łukasz Gliński
The reinforcements have arrived - white metal landing gear, the resin one is to brittle to hold quite a heavy kit.
Since I got rid of the Hurricane I'm going to try to finish this one, decided to switch to the Yugoslavian markings in the meantime.

Cuajete
All my support for this troublesome kit. Interesting and brave project... Every kit deserves a chance.
It's not his fault. Blame it on the manufacturer, 😛.
Following!!

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks for the nice words mate 👍 I have to admit it requires many compromises on the way, the last one being the vertically aligned main undercarriage struts - on the original Gant they point visibly outwards, but then the tail would be too low (it might be me cutting the struts too much as well😉 )
Anyway, next big decision is to correct the wings anhedral or not, I feel the wingtips are way too low (see the project photo).

Alec K
I think they are 🙁 . The wing tips should be about mid-fuselage, per your project's photo.

Łukasz Gliński
Diky, hope it's better now 🙂

Cuajete
Łukasz, I don't know if it's correct now, but it looks better 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Gracias, the geometry isnot the best part of this kit, even the fuselage halves are bit different😉

Julian Herrero aka Yuri
Ouuuffff ,,, (very) tough work ahead ,,,, following

Mirko Römer
What a nasty gnat... All the best, I'm sure you'll make it shine!

Łukasz Gliński
Well, actually I plan to add a matt finish after all😉 Thanks for your support 👍

Mirko Römer
🙂

Alec K
The wing geometry is now spot on to my eye. Well done 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks, it turned out however the left wing was too much aft (not sure this is correct English). So I re-glued it once again, looks ok now.
In the meantime added the canopy and the pitot and trying to fill and shape it correctly (moreless at least) using the Perfect Putty.
Looking forward to moving to surfacing phase soon.

Łukasz Gliński
Small update - started spraying this little bugger😉

Cuajete
The putty's party but nice metallized 👍.
I don't knew the masking pen. How does it work?
Happy Christmas!

Łukasz Gliński
I found it few weeks ago, only because they make outstanding chrome markers (see the Tomcat's HUD). The masking pen seems to be more disappointing at the first use, but I have to test it more. Feliz Navidad!

Alec K
I am curious about your take on the masking pen as well. Happy holidays!

Łukasz Gliński
Started unmasking it today and the fancy masking pen does its job only where its fluid was laid thick. Otherwise it's damn hard to remove it after using a lacquer paint. Wetting and scrubbing my Gnat right now in hope it will help to get rid of the remaining fluid.
I just though it could be a nice chipping medium when used in thin layers 🙂

NorK
did not know about a masking pen neither. saw in a youtube that they removed it with an eraser - maybe worth a try

Cuajete
Nork, thanks for Youtube's idea 👍

I think that I am not very convinced: Youtube Video

Although for some things it might work fine: Youtube Video

Where it does seem to work well is on paper (removed with an eraser): Youtube Video

Cuajete
Łukasz, sorry for the off-topic 😄

Łukasz Gliński
No problem, many thanks for the links. Tested the eraser and it's the same story, the thin layer oversprayed with Hataka C doesn't react. I have to learn using thicker layers. One more thing - the pen is hard to use in the corners.

Cuajete
👍

Łukasz Gliński
Ready for the decals. Some paint peeled off on the undersides, I oversprayed it a bit, but won't fix it 100%. I just want to get rid of that appalling kit😉

Łukasz Gliński
Finished the little bugger. It's really tiny, looks like a toy. Not my best build, but I had not enough patience to correct all the kits errors.

Erik De Smet
Considering the kit you started with, the result is very decent. Happy New year , Lukasz.

Łukasz Gliński
HNY Erik, I just opened the latest&greatest Airfix Schwalbe and it's lightyears ahead 😄

Cuajete
Łukasz, you did a good job for such a tough kit. Congrats!
Go to Schwalbe!!

Łukasz Gliński
Full ahead, Sir!😉 Gracias

Alec K
Nice finish Lukasz 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks mate, it looks on my shelf (parked underneath the Superfreighter's wing) like:
[img1]

Maciej Bellos
Way to go for completing this atrocity of a kit! Now you should go for a nicer and easier one. Say a Tamicat...

Łukasz Gliński
Thanks, appreciate that 🙂 Instead of a Tamicat I switched to latest&greatest Schwalbe kit to get some relief😉