Control Line: Scale
Mike Stott
IF YOU HAVE ever tried to give your scale model a weathered look or a few spots of wear for authenticity, you know this can be quite a job. Well, Raymond L. Smith of Los Alamitos, CA, wrote to me of his interesting method of painting his scale BF 109 Messerschmitt. This was the first time Ray ever tried such a process but he feels he came up with some very good results. Ray sent us a photo of his finished model so judge for yourself.
Ray started out by painting the model with silver paint. Then the next step was to add the panel lines and rivets. The panel lines can be scribed lightly into the finish by using an X-acto blade and a straight edge. What works really great for this is the point of a #11 X-acto blade and a thin flexible metal ruler for the straight edge. For the rivets, try using a sharpened piece of brass tubing to lightly press to the surface of your model and give it a slight turn which will then indent the surface and give you your flush rivet.
Next, Ray applied his color finish, using only enough paint to cover well. Too much paint may fill in the detailing you have already put on the model. The unique aspect of Ray's method is that he then took an electric eraser, such as used in drafting and art departments, and polished off the paint in the areas where he wanted to show wear and weathering.
One question I always get asked a lot from all types of scale builders is how do you go about getting the necessary photos for building and for the presentation booklet.
When I first got started in Scale my good friend Claude McCullough passed on a lot of helpful information to me. So I'll try and do the same for you.
First, make a list of what photos you are going to need. Since the cost of each photo, generally an 8 x 10 glossy, can cost from $1.00 to around $2.50 it could get quite costly to get a lot of unnecessary material. In addition you may have to pay for all postage involved in having them sent to you. Also allow enough time for delivery; delays are not uncommon. But on the whole I think you will be very pleased with the quality of the photos sent to you.
When you write for the photos, be sure to give as complete a description as you can. Try and provide serial numbers or a number or letter code of the particular group or squadron if known. State the year or approximate time span that the plane was in operation. The more specific information you can give the file researchers, the more likely you will end up with the exact photos you require.
The best way to obtain your photos is to go to the source and pick them out yourself. But, generally, a certain amount of red tape is involved before they allow you to enter their file rooms.
The National Archives has a great system for their photos. Once you send in an inquiry by mail, they will return to you a form listing photo numbers and a complete description of the subject. Then all you do is check off the photo numbers and return the form with your payment.
If you write to the Air Force let me warn you that no research service is given. Money must be sent in advance with your request.
Listed below are some places to start looking:
National Archives, Still Photo Branch, 7th & Constitution NW, Washington, DC 20408
Department of the Air Force, HQ Aerospace Audio-Visual Service, MAC, 1221 S. Fern St., Arlington, VA 22202
Naval Photographic Center, Commanding Officer, Anacostia Naval Air Station, Washington, DC 20390
Commandant, Marine Corps, Combat Pictorial Branch, Code AO3P, HQ Marine Corps, Washington, DC 20380
Most U.S. Army aviation photos (WWII and prior years) are in Army files; later Army aircraft pictures are in Air Force files. Try: Commander, U.S. Army Audio-Visual Agency, Room SA-5, The Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310
National Air & Space Museum Library, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560 — also has a good selection of photos available.
CL Scale/Stott
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ, England. They have a large collection of photos, particularly WWI English aircraft.
It might be a good thing to check things out in advance of ordering to make sure they have the photos you want available. And always call or write ahead if you intend on stopping in to do your own research; some offices require appointments set up in advance.
(My address is 1118 E. Wheeler St., North Mankato, MN 56001.)
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
