All major markings are painted on using 3m fine line tape, masking tape and an airbrush with testors model master acryls. Here is the fuselage cross taped off.
First a light coat of white is sprayed around the edges of the tape and allowed to dry. This prevents the paint from seeping under the tape at the tape junctures.
Then the entire area is sprayed white. Once dry, the black center cross is taped off using tamiya masking tape.
The white area is then covered with more masking tape and the black center cross is sprayed on.
The finished fuselage cross.
The airplane number and the III gruppe bar are done the same way, black first and the yellow second.
The exhaust stubs are made of epoxy and microballoons. They come in 2 pieces which are glued together, sanded down, primed and then painted in a rust color.
Small balsa stands are built for each stub so that they can be painted without touching them. White glue applied with a syringe simulates the weld line of the full size stubs.
Once all 12 are done, they are glued to the exhaust shield which will in turn be glued to the side of the fuselage.
Baking soda was added to the paint to give the stubs a rusty texture.
The heat shield is installed and painted first and then the exhaust stubs are all glued to a piece of 1/16th ply which in turn is glued to the heat shield.
Tamiya Smoke is then airbrushed behind the stacks. The paint is semi-transparent and looks like wet exhaust oil.
The spinner is first painted white and the white area to be kept is taped off using 3m fine line tape.
The spinner is then painted black and the tape pulled leaving the white spiral.
The stencil decals are applied and the whole airplane is given a dirty wash to bring out the details like the rivets and panel lines.
Elevators and rudder hinged and ready for clearcoat. Also visible is the rear white nav light and the wk. nummer on the rudder
Front end after clear coating
Paint job finished!
Close up of Erich Hartmann's famous red heart Karaya logo. Story has it that Karaya was a popular Russian song at the time and the pilots of JG52 played it so much that they became known as the "Karaya" staffel. Ursel was the name of Hartmann's wife.
Close up of the cowl decal.
Octane notification decal.
This one is the compressed air charging port for the machine guns and cannon.
Oxygen filler port and external 24 volt port.
Oil filler indication.
Side view of the fuselage showing the data plate and exhaust staining.
Strut covers after riveting.
Strut cover painted, weathered and installed.
Struts are painted RLM 02 grey. Strut covers are attached with sierra precision rings.
