The Little World

The instructions to paint an aircraft ” silver ” or “aluminium ” are often all you get from a maker in their colour call-out. I did not expect much more from the Williams company for this kit.

But which silver – and which aluminium? I count four different Mr Hobby, 7 different Mr. Color, and innumerable variants in Tamiya and other brands – all metallic representations. I gave away my bottle of Alclad to another club member. I do not remember using Rub n Buff but was impressed with the name in the modelling magazines.

I was taken with the box illustration of this Gamma – and settled on the brightest solid silver I could find; Mr Color Super-Metallic Chrome. A thin 1200-grade undercoat, a rub down with a rag, and on the colour went. The result was good, but got better when the pre-decalling clear gloss coat was sprayed on.

But would 30-year-old decals behave enough to use them? Did I behave when I was 30?

Do I behave now?