stena

Maksim Kurmaz autor
Hi Lukasz, sometimes they call it "sandpaper effect", which I believe happens due to fast drying of small drops. Adding flow improver is the best way to avoid it, but the paint does not fix when being too diluted. So we need patience and many layers one by one.
For me the best discovery was that I need to moisture and clean the needle tip every other minute. Somehow I overlooked this trick when watching video tutorials. It really helps against clogging.

Rui S
Hello Maksim, you are right thats a great word to describe that. I've had this problem twice (One when I painted the maxim machine gun in the diorama "The unexpected Finland resistance - T26" photo 207, and the second time, in the trailer of the "Esci sdkfz 10/4").
The problem arises when I dilute Tamiya paints with alcohol isopropanol . The paint, when atomized by the airbrush, dries almost immediately, so it doesn't look good like orange peel (more like small wavy) because it's already so dry when it hits the surface that it doesn't mix/blend. Trying to correct the paint I added paint retarder. I don't have flow improver.
However, it is an effect that can be interesting for some harder finishes, but has nothing to do with soft finishes that will be completed ruined by that sandpaper effect.

Denis Dogadov
Here is the work with Trumpeter, improvements are needed there-
Trumpeter 1/72 A-6A | Album by ZHOU Kun (1:72)

Łukasz Gliński
Very neat and plus for a unique topic! 👍
I'm still trying to find one for me as well

Maksim Kurmaz autor
Hi Lukasz, if you don't like 1:48, maybe try to find on Aliexpress - I've got it from there.

Robert Podkoński
Good job indeed!

Markus Antonius
There is no better Kit in this scale today, than the Fine Molds offerings! Only drawback could be, that there are no Loadouts in the kit, but Fine Molds offers a wide Range of Kits with excellent schematics for that reason, too!

Maksim Kurmaz autor
What about Academy? Their Phantoms are very detailed, too, I've build one some time ago.

Michael Kohl
I cannot compare it with Academy but I build a FineMolds Japanese Phantom and can confirm that it is indeed a VERY nice kit .

Maksim Kurmaz autor
Hello @Cristian, I've taken Vallejo Model Air and Metal Color, they mix up quite well. First, I've used Aggressor Gray as it is, next I've mixed it 1:1 with Exhaust manifold to get this brownish metal sheen. That was my mistake, as I probably needed less brownish color, for example, Steel, and with less metal paint (like 3 for Aggressor and 1 for Steel). The darkest color is fine - I've used Medium Gunship Grey and Steel 2:1. Also I used Jet Exhaust for nozzles but due to poor details, I didn't find the way how to realistically add effects.

Cristian A
Many thanks Maksim, great ideas for mixing and tips, I've taken notes for my Raptor.

Treehugger
Sort of looks like an F-4 Phantom at the front. 🙂

Clement
Nicely done and it's good to see rarely built types get some love 🙂

Rui S
I like it, very much 👍

Ekki
Excellent!

Maksim Kurmaz autor
Thank you everyone! The model indeed appears very attractive, and it was quite easy to build.

Oleg Bogolei
Nice result!

Michael Kohl
Absolutely

Maksim Kurmaz autor
Thank you. mates! Oleg, дякую!

Ekki
Lovely. Well done!