Once started it is hard to stop, especially when you’re working on something that will help illustrate a point. In this case, how easy it is to do natural metal paint finishes easily and affordability. This Airfix TSR-2 would be just as fun building it in any number of configurations or paint schemes, but I chose a NMF for obvious reasons.

Talon Series Acrylic NMF Paints

So far I have painted using just one of my many available colors…Aluminum. I have, however, tinted the Aluminum using a few of the Tamiya acrylic paint colors I have on hand for two reasons. First, you don’t need to purchase a whole palette of NMF colors, though it would be favorable to my bottom line. Secondly, demonstrate how versatile of a product Talon Series Acrylic paint can be. By adding a few drops of gloss colors that  you probably have in your supplies stash, you can have more than you thought. In this time of higher prices, saving money is crucial.

As I stated, I used Tamiya, but you can use other acrylic paints as well. Again, by adding gloss black you get a darker color of whatever shade you are using. Brown will give you a tint hinting at an alloy shade of metal. Blue will go more towards stainless. Experiment! Have some fun seeing what formulations create what colors. You can mix them right in your airbrush paint cup…I do it all the time.

I have also buffed and polished using three methods / tools. I used a cotton wheel, a felt wheel and my SNJ Polishing Powders to create a few ultra-shiny tonal effects on selected panels. Using them individually or in combination gives differing results; either or all are optional.  Completing the NMF first, then moving onto other colors, such as the white under surfaces, prevents the “color” from getting contaminated. It also allows you to do more realistic weathering, such as chipping and scratches on the painted surfaces to reveal the metal underneath.

With the NMF complete, I masked off the area in preparation of receiving the white antiflash underside for my paint scheme. Talon Series acrylic paints are masking friendly after they have had sufficient time to cure. Using a two-step process to apply the white…I start with a prime of Flat White to get a uniform surface then allow it to dry and cure solid for at least 12-hours. Then I apply Gloss White in light, even layers. The other option is to use Flat White, then apply a gloss clear coat to get the sheen desired.

This probably gives some of you an idea of what my What-If TSR-2 is going to be. I’m going to start the decaling soon, as well as finish the internal components I bypassed. At this point, I am not sure whether or not to install the landing gear. There has been mention elsewhere in the kits reviews of the minor issues with the landing gear alignment and binding. So I’m considering posing it in flight above the 1:18 F-104 that adorns my stairwell down into the Man Space. The scale differences will create a forced perspective of depth and different altitudes.