Improving the Airfix Heracles Kit Part 4 Masking Tips and some super detail

[@Iskelderon]

Upgrading models with paperclip wire and the like until they meet your personal standards is one of the nice bonuses of the hobby.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

It is very rewarding

[@armedbrit493]

Shout out to those enjoying Harry's Tip while he talks about his Hercules.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

My tits don’t get enough attention :)

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

Going old school can give you a huge sense of achievement. 👍🏻 Thanks for showing how Harry. 😊

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I was born old school :)

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

@@HarryHoudiniModels same here. 😁

[@vaughanlockett658]

I used a met silver paint pen on the cockpit canopy and it worked out really well. I managed to fit the glazing after fully spraying the fuselage. I spent some time squaring off the fuselage roof and filling and gaps with plasta card . Sprayed the roof and wings separately and with a paint pen added curtains. A lot of dry fitting to make sure the windows and doors fitted ok made hinge blisters for the doors . I found adding the exhaust to the engines before you installed them less of a faff and made the exhaust from locking wire heated up with a lighter it put some nice coloured heat patina .

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

You must have much steadier hands than me then.

[@billbrowning3021]

Great job and tips Harry. The best part is that you are having fun with this one.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

If I am not having fun then it’s not worth going into the hobby room

[@onixfieroandscalemodelworks]

That’s looking good. Can’t wait to see the rest of the build

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

coming up soon matey

[@marcomarcon5802]

I don't think I ever did a clear canopy masking job I was happy with, at best | reached the level of "passable if you don't look too close". I wish manufacturers made canopies in two parts: glass and frame, so you could paint the frame first and then add the glass. But your fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and patience are much better than mine.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Not bad for an old bugger with dim bandicoot eyes and fat wombat fingers

[@marcomarcon5802]

@@HarryHoudiniModels 😁

[@Damien-q8t]

Picked u an Airfix BAC Lightning F-1A yesterday that dates from 1963​@@HarryHoudiniModels

[@musoseven8218]

More insightful and considered work, excellent.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thank you kindly!

[@robertgraham1511]

The Hercules is looking great please keep going and have fun with it.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I have already finished the assembly, video of the last part of that out soon, and had fun making all the scratch additions

[@Lambonights]

It's shaping up really well, Harry! I've been using fuse wire for things on my Bounty. It's good because it comes in a pack with different wire for different amperes. So you get really thin and thicker stuff. It's easy to shape, too.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Good tip… we don’t have it here much anymore with trip breakers in the fuse box, so no need for fuse wire. But I might seek some out for future projects. Thanks

[@Lambonights]

@@HarryHoudiniModels Your welcome, Harry. 🙂

[@BobbyG-bp9xr]

Nice job Harry 👍 Loving this build ! You have the best attitude to modelling and also life too! Great fun as always mate 😁 Thanks Harry. Already on tenterhooks waiting for the next episode! 😳🤣 Take it easy mate 👊

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks Bobby 👍

[@garymarkham2165]

Gday Harry. Ah sorry, forgot to add a snipit to a previous comment. That lumpy thing under the nose of your Heracleas aircraft is known as a Venturi tube. Its designed to create air vacuum that runs some of the pilots instrument gauges on the dash panel. A very common device of the time and still in use today, albeit now powered by engine driven pumps. Modern Diesel and turbo petrol powered cars and trucks use the same design for their brakes and MAP sensors on the vehicle computers. Trivia i know but its there, lol. Cheers, Gaz 🇰🇷🇦🇺.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks Gary… pity it wasn’t lasers but at least now we know

[@billevans7936]

enjoyed the video Harry...

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Good on you Bill

[@goforitpainting]

Cool 🛩

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks

[@paulcorrigan649]

Looks great Harry. I've tried the cocktail stick method and that works ok for bigger canopies but never tried anything that small

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

This one was a challenge but my tape and knife method got it done

[@johnpope515]

Afternoon Harry well it is here in London just passed midday another great video, apart from tips on modeling you make it fun thanks have a good day

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Fun is the name of the game… thanks for watching John

[@rogerbowen5753]

Yep she's really coming along now. It's a great little kit. Imagine what a 1/72 or even a /148 would be like. They would be really something. Old civvy Imperial planes don't get much love, be nice to see kits of a Lancastrian or a York.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

It is nice to building a civilian classic aircraft for a change.

[@rogerbowen5753]

@@HarryHoudiniModels Yeah, Airfix did some gems back in the day.

[@basfinnis]

Lovely looking kit. Can you imagine flying in this thing? Must have been a bit lumpy 😅

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

4 Engines and 2 big wings at slow speed, compared to today, I think it would have floated along.

[@garymarkham2165]

​@HarryHoudiniModels Those 4 fixed pitch propellers would have made fierce torque against the direction of flight, you'd need full rudder to offset that on take-off. Otherwise, yes, plain sailing. Saw a picture of one after a forced landing, main wheels had pushed upwards, the lower wing had bent downwards but had not detached, everyone walked away. 🤔🫣🫣

[@baanibarnes9711]

Masking is cool and well worth the effort. It can be a bit of a faff to do but you get super results, especially with camouflage using tape and, if you want a soft edge, blu-tac sausages, with an airbrush of course. Tape is irreplaceable for straight lines, the 'proper' Revell/Tamiya tapes are a must as they pretty much illimenate 'creep' where the paint seeps under the tape edge. You're a brave fellow taking on the Hercules (ha-haa!), blimey it's old! Crying out for a revised tool but who would take it on, they only built a handful and you're a bit screwed with liveries - only one scheme!

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

There are a few other paint schemes apart from the all over metal version of this kit. A full camo version for the military and a French livery with their red, white and blue, that I know of.

[@baanibarnes9711]

@@HarryHoudiniModels Thanks Harry, all you generally get on a search is the passenger scheme, interesting to see it in cammo!

[@davidbacker9537]

I love your videos. Where did you get your Tamiya tape dispenser

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Thanks for watching David. The tape holder is a free online 3D print file.

[@Yves95128]

Hi Harry, Masking canopies is not my favorite part of modeling. It makes it more bearable to use Bare Metal Foil as mask, it shows the windows edges clearly and reduces risk of leaks. It can be a little time consuming to remove tho. 👋🏻

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Never used it… I really don’t do that many aircraft these days and my Wingnut Wings kits don’t have canopies… just a whole lot of rigging!

[@cosmarendy8417]

Thanks Harry, appreciate your video. I dislike masking, so fiddly.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

It can be and I struggle trying to put little pieces in place. Thats why I prefer one big piece of tape, then just cutaway what you don't need.

[@garymarkham2165]

Dear Harry, hello. Ah, the fun bit, -masking. Not really my fun part doing that, i prefer to use a very small brush and liquid masking fluid. It paints in easily anywhere you like to, and, after you've finished painting the colours, simply peel off from the surfaces. Most mask fluids wash out in water, although the Humbrol mask stuff likes to stick to the brush bristles ! Nice job of filming Bask, camera buttons are not suited to cats paws are they! Cheers, Gaz 🇰🇷🇦🇺

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Try it in 1/144 scale… I could never get the liquid mask edges straight and clean. My tape and knife method always works for me. Clean, neat, fast and accurate.

[@warpedplastic]

Don't mean to blow my own horn (okay, maybe just a little bit 😁), but Thunderbird Models makes a mask set for the Airfix Heracles which will save you a lot of work! Kit's looking great though and I'm a big fan of your videos.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

All those tiny masking panels would drive me insane and probably never get on aligned correctly. My way of using a large piece of tape, then cut away what I don't need is fast, easy, clean, and accurate. Trumpet Blown

[@warpedplastic]

@@HarryHoudiniModels Lol fair enough! The irony is, I almost never use pre-cut masks myself, I consider it cheating. I prefer Bare Metal foil for masking. But the mask sets are popular and very much my " bread and butter" product.

[@michaelvalenzuela2528]

If you use a liquid mask , there is a cheap alternative. PVA (Elmers in this country) clear glue and liquid dish soap (any brand) mixed about 50/50 . apply with an old brush or toothpick (cocktail stick in some parts)

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

Tried that and could not get clean straight edges. Would be too hard this small. Tape and a sharp knife is easy, fast and accurate for me.

[@michaelvalenzuela2528]

@@HarryHoudiniModels Whatever works for you, happy modeling

[@johnclarke25]

Wish that had come out in 1/72nd scale but looking great,going back to the Sunderland just watched on KZbin a wartime film about coastal command,bit dated but all serving personel and great to see the Sunderland,Hudson,beuforts, catalinas,and even j88s.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

There are 1/72 and even a 1/32 kit for this aircraft but I think they in vacform and 3D printed resin resp.

[@KeithMargetts]

How about using pva glue to cover the windows, and it will just pull off with a toothpick later ,maybe? Not tried it, but it seems like it will work ok ?

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

I did that in the last video

[@randyherbrechtsmeier9769]

I've masked Airplanes for the past 44 yrs. I Hate It!!!! Big, Little, in between!!!!! I don't care it's a pain in the Ass. Use Schapel blades. They make all shapes and sizes. Yes they're alot Sharper. Your Tracing Ideas good. I'll knick that if ya don't mind. You're Modeling now. Enjoying your Project. It Shows

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

My scalpel might need a new blade.. it usually is super sharp

[@davegreenwood7575]

Masking is a git...official. Coz of my bloody tremor. I paint the canopy free hand a few times then chip it back with a cocktail stick..jus sayin.

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

What ever works Dave

[@davegreenwood7575]

@HarryHoudiniModels Well it's near enough.🤔

[@stephennathan9901]

Liquid mask might be easier..

[@HarryHoudiniModels]

not at this scale and I don’t have the steady hands to paint perfect frame edges… so for me this is easier, faster, more accurate and less frustrating