Hello all.
Gallery link to my latest model build. Airfix have a very good kit on their hands with this one.
Enjoy
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCmGDy
1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
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JayP
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- Twokidsnosleep
- General

- Posts: 18293
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:07 pm
- Location: BC,Canada

Re: 1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
Excellent!!!
Always love a Sea King
In your photo series, #16 and 17 show a dark mottled grey primer??
What was going on there as the end result paint looks smooth with no chipping or primer issues
Always love a Sea King
In your photo series, #16 and 17 show a dark mottled grey primer??
What was going on there as the end result paint looks smooth with no chipping or primer issues
Scott
On, Under or near the desk
Brewster Buffalo ..buddy build
Rockford Firebird
1/72 Black Pearl Pirate Ship in dry dock
On, Under or near the desk
Brewster Buffalo ..buddy build
Rockford Firebird
1/72 Black Pearl Pirate Ship in dry dock
- Stokesy44
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- Posts: 8705
- Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 10:13 am
- Location: The Midlands, UK

Re: 1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
I think that might be 'black basing' or mottling. Its an effect designed to create small color differences in the base color to mimic paint on metal.Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 am Excellent!!!
Always love a Sea King
In your photo series, #16 and 17 show a dark mottled grey primer??
What was going on there as the end result paint looks smooth with no chipping or primer issues![]()
Its been tried and tested, it works! So don't blame the system if you're no good. 
- Stokesy44
- Major General

- Posts: 8705
- Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 10:13 am
- Location: The Midlands, UK

Re: 1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
Lovely build and paint job

Its been tried and tested, it works! So don't blame the system if you're no good. 
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JayP
- Private

- Posts: 13
- Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:48 am

Re: 1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
Yeah a bit of blackbasing. It's to give the final grey colour different tonal shades due to the base colours beneath. Makes the paint look weathered/worn/agedStokesy44 wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:51 amI think that might be 'black basing' or mottling. Its an effect designed to create small color differences in the base color to mimic paint on metal.Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 am Excellent!!!
Always love a Sea King
In your photo series, #16 and 17 show a dark mottled grey primer??
What was going on there as the end result paint looks smooth with no chipping or primer issues![]()
- Twokidsnosleep
- General

- Posts: 18293
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:07 pm
- Location: BC,Canada

Re: 1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
JayP wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 6:52 pmYeah a bit of blackbasing. It's to give the final grey colour different tonal shades due to the base colours beneath. Makes the paint look weathered/worn/agedStokesy44 wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:51 amI think that might be 'black basing' or mottling. Its an effect designed to create small color differences in the base color to mimic paint on metal.Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 am Excellent!!!
Always love a Sea King
In your photo series, #16 and 17 show a dark mottled grey primer??
What was going on there as the end result paint looks smooth with no chipping or primer issues![]()
Scott
On, Under or near the desk
Brewster Buffalo ..buddy build
Rockford Firebird
1/72 Black Pearl Pirate Ship in dry dock
On, Under or near the desk
Brewster Buffalo ..buddy build
Rockford Firebird
1/72 Black Pearl Pirate Ship in dry dock
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Steve64
- Staff Sergeant

- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 10:14 am
- Location: An Englishman abroad

Re: 1:48 Airfix Westland Sea King HU5 Royal Navy Rescue
Hey JayP,JayP wrote: Fri Jul 18, 2025 6:52 pmYeah a bit of blackbasing. It's to give the final grey colour different tonal shades due to the base colours beneath. Makes the paint look weathered/worn/agedStokesy44 wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:51 amI think that might be 'black basing' or mottling. Its an effect designed to create small color differences in the base color to mimic paint on metal.Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 am Excellent!!!
Always love a Sea King
In your photo series, #16 and 17 show a dark mottled grey primer??
What was going on there as the end result paint looks smooth with no chipping or primer issues![]()
I hope you don't mind some constructive feedback, but it looks to me as if your top coats covered the black basing completely. I can't see any of that lovely mottling showing through but it could be the camera too. The trick is to layer on very thin paint and stop while some of the black and white is still showing. Anyhow - you model your way, but I thought I'd try and help you get the most from the technique. Happy modelling!



