Hi from a returning modeller.

[Bristow95]

Hello everyone, I started making models about 5 years ago, usually after college, then about 2 years ago I packed in, sold my stash and thought that was that. Then 1 month ago, I decided to buy another kit. From then till now I've been building up the tools and paint I need as well as buying plenty of kits. I've finished so far the newish airfix 1:72 wildcat and will post later. I'm currently working on the 1:72 revell red arrow and will post when finished. 

 

It's worth pointing out that all my work is done with a brush as I can't get on with an airbrush. 

 

Anyway looking forward to becoming part of the site. Regards 

[Mike]

aboard Dan - modelling is a curious thing.  It never seems to leave you once you've "been in".

[Ade H]

 

And a welcome from me, too.

 

Funny what you mention about airbrushes. Like you, I had an earlier stint. I bought a cheap starter kit with pocket money, had no clue even that paint should be thinned, bent the needle, and gave up. Got pretty good at brushing by necessity! This time around, I took to airbrushing very easily, luckily. Point being: don't rule it out if your budget allows and you get to try one out, e.g. at a show demo or hobby shop (if you can find one of those!)

1 hour ago, Mike said:

It never seems to leave you once you've "been in".

Like the mafia. If you try to quit, someone threatens to come around and rearrange your sanding sticks.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Hello Bristow ... welcome from a yank ww2 stuff ... mostly airplanes. Take your time and when your ready you may give the airbrush another try. I've seen many good models painted quite well with the hairy sticks. 

[Bristow95]

Haha, your right, it is such a fun hobby that I really found myself bored when I had stopped. Funnily enough the airbrush set I bought was the revell starter set with compressor and airbrush. I tried thinning with 3 different thinners, it just wouldn't work. That and the compressor was fairly noisy and I tend to work well into the night and would feel very nervous about using it due to the noise. Regards 

[CurrantBunbury]

Greetings! Welcome back to the fun. There are a few committed brush painters around here, and some of them achieve great things. 

[Eric Mc]

Most of us have been through airbrush trauma followed by rejection followed by eventual acceptance and eventually enthusiasm.

 

For 40 years I stuck with old style brush painting even though I tried various airbrushes at various times. Eventually, less than ten years ago, I found an airbrush that worked for me and I've never looked back.

 

The great thing about airbrushing today is that -

 

a) they are far cheaper in real terms than they ever have been

b ) the availability of "home friendly" acrylic paints and thinners means they are less smelly and messy to use

 

Don't write off airbrushing just yet. Get a few more models under your belt and then start thinking about whether an airbrush would be something you could consider.

[Bristow95]

Thanks for the words fellow modellers, I think I will try airbrushing again in the future and I'll spend some more money on it and go for quality. I only bought the revell set because I thought it would be good, whilst I have sprayed black well through it, that was the only colour I managed somehow, and all the colours I tried were revell aqua, thinned of course. regards 

[Eric Mc]

There's lots of advice on this site and elsewhere on the internet about how to go about choosing and using an airbrush. I wish the internet had been around when I bought my first one (in 1976!).

[Ade H]

If you ever do want an airbrush again, speak to someone at a specialist, e.g. Air Craft. Martin, who I believe runs it, was patient with my query and helped me to make a what I think was a wise choice. Internet advice tended to be contradictory and speculative.

[Eric Mc]

OK - maybe it's best to ignore the information on the internet. We all know its useless.

 

Sorry for givving  duff advice. I' won't bother again.

[Ade H]

Wow. Overly sensitive this morning? It was not a blanket statement or personally directed at you, so relax. Nor did it refer specifically to this forum. But I speak as I find and when I was researching airbrushes, much of the advice which I found in web searches was not substantiated and many contributors, even in one thread, contradicted each other. That amounts to unconstructive.

Edited August 19, 2017 by Ade H

[Eric Mc]

You made your response because I had suggested looking a topic up on the internet. You effectively said, don't bother - the implication being that it had to be useless advice. I found the opposite to you - so my experience was different.

 

The BEST source of information on airbrushes is attending model shows and speaking to airbrush traders. In some cases, you can even get to try them out. In the end, it was at a model show that I eventually bought the airbrush I use today. But I had done a lot of internet research first and I personally found it a useful exercise, even if you didn't.

 

 

[TonyTiger66]

 Bristow! 

Lots of us here have had gaps away from modelling (well, 'building kits' in my case, I hope to model one day, probably for Vogue ).

 

My longest gap was around 12 years, then building again, then another 11-12 year gap. Like you, I bought one kit, cheap (I think it was the Airfix Mosquito). I dug out my old Humbrol etc. enamels, brought them back to live and that was it. Hooked again 

 

I can relate to modelling until quite late at night; I used to love doing that. My wife isn't  quite so keen, especially if the thundering compressor accidentally comes on  !

 

This is a great forum, lots of help, advice, interesting stuff and lots of humour. 

 

Looking forward to seeing your Wildcat and  Red Arrow.

 

Best regards

TonyT

[stevehnz]

On 8/19/2017 at 6:04 AM, Eric Mc said:

There's lots of advice on this site and elsewhere on the internet about how to go about choosing and using an airbrush. I wish the internet had been around when I bought my first one (in 1976!).

 

On 8/19/2017 at 6:40 AM, Ade H said:

If you ever do want an airbrush again, speak to someone at a specialist, e.g. Air Craft. Martin, who I believe runs it, was patient with my query and helped me to make a what I think was a wise choice. Internet advice tended to be contradictory and speculative.

Both sets of advice are valid & useful, though depending on ones whereabouts & circumstances, one may work better than the other. It ain't worth getting your knickers in a knot so kiss & make up eh fellas?

Welcome Bristow 95, a variation on a familiar story, though in my case I stepped out of active modelling fro over 30 years, it didn't stop me thinking, reading & purchasing toward my eventual return though.

Steve.

Edited August 20, 2017 by stevehnz
added welcome

[Eric Mc]

My main success with airbrushing came through perseverance - and a willingness to sacrifice the odd model.  With that in mind, I tried out my new airbrush using a number of cheap models before committing to any  complex or expensive kits.

 

In the end it was worth it.