Tijuana Taxi

Are you sure that's a diagram for an Iwata HP BS?

Just to confuse matters the nozzle (no 3 in the diagram) on my Iwata HP CH is threaded as is the air cap and nozzle cap. No O rings or air leaks, didn't come with any thread locking fluid, never used beeswax or PTFE tape either.

Had my booster last Sunday, it was Pfizer after two shots of AZ. Felt ok apart from a few aches and slightly weary. Anecdotal evidence suggests booster side effects are worse with Moderna.

Something like this is more flexible Vinyl Hose I did use one for a while, but unlike you prefer the braided type

Think about composition too, in your photo one of the tank crew looks like he has an aerial growing from his head. Also be aware of what will be in the final photo to avoid clipping parts of the subject off. Getting the shot level is also important, not good to have a lake running downhill or slanted lamp posts.

Thanks Nigel, all good advice and I wasn't aware about those two primers being the same product. I should have made it clearer and said it was the first suction type airbrush I have owned. Not that i'm very experienced, but I do also have a gravity fed Iwata HP-CH with a 0.3mm needle. Got this one mostly out of curiosity (plus it was cheap) and with the 0.5mm needle thought it might be handy for thicker mediums like primer. Apart from a few what look like plier marks around the nozzle cap it appears pretty new, can't imagine its been used more than a handful of times. As you suggested I have bought a cheap couple of kits from Amazon to see how my primer technique works out. Very confusing though some say to thin, others not, same with air pressure, some say go higher others don't. I usually use Vallejo Model Air with a drop or two of flow improver which works fine with the smaller needle size. Primer has until now gone on by hand, but hoping to speed things up a bit with this new acquisition

I believe next Friday the 26th is Black Friday. Traditionally the day after Thanksgiving which is Thursday the 25th this year

Ocado spice jars (and many others no doubt) have a hinged lid that reveals a cap with round holes in. Ideal when empty for standing paint brushes in whatever fluid you desire. I find one with a brush or cotton bud inserted in airbrush cleaner is handy for nozzle/needle tip cleaning.

Having reread the original post I fully agree about getting a more powerful extraction system. I did look at the Bench Vent model, but considered it unnecessary for my purposes. Never going to use anything that produces strong fumes, one of the worst triggers for my cluster headaches. Also true about airborne particles, but the cheaper booth I use does seem to deal with those from my water based acrylics. Horses for courses I suppose, but i'm happier knowing a good deal of harmful matter is being expelled from the room.

I recenly bought one of these from Air-Craft https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Sparmax-SB-88-Spray-Booth-161100.html Seems to have a decent bit of sucking power, sheet of A4 sticks to the rear filter. Sturdy rubber hose and can vent from top or either side of the fan unit. I also have a venting kit that attaches to an open window like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conditioner-Window-Machine-YA-Portable-Air-Conditioning/dp/B091KKVMFN/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_i=B091KKVMFN&th=1 Haven't fitted it yet and just poke the exhaust pipe out the window. Spray booth was easy to put together from the clear instructions, looks like it should last a while Glad I bought it, solid unit and comes with a turntable and spare filter.

Detail like this always leaves me amazed at the skill and patience of the model maker. Excellent work.

@Don149 Sorry for the late reply Don, wife had her first chemo session and been a bit busy. I think the transfers are stick on rather than waterslide, might even be peel off, will have a closer look. That B Type bus looks very interesting although I think the Tram will keep me occupied for now. Thought you might have overlooked the English instructions mainly because I did at first glance. One set are predominantly text and the other colour photos, so far and that isn't much I have found them ok. Have you got any paints for your Tram yet? Here is a poor photo of my slow progress, was messing about with depth of field so its not my best. I have also got the doors and window frames stained and the door handles painted. Hoping to spray everything that is Cream during the coming week then comes the fun of affixing the acetate glazing Be interested to see how your build goes, a lot quicker than mine I reckon at the current rate All the best Rich

Here is my compressor looking very sorry for itself in the eBay photo My wife cleaned the filter/regulator and all the shiny parts up a treat with some Autosol I rubbed the heat sink down and resprayed it with a can of Jenolite Satin Black. Cleaned up where possible internally, replaced the intake filter and bought some new screws, washers and bolts. Works a treat, never misses a beat and will do me nicely for now After

I reckon if it ain't broke don't fix it with regard to your compressor/regulator. Maybe your mojo will return with the warmer days, can see how freezing cold could dampen ones enthusiasm. Bought my very neglected compressor on eBay for not much cash and refurbished it. Works very well albeit only for about 30-40 minutes before the thermal cut off kicks in.

Thanks Chris Do you adjust the regulator with the airbrush trigger depressed? My gravity fed Iwata runs at about 18-20 with the valve open and approx 30 with it closed

Thanks to both of you, I have bought some small jars to save wasting paint. Will also turn the pressure up a bit and make sure the paint is properly thinned. Hope it works out, many small jars of various colours seems like a good idea.

Just bought a suction type airbrush from a secondhand/pawnbroker /cash converter type place. Not sure why I bought it really, never owned or even used one before. Seemed like a good idea at the time and looked like a relative bargain. so went for it Think it might come in handy for all over primer type coats and have had a vague idea about doing some airbrush art. Any tips from owners of these airbrushes would be much appreciated, model is an Iwata Eclipse Series HP-BCS Thank you

Air-Craft.net are very well thought of and the owner Martin gives excellent advice https://www.air-craft.net/ I've not been on here long, but i'm sure a search would bring up satisfied customers, keen prices too. Iwata now own both Harder & Steenbeck and Sparmax, just bear it in mind when you see devotees of each company singing their praises A range of airbrushes I saw recently from a Japanese firm called Mr Hobby look very decent for the money.

@TommyTomTom I have just refurbished an Iwata airbrush and the only part I haven't see you mention is the needle packing screw Not sure how that would affect operation if it were damaged, but its probably worth checking out. Its No 19 on the diagram here https://www.spraygunsdirect.co.uk/index.php/productpartsdiagram/index/viewparts/id/2014/#sthash.z9x0TUG6.dpbs

I have an Iwata HP CH with a 0.3mm nozzle which has the preset adjustment. Just noticed today they also do a 0.2mm nozzle and needle for the same model.

The size powerbank you need depends on the function. If its for powering something like a phone or tablet the usual suspects are fine. For operating a camera via usb-c you will need one with a higher amp output.

Thank you, certainly worth a try and always looking just in case. I have seen that Tower Models site come up during my searches, they have some very nice things on there.

As an interesting aside to your model, I recently went on a tour of the Kingsway Tram Tunnel. Far as I know it was the only UK tram tunnel and even had a subterranean stop adjacent to Holborn tube station. My late father drove LT Trolleybuses in East London, but I have never as yet found one in kit form

Sorry for the late reply Don, i'm in the middle of renovating an airbrush and compressor and been fully engaged with that. I've replied to your thread, yes its a combination of wood with a fair sprinkling of metal parts too With your back ground it shouldn't be any problem at all, first wooden model for me so quite a challenge.

I am indeed working on the Berlin tram, mostly good so far with a couple of cons. The wooden parts need to be very carefully removed from the framework they are attached to (is wood still classed as sprue?) Also if my model is anything to go by be prepared to cut some very small pieces of thin wood I have recently cut 82 x 16mm x 0.6mm pieces, bought a small hobby size table circular saw for this purpose. All the uncut timber strips come in a bundle and need to be sorted very carefully to identify the individual sizes Up until now everything fits together very well with only some very fine sanding needed so far Not sure how you intend painting it, but I preferred to find the Vallejo acrylic colour comparison. My instructions showed Revell enamel which isn't nearly as nice to use in an airbrush. It is a highly detailed model and I am certainly finding it a challenge albeit an enjoyable one. Have fun, sure you will and hopefully we can both show our respective trams once completed.