nheather

Absolutely agree with TIGER HOBBIESLIMITED, there is definitely a place for easier and cheaper models. The price of some kits now is reall daunting, not even the sheer cost but also the anxiety that you couldn’t do it justice. For example, I could afford a £70 Tiger but I wouldn’t buy it because I don’t think my modelling skills are good enough to do it justice. And f we are trying to encourage beginners there needs to be accessible models to get them into the hobby. BUT and it is a big BUT, kits are very expensive these days, and when I see new Airfix releases I am quite taken aback at their prices. To be honest, if the Airfix tanks are £35 that seems too expensive, I think I need to see them at £20-£25. But I appreciate that model industries are findng it harder to make a living so I can understand the prices. But realistically, if you want to attract someone new to the hobby I think £35 for a tiger is too expensive. Cheers, Nigel

Just spotted that the one I linked didn’t have a tank. I have had another quick look and found one with a tank for £72.50. I maintain that if you spend a little time looking you will find them for £60. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RDG-AIRBRUSH-COMPRESSOR-WITH-TANK-ONLY-ART-CRAFTS-PAINT-SPRAYING-MODEL-MAKING/352136711218?epid=2169292697&hash=item51fcfbcc32:g:lo8AAOSw689Zixut Or one with £74 with a reasonable hose and a cheapy airbrush that you could use for spraying thicky or grainy stuff that you don’t want to put through your nice brush. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Action-Airbrush-Kit-Compressor-With-Tank-AF186-Paint-Nail-Tatoo-Hose/273719670124?hash=item3fbaf6b56c:g:tP8AAOSwxPJcbnF8 Or if you prefer to buy from Amazon and get it delivered tomorrow with Prime, you can get one for £82 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Airbrush-compressor-reservoir-Fengda-AS-186/dp/B019CKXBOU/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2YPOP2UCK2A0V&keywords=airbrush+compressor+with+tank&qid=1552253915&s=gateway&sprefix=Airbrush+compressor+%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-9 So compressor, hose, cheapy generic airbrush for rough stuff and an H&S Evolution 2in1 for £206 - okay £6 over budget. Cheers, Nigel

If I had £200 I’d spend £60 on one of the generic eBay compressors with tank, regulator, moisture trap, absolutely nothing wrong with them and £140 on an airbrush of your choice, H&S or Iwata for example. In my opinion there is a huge difference between chinese genric airbrushes and branded ones. But not such a marked difference between chinese generic compressors and branded ones. Best to spend your money on the brush - you’ll enjoy better results that way. Example of eBay compressor https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIRBRUSH-COMPRESSOR-AIR-BRUSH-COMPRESSOR/292930745664?hash=item4434087540:g:Es8AAOSwQItUInvU Whoops, my mistake - that one doesn’t have a tank. Quick look, here is one but it is a little more at £72.50. But if you spend some time looking you will be able to pick one up for £60 or less. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RDG-AIRBRUSH-COMPRESSOR-WITH-TANK-ONLY-ART-CRAFTS-PAINT-SPRAYING-MODEL-MAKING/352136711218?epid=2169292697&hash=item51fcfbcc32:g:lo8AAOSw689Zixut There are plenty more on bids so you might get even cheaper. Also sometimes it is cheaper to pick one up in a package with a knock-off airbrush - put it to one side or use it for primer or clear coat where precision doesn’t matter. Cheers, Nigel

Farmer Tom is in the middle of ploughing a field when his tractor breaks down. He tries to fix it but no joy and he must get the field finished today. "I know I'll go and ask my old mate Farmer Bob, he is sure to help" Tom and Bob are neighbours and have been firm friends since childhood, there is nothing they won't do for each other. But Tom is a natural worrier and as he walks over to Bob's farm he ponders. "What if Bob can't fix it" "Well I could ask to borrow his tractor" "But what if he is using it" "What if he's lent it to someone else" "What if he just doesn't want to lend it to me" "What if …. What if …. What if …." Eventually he arrives at Bob's farmhouse and knocks on the door. After a short while the door opens. Bob: "Hello Tom, lovely to see you, fancy coming across for a bite to eat and drink tonight. Anyway, what brings you over, how can I help" Tom "You can stuff your tractor up your bottom!" Cheers, Nigel

Okay, bad assumption. But from my experience, if the needle sleeve is missing then you need to replace it. On my 150 (okay, different brush) I had the washer but the needle sleeve was missing. I was getting similar symptoms to you. There was airflow but it wasn't enough to draw paint from the cup/bottle but as soon as I added the needle sleeve it burst into life. Cheers, Nigel

As the coffin is being lowered into the ground at the funeral for a Traffic Warden suddenly there is banging and shouts coming from inside. "Let me out, let me out, I'm not dead" The vicar smiles, leans forward and whispers into the coffin "Too late pal, I've already done the paperwork" Cheers, Nigel

Problem solved, you need both of those. The needle sleeve (part *) is really easy to lose because it is tiny and when you withdraw the needle backwards it can fall out without you noticing. So get those parts and you should be back working. I use Barwell Body Works - think they are the main UK distributed for Badger. Cheers, Nigel

I had a similar problem with my old badger 150 and it turned out to be a tiny piece of Teflon tubing that I had lost during a previous clean up. If you look here https://airbrushinformation.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/sotar-instructions.pdf Part 7 is a Teflon washer but to the right of it is a piece of Teflon tubing marked with an ‘*’ - it’s the needle seal and looks like it is a free replacment on request. On my brush, that was missing which meant that the nozzle head/cap tightened up too much and blocked the air holes. Once I had bought a replacment from Barwell Body Works, the brush started to work as expected. Cheers, Nigel

Get that there would have be times when there was no time to remove the flag, but what would the flag look like underwater. What was the material, would it soak up water. Therefore, would it resemble a damp limp rag underwater, or would the forward motion if the sub be enough to unfurl it? Cheers, Nigel

Yes I can see that. Appreciate the problem but I can’t pay £14 for p&p. So abandoned the idea and bought some vallejo paints instead. I accept they may not be as close a match as the ColourCoats but tgey will be close enough for my needs. Cheers, Nigel

Given the choice of those two, I’d go with the one owned by Iwata 😀 I have iwatas but I also admire the H&S range. Things going for the Iwata is that they are very well made and reliable, have a huge following and well supported. They are quite old designs, not to say that is not a bad thing, if it works don’t change it. But they lack innovations which I guess is one of the reasons that they recently bought H&S. The downside of Iwatas (excluding the eclipse) is that spares can be eyewatering expensive and the nozzles are tiny and easily damaged. This also makes them slight more difficult to strip down and clean than the H&S. I said ‘excluding the Eclipse’ and that is because its design is quite similar to H&S - H&S make a big deal of their nozzle design but Iwata were doing it first with the Eclipse. Having said all that, the H&S are also well made, maybe just a little short of the Iwata but not much in it. Typically you get more bells and whistles for the same price point with H&S. The design is similar to the eclipse making it easy to strip down and clean. Most importantly, the price of spare parts is much cheaper than the equivalent Iwata parts - maybe of the order 50%. If I lost my current brushes and had to buy afresh I’d probably give H&S a go. Cheers, Nigel

Working in the dockyard at the moment so see her most days. Is she painted a different colour to the other ships. Looks much more of a green hue than the blue tinge of the other ships. Or maybe it a reflection from the sea on the outward sloping hull. But definitely looks green when I see her in real life. Cheers, Nigel

Whoops, wrong era.

My dad was brought up in Bullar Road Bitterne. I remember the Jim Guard shop near the railway station well when I used to visit my grandparents. Cheers, Nigel

Any idea what was the colour of Royal Navy MTBs. One suggestion is B15 but that seems quite dark compared with photos and models that I have seen. Also assuming that main colour of hull and superstructure was 507c or G45. Cheers, Nigel

There are these 28mm models for wargaming. Strictly this is 1/56 rather than 1/48 though. But you may be able to get away with the difference. https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/world-war-i Cheers, Nigel

Two women on a bus are fighting bitterly over who should get the last available seat. The conductor had already tried to intervene but all his reasonings had failed. Finally the driver shouts back to the conductor “Let the ugly one have it”. Both women stood for the rest of the journey. Cheers, Nigel

Good point about the precautions when spraying. I do have a booth and masks but I put my hand up, I’m guilty of not using them for small jobs. No, I’ve not heard of odourless white spirit before - how odourless is it? Cheers, Nigel

Hi Colin, No I don’t have a particular problem, it’s just all the posts I read, acrylics just seem so fussy and temperamental. I use UMP Universal thinners. Before that an IPA/Water mix. But I see so many posts saying “make sure you use the manufacturer’s thinners, if you use ABC in XYZ then it will go gloopy”. If you listened to all the advice, you’d have seven bottles of different thinners on the workbench. Then there is retarder - you need to add this for brush painting or to stop tip dry - why isn’t it included in the paint as standard then. And there is the “can’t use this paint for brushing, it’s only good for airbrushing, even though it doesn’t say anything like that on the bottle”. Life was so much easier with enamels. You could have four different makes - thin and clean them all with whit spirit. Want to brush paint, fine just paint from the tin or add a little white spirit. Want to speay, then add more white spirit. Need to clean you brushes or airbrush, hey use white spirit. But where do I get this magical solvent from, do I need to put in an online order and wait for days like for acrlic thinners - nope just pop down to B&Q (other DIY shops are available. Seriously, if it weren’t for the smell and health considerations of white spirit I would stick with enamels. And the threats, years ago that the sale of oil-based paints were going to be banned - that never happened. Cheers, Nigel

Must admit that I kind of yearn back to my days if enamels. I am fairly recently returned to the hobby after thirty odd years. As a kud I used to build a lot and enamels were the only option - I used Humbrol exclusively. Back in those days I only brush painted, couldn’t afford airbrushing equipment. Now that I have returned I have trued to convert to acrylics and have put in a fair investment now and I do have airbrushing equipment now. But in my opinion the only benefit they really have is solvent - not having to use white spirit. But I’m continually frustrated with acrylics and actually I find them quite annoying. “You have to put retarder in” - if it needs retarder why isn’t it just included as part of the formula, “you have to use the right thinners - you mustn’t use ABC thinners in XYZ paint” and “yes, they are best used with an airbrush”. I think the only time I have found using acrylics agreeable is with figure painting. If it weren’t for my investment and the noxious solvent I’d be back to enamels like a shot. Cheers, Nigel

Are okay, so because they are flammable you can’t send them using Royal Mail? That’s a pain. Understandable but making it too expensive for me I’m afraid. Will have to look at alternatives. Cheers, Nigel

Are there any UK online stockists of Colourcoats paint other than Sovereign. Here’s my thoughts. I really should be sticking to acrylics but I have a navy project and Colourcoats seems to be the easiest way forward. Sovereign have been unavailable for a while due to a warehouse fire but appear to be back up running now. I need three maybe four tins, that’s all. The postage seems a little excessive but I reluctantly waived that. But then I find that there is a minimum order of six tins too. It’s a double whammy - high postage cost, okay I get that but then they slap on a minimum order on top. So pretty reluctant to use them as it is going to cost £21.50 for £7.50 worth of paint. So wondering whether there are any other online retailers that carry Colourcoats. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks, I am leaning towards Flory because of the level of support they provide - blogs and videos. Cheers, Nigel

Okay, seen the videos and I am sold, ready to drop my £40+ on the full set BUT ..... which set UMP or Flory? The UMP set is £44.99 for 9 bottles The Flory set is £41.32 for 8 bottles Neither company declares how much is in their bottles - does anyone know - are they the same or do you get more with one of the companies. Indeed are they the same thing? UMP are known to rebadge Badger products (their primer for example). Do either companies make their own stuff or are they just rebadging and possibly from the same supplier. Cheers, Nigel

A Muslim couple, preparing for their wedding, meet the Mullah for counselling. He asks if they have any last questions before they leave. The man asks, "We realise it's a tradition in Islam for men to dance with men, and women to dance with women. But, at our wedding reception, we'd like your permission to dance together." "Absolutely not," says the Mullah. "It's immoral. Men and women always dance separately." "So, after the ceremony, I can't even dance with my own wife?" "No," answered the Mullah, "It's forbidden in Islam." "Well, okay," says the man, "What about sex? Can we finally have sex?" "Of course!" replies the Mullah, "Sex is OK within marriage, to have children!" "What about different positions?" asks the man. "No problem," says the Mullah. "Woman on top?" "Sure," says the Mullah, go for it!" "Woman below?" "Sure, that's normal!" "On the kitchen table?" "Yes, yes!” "Can we do it with all my four wives together on rubber sheets with a bottle of hot oil, a couple of vibrators, leather harnesses, a bucket of honey, a camel and a goat ?" "You may indeed!" "Can we do it standing up?" "No." says the Mullah." "Why not?" asks the man. "It could lead to dancing." Cheers, Nigel