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all.. .as we dont have a GB chat thread yet for the Vignette GB, any pointers for a dio novice... will be a 1/72 Hurricane, figures and base... was thinking of using wooden board painted & then use the green "grass" powder... anything else i should consider - any examples knocking around of the sort of thing i am trying to achieve, any SBS guides on creating grass bases???

Hi everyone, welcome to my first WIP thread. I decided on this kit for two reasons: 1) I like the subject matter, the Harrier is a fond favourite of mine. The 1/72 GR3 was the second model I ever bought so it only seems fitting that it's the second attempt in my second modelling life. and 2) It was in the Airfix sale... As with my 'Post-Mortem' thread in Ready for Inspection, I'm hoping this will act as a reference point for other new starters who may be having similar problems with their builds. I'm also hoping to draw on the vast experience of other members who, I must say has been both useful and inspirational in my other build. Kit From what I've read, this is a particularly old kit. Raised panel lines and lots of flash to be trimmed. I'm going to practice some filling and sanding so the lack of recessed panels isn't too much of an issue for me. Build It's not going to be a quick one, so I'll be posting updates every week. It's going to be OOB with no aftermarket parts or anything too fancy. I'll be airbrushing with Humbrol enamels with a cheap-o Revell Starter Airbrush. Like I said, I'm going to use this opportunity to develop some filling and sanding skills for future builds with a real focus on getting a nice even and polished finish. I'll be finishing it with No. 1 Squadron markings and livery, although I am tempted to have another go at the lighter underside. We'll see... I think I might need a bit of luck with this one, so any hints, tips or suggestions before I get on with this would be very much appreciated. Update pictures at the end of the day Here I go...

Hi all, following on from my 1/72 Harrier GR3 that I posted here in the last week or so, I've since completed another one of Airfix's Starter Sets. I know there've been a few of these on here over the years, but here's my effort. Build The kit went together pretty well, some really fiddly bits and I broke a number of parts, namely the rear undercarriage, pitot tube and the front gear door. They went back together pretty easily but still a minor inconvenience. As someone had mentioned before the part joining the rear gear doors was a bit of a fight. No fit issues other than I think the top of the wings stick up slightly before the tail section. Paint Humbrol Enamels used throughout other than an attempt at some drybrushing in the cockpit. I used Acrylics that came in the pack for this. A Revell Starter Airbrush was used and Tamiya grey primer from a rattle can. Over the top of the primer I did a layer of Humbrol 60(matt red) followed by the gloss coat (Humbrol 19). It seemed to go on really well but took ages to dry. The finish wasn't as smooth as I'd have liked, but I put that down to the airbrush and my inexperience. I also left the model in the front room to dry as it is warmer than our conservatory and because it was still tacky a few bits of dog hair and other assorted airborne bits suck to it. Lesson Learnt. Finish Really enjoyed this kit to get me into the swing of things. I know it's not perfect but I've learnt a lot for next time (An Airfix 1:48 Harrier GR. 3). Feedback, is very welcome, so go nuts Thanks for looking

I'm hoping someone out there can help me! I've come back to scale modelling after a 30+ year hiatus and am loving it! My first attempt was a 1/72 Airfix Mosquito (see my profile pic), which I brush painted. I started reading around the subject and learnt loads of techniques which I enjoyed trying out. Next stage was clearly to move to airbrushing so I searched the t'interweb and ended up buying a Badger 200nh single action suction feed airbrush. As I'd already forked out a load setting up my work bench I couldn't justify a compressor so I'm using canned air for the time being. The problem is that I simply can't get any control out of the brush! Instead of controllable fine lines, I get a random sequence of large wet splodges, nothing but air and then a very thin dusting of colour. I tried in vain to pre-shade the panel lines on my 1/72 Airfix Sabre (using gloss black, that someone had recommended in an article I read) and pretty much painted the whole model. Nothing like it looked like in the article with nice narrow lines over the panel lines. In a review of the 200nh, the reviewer sketched a little smiley face no wider than a scalpel. I must be doing something wrong! I tried spraying while twiddling the needle adjusting screw and that didn't seem to make any real difference. Seemed to be simply on or off. Are you supposed to be able to vary the intensity of the air? I've ended up using a whole small tin of Badger air and half a big tin with no meaningful results. Is the tinned air the issue? Perhaps it's the paint? I'm using Humbrol enamels thinned with Humbrol thinners. I've read the ratio of paint to thinners should be 50:50, to a milky consistency. But are we talking full fat or skimmed?! Or even gold top?! Dosing thinners is easy with a pipette, but I'm struggling to dose the paint. Any tips? Could it be that the mix is too thick? or thin? I'm using the glass jar with siphon pipe but perhaps a Badger metal cup would be easier? I'm getting good at stripping down the brush & cleaning it and to a layman's eye, there's no apparent damage. So I'm feeling pretty disillusioned at the mo - got a new toy but don't know how to play with it. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks in anticipation for a bit of inspiration Beardylong (and the irony is I haven't got a beard any more!)