Tools, tips and tricks

GregW66's picture

Airbrushing with Vallejo paints

I just airbrushed for the first time in over 10 years. I used my old Paasche H and Vallejo paints. I am very thankful that the Vallejo paint is idiot proof. My spray pattern wasn't the best. There seemed to be spurts of paint coming out rather than a smooth mist. Luckily the paint leveled and dried smooth and perfect. All seemed fine when spraying water and alcohol. I am suspect of two things. One is the tip and needle. They are old and the airbrush wasn't sitting in the best of conditions (an unheated garage) for several years and I see what I think is some corrosion.

trolleydrvr's picture

Recent Finds at local craft store

I was in Morehead City, NC yesterday shopping and went into the local Hobby Lobby craft store to see what they had to offer. I found two interesting items that perhaps someone out there isn't aware of. Oe was a new to me type of X-Acto #11 blade with a coating on them that keeps the edge longer, and the other is a package of shaped cotton swabs from Tamiya that would seem to be useful; in weathering cars or maybe even applying grease or oil to lubricate locos.

Found sand piles

I was looking at a section of the garden when I noticed that these cheap clay pot stands or feet (see FIG 1) hadn't quite made it though the winter freeze/thaw cycles.  Several had split or separated internally giving rise to finely grained, shapes resembling sand piles (FIG 2, 3).

Original clay pot foot.

FIG 2 & 3

Chuck P's picture

Drilling through small brass parts

I've been drilling through some small brass parts recently (Precision Scale) and wondered about how to make sure you are drilling straight. Seems like a simple task maybe with a drill press.

Last night I was drilling 1/16" hole through 4-5/16" brass pipe fittings.(to stick pipe through).

BR GP30 2300's picture

Homebuilt Model Making Fixtures

Hi All,

 

I`ve noticed a few posts here on these fine forums of different model making tools and fixtures that others have made, so I thought I would start a thread for people here to show off their model making fixtures and tools.........maybe we can all learn a thing or two in the process.

Weathering with Mike Confalone: Project 8-CN pressure-diff hopper

For his last project, Mike Confalone weathers a light gray CN pressure differential hopper. For this car, Mike starts with some oil wash flood weathering and then moves on to more specific weathering methods to match a prototype photo. Finally, with this last car complete, Mike runs a train around to enjoy all the weathered cars set in some finished layout scenes on the Allagash.

Next up - volume 2: Weathering diesel locomotives.

mikedeverell's picture

Colorado Front Range ---First Hill

I am re-posting this as the link was broken sorry about that. My son build a foam cutter that we use to build a hatch over the staging yard ladder using pink foam and plaster cloth. I do not dip the cloth as that is messy. I work with the cloth dry and use water and a paintbrush. I buy the cloth in bulk of 64 rolls and it works out to less the $2.00 per roll 4 inch wide by 180 inches ( http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Mark-Plaster-Cloth-Large/dp/B0049V1BY0 )

hope this is helpfuly to you

Mike

 

OKGraeme's picture

A Painting Handle

I have just started to think about getting ready to consider the possibility of weathering my mountains of rolling stock, maybe! Who says I procrastinate!

Anyway, as part of this I have been getting supplies ready for the big day when I might just weather something. I had purchased a painting handle that will hold a boxcar body. Like this:-


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