DKM Admiral Graf Spee by LED – Academy – 1:350 - PLASTIC

[Landlubber Mike]

13 minutes ago, vossiewulf said:

I recommend Iwata airbrushes. They're not cheap but my consistent experience with tools of all kinds is you get what you pay for. If you want a permanent solution to airbrushing issues, get an Iwata.

 

I have an Iwata Eclipse CS as my workhorse airbrush with an Iwata compressor.  Really great products.

[Scott Crouse]

1 hour ago, LED said:

Also, I am serious about recommendations for an airbrush replacement.  I enjoy the 350 when it works, but when it doesn't I want to throw it and the model against a brick wall...

 

I have recently got a gaahleri to compliment my Badger 105 and have been very happy with it and it is much less in cost than the Iwata's and other high end brushes.   But before you go down that road, I would be happy to discuss the problem to see if it is more about paint, thinner, bush cleaning or any of the other problems that could be causing it.  I have been airbushing plastic models for over 5 years now.   Feel free to dm me, or happy to discuss it in here (assuming you wish to).

[LED]

33 minutes ago, Scott Crouse said:

I have recently got a gaahleri to compliment my Badger 105 and have been very happy with it and it is much less in cost than the Iwata's and other high end brushes.   But before you go down that road, I would be happy to discuss the problem to see if it is more about paint, thinner, bush cleaning or any of the other problems that could be causing it.  I have been airbushing plastic models for over 5 years now.   Feel free to dm me, or happy to discuss it in here (assuming you wish to).

Thanks for the offer Scott.  

The problems may be about those issues you mentioned, but I have taken as much of the variance out of it that I can.  My model shop has a great Vallejo Model Colors selection and a very good Vallejo Model Air selection so I'm kinda married to those paints.  I am now using the Vallejo thinner and airbrush improver.  I mix the Vallejo Model Color paints to about 50/50 with the thinner.  Pretty religious about the cleaning.  I may be too rough on the needle/nozzle though.  The Badger I used 40 years ago was built of metal and could be dropped, stepped on, and strangled to within an inch of it's life - maybe this one is more fragile.  I am going to go to a modeling workshop at the Hobby Shop later this month to see what I see.  I'm starting to think, however, that the airbrush I have may actually have a defect in it.

Anyway, I noticed your signature pointed to Twitch.  I just followed you 😄.  That might be a good way to connect.

[LED]

Gonna start poking around on the Iwatas - they have quite a selection.  Many thanks @Landlubber Mike and @vossiewulf

[LED]

Love the doggie cam @Scott Crouse

For those who want to watch him build real-time, here is his Twitch channel:  https://www.twitch.tv/bartbandy

Side view watching and listening to the most recent VOD.  Kinda relaxing after coming close to tossing my stuff out the window 😄

[Scott Crouse]

58 minutes ago, LED said:

Thanks for the offer Scott.  

The problems may be about those issues you mentioned, but I have taken as much of the variance out of it that I can.  My model shop has a great Vallejo Model Colors selection and a very good Vallejo Model Air selection so I'm kinda married to those paints.  I am now using the Vallejo thinner and airbrush improver.  I mix the Vallejo Model Color paints to about 50/50 with the thinner.  Pretty religious about the cleaning.  I may be too rough on the needle/nozzle though.  The Badger I used 40 years ago was built of metal and could be dropped, stepped on, and strangled to within an inch of it's life - maybe this one is more fragile.  I am going to go to a modeling workshop at the Hobby Shop later this month to see what I see.  I'm starting to think, however, that the airbrush I have may actually have a defect in it.

Anyway, I noticed your signature pointed to Twitch.  I just followed you 😄.  That might be a good way to connect.

lol, thanks for the follow and glad you like the stream haha.  The doggy cam is new       I have always found the Vallejo paints somewhat finicky but a 50/50 ratio with a pressure of around 15psi should be a good starting point.    You might have a bent needle point as well but you said it was happening with 3 different ones... ya could be something not right there.  Yesterdays stream was pretty boring just doing PE  

[LED]

It's been a LONG time.  Life happens.  Not bad thangs, but...
And, sometimes - sometimes for very long times - you just ain't got the modelling bug...

And, then,

It happens...

This will be my first wood deck.  David, of 'David's Ships' YouTube site has a GREAT presentation regarding the application of a wood deck.  He covers a lot of territory.  He discusses potential mistakes with lessons learned.  The following video covers the wood deck installation for his wonderful HMS Hood build playlist:

Wow, that's huge, whateva'

So, my first photo in forever.  The 1/350 ArtWox deck and the hull of the 1/350 Academy Admiral Graf Spee:


I have to say that cutting the deck from the backing has been a breeze so far.  ArtWox has done a great job to this point.

Pray for me, this is a one way, one shot deal😔

[LED]

I followed David's guidance to remove the unwanted wood and leave the actual overlay on the backing.  He mentioned to save the remainder wood to the back of the overlay as potential repair material.  The ArtWox deck was laser cut quite well - I had no problems with either the large pieces or the pieces I had to pick out:



If there is a negative to this technique it is that it can become difficult to know if you have trimmed and picked what you needed.  The wood you have placed on the back obviously blends into the wood you are working on.  All in all, I think this will be a good idea.