New to plastic model kits - what tools?

[ParanoidAndroid]

Hi guys,

Used to build model kits (cars & planes) when I was younger seeing some of the amazing models on here inspired me to have another bash. Anyway wife bought me Airfix 1/24 Spitfire as a surprise (kit looks ok but obviously not as good as the Tamiya 1/32 but will be a good intro), so before I completely cock it up wondered what must have's I need to get before starting out? Anyone recommend a cheapish airbrush and good paints? Are there any good guides online that are worth reading through?

Looking forward to re-learning this hobby with the help of Pistonheads!

Cheers
Graham

[Zad]

How cheap is cheap-ish for an airbrush?

I have a compressor like this (£80 Ebay) get one with a tank if you can, so the compressor isn't working all the time.



Generic Chinese airbrushes are £15 to £20 or so (also Ebay) and are perfectly good for learning with.

[Eric Mc]

Apart from the spray painting kit (which is not essential - some people still use old fashioned brush painting), other tools would be -

a selection of paint brushes

a selection of files

a couple of tweezers

sanding media - ordinary wet and dry, sanding sticks or pads, sanding cloths

polystyrene cement - in various forms (tube, liquid, in applicator etc)

white glue - for transparancies mainly. I use Pacer which is the stongest PVA glue I've come across so far

cyanocrylate glue - superglue to you and me. Essential for glueing disimilar materials, such as metal to plastic or different types of plastic or resin parts
These glues come in different thicknesses. Thicker glues of this type can also be used as quick drying gap filler

model filler - there are various types on the market these days

paints - you probably need to decide what types of paints you want to use. Traditional enamels are still available and these are probably what you used on the "old days". In the past twenty years, water based acrylic have arrived on the scene and I now use them almost exclusively. Their big advantage is that they are water based and therefore most can be thinned by water, they dry more quickly and they have less of a smell - which makes the hobby less anti-social.

Welcome back to the hobby.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Thanks guys, any recommendations on where to get the bits from online? Is there a cheaper way of getting into airbrushing rather than having to buy a compressor? Think I would rather see how I get on before buying one of those.

[Eric Mc]

There are lots of modelling suppliers on line. Popping into a local model shop (if you can find one) is always worth a trip too.

Regarding airbrushes, apart from a compressor, air can be obtained from an aerosol can, a compressed air bottle or a spare tyre. None of these are anything like as practical or as reliable as a compressor.

The good news is that airbrushes and compressors have never been cheaper. 30 years ago a compressor could easilly cost over £100. Today, you can get good ones for around that price or even less.

With airbrushes, you tend to get what you pay for. I tried a succession of various cheap (and not so cheap) alternatives until I finally settled on a Harder and Steenbeck which is fantastic. It cost me £90 from little-cars.com - who I would highly recommend.

[Apache]

scalpel with a selection of blades is vital, like this



Tamiya tape for masking and holding things together

fine sandpaper

[SlipStream77]

I can recommend Everything Airbrush, I got my compressor and brush from there, they're very helpful.

http://www.everythingairbrush.com/

[Pixel Pusher]

When I built models, I always found this helpful.