GB: Airfix Tempest V : Ben Magoo

[Ben Magoo]

Got an absolute bargain from my local Hobby Craft:



Kit was £3.99 and the first five pots of paint were £0.70 a pot!

Near completed my 1:48 Spit' then looking forward to this

It's been the perfect kick I needed to crack out the airbrush I've been sitting on for 4 years!!! So far with mixed results, I'm hoping spraying enamels will suit me better?

Edited by Ben Magoo on Sunday 6th February 10:12

[dr_gn]

Ben Magoo said:

Got an absolute bargain from my local Hobby Craft:



Kit was £3.99 and the first five pots of paint were £0.70 a pot!

Near completed my 1:48 Spit' then looking forward to this

It's been the perfect kick I needed to crack out the airbrush I've been sitting on for 4 years!!! So far with mixed results, I'm hoping spraying enamels will suit me better?

I've just sprayed some enamel on another model, for the first time in ages after using acrylics. Enamels don't seem to flow as well, and it's still not dry after an hour (and it was a Matt colour!).

[Shar2]

Having never used acrylics, other than for paintings, I don't know what they're like to spray, apart from drying quicker. I don't have any problems spraying enamels, you just have to thin them correctly, then they seem to dry quite quickly anyway, although I do spray in a nice warm room, which may also help.

[Ben Magoo]

I've not really enjoyed acrylics for that very reason - they do seem to dry a little too quick.

When working well through the brush it was all very convenient but I want to see how I get on with enamels.

Should be fun

[dr_gn]

Ben Magoo said:

I've not really enjoyed acrylics for that very reason - they do seem to dry a little too quick.

When working well through the brush it was all very convenient but I want to see how I get on with enamels.

Should be fun

That was a surprise: had to leave it overnight before I could handle the painted parts. Don't remember matt colours taking so long to dry in enamel. Maybe a different solvent these days?

[Eric Mc]

I have to say I have had no trouble spraying with my two favourite acrylic brands - Tamiya and Xtracrylics.

I use the Xtracrylic thinner on both.

[Zad]

Airfix (not tried any other make) enamels seem to need a huge amount of mixing and even then they seem to take their own merry time to dry. I have tried different solvents to thin them, but that doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. Contrast that with being almost instantly dry for acrylics. It must be something to do with H&S laws and the sort of solvent Humbrol are allowed to use nowadays. They certainly dont smell like I remember they used to do.

[Eric Mc]

Airfix haven't produced enamel paints since about 1985.

[Zad]

Airfix / Humbrol, same thing.

[Eric Mc]

After 1986 - yes.

Airfix used to produce their own paints until the company was bought out ny Humbrol. I'm old enough to remember when Airfix paints came in little glass bottles.

I still, have some original Airfix paints - but the later tinned variety.

Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 15th January 18:35

[RichB]

Eric Mc said:

...I'm old enough to remember when Airfix paints came in little glass bottles.

which were tall and I always used to knock over

[Ben Magoo]

Well I've finally got off to a slow and painful start!

Turns out the the pot of 33 Matt Black is infact a pot of 21 GLOSS BLACK It's not even labelled wrong - I simply balls'd up! Grrr

God damn me and my inattentiveness!!!

So I carried on cleaning all the parts etc and will have to nip and get some this week.

Bugger

Edited by Ben Magoo on Sunday 6th February 10:13

[Zad]

Eric Mc said:

After 1986 - yes.

Airfix used to produce their own paints until the company was bought out ny Humbrol. I'm old enough to remember when Airfix paints came in little glass bottles.

I still, have some original Airfix paints - but the later tinned variety.

For once, and once only, I can beat Eric Mc! I still have about 10 old tall glass Airfix bottles, some are still liquid. I think me and my dad got them one (or more) wet holidays on the East coast when I was a tiny Zadlet. That would be maybe mid-70s? If they weren't available then (remember we are talking stocks of 1970s seaside model shops) then maybe they are from before I was around. They are still in the big paint toolbox anyway.

I would take a photo, but I suspect people aren't that interested. Anyway, apologies for the thread-jack, normal service will now resume...

[Eric Mc]

Continuing the hi-jack.

I think Airfix withdrew the bottled paints in around 1973. At that time Airfix made some other significant changes -

bagged kits were switched to blister packs

the logo changed





The last old school bottled paints in my collected are some bottles of Pactra piant from the late 1970s.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 25th January 07:04

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Ahhhhhhhhgh where's that crucifix?

[Yertis]

Airfix aren't [i]that/[i] bad. Aurora – they were truly awful. Though I believe the very first Airfix Spit, BT-K, was a copy of an Aurora kit.

[Shar2]

dr_gn said:

Eric Mc said:

Ahhhhhhhhgh where's that crucifix?

You've really got a problem with airfix, haven't you? Their latest offerings are brilliant, but I guess in your mind they will always be rubbish, no matter what they do.

[Yertis]

I must admit I tried to get back into modelling in about 1991, by making an Airfix Tornado F3. That kit was every bit as bad as the real aircraft, and I binned it without getting past the initial build.Put me off modelling until now.

I like the idea of building Aifix OOTB though, I think that when built that way (to the standard the dr_gn did his Sunderland) they have a special charm.

[Zad]

I didn't (don't) like a lot of Airfix's output. But Airfix is just part of me growing up, or getting a bit older at least. Just like Aurora monsters are :P

[Shar2]

I realise the older Airfix kits aren't very good and I don't really like the idea of these being reissued in the new boxes without any indication of their actual age. But the latest kits are lightyears ahead of the older stuff. Namely the Sea Vixen and the new Spitfire VII in 1/48, I don't normally build 1/72 so can't comment on the new Spits and Me109/110's.