The Die is Cast...CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk

[Jarhead0331]

Had a tough day so I decided to just jump in. You know what? I feel a lot better.

I started with a cheaper model that I picked up a long time ago. Its a 1:800 Academy build of the USS Kitty Hawk. I figure I will learn a lot fast on this project so that when I move onto the Iwo Jima, maybe I will have picked up some skills and confidence.

My first question for the experts...what are some tricks of the trade for applying cement and avoiding excess. What is the cleanest way to wipe off excess? Do you guys prefer tube application or brush?

A special thanks to JD for posting all your work. I really have you to thank for getting me back into this. Also, Thanks to UCG for some valuable tips and insight. You guys rock!

[undercovergeek]

Had a tough day so I decided to just jump in. You know what? I feel a lot better.

I started with a cheaper model that I picked up a long time ago. Its a 1:800 Academy build of the USS Kitty Hawk. I figure I will learn a lot fast on this project so that when I move onto the Iwo Jima, maybe I will have picked up some skills and confidence.

My first question for the experts...what are some tricks of the trade for applying cement and avoiding excess. What is the cleanest way to wipe off excess? Do you guys prefer tube application or brush?

A special thanks to JD for posting all your work. I really have you to thank for getting me back into this. Also, Thanks to UCG for some valuable tips and insight. You guys rock!

Glue on a brush is much more controlable - little dabs exactly where you need them that you can't do with tube of glue

Edit 1 - And good luck and happy building

Edit 2 - always dry fit first check out the gaps and lumps and bumps to see where your best fits are

[Con]

I've jumped back into painting minis again.  If I can get Imgur to work I'll post some pics
Tips for gluing
Invest in a good pair of clippers - clean cuts make all the difference and only use them for plastic
Get zap gap fills in small gaps
Get a glue that sets quickly
Use brush thin glue for large surfaces
It's been a great stress reliever to get back into this hobby for me
This site has a lot of good tools and uses tips
https://www.fauxhammer.com/featured/essential-hobby-tools-for-miniatures-wargames-models-2019/

[JudgeDredd]

Had a tough day so I decided to just jump in. You know what? I feel a lot better.

I started with a cheaper model that I picked up a long time ago. Its a 1:800 Academy build of the USS Kitty Hawk. I figure I will learn a lot fast on this project so that when I move onto the Iwo Jima, maybe I will have picked up some skills and confidence.

My first question for the experts...what are some tricks of the trade for applying cement and avoiding excess. What is the cleanest way to wipe off excess? Do you guys prefer tube application or brush?

A special thanks to JD for posting all your work. I really have you to thank for getting me back into this. Also, Thanks to UCG for some valuable tips and insight. You guys rock!

You are welcome - and welcome back to a great hobby.

Glue
I almost exclusively use Tamiya Extra Thin. It dries really quickly so probably not great for BIG pieces - though you can hold the pieces together and brush Tamiya Extra Thin down the seem - it works it's way into the join.

But for big pieces, I mostly switch to my Revell
https://www.emodels.co.uk/revell-contacta-professional-polystyrene-cement-glue-25g-carded-029604.html
This has a nice long metal piece that allows very careful application of the glue. You control the flow of the glue by the angle of the metal nozzle.

I sometimes find it's "clogged". I apply a bit of heat on the metal applicator and that clears it up. But if it's stored upright (nozzle pointing up) it should be fine.

I find modelling very relaxing - until I get to painting - and then I start and it's fine again. Some nice chill music and I'm set for 2 or 3 hours.

Enjoy and good luck. 

[JudgeDredd]

One last very important thing

MAKE SURE YOU CUT YOUR PIECES OVER A DESK AND CLOSE TO THE SURFACE. If you drop a bit on the carpet - the carpet monster does not give them back!

[undercovergeek]

One last very important thing

MAKE SURE YOU CUT YOUR PIECES OVER A DESK AND CLOSE TO THE SURFACE. If you drop a bit on the carpet - the carpet monster does not give them back!

Only when you start to vacuum

[Redwolf]

Your cement should typically be so thin that it isn't available in tube form anyway. And the thin stuff sets into the gap on its own.

[Jarhead0331]

Next question for the experts...

How important or useful is an airbrush? I was in my local Hobby Lobby today and almost picked up an Iwata gravity brush. It comes in a nice kit with a Neo micro-compressor and some tools and accessories, but at nearly $200, it wasn't cheap. Not entirely prohibitive if worth it, but how much more convenient are they and how much better of an end result do you get?

Thanks!

[Con]

Next question for the experts...

How important or useful is an airbrush? I was in my local Hobby Lobby today and almost picked up an Iwata gravity brush. It comes in a nice kit with a Neo micro-compressor and some tools and accessories, but at nearly $200, it wasn't cheap. Not entirely prohibitive if worth it, but how much more convenient are they and how much better of an end result do you get?

Thanks!

I have an airbrush
It's very useful tool but also a pain in the ass
Plus the costs don't stop - you will need a painting hood -
A dust mask rated for particles
Multiple cleaning kits
Spare needles (they bend very easily)
Spare nozzles
Oceans of iso alcohol cleaner
Flow improver
Plastic cups and stirrers/pipettes for thinning paint

Then you need to practice practice practice

Getting the paint right consistency,
Cleaning clogs
Adjusting pressure for different paints primers washes inks
Sniping vs spraying

So it's a commitment but it will help immensely if painting a lot of minis like armies, getting best layers, best details etc

[undercovergeek]

Next question for the experts...

How important or useful is an airbrush? I was in my local Hobby Lobby today and almost picked up an Iwata gravity brush. It comes in a nice kit with a Neo micro-compressor and some tools and accessories, but at nearly $200, it wasn't cheap. Not entirely prohibitive if worth it, but how much more convenient are they and how much better of an end result do you get?

Thanks!

I find the argument falls into 2 categories - convenience for bulk priming, bulk base coating - lets face it black as a primer and then blood angel red pretty much has you a squad of marines in 5 minutes, and on the other side - art - it is truly amazing what some painters can do with an airbrush, its an aesthetic that some people aim to achieve, it makes tanks look a certain way, it makes armour look a certain way that you just cant achieve with a brush

personally i never used one or felt the need for one - as a caveat i only ever painted one mini at a time, one vehicle, one whatever

there were times when i primed 7 to 8 minis at a time but it wasnt anything a spray can couldnt handle

[Jarhead0331]

Next question for the experts...

How important or useful is an airbrush? I was in my local Hobby Lobby today and almost picked up an Iwata gravity brush. It comes in a nice kit with a Neo micro-compressor and some tools and accessories, but at nearly $200, it wasn't cheap. Not entirely prohibitive if worth it, but how much more convenient are they and how much better of an end result do you get?

Thanks!

I have an airbrush
It's very useful tool but also a pain in the ass
Plus the costs don't stop - you will need a painting hood -
A dust mask rated for particles
Multiple cleaning kits
Spare needles (they bend very easily)
Spare nozzles
Oceans of iso alcohol cleaner
Flow improver
Plastic cups and stirrers/pipettes for thinning paint

Then you need to practice practice practice

Getting the paint right consistency,
Cleaning clogs
Adjusting pressure for different paints primers washes inks
Sniping vs spraying

So it's a commitment but it will help immensely if painting a lot of minis like armies, getting best layers, best details etc

I have a lot of these supplies from resin 3D printing, but it does sound like a hobby in and of itself. I think I will hold off for the time being and see just how long I stick with model making and how the painting process goes by brush.

Thanks for the info.!

[JudgeDredd]

I have primed in the past with tins of spray. It's more expensive than using an airbrush and primer - but it is fast and effective.

When you are talking about actual painting though, the finish you get on a model when airbrushing is simply umatched imo.

I'm talking about models here. Miniatures are absolutely fine to paint by hand and I wouldn't do it any other way - mainly though because I'm simply not good enough to paint miniatures with an airbrush.

Con is correct. It's an art in and of itself - for most of the reasons he mentioned. One of mine is getting the paint thinning right. Sometimes too thick and the brush clogs (easy enough to rectify honestly...clean the tip, drop some thinner in and back wash) and sometimes too thin (again - easy enough to rectify by adding a few drops more paint and back washing).

When I got back into modelling I just used a brush and some Humbrol enamels and I was happy as a sand boy. I bought an airbrush and it just sat there. I was "petrified" of using it. Then one day I took the plunge with a wee 1/72 throw away kit. Never looked back. The finish you can achieve with an airbrush (again - on models) is superb.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Next question for the experts...

How important or useful is an airbrush? I was in my local Hobby Lobby today and almost picked up an Iwata gravity brush. It comes in a nice kit with a Neo micro-compressor and some tools and accessories, but at nearly $200, it wasn't cheap. Not entirely prohibitive if worth it, but how much more convenient are they and how much better of an end result do you get?

Thanks!

I have an airbrush
It's very useful tool but also a pain in the ass
Plus the costs don't stop - you will need a painting hood -
A dust mask rated for particles
Multiple cleaning kits
Spare needles (they bend very easily)
Spare nozzles
Oceans of iso alcohol cleaner
Flow improver
Plastic cups and stirrers/pipettes for thinning paint

Then you need to practice practice practice

Getting the paint right consistency,
Cleaning clogs
Adjusting pressure for different paints primers washes inks
Sniping vs spraying

So it's a commitment but it will help immensely if painting a lot of minis like armies, getting best layers, best details etc

I have a lot of these supplies from resin 3D printing, but it does sound like a hobby in and of itself. I think I will hold off for the time being and see just how long I stick with model making and how the painting process goes by brush.

Thanks for the info.!

Airbrushes are great!  I find them indispensable for painting vehicles and buildings.  Getting smooth, uniform brush strokes over a large, flat surface is difficult and time consuming. 

If you stick to acrylics and just use it for priming and basecoating, you don't need a hood, a mask, or various nozzles. 

[JudgeDredd]

This is the kind of stuff I use when modelling and airbrushing.



Some of the stuff in that picture I have loads of - like paints and pegs. All this stuff was accrued over time and quite a lot of it is "home found".

I use cut up sprues as stirrers when mixing paints. I bought a bulk of little plastic cups for mixing for an absolute pittance.

I don't use a mask - the hood is fine for extraction - though they do especially recommend a mask if you are using enamel based paints.

Honestly - airbrushing is scary. It is also difficult and sometimes problematic - but it's now part of the hobby for me. I would not be modelling without an airbrush now.

However - as I said - I started with brushes and Humbrol paints. Crack on. It's your hobby and they're your kits. You don't have to jump back into the hobby and add another level of difficulty by starting from the gates with an airbrush.

But I would urge you to take the plunge at some point - you wouldn't look back.

[Redwolf]

Nobody should need more than whiteout for a base and sharpies for color :)