Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Mr. Badwrench wrote:Have you tried Woodland Scenics?

Everthing they sell is based on sponge/foam It works great for small scales like trains. But I am looking for something in a larger scale, so if you add it to a base as leaf litter it tends to look like clumps of sponge to me.

Yea but I am looking for a more realistic leaf pattern, which I did finally find a source but they are in the UK.

I've always been told that the best is Tamiya paints with Tamiya's thinner in a 1 part paint and 2 parts thinner ratio. Is this ok? The best... that is subjective really, I can say this and not being a airbrush guru I have never had a bad experience using there paints airbrushing they always come o...

Does anyone have a source for this stuff, I know you can buy bags of it nowdays. But I can't find it anywhere, looking for a online source please.

UltraMagnus wrote:

What did you thin with?

simple, ordinary, tap water (its water based, right)

I would add a drop of say windex to the mixture as it will help break the surface tension of water.

What are you using to thin the GW and Vallejo paints?

And yes Tamiya paints from my experience airbrush very nice, also any paint no matter if its enamel or water based you should use in a well ventilated area or wear a mask.

Don't forget if you have any white in the decal image to be printed, you will need white decal paper. As home printers don't have white ink to print with.

I would check out some of the hobby paints, in your big craft stores.
What about using baremetal foil, or if budget is no concern how about real gold leaf?

I still have one from back when they first came out, The trigger started to stick on me. So I went ahead and bought a all metal airbrush, but my old testers still works. I would say the only downside I ever saw about them was there all plastic design. And that they are really not made to be taken ap...

I just checked Plasti-Kote's website , and it looks like the paints are from two different lines - home decor and automotive - but the descriptions make them seem close in capabilities. Both are laquer, both are compatible with most topcoats, etc. I don't see where you couldn't use them interchanga...

Oh another little trick I have seen also, use car wax on the models also when you are finished to make them pop even more.

Not a pro myself, but for the most part I can tell you how they do it. If you look at some of the other youtube videos related to the FineMolds xwing build, they do some car models. And you can see for the most part how they get the look also. For the most part they get the realistic look, well by t...

This video shows what Mr Badwrench is describing, shows a guy doing one.

It happens at 2:20 in the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SZQpUNJ ... ed&search=

IM BACK!! well that definately seems like a plus. if i turned of the motor would i stil be able to change the pressure? because i think that i 125psi is a little too much for an air brush but i didnt have a regulator so i wouldnt know. thanks for your input. He is saying that you could fill the 3 g...

i was surfing the internet for a good compressor and came across this. it a craftsman compressor with a gauge on it so i can lower the pressure. i can get a sepperate moisture trap and i can get it from a sears that is close to me. if any one sees any problems with this please tell me so i dont buy...

I picked up a 2 gallon one after Christmas at Walmart, for $50 and it has a pressure regulator built in. Really any compressor will work as long as you have a regulator to bring down the PSI at the outlet to 15-25 PSI. And you can buy a regulator if the compressor does not have one, Never needed a m...

Even though I have a huge stock of them, I have never airbrused with mine. However I have heard some people say that, if they are thinned properly that they do a pretty good job. Most of them thinned them down with some water, and a drop of windex. I should mention you can search on GW website, and ...

Well instead of spending $100+

I would go down to wal-mart and have a look around, they had a 2-3 gallon compressor, with a regulator. For $80 before christmas, and they marked it down to $40 after christmas

I take a little peice of modeling clay and stick it on the tip of the bottle.
Will help it last alot longer then just the cap that comes with it.

These guys have it. http://www.megahobby.com/

I have ordered from them before with no problems

some times, I often use the primer to tell if all the seams are covered good.
And If I have to go back and work on the seams I will reprimer after.

Model car hard core guys use auto paint, mainly to get the exact color of the RL car.

But you can with model enamels get the same look, maybe not the exact shade of what ever color. But you can buff out the enamel paints and get a super smooth gloss finish. Which most car builders will do anyway.

You can highlight the edges/curves etc. with a dark blue or dark purple to give the edges/curves some definition.

There is a article out there on the net, with a guy building a Carbon Fiber computer case. I think it was on www.mini-itx.com.

Its been awhile but I think he listed his source for the fiber, and he was doing it on the cheap side also. He did not need the good stuff for a computer case.

What about a clear 2 part epoxy?

Actually, I have a sacrificial victim for the acetone test, so I’ll let you know how that goes. Reputably it works on collectable miniatures, and those are some sort of vinyl as well. I’ll report on how it goes. The collectable minis, tend to be a metal, or stiff plastic. I wonder if the micro ...

I looked at there site those look kind of expensive, considering you need to order Transformer, Inverter, and Tube. When most computer site such as newegg, directron and alot of others. Have all that together for anywhere from $4-$12 in different sizes and colors also. Is there something special abo...

There thinner they make, and water are the only 2 I have found.
And water seems to work the same as there thinner.

There paints go on great, only one problem. The paint scratches off way to easy. I still like there paints for minis, better then the GW's paints.
But I want use them again on models.

Also the dried flowers at craft stores are great, I know I picked up some dried thing, that looks just like pines.

I would still cover the foam myself, so no matter what paint you use want seap into it.

But I have seen the paint you are talking about, and myself I dont think it looks right. When you are putting it up to a small scale such as a dio.