Allan's 1/72 MIG single-seater

Allan · December 06, 2006, 07:44:48 PM

Hi fellows,
I've been playing around with my crappy airbrush and have managed to more or less put on some satisactory camo (grey, tan and green with green/blue undersurfaces) on the fuselage of my 1/72 scale single seater MIG fighter. The wings are going to have the same lozenge as Voss's 109 as I've got lots of it left.
What to do next?
I've got a decals of LO! used on Udet's plane, sowhat about a MIG in East German colors, pretending that Udet was a spy and defected to the East during the war?
Italian MIG? Ukranian? North (or South) Korean (that sounds good if I can find my NK decals)? Japanese? or Luftwaffe?
Allan in Canberra

Captain Canada · December 06, 2006, 08:11:57 PM

Allan ? Is that you ? Did the flood waters finally recede from Canberra long enough for you to swim over to the computer and drop by ?

I really like the Japanese idea.....something I had never thought of, Japan going Commie post WWII.

What kind of airbrush are you talking about ? I've got an Aztec, and I have trouble with it, mostly because I'm so new to the 'art'.

Good to 'see' you again, buddy !

Brian da Basher · December 06, 2006, 08:30:57 PM

Wow it's great to see you again, Allan. You know I'm looking forward to that MiG.

Here's a thought: White Russian markings. In the OTL a lot of German pilots flew for the White Russians during the civil war. What if that war just dragged on and on and on?

Brian da Basher

P.S. You can use W.W. I Czarist markings or a white roundel with a blue triangle in it for White Russian markings.

Allan · December 06, 2006, 08:32:43 PM

Hi Toad,
It's a Chinese copy of a Badger 350 and all in all it's not too bad at spraying enamels. I use it with a compressor and watertrap. Overspray is maddening. Acrylics are the problem as the tip dries too quickly and I'm constantly stopping to clean it. Also I think I'm using too much paint as the stuff first has to be dragged up through the cup pipe and then through the needle and then out the other end.
One bloke in my hobby club is selling Taiwanese double action gravity feed jobs for A$75 so I'm thinking of getting one. I've bid for one of these kinds of airbrushes on OZ Ebay and it closes tomorrow at 4 pm. I'm the highest bidder so far at $32.
Allan in Canberra

Allan · December 11, 2006, 07:00:44 PM

Toad,
Here's the airbrush I've won on OZ Ebay. Total cost including postage from Sydney to Canberra is A$55. Peter in my hobby club sells these for $75. It'll arrive soon. I'm not sure if it comes with instructions, but all in all it shouldn't be hard to figure out. I'll save lots of paint using a gravity feed and will reduce the overspray too.
Allan in Canberra

lancer · December 12, 2006, 10:58:33 AM

Damm, that is a nice looking A/B Allen, it looks like a copy of a Iwata jobbie

cthulhu77 · December 12, 2006, 01:31:14 PM

Hint for you gravity feed users...here in AZ, and other dry areas, it is a good idea to make some sort of a cap for the feed cup, I just used the top from a blister pack, heated it up, and smashed it down...just like making a canopy. It will keep the paint from drying out fast, especially if you use acrylics.

Looking forward to seeing this one, it should be stellar ! Pics, please!

Allan · December 13, 2006, 04:25:17 PM

The brush arrived yesterday and looks very nice. Surfing on the net draws me to the conclusion that it resembles an Iwata HP-B, I think.
If anyone has an Iwata brush like that, can you give me some cleaning tips please?
Allan in Canberra

John Howling Mouse · December 13, 2006, 07:13:47 PM

I believe I have this same brush when it was marketed in Canada by Coleman.
Mine is very much a Chinese knock-off of my Iwata HP Eclipse. Little bit less quality in the machining but a very good buy, all the same. Needles are interchangeable with those from Iwata.

I'm terrified of cleaning either of mine as I often bend the needle tip so I'm no good for advice. My friend *never* disassembles his Badger airbrush---just runs the appropriate solvent through his and he's never had a problem.

Allan · December 13, 2006, 08:15:50 PM

Baz,
Me too! I'm already petrified of taking out the needle to clean it and I haven't really taken the damn airbrush out of its box yet. All the websites tell me about looking after the needle because they're so expensive.
I'll have a go with it over the hols or maybe in the new year.
Allan in Canberra

Allan · December 13, 2006, 09:57:07 PM

The seller in Sydney tells me that a replacment needle and nozzle would be A$30.
I think what scares me is thoughtlessly dipping a Q tip (cotton bud here) in thinner and then pressing it against the nozzle and then bending the sharp end of the needle.
With my Badger 350 copy I can do this no worries because the needle is really robust.
Allan in Canberra