Questions about dremel + brushes + files + paints

First off, welcome to the hobby!!! We modelers seem to be a dying breed, so new folks coming into the hobby are always welcomed. Now, on to the questions....you will probably-eventually need a dremel Not only are they handy for models, but you will find yourself using it elsewhere around the house. I use a cordless one, its nice, compact, powerful, but when the battery dies, the one I have has a long recharge time. A dremel will almost be necessary if you ever work with resin aftermarket parts, that is a type if very hard plastic most upgrade kits have. Your airbrush seems a good pick and regular brushes needed (of course) will be SMALL. Go to your local Michaels Crafts or an art supply, and pick up an assortment. Don't skimp here. I use to buy the $2 specials, and now they are only good for weatherng after only a few models. Now I get the $8-$10 brushes, they perform way better, and last alot longer. Get yourself a reasonable set of jewelers files from places like "Micro-Mark"  (online) or "model-expo". I got mine from a flea market for $3..hardley use 'em...NOW sanding sticks.....use them constantly,again avaible most any hobby place, get an assortment. Finally, paint when airbrushed, goes along way, Most of my paints dry out, before I use them completely. 1/32 models of course will use more, but I still don't think you will use an entire bottle on it. One final word, Everything Tamaya makes is good...EXCEPT, I HATE THEIR PAINT. It's not bad airbrushing, but HORRIBLE hand brushing, it seems to drag and gum up. I only use Testors Model Master acrylics, they airbrush great, and hand brush good. There are other paints out there so experiment. Some guys swear by Vallejo, Gunze-Sangyo, whatever, I just prefer MM it's available everywhere. Hope all this helps.

Welcome to the most rewarding hobby!

Take a peek at this which will help get you started on building better models and the tools necessary to do so.

Specifically on files, small rifler files are perfect for modeling in the right hands. Files tend to be too agressive for plastic in the hands of a novice. Look at first using files and polishing sticks used for fingernail care. Again the link I provided above will introduce you to those. Check my blog for other helpful articles (link below under signature).

Thanks a lot fellas....I feel very welcome already. I have always wanted to be a modeler, but somehow at this point of time I have found the opportunity to do so.

jody_c:

Thanks for all the input. So I guess I should invest in a dremel now, rather than wait for the need to arise. Any recommendations? The biggest problem with me is that there are virtually NIL hobby shops where I live. The ones that do exist cater singularly to the R/C crowd....the 'others', and that too mostly towards ready-to-fly kits so no chance of me finding ANY tools or materials whatsoever. I have to rely completely on online stores, and most of them don't ship to Pakistan. So its not easy being a modeler here....but so far I have managed to research online and bought most of the stuff online from Japan, UK and the US. For this very reason, I have to be very sure when making a purchase because in 99% of the cases.....returning the item is out of question. That is why I have to KNOW which brushes to order, how many and even anticipate their future use because of the lead time involved (almost 6 weeks, in most cases). I have access to Tamiya brushes because they have an agent in Pakistan, but even he maintains no stock and orders for me when I forward a query to him. So, how are Tamiya brushes? I went ahead and indulged myself while selecting the airbrush and compressor, didn't wanna skimp on critical tools as I can't be in a position where my airbrush dies on me. 

As for paints, I have yet to find an online store who will ship paints to me. If you can point me towards someone, I'd be grateful. So far, I have invested in Tamiya acrylics...just some basic paints. I respect your advice but am bound by the availability factor. Can anyone point me to where I can purchase Testors/Vallejo/Gunze online and who will also ship them to me?

 

HawkeyeHobbies:

I have gone through your excellent blog, it is very helpful and one of the sources of my current knowledge. Thanks for the link, I will be going through that too. As for files/sanding sticks, can you mention specific brands? As I mentioned earlier, I do not have the luxury of choosing amongst the wide variety available to most modelers in the US/EU.

nophster wrote:

As for paints, I have yet to find an online store who will ship paints to me. If you can point me towards someone, I'd be grateful. So far, I have invested in Tamiya acrylics...just some basic paints. I respect your advice but am bound by the availability factor. Can anyone point me to where I can purchase Testors/Vallejo/Gunze online and who will also ship them to me?

You may wish to check with LuckyModel in Hong Hong. http://www.luckymodel.com/ I get my Vallejo paints from them, as Vallejo are rather uncommon here in Australia. They also stock Tamiya and Gunze paints.

Regarding paintbrushes, you don't have to limit yourself to hobby stores/suppliers. Do you have any local stores which sell artists' supplies? I would be looking for red sable (or better ie Kolinsky sable) brushes, in a round, pointed pattern, in sizes 4, 2, 0 and 000 as a starting point. Brushes are better purchased personally than online so you can inspect individual brushes and select your own. If you order online, the packer will just grab one out of a box and not care particularly if the point is frayed or distorted.

Phil_H:

Thanks, that sounds like a great website. I visited it and it does include Pakistan in its list of services countries. I can't wait to make a purchase now. How do you find their prices? One bottle of 17ml Vallejo Air Model paint is for US $2.49

What would you recommend? There are no listings under Humbrol and Testors, but they seem to be carrying the entire range of Vallejo and Tamiya, as well as Alclad, Mr Hobby, Revell and gaianotes. Which one would you guys recommend...I was leaning towards Vallejo as I have seen many people praise the results. I would be airbrushing primarily, so should I go for the Vallejo Model Air range? In that case, which colors do you guys think I should get AT ALL COST....and in what quantities? They come in 17ml dropper-type bottles...how much would I be using in a 1/48 aircraft?

I should add here that I am aiming for a matt, satin finish on my aircraft....does that come automatically with the kind of paint used for airbrushing or is there a technique involved?

As for the brushes, yes there are several art supply stores around. I have never been to one but my sister is an artist so should may have a good idea of what I should get. Sable? Ok....I will go brush shopping soon. Any specific brands that some to mind?

 

Where do you live?

Sprue Brothers has a good selection and will ship paints, but what type depends on where you live as the Post Office no longer accepts anything flammable. So these must go by common courier such as UPS...which can get pricey if you live outside the USA.

Nophster,

Luckymodel's price on Vallejo paints (after including shipping) are comparable to (or less than) US domestic prices. The few places which stock Vallejo here in Aistralia charge around $6.00(AUD) which is is roughly $4.75(USD) , whereas the "single bottle" price plus shipping is $2.95(USD) or $3.71(AUD).

My preference is to buy the "Model Color" range of paints in preference to the "Model Air" unless there is a specific colour which is available in Model Air which isn't in the Model Color range. Pretty simply, they are better VFM (value for money) because they can be thinned far more than the "Model Air" paints, where you pay for the convenience of being "airbrush ready". Note also that Vallejo acrylics (both Model color and Model Air) can be thinned readily with distilled water.

Note also that when ordering from LuckyModel, always look for items listed as "In Stock" - items listed as "available" aren't actually in stock, but are available from their suppliers. (Meaning that if you order sometihng listed as "available", there will be some waiting period until the next restock from that supplier.)

Depnding on what you're building, there aren't really any "universal" paint colours which can be used on all models (except perhaps for black, white and silver). Every nation (USAF, RAF Luftwaffe) uses different colours, and these can change depending on time period and location too. So it's difficult to suggest a "core stock" of colours.

Thanks for the great tips, I will be placing my order with them soon.

HawkeyeHobbies wrote:

Where do you live? Sprue Brothers has a good selection and will ship paints, but what type depends on where you live as the Post Office no longer accepts anything flammable. So these must go by common courier such as UPS...which can get pricey if you live outside the USA.

HawkeyeHobbies, I live in Pakistan which is wayyyyyyy too far away from the US :) despite that, I have had my Eclipse and compressor bought through Ebay, which might explain why I am still waiting for delivery 15 days after dispatch. Would Sprue Brothers ship to me? I can think of many things other than paints that I could buy off of them.

They ship worldwide!

Then I will definitely give them a shout.