AIRCRAFT - USMC Group Build (ends 7/30/04)

My Badger #100LG has been giving me fits here lately, will thin the Model Master's acrylic paints to near thinner and it still clogs after a couple minutes into the job. A real pain in the butt to disassemble and clean the air brush half dozen plus times. Felt lucky to finish the paint job on the 1/72 EA-6B. Heard there was a trick to easing the paint flow by using a couple drops of liquid detergent, has anyone tried that and is there any pitfalls to doing this?

A good compressor is something I need to look into. I'll have to check old Wally mart Gary!

You can buy Badger stuff through a Snap-On dealer????? That probably made the price jump by 100%!! I always bought Mac when I was a mechanic, or sometimes Cornwell (remember them?). I tell ya, the Campbell-Hausfeld compressor that I bought for $100 was a good deal. It has a 2 gallon tank on it, along with a pressure regulator. Cost a lot less than the name-brand, modeling-specific stuff that's out there without a tank and regulator. I priced a Badger unit a few months ago at almost $200! No tank, no regulator, just a compressor. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. Way too much. Mine is still working, it just won't build up pressure over 75psi (the auto shut-off is set for 100psi, which it used to meet with no problem). Oh well. I'll use it till it won't work anymore , then I'll get another one. Wal-Mart now has the same unit for $90.

Oh, sorry Gary, totally forgot....I use a badger compressor. It works pretty well. I don't know the price, because I actually ordered it through the Snap-On guy, and he just put it on my tab, but it should be easy to track down at a Michael's, or even online.

Hell, I don't blame you for that. I woulda done the same thing. But, they're supposed to be guaranteed for life against anything. I know a guy who supposedly sent his in for the same problem you were having, and he says that they sent him a new one. So far, mine has been working great. I've had it for about three years now, and the only problem I've had is the feed tube in my bottle cap clogged up (my fault on that).

Hey Gary, the Aztek was far from working!!! Actually, thats what prompted me to look for another....I was soaking the airbrush in thinner to try and remove a clog I was having, and it ruined the trigger!!! I guess I could have sent it in for a new one, and then donated it...but I just wasn't thinking about that I suppose. I was pretty much fed up with them at that time.

jimz66,

I guess it was the part about getting your driver's license (I guess that's what you meant by DL) soon that made me think you were probably 16. Plus the part about this being your first model ever. Oh well. Us 40 year-olds ain't as perfect as we used to be (just ask my wife!!).

I know what you mean about the shocker of getting back into the hobby. I had about a decade-long absence when I was in the Corps, and when I decided to start building again, I had to learn all about resin & photo-etch & airbrushes & all sorts of other things that I had never heard of when I was a kid. Heck, I'm still learning!! For instance, right now, I'm sitting in my modeling room working on the F7F for the Group Build, and I'm learning how much I want to throw it up against the wall. AMT does NOT make the best aircraft kits. I understand that their automotive kits are pretty good, but the aircraft kits leave a lot to be desired. Oh well. At least I'm getting some good experience. Talk atcha later, jimz66.

I wish I was sixteen I am twenty seven bud. I used to try to finish models when I was sixteen and younger Just getting back into the hobby after a decade of abscence. God that was a shocker. Gee things would be different if I could turn back the clock.


I guess we could all say that

jimz66,

I can still remember my first kit. It was a 1/72nd A-5 Vigilante with a removable engine. I don't remember the brand. I was about 6 years old at the time (around 1970), and my dad helped me (Ok, he did almost all of the work).

Based on your last post, I'm assuming that you're around 16 years old. If you need any advice on techniques, this is a great place to ask. You'll get a lot of varied opinions, none of them wrong, and all perfect. Good Luck on your Hornet. It's one of my favorite planes.

AJACKETSFAN - I liked my VL. It's fairly versitile when you get all the needles and tips.
And most importantly it's easy to maintain and will take a certain amount of abuse.

Again Gary D no promises But I am going to try. It will be my first build period. I have several dozen models here with none done. i am getting my DL soon so i will be able to find a job and hopefully get some supplies that is the only thing holding me back. I need some decals too. Take care to all. Good luck and Godspeed.

hey, kik36,

The next time you wanna throw away a working airbrush, SEND IT TO ME!!!!!! I'll gladly take it off your hands! Or, you could donate it to a Make-N-Take program, or something similar.

Glad to hear you're having a good experience with the new airbrush. I've never heard of the Omni before, but, then again, there's a LOT of stuff I've never heard of before.......Incidentally, what brand of air compressor are you using? I'm using a Campbell-Hausfeld unit I bought at Wal-Mart for $99 about three years ago. Unfortunately, it's starting to give me some problems now, so it looks as though I'll have to replace it soon.

jimz66,

Ooooohhh..... Those "Chippy Ho" decals look as though they would be really difficult to get to lay down. Good luck on them. I've never tried to build that kit, only because of the decals. I could be wrong - I often am! Not trying to scare you off from doing that. Sorry!!

When you say that it will be your first one, do you mean model, or F-18C? Either way, we'll all be looking forward to seeing your finished product. I hope that you have an enjoyable time with this group build. It's my first group build ever, so I'm looking forward to it with mucho gusto!!

I am going to try this but absolutely no promises. I have an F/A-18C Chippy Ho from Hasegawa that I am going to paint in USMC markings and paint the Chippy Ho latter. Hopefully I can pull this off. It will be my first one.

Gary, I had an Aztek, and it broke on me.....so after doing a search on the AB forum, I found that it came down to a couple of different Airbrushes, and I found the Omni for $70.00. Believe me, you think that Aztek is easy to clean, you should try the Omni, and it's a single tip system......!!!! WOW!!! It sure beats having to change tips to get the desired pattern, and then having to clean 'em all. But by all means, run that Aztek into the ground before you buy a new one!!! (as far as getting their lifetime warranty tested out....after running that Omni once, I chucked that Aztek right into the garbage!!! LOL

I've got the Aztec Double Action brush, with the nice little wooden storage box & 6 tips & a few paint bottles. I love that thing!! Of course, I haven't used anything else, so I can't really compare it to any of the other brushes out there. I do like the fact that it's easy to clean, and, if it goes bad, Testor's will replace it for the life of the brush (or, so they say!!).

I'll try to have some in-progress pictures of my F7F-3N on-line as soon as I can. The last time I tried to post some pictures, they never materialized. Maybe I'll get luckier this time.

wibhi2 I've got the Paasche VL how did you like it? I haven't been able to use mine yet because I'm trying to build a spray booth... the weather here hasn't been very good for outdoor painting.

Thanks everyone.

Kik36 - I know what you mean about your Omni500. I just laid my hands on an Iwata AB
(on sale none the less) and just love the little sucker. I am a previous Paasche VL user.
Now I got 2 AB's and compressors (firm believer in duplication for those unexpected moments, besides I am also a pack-rat :0) )

Anyone know of an AV-8B II night attack conversion? My searches yesterday ended in brick walls.

erh thanks guys now need to look for a plane then

hmmmm i got an osprey will see how then

Gary, I think getting rid of the entry deadline is a great idea!! I think since the topic became sticky, it's been a topic everyone sees.....as for an Omni 5000, it is an airbrush made by Thayer & Chandler (distibuted by Badger). I just got it this weekend, and I've been using it nonstop....after previously using an Aztek.....Let's just say they are worlds apart!!!! LOL Right now, I am waiting on some Eduard PE, and a resin seat for my F4U-2, but should have some in progress pics in a couple of weeks!!!

The newest members of our merry group are:

ridleusmc
sentry
TimL
Scott53
wibhi2
usmcsm

This gives us 17 participants. The rules (if you can call them that) are in the first message of this thread. They're very simple. Good Luck to you all.

By the way, guys - I've noticed that a few us have listed what we're going to build. Maybe the rest of you could do the same? Just so we all can see what to expect in July. Not mandatory, just a suggestion. Good Luck!!

Semper Fi!!

OK, it looks as though we'll waive the cut-off date. As long as all participants have a finished model in USMC markings posted on this thread on 30 July 2004, anyone is welcome to participate. Welcome to all who wish to be a part of this group build!!

Sergeant Major, glad to see you here. Looking forward to seeing your handiwork.

Lufbery,

Didn't know that 333 had been decommissioned. Kinda sorry to hear that. I liked watching them fly their Hornets. Plus, they had great paint jobs!! Looking forward to seeing your Phantom II!!

Right on the more the merrier I agree with Drew! Welcome aboard everyone... it's going to be fun. I got the kit out the other day and started to look through the sprues and the directions... I think I'm going to do the Gray, and Green camo scheme... I'll probably start building in a few days...

Gary,

The more, the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

By the way, VMFA-333 was decommissioned in March of 1992. They flew one heck of a lot of planes: Dauntlesses, Hellcats, Corsairs, Skyraiders, FJ-3 Furies, Crusaders, Phantoms, and Hornets.

There's a great history here:
.
http://www.vmfa-333.com/vmfa333start.html
.
It'd be neat to do models of all their planes with all their markings. But for right now, I'll just concentrate on the one.

Regards,

GUYS!!!!! Sorry I'm just now getting back on (5 Feb 2004), but I had to go to Miami to put out a "fire", figuratively speaking. It sucked having to leave Miami's 80 degree weather to come back to snow and sleet in Indianapolis. Oh well. Such is the life of an electronics engineer.

Anyway, it seems as though others have found out about our group build, and would like to participate. Are there any objections? I know I said that 31 January 2004 would be the cut-off date, but, I don't mind if no one else does. As long as everyone posts a picture of their model on this thread on 30 July 2004 (not before!!!!)(in-progress photos excluded from that stipulation), then I can't see why not. Maybe we should waive the entry deadline? What do you guys think?

Lufbery,

That's a great-looking Phantom so far. I remember when I was in Iwakuni back in 1989, TripTrey (as VMFA-333 is affectionately called) was, and still is, flying Hornets. Good Luck!!

keeg,

Nothing to be nervous about. This is my first group build also. Just have fun, and don't rush it. Have you decided what you're gonna build yet?

stoomfluit,

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that you are Dutch. I work for a Dutch company, based in Veenendaal, called Nucletron. Maybe the next time I'm over there, we can meet?

kik36,

What's an Omni5000?? Never heard of it. Is it an aftermarket kit of some kind?

AJACKETSFAN,

THANKS!!!!!

I know that conversation well usmcsm ! I just remind her of the rules. Two kits of one subject type count as one. Any kits that I just can't remember buying don't get counted. Any kits that I bought because they were on sale don't get counted. These few simple rules usually help to bring my collection down to reasonable numbers... besides, a night on the couch is a small price to pay for a few new kits.

Howdy,
I'd like to get in on this too. Don't know which kit yet though. I'll have to sort through the collection. My wife says I have 400 kits on the shelf but I swear it can't be more than 150, tops.

Looks like it's coming right along Drew. Can't wait to see it done this summer.

Nice one Drew,
the phanthom is a favourite ,and yours looks great.
maybe u could post a close up of the cockpit?
thanks,
eng hui

PS:great group build wish I had the time and a kit to join.