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

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 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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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?

Scott53,

Yeah, I've heard that, too, but I don't remember the exact details. I just make sure that I thin my paints properly, and blow a lot of clean thinner through the airbrush after each paint color & paint session. I've never had a clog problem with my airbrush doing that (I did clog a feed tube in a bottle cap, though).

That's really the trick to keeping these things working properly (learned that the hard way).
I'll also yank out the needles and give them a quick wipe down after each session, and won't reseat them till I'm ready for the next.

Good point, wibhi2. I do the same thing with my Aztek brush. I only clean the needles when I'm done painting for the day, though.

Yeah, I know that Snap-On more or less took me on that one, but I have a set "tool bill" in my budget, and a set "model bill" as well. At first I bought it for the shop, thinking that a portable compressor would be perfect when painting panels and such inside the plane. I didn't realize it was a Badger, until after I had received it from Snap-On. Anyways, it ended up at my apartment for some reason or another, and never was used at work.

I've been spraying the Omni for a week now, and I am in love!!! LOL the ease of use and clean-up has suprised me so much, that I think I may be doing something wrong!!! 'Cause if it keeps being good to me like this, it's got to be a sin somewhere!!!! So far no clogs, and no troubles whatsoever. And all I do for clean-up at this point is spray thinner through it.....back flush it....use Q-tips......spray more thinner through it.....use Q-tips.....She's done!!! I may start breaking her down once a week, if I keep up such a vigarous painting schedule, but we shall see. I'm still a little nervous about tearing apart something that works so well, if you know what I mean!!

Hey guys, I'm still here just really busy. Wow, you would think I had three kids (years, 8, 2 and 2months), a wife, job and school or something.

QUOTE: Originally posted by garydmason jimz66, 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!!

Anyway, Gary sorry I have to laugh, I'm still learning about resin & photo-etch. I only herd of them three weeks ago. lol
Oh, I'm building or a will be trying to build the F4U-1D. It was fighter used by the Marine squadron VMF-124 and VMF-213 assinged to the Essex on Dec. 28, 1944.

Hey Heath, Glad your airbrush is working for you. I HAVE YET TO USE MINE. Maybe tomorrow.
Talk to you guys soon.

Well guys I got the few things I need to get started anyway. The only things that are missing I wont need until after I start working in March or so, so I am going to try this. I will be building some Marine Corps F/A-18C in 1/48. I airbrushed the cockpit yesterday, but I think the color is to bright so I will have to redo that. No biggie. I used Darg Ghost gray I think i should use something darker.

I just need to decide what decals to buy when the time comes. Good luck to all. and God Bless.

Does anyone know if VMFA-333 ever flew the C model Hornet and if there was ever a high viz paintjob and where i could find those decals. Not for this build but for a future one.

Jim,

I haven't seen any photos of a hi-viz VMFA-333 Hornet. Doesn't mean there aren't any, I just haven't seen them yet. Also, they were decommissioned right after Desert Storm; were there any F/A-18Cs at that time?

Regards,

Hi all,

My F-4's a Marine now. I've been decalling her and it's going pretty darned well. I'm using Fox One decals and they're working beautifully. My only complaint is that the white is a bit translucent. I'm going to try and take some more pictures soon and post them.

I'm a slow modeler. I started this model last May, but I'm nearly done now. Some of what's taking so long is that I'm trying a whole host of new (for me) techniques. I also bought a house and moved in November -- a major time-sucker!

Regards,

I couldn't tell you Drew I don't know that much about the History of the Hornet. I have heard that the squadron was decommed though so I knew that already. I think I found out about that from this website somewhere.

I'm back after taking time out of my busy schedual for massive computer problems that almost included a broken window (that would fall under the catagory of an "exit wound".)
VMFA-333 was deactivated on 20 March 1992. They were flying the 'A' model Hornet at that time. Negitave on the high vis.
For the build I am planning to do a 1/48 A-4 E/F Skyhawk (no surprise to Gary) and/or a 1/72 DH-4. I picked 1/48 A-4 because I have been dying to try the recent Hasagawa kits.
The wife sort of has me on a "build three before I buy one" compromise (my ever expanding collections are taking up a LOT of space!) but I got a waiver for the group build. I am optimistic about completeing both but now that I am a full time student again, still have a 13 year old at home, and all the other family type stuff, I am at least sure one of them will be up and running by July.

How are the Hasagawa kits in comparison to the Tamiya kits?? I've really been enjoying the Clean casts on the Tamiya parts, and have been a little afraid to try a different company.

Heath I only have one Tamiya Kit but many Hasegawa kits. I love Hasegawa's attention to detail. The only Tamiya Kit i have is their 1970's release of the Lancaster and it seams to be a great kit.

Kept the color of my Hornet cockpit even though it may be to bright I will live with it for now. Painted the panels the best I can tonight will seal with future tomorrow then weather the day after.

jimz,

Hornet cockpits should be Dark Gull Gray FS36231. The Dark Ghost Gray that you said you used should be pretty close, though. I wouldn't worry too much about it.


Sergeant Major,

You're correct. I wasn't surprised at all. Did you have to submit a chit for your waiver? heeheeheehee!! Is your wife the NCOIC, or the OIC? I would guess that she's the latter.......

kik36,

If I had to make a choice between the two, I would go with Tamiya. They seem to have high levels of detail with less parts than a Hasegawa kit. Plus, they include ordnance with most of their kits. Hasegawa seems to exclude ordnance sometimes. But, it would be a hard choice to make. I'm kinda partial to both companies. The majority of my stash is Hasegawa & Tamiya (about 65%).

I haven't built any of my Tamiya stuff yet but it all looks really great. I've been wondering about Hasegawa myself... I'll have to give it a try.