I teach and write military history. I've got four books out concerning American 20th century wars in Asia. One concerns air warfare in the South/Southwest Pacific out in I think 2004 - early enough that I was able to interview dozens of participants. So I know a lot about 20th century warfare - and it helps me not one bit when modeling. I used to build as a kid in the early 60s - old Monogram 1/72s for about 69 cents, hand painted with enamels. When I became emeritus (academic word for semi-retired) in 2010 I put together a couple of old 1/72s (hand painted in enamels) that I had bought in a barely unsuccessful bid to interest my son in modeling. As luck would have it, this was about the time that the internet started to become a big deal. One thing led to another. Now I have six airbrushes, a thousand bucks of paint and enough kits to last two lifetimes. I build airplanes - if they have propellers. I build tanks that fought in WWI or WWII. And I try to build at least one ship a year - anything from say 1895-1945.
I have become very keen on water based acrylics because my house is small and solvents aren't popular. I've found you get fine results for just about anything if you employ the right products. Thanks to a tip from one of the gurus on Model Warship, a gent who makes a good living in Canada painting canvas for clients, I started using Golden High Flow acrylics as my "go to" paints. No military colors, but as Golden caters to artists, there are all of the "mixing" colors - stuff like Platho Blue or Ultramarine. And mixing paints is a gas. IMO High Flow paints airbrush better than any water based acrylic on the market - it can even "paint small" and not clog. Iwata Com.Art paints aren't really made for styrene, which ironically makes them great for weathering. Both Vallejo and Wilder are coming out with acrylic weathering products. I do use oils with the very mild Gamsol thinner from Gamblin, the fine US oil paint company. I use solvents to clean my airbrushes. I also use a super rattle can black lacquer sandable, fillable automobile primer for "black basing" aircraft - but that's done outside.
Glad to be aboard. I've seen some really good builds here.
Eric
No articles have been found for this category.