Search found 92 matches

by PetarB
Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:21 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Will glitter ruin my air brush??
Replies: 18
Views: 27236

Tamiya's spraycan lacquer comes in a colour called 'Pearl Clear' TS-65. It's a fantastic gloss clear that puts a very fine metallic fleck over your paintwork. I've just used it on a project and it looks amazing.
by PetarB
Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:08 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: I have a "black thumb" with electronics
Replies: 14
Views: 14855

I'm really sick of soldering. It's such an imprecise exercise for me. Where ever possible I use a wire wrapper now. I'm much happier! Much the the electronics on the cold-war era space missions and prior were wire-wrapped! You can pick up a wire wrapping device at most electronic component retailers.
by PetarB
Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:45 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: iModela 3D miller
Replies: 4
Views: 7921

I was preparing to purchase this last year. I contacted a local Roland representative to demonstrate. He 'organised everything' then never got back to me. One concern is the inability to do undercuts... but that's a problem with most router-type subtractive processes. The resolution looks very nice....
by PetarB
Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:42 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: filters over decals?
Replies: 9
Views: 6229

Important point - and it's rather easy to do as well. I believe MicroMark has a kit - which I have not used - which 'eliminates' decal film, but I'd only believe it after trying. It's intriguing though. It would certainly eliminate that "wash bleed into decal film corner crevasse issue" th...
by PetarB
Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:56 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Seriously, how do I apply squadron putty?
Replies: 22
Views: 27952

It wont harden at all... I've left it on overnight in a dark room and it did not harden. 60 seconds of sunlight though, and it's a little harder than styrene, and can be drilled and sanded.
by PetarB
Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:47 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Seriously, how do I apply squadron putty?
Replies: 22
Views: 27952

With walnuts! And make sure it's real maple syrup, none of that log cabin or mrs butterworth stuff. But once you've used up your Squadron putty, get some Bondo spot glazing putty or 3M Acryl Blue. Squadron Putty is terrible stuff. It can seperate and actually destroy your plastic! Bellerophon's adv...
by PetarB
Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:34 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Gentle Peoples....I seek inspiration!!!!
Replies: 28
Views: 48879

I find deadlines are the only thing I need to inspire me - this is usually for work by the way! However, for a modelling project, I'm surprised by how motivated I am once I give myself a deadline. If it's a creative issue, I put myself out of my comfort zone, by looking at, or participating in thing...
by PetarB
Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:47 pm
Forum: The One-Day Build Challenge
Topic: Group Build Idea?
Replies: 32
Views: 77142

May June would be better - a lot of kits for certain US residents would have been purchased at Wonderfest, I'm guessing. I may have something I could build in a day, come to think of it....
by PetarB
Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:12 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Finer polish than Novus #2
Replies: 24
Views: 26178

Once I got a resin 'clear' canopy. I polished it, and polished it, and polished it, but surface imperfections refused to go away leaving a less than clear surface. I was stumped until I took a look at the surface with a magnifier. There were TINY bubbles in the resin which made it less than clear. S...
by PetarB
Tue Apr 10, 2012 7:38 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Perfect mirror metal finish - options and suggestions?
Replies: 16
Views: 24371

I've used that product to good effect. It's basically foil. Very thin, not that adhesive, which is actually a good quality, since you need to pull it off sometimes and reposition! I might take a look at how it goes on the Naboo fighter, when I get around to it...
by PetarB
Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:39 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Perfect mirror metal finish - options and suggestions?
Replies: 16
Views: 24371

Perfect mirror metal finish - options and suggestions?

One of my 'quests' as a modeller has been to get a perfect mirror metal finish. I've experimented with all kinds of paints. My best results, predictably, are with Alclad's Chrome. I'm wondering what other possibilities are available, thinking outside the airbrush-sized box. Kosutte Gin-san is a japa...
by PetarB
Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:56 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Basics. Weathering. Washes
Replies: 186
Views: 740888

1) can you use an acrylic/water wash on a model that was painted with enamel oil paints? Yes. Some people call it a 'sludge' wash. 2) for very small wear around panels and exhaust, what do people recommend? Does anyone have any tutorials they could share? There are plenty of techniques. My favourit...
by PetarB
Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:09 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Wet Palette for slow paintbrushing
Replies: 2
Views: 2994

Wet Palette for slow paintbrushing

I don't know about you, but I absolutely hate paintbrushing sometimes, especially for figures, with paint drying out too quickly, especially when I mix up a custom colour in figure painting. I don't have retarders available. However I just came across something which looks very useful, and easy to p...
by PetarB
Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:45 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Madman Lighting Kits
Replies: 101
Views: 363916

One bright Falcon engine? That's what I want! In fact, I'm aiming for 'OMG I CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT!'
Thanks for your quick reply.
by PetarB
Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:59 pm
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Madman Lighting Kits
Replies: 101
Views: 363916

I've got the Fast Tramp Freighter Kit, and so far it works great. I'd like to add extra engine LEDs, however - the wide diffuse blue bright ones. 1) Can they be powered by the kit, and if so, do I add them in series? Or what's the best way? 2) What sort of luminous intensity are the current ones, so...
by PetarB
Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:43 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Got Resin?
Replies: 53
Views: 179656

I ordered some resin which cures a bit too fast for my liking.

Does anyone have any experience with retarding cure times for resin? I'm mainly interested in preventing the onset of the gel like phase....
by PetarB
Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:41 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Delrin
Replies: 20
Views: 24983

Wow Jospeh that turned out nicely! Now I really want to get some! How does Tamiya primer or other lacquers stick to it? Any experience?
by PetarB
Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:18 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: 3D Printers for Home
Replies: 12
Views: 20856

I'm constantly reviewing options.
However... solutions like RepRap are still not 'there' yet for me, the resolution is just too low. I'm keeping my eye out though, it's an evolving tech. And it's an amazing tech, once the resolution gets better. It's going to be transformative...
by PetarB
Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:18 am
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Delrin
Replies: 20
Views: 24983

Delrin

Anyone used delrin? I heard it turns well on a lathe. Does it cut well otherwise? Glue? Best online provider?
by PetarB
Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:01 am
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: Top 10 tools
Replies: 40
Views: 58835

I have a Lian-Li mouse-pad made out of aluminium that I have found fantastically useful in all sorts of situations.

I do find that an expensive set of very good tweezers is invaluable as well.
by PetarB
Mon Oct 31, 2011 6:36 am
Forum: Lighting & Electronics
Topic: Madman Lighting's "Fast Tramp Freighter" (FMMF)
Replies: 0
Views: 8618

Madman Lighting's "Fast Tramp Freighter" (FMMF)

I'm finally one the home stretch of my FineMolds Millenium Falcon. Collecting dust in the box has been Madman Lighting's kit for the Falcon which I bought a couple of years ago. I'm wondering if anyone else has pics of their fitted lighting kit. I'm considering the addition of some extra firepower i...
by PetarB
Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:45 pm
Forum: Construction
Topic: Rubber for molds
Replies: 79
Views: 258031

Hi folks RE: Degassing RTV I've got a vacuum pump, and for the chamber I'm going to use my pressure pot which should work fine from what I understand. As I don't have an acrylic lid (like so many vac chambers do) I won't be able to see if the rubber has finished bubbling. So my query, is once the va...
by PetarB
Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:33 am
Forum: Construction
Topic: very oily resin kit
Replies: 27
Views: 46247

Here is another 2 cents. Good resin is expensive stuff. Manufacturers in the GK industry are always looking for ways to save money. One way is using an 'extender' for resin. A very commonly used extender is kerosense, because it's easily available and cheap. Kerosene is also sometimes used as a rele...
by PetarB
Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:28 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Colour Difference, Whites?
Replies: 3
Views: 4349

To be honest, my favourite flat white is Tamiya's rattlecan Fine White Primer. A couple of nice coats of it and you're done for a flat base.
by PetarB
Tue Feb 22, 2011 5:40 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: I have a lathe... cylinders beware!
Replies: 9
Views: 12244

I would love a mill attachment but they don't make one for my size. I might have to make one myself. I did a bit of milling with an ersatz vice, but it was far from satisfactory! Next I need a ball turning attachment. I have a feeling I'm going to have to make my own there as well...!
by PetarB
Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:08 pm
Forum: Scratchbuilding
Topic: I have a lathe... cylinders beware!
Replies: 9
Views: 12244

I have a lathe... cylinders beware!

A couple of items I have been building have been put on the backburner because I lacked the necessary tooling and kept dithering on whether to farm out the work to someone else. After a months' research and prevaricating I took delivery of a miniature lathe over the weekend. Within a couple of hours...
by PetarB
Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:58 am
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Tamiya Aerosol gloss on decals
Replies: 4
Views: 4241

I've used Tamiya gloss over decals with no problems - Hasegawa and Bandai decal sets mainly. I did have a problem a long time ago - but I had not allowed them enough time to dry.
by PetarB
Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:39 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: What color primer do you use for the inside?
Replies: 2
Views: 3721

Like Ziz says, go with a metal spraycan colour - silver even, block light a lot better than non-metallic colours due to the metal content in the paint. You will be surprised at how good it is a blocking light.
by PetarB
Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:47 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: How to simulate blast marks
Replies: 9
Views: 15413

Hi Alex. What kind of wash did you use there... it actually looks quite effective. I have this kit too... and I have held off on this as I don't feel like repainting it again, but it looks like you've got a more than adequate finish there to be honest. Looks like you polished that twin canopy quite ...
by PetarB
Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:42 pm
Forum: Finishing
Topic: Millenium Falcon weathering technique, how to guide
Replies: 13
Views: 20282

Very informative, thank you!