Hello all, total newbie, looking to learn

[Guest]

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while, signed up a few days ago, and thought it was about time I introduced myself.

I'm completely new to model making so have a lot to learn, but there seems to be tons of great information to be found here. I spray cars for a living so am not new to paint, but haven't used an airbrush before so am looking forward to learning that skill in particular.

I picked up a little Spitfire kit to get the ball rolling but I was immediately surprised by how much gear I need to get going. I bought a cheap airbrush to start off with, thinking I could use my existing compressor, but at 96dB it's just way too loud for working in the evening out in my shed / man cave, so have ordered a cheap one of those too. I'm trying to keep investment low for now until I'm sure I want to dive deeply into the hobby, so cheap Chinese stuff will have to suffice.

I'll not drone on for too long but I'm glad to have found this place as I think it's just what I need as I feel my way around my first few simple models.

[AlanG]

Welcome to the forum Andy. Ask any questions you have, The only bad question is the one you don't ask. Don't forget the search facility too. Loads of info already on the forum.

[scottie3158]

Andy,
Welcome to the forum you have found a great place to be. You will get a whole lot of help if you want it and support, plus a whole lot of friendly banter.

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
Welcome to a great, friendly forum. Take your time and enjoy learning about the hobby.
Jim

[Guest]

Welcome fellow forum newbie!

[Guest]

Thanks guys.

I've already spent a while searching and looking around but I'll be sure to post up any questions I can't find an answer for.

[Dave Ward]

Welcome Andy,
This is a real friendly forum - beginners to experts. Ask any questions - so you don't fall down the holes we have already occupied!
I'm from Sheffield originally - High Storrs, but have moved around a lot since then!
Dave

[Guest]

Thanks Dave.

I was brought up in the Abbeydale / Millhouses area so not too far away. Unlike you I've stayed fairly close to home though, currently living in Gleadless.

[JR]

A warm welcome from me Andy.
It's all been said about the forum, as far as I'm concerned the No 1 .
Look fwd to seeing you around, we all started once, and all asked the same questions, so don't worry as none of them are pointless.
John .

[Guest]

Hi all, I've been lurking for a while, signed up a few days ago, and thought it was about time I introduced myself.

Welcome to the forum

I was immediately surprised by how much gear I need to get going.

I’ve said it before, but the only gear you really need, is a good hobby knife, plus glue and some paint and brushes, of course. Pretty much everything else falls into the “nice to have but not essential” or “luxury” categories

[Si Benson]

Welcome to the forum Andy.
Hope we can help to get you started off in the crazy world of model making:upside:

[Tim Marlow]

Hi mate, glad to see another new face......you’ll like it here!

[Ian M]

Hi and welcome.
If you can spray paint a real car I am sure an airbrush will not be to hard to get to grips with. Just a lot smaller.

[Guest]

Welcome to the forum :smiling3:


I’ve said it before, but the only gear you really need, is a good hobby knife, plus glue and some paint and brushes, of course. Pretty much everything else falls into the “nice to have but not essential” or “luxury” categories :smiling3:

Thanks. That makes perfect sense although since airbrushing is what is drawing me in the most I figured I might as well get a few bits together for that too. I have tended to be a gear freak in past hobbies so really need to keep a check on that. Looking at some of the desk set ups around here I'm like a kid in a candy store! :smiling5:

Hi and welcome.
If you can spray paint a real car I am sure an airbrush will not be to hard to get to grips with. Just a lot smaller. :smiling3:

I'm hoping so.

Starting with a cheap knock off probably isn't doing me any favours, and it's something I strongly advise against in my industry, so it probably won't be long before I get something a bit better. I'm a huge Iwata fan and own several of their spray guns so that would be a logical path, but the flexibility of the H&S airbrushes really appeals too. Being able to swap around nozzle sets and cup sizes to suit a particular job is a feature I'm used to with full size guns so that may sway me.

This is the sort of spray booth I normally work in:

[Guest]

Thanks. That makes perfect sense although since airbrushing is what is drawing me in the most I figured I might as well get a few bits together for that too.

You do have the advantage of already having the skill, albeit for larger things — I get the impression that quite a lot of beginning modellers see well-sprayed models and think an airbrush is essential equipment without realising the skill it takes to use one even moderately well.

I have tended to be a gear freak in past hobbies so really need to keep a check on that. Looking at some of the desk set ups around here I'm like a kid in a candy store! :smiling5:

We’ve got a thread about that The thing to remember, though, is that for many people what you see there will be what’s been accumulated over years or decades — I know mine is.

Being able to swap around nozzle sets and cup sizes to suit a particular job is a feature I'm used to with full size guns so that may sway me.

What kind of models do you intend to build? Chances are you won’t need to use different sizes of paint cup: I mostly build 1/35 scale military vehicles, and find that even the smallest cup that came with my Aztek A470 holds enough paint for an entire model, for example, never mind the different colours in a camouflage pattern. Being able to easily change the nozzles for wider or finer spraying is very useful, though.