I missed out on the only kit that I really wanted, the Zoukei Mura Hs129 so I will just have to wait for it in the shops but on the Sunday I returned to the ZM stand and was able to try out some of their tools. The ZM stand is, by far, the best stand at Telford and really is compelling and it is not just the kits, everything just reeks of quality even the plastic packs of leaflets they hand out. It was reading these leaflets Saturday evening that prompted me to return to the stand on Sunday when it was quiet so I could talk to one of their modellers and try our some of the tools...
I got these
I could easily have got more and was very tempted to do so, I could have spent a lot of money on that stand. I was impressed by the sprue cutters because they can get into places others cannot and, while being sharp, they are good for cutting cleanly right close up to the part.
Then there is the scraper, I have a number of different types of scraper but this is the sharpest and that fine point can get into places other scrapers cannot. It is a pleasure to hold.
As are all the ZM products they are superb quality but quite expensive, those two cost £65 alone. I will, no doubt buy more on my next trip. A wooden block for working on small pieces for instance... But my cash was running short and they only took cash on that stall. It was a good job they did not take cards....
I then stopped at the Topnotch Models stand and tried out an airbrush with a pistol grip. I have seen these before but just did not look at them closely and they look too 'toy like' for me and I do love my H&S airbrushes... But on my Tornado and Tiger and at times previously, I have found my finger cramping up hence deciding tp try these out. Toy-like, no, these are Grex based with some modifications by Topnotch, with the black grip instead of a horrible lime green, they do appear less toy-like. The body is, perhaps, lacking in some of the quality feel of the H&S but it did feel good to hold in my hand. It has a 0.3 needle set and when I tried it I was blown away by how smooth and controllable it is using the trigger and I easily achieved some very fine and tight lines. I just loved the 'feel'. Naturally I had to buy one with some non-standard accessories, a pinch crown and a fan crown. The latter will be good for spraying large areas of a 1/32 kit. It has two sizes of cup to swap between.
Last night I did a strip down to see how it is done before I use it and I can see how the H&S airbrushes score over the competition, the strip down was not hard as such but it was fiddly and it needed a tool to remove the nozle. I do not see this fully replacing my H&S but it is a good suppliment to them and I am sure I will work out when best to use this and when to use a H&S. So now I have four quality airbrushes with needle sizes, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6.... The airbrush was £120 and I spent a further £28 on accessories.
Then I found this on another stall, not bad for a fiver...
I have been keeping my 'sharps' on a shelf in my set-up and I find myself scrabb;ling around for the right knife and I have been known to prick myself so this is a neat solution.
Here is is loaded with my four most commonly used knives, shaping chisel and scrapers....
Apart from some supplies that is it from Telford. All these will be used on my next build, the Tamiya 1/32 F16 and I have started a build thread so you can see how I get on...
One final comment, I had the pleasure of meeting Zoukei Mura's famous 'old man' on their stall and though he does not speak a word of English his sheer love and enthusiasm for the hobby really shone out What a nice chap he is....
I got these
I could easily have got more and was very tempted to do so, I could have spent a lot of money on that stand. I was impressed by the sprue cutters because they can get into places others cannot and, while being sharp, they are good for cutting cleanly right close up to the part.
Then there is the scraper, I have a number of different types of scraper but this is the sharpest and that fine point can get into places other scrapers cannot. It is a pleasure to hold.
As are all the ZM products they are superb quality but quite expensive, those two cost £65 alone. I will, no doubt buy more on my next trip. A wooden block for working on small pieces for instance... But my cash was running short and they only took cash on that stall. It was a good job they did not take cards....
I then stopped at the Topnotch Models stand and tried out an airbrush with a pistol grip. I have seen these before but just did not look at them closely and they look too 'toy like' for me and I do love my H&S airbrushes... But on my Tornado and Tiger and at times previously, I have found my finger cramping up hence deciding tp try these out. Toy-like, no, these are Grex based with some modifications by Topnotch, with the black grip instead of a horrible lime green, they do appear less toy-like. The body is, perhaps, lacking in some of the quality feel of the H&S but it did feel good to hold in my hand. It has a 0.3 needle set and when I tried it I was blown away by how smooth and controllable it is using the trigger and I easily achieved some very fine and tight lines. I just loved the 'feel'. Naturally I had to buy one with some non-standard accessories, a pinch crown and a fan crown. The latter will be good for spraying large areas of a 1/32 kit. It has two sizes of cup to swap between.
Last night I did a strip down to see how it is done before I use it and I can see how the H&S airbrushes score over the competition, the strip down was not hard as such but it was fiddly and it needed a tool to remove the nozle. I do not see this fully replacing my H&S but it is a good suppliment to them and I am sure I will work out when best to use this and when to use a H&S. So now I have four quality airbrushes with needle sizes, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6.... The airbrush was £120 and I spent a further £28 on accessories.
Then I found this on another stall, not bad for a fiver...
I have been keeping my 'sharps' on a shelf in my set-up and I find myself scrabb;ling around for the right knife and I have been known to prick myself so this is a neat solution.
Here is is loaded with my four most commonly used knives, shaping chisel and scrapers....
Apart from some supplies that is it from Telford. All these will be used on my next build, the Tamiya 1/32 F16 and I have started a build thread so you can see how I get on...
One final comment, I had the pleasure of meeting Zoukei Mura's famous 'old man' on their stall and though he does not speak a word of English his sheer love and enthusiasm for the hobby really shone out What a nice chap he is....
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