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Compressor is fixed

With thanks to the lovely people at Airbrushes.com I have fixed my compressor. The problem was indeed a faulty Auto Pressure Stop Sensor and a replacement arrived a day after I ordered a new one. Outstanding! I now have air :o)
The next job is to fit an external air tank so that as well as having a resevoir of air it reduces wear and tear on the compressor too.

Paint spraying woes part 2

You may remember (or not) my problems with spraying paint and matt varnishes due to the cold and damp in the house, due to the burst water pipe under the house WELL just to add insult to injury my compressor has just died.
I think the problem is with the Air Pressure Auto Stop switch as I removed it and it was full of white calcium deposits but until I get a replacement part I'm pretty much screwed for now.

Scale Model World, Telford 10/11 Nov 2012

Well that was a great show! I've been going for a few years now but this years show was bigger than ever and accompanied with good friends made it very memorable. For me the highlight of the show was the Royal Navy Lynx HMA 8 (Serial Number ZD265) and being able to photograph it VERY close up. I was displaying some models on the 580 Modellers table and the weekend was made more enjoyable sharing it with this great bunch of guys.
There was a LOT to see and as usual missed loads of great models as I was either shopping or yapping :o) Thankfully there are many pics on various web sites of the show.
Great to see newcomers to the hobby Meng Models this year as the stuff they are doing so far is fantastic and for their wish list I've asked for an M60A1/A3 in 1/35 and a OV-10 Bronco in 1/48, nice pen to fill in the card with too and the rather fancy red and black shopping bag.
Apparently next years show will be celebrating 50 years of the IPMS so I can't WAIT to see what they pull off for that one :o)
Great weekend, great company, great to see old friends and great to make new ones.

Almond Sculptures 90mm British Hussar revisited

So as the damp issue is preventing me from spraying tanks and planes I'm turning my hand to another aspect of modelling I enjoy from time to time and that's painting figures. Compared to what some people can do my stuff is pretty naff but I enjoy it.
I was given this figure many years ago by a good mate of mine which when painted was rather good (for me) at the time, however the years have taken it's toll and it has been stored in a box for ages so after cleaning the original paint off with Mr Muscle oven cleaner (toxic but GREAT for paint removal), cleaning up various joints and repairing the bits that fell off it was primed with Games Workshop Skull White.
Here's the 'Before' shot;

Here it is after the cleaning;

And the head after painting;

The moustache still needs painting but so far I'm quite pleased with it. Just out of interest the figure is a 90mm one by Almond Sculptures of a British Officer of the 7th Hussars 1814-15. This should keep me quiet for a bit but if it does'nt I have another 90mm figure (kindly donated by a neighbour) of a French hussar on horseback :o)

Update; I got the tunic and Pelisse painted with a very nice Vallejo blue HOWEVER the damned paint went shiny which kills a model figure straightaway. I did try matting it down with Lifecolour matt varnish but this has still left a sheen SO I've got some Lifecolour blues coming via mail order and try those instead.

Update 2; Well the Lifecolour stuff did'nt go on much better either so next to try is Andrea but this won't be until the new year (2013) so yet another project shelved for now. This is getting frustrating...

Due to problems with spraying paint (owing to damp in the house) I won't be building anymore models for a while until the house dries out. The damp issue would explain the frosting and blooming I've been experiencing when spraying matt varnish and also the grainy, pebbly finish I've been getting with various paints. So I can't spray with an airbrush at the moment but I can still paint with a brush so BUGGER IT! I'll paint model figures instead!
There is no freaking way I'm going to stare at the television until the house dries out so that's my plan and it just so happens I have a few figures in the stash somewhere. Sorted!

Well scratch one Tristar Storch! It's one of those kits that started going wrong as soon as the paint went on so bugger it. The final coat of matt varnish showed up the huge sink marks on the upper wing surfaces plus it frosted in places so it's on the Shelf-of Doom (TM) pending it's fate.
Meanwhile....A Hasegawa 1/48 Ju87B has appeared on the bench plus I'm putting the final bits together on the P-51D AND I'm eyeing up an Eduard 1/48 Fw190D-11 just for laughs :o)
Oh and there is paint on the Sturmtiger too YAY!