What's on your workbench?

[FreddBloggs]

They will get him, his drive home takes him through Brokenwood.

[valleyboy]

At the moment I'm in Blenheim in NZ South Island in a camper van

So is it that easy to hide from the Rozzers in Kiwiland, then?

Before I left I didn't quite finish basing these Empress ECW cavalry

I hope this isn't your way of saying you want one of us to nip down there and finish them......

Please feel free but they won't let you in until they are sure that you're not a Covidian

Thanks for the positive vibes gents - I can see I need to finish off the guidon on those cavalry

[Penda]

The figures are very nicely done. Don't think we passed through Blenheim on our trip.

[valleyboy]

The figures are very nicely done. Don't think we passed through Blenheim on our trip.

Thanks- My Geography is a bit off-No battlefield here just wineries

But there is a rather nice air museum that we will visit tomorrow

[Penda]

I remember signs for the Air Museum but our schedule was too tight to detour there.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Cruel Seas vessels. Lots of them*. In fact, if you converted Nelson's and Villeneuve's fleets into MTBs, you could probably refight Trafalgar. Currently converting some S-Boats into early war (pre-S38 for those who know about such things) versions with no forward armament and a "Bertie Basset" assortment of stern-facing (as opposed to stern-faced) weapons, to replicate the brilliant scenario put on by a Canadian chap in Virtual Lard 4. Another set will become the four S100 types that participated in the VL5 scenario, attempting to breach the RN cordon protecting the D-Day beaches.

[* I am now seriously considering buying an air-brush...... ]

[Shahbahraz]

Get the airbrush.. it really helps.

[BaronVonWreckedoften]

Regular gaming buddy said pretty much the same thing. Also said "be sure to get one with a compressor".

Any you'd particularly recommend, Doug?

[Shahbahraz]

Well, if you're using it for general work, you don't need anything with too fine a needle. So a 0.3 or larger would be fine. (Th elarger needles have a larger aperture in the nozzle so clog less as well.

A compressor is a must if you are going to be doing anything other than once a year stuff.

It all really depends on what you want to spend. If you're happy to experiment and don't want to spend too much up front, then you can pick up a cheap electric compressor + Chinese knock-off airbrush for £30 or so. If you do want to use it for much more than base coating, then £50 - £70 will get you a pretty decent starter airbrush such as the Sparmax or Iwata Neo. The compressor - well the sky is the limit. But you can get a pretty decent one for around the £100+ mark.

If you just want to dip your toe in the water, spend the £30 on something like this, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Air ... 3441750377 also get an airbrush pot. Something like this, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3in1-Airbrus ... 3409073745? it will make life a lot easier.

The seals will go after a year, the brush will be a little bit unreliable and the air pressure not as adjustable with the tiny compressor, but it will work ok for most wargames purposes. Don't be thinking you are going to have much success doing pinstriping or fine line camo though - once you get the hang of it, you will want to upgrade.

The most important thing is to use properly thinned paints. I bought myself a bunch of plastic squeeze bottles of pennies, and I put roughly half and half Tamiya paint and Tamiya thinners in them. - I can use these direct through the airbrush. Get the paint consistency right, use good quality paint with a fine pigment, and you will have half the battle won.

[Etranger]

Some paint ranges are premixed to airbrush consistency eg Vallejo's Model AIr range (logically enough!). Multiple thin coats are better than one thick one.