Hello from Alabama

Hi, I am glad I found this group through some Youtube videos. There is a lot of good information here, but more importantly there seems to be a good deal of friendship. That is becoming more of a rarity nowadays.

Ok, about me... I am a 50yr old disabled Veteran, I spent 17 yrs in AFSOC & JSOTF. After my back got broken, they kept me on a few years to teach combat survival. I am from TN, but retired in Bama for some unknown reason.
In the mid 70's I started building models and it is a passion to this day. In 1990 when I joined the service, there was an old airbrush there that was used to paint objects, weapons, etc so they didn't reflect sunlight.
I started painting everything I could, and eventually got good enough they had me painting patches and things on vehicles and gunships. I had to figure out how to create vinyl stencils on my own.

I have a workshop built in a spare bedroom for doing models and electronics, it is where I spend most of my time. I have gotten my wife and her twin sister started recently, and they keep asking questions I can't answer very well. That is how I ended up watching videos that led me here.

For my air supply, I have a 1" pvc pipe running under the house from the garage 50 gal compressor with valves and taps for connecting air hoses. When I am not working indoors I use a Master Airbrush Model TC-848 Four Cylinder Piston Air Compressor with Tank. It is a real workhorse, and it used to be hooked to the pvc until I purchased the shop compressor.

I have a blast cabinet in the garage also that I use with a Paasche AEC-K Abrasive sprayer and a Master Airbrush Model G78 Etcher. I use a US Cutter vinyl plotter to make my templates.

For my models, I have a number of airbrushes for different things. They are listed below.

Iwata-Medea Eclipse HP CS Dual Action Gravity Fed
Paasche TG-3F Double Action Gravity Fed
Badger RK-1 Krome Airbrush 2-in-1
PointZero - Dual-action 7cc Gravity fed 0.3mm Nozzle
Master S68 Multi-purpose Dual-action
PointZero Single-action Siphon-fed 0.8mm Nozzle
Master G22 Gravity Fed
Master G25 Gravity Fed
Master E91 All Purpose

I know none of them are as nice as some of you use, but I don't have the talent to justify buying better.
I am pretty friendly despite what my kids tell you, and I love to learn and share.
I never give advice on something I heard or saw, only what has worked for me.

Anyway, I will wrap up this book by saying thanks again for letting me join and feel free to write me any time.

Rick

Welcome from New Zealand - what a cool set of toys! Look forward to seeing some of your work.

Welcome to the club RNCountryboy. Just like you did I found this site on you tube and I feel as well as you do about this forum. I have been in several others forum and i haven gone back to them because they where not there to help. I don't feel the same about this forum. I have been surfing it, checking other areas and its like every one its teaching every one. Seams to me that even the old timer are willing to learn something new. It is not like I'm better then you, I don't see that. Any way Welcome to the forum all the way from Dubuque IA.

Thanks for making me feel welcome. I posted a couple of things I have done in the gallery although after looking at other peoples work I am a little embarrassed of mine. I will post some more when I get to my networked drive at home.

I don't know how, but I forgot to add my Harder & Steenbeck Evolution Silverline 2 in 1 to he list.

Welcome from Australia Rick.
Firstly Never ever ever be ashamed of posting your work, we have all levels of expertise here and it's good for newbies to see work and ultimately the rise of skill level as the user gains confidence and knowledge.
Secondly, you're spot on. We pride ourselves with being a friendly helpful bunch of lunatics, who occasionally forget that were supposed to be talking airbrushes and art work, but that's what makes this place awesome.
Don't feel your kit isn't up to par with some here, you'll notice a few here banging on about their microns but that's because they've only just got them so they're a bit excited
( a 'better' brush does make the journey a bit easier but if what you have is doing what you want then there's no problem)
When Mitch started this forum it was with an aim to 'spread the love' which I think he's managed to do, and we've managed to maintain over the years.

Yes there are many here I would call friends, even though I know I will likely never meet them face to face, i still know I can make them smile and the favor is returned. There are a few long timers that were my sanity when health issues had me side lined for a year. I couldn't paint but it didn't stop them giving me a shoulder and a smile when I needed it

welcome

Hi from the UK, glad you found us! We're a a big ol' airbrushing family here, so welcome aboard.

The Eclipse hp-cs is a personal favourite of mine, an awesome brush, but don't be put off buying a high end brush because you think you aren't good enough, those brushes allow you to develop your skills and you will grow into them. But the eclipse can pretty much do it all anyway, from hairline to coverage, the micron just lets you refine that detail skill.

No need to ever be embarrassed about sharing anything. Sharing is caring, and every post can be an inspiration to someone. We have no trolls here, so no worries about idiots being mean just for the sake of it. We do like a bit of banter and a chuckle though

Any newbies reading this, I encourage folks to post everything, from exercises, experiments, to masterpieces - even the stuff that goes wrong, as it helps other guys see what can happen, and how to deal with it. Mistakes happen, and learning how to fix them is an important part of ABing (otherwise I would never have been able to complete anything LOL, I always manage to mess something up ) The advice you will get from posting those pics, can save weeks of time and frustration, and have you coming along in leaps and bounds.

Welcome from Ukraine, Rick!
You've chosen the right place to learn and share. It's a real place where your questions be answered!
Have a good trip through your airbrushing!

Welcome from the UK

Welcome from Canada

Welcome to the forum rick,I'm also a retired vet. As are a few of us!(U.S.Coast Guard here)there are a few of model builders and painters here so if you have a question about something just ask

Welcome aboard!

Hey, welcome to the forum. I agree with the above, don't be ashamed to post your work. We have all been where you are, but we are all on the same road. Some further along than others. You will get there, you just have to put in the time and practice and, I promise, you will progress quickly.

Welcome from Washington State

CALz AyrWKz said:

Hey, welcome to the forum. I agree with the above, don't be ashamed to post your work. We have all been where you are, but we are all on the same road. Some further along than others. You will get there, you just have to put in the time and practice and, I promise, you will progress quickly.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I know it sounds bad, but getting my back broken gave me the time I have always wanted to work on my hobbies.
You have to make the best of life or you don't live, you just exist. I am choosing to become the best model builder I can
now that I have tons of free time on my hands. I know I will get better, but the encouragement people on the group gives is really uplifting
and makes me want to practice all the time.

there's always someone around to ask questions of if you need, worse case scenario you'll get someone like me that has little time to paint but can appreciate those that do and happy to help out where and when I can.

welcome!

RNCountryBoy said:

Thanks, I know it sounds bad, but getting my back broken gave me the time I have always wanted to work on my hobbies.
You have to make the best of life or you don't live, you just exist. I am choosing to become the best model builder I can
now that I have tons of free time on my hands. I know I will get better, but the encouragement people on the group gives is really uplifting
and makes me want to practice all the time.

Click to expand...

Well, you will have all the support you need from the family of artists we have here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Happy to help out.

Welcome from another Canadian