First attempt with an airbrush

[John Symmons]

This post is a bit of a whimsy and doesn’t really feature Airfix models but mainly my efforts at using an airbrush, although I did use some Airfix and Humbrol enamel paint and an old 1960 vintage Airfix Me 109G, together with four old Revell Bf (Me) 109E’s. I originally started this to try out an airbrush and the Altmark BoB decal set for the Me 109E, at the time the Revell one was the only-game-in-town.

My father being in the printing industry used the De Ville Bliss air brush at work and he managed to liberate an old one for me; I reckoned the airbrush was almost as old as myself and I’ve still got it. He did warn me that the needle was very fragile being made of white metal and bent very easily. I did bend it years later and it took me months to re-point it by hand. I also managed to buy a simple modelling compressor that consisted of a small piston pump that looked like a 50 cc motorbike cylinder powered by a Singer sewing machine motor, the air coming out in little fast puffs not a smooth flow, again I still have that compressor, and it still works giving 30 psi. Unfortunately it didn’t have a water trap so every now and again it used to spit water out of the airbrush, not something you want to happen when using enamel paints, but some how it worked. I’ve since added a water trap and pressure regulator to it and it is my reserve if needed the regulator also has smoothed out the airflow.

I really wanted to do a desert camouflage scheme with the mottled green over the desert yellow, something almost impossible to do using a brush and the grey mottle on a BoB Me 109E. So the airbrush was my answer. The dessert schemes were also my first attempt at modifying a model and involved scratch building the dessert sand filters for the 109E and 109G. Remember this was about 1960, and even though I’d been making models for several years, they were always made as the instruction detailed, and there was very little in the way of books or any sort of research material. I even think these were started before I’d even started work. The main thing was the release of the Altmark decal sets, this was a BIG thing in those days, and the release of Humbrol Authentic paint colours. Modelling was staring to become serious this was the BIG-TIME.

The models were made up without undercarriages cockpit canopies or propellers etc only the basic airframe, the only one to have the wings glued on was the Airfix G, the Revell 109E’s could be made with the wings remaining separate as in today’s models, quite an innovation back then. One thing that Revell suffered with was the very brittle plastic, it was so brittle that many fine parts like the mass balances, pilot tubes antennas were usually broken on the sprues due to them having multiple gates attaching them to the sprues and when cooling the sprues stressed and moved the parts would break, something simular some modern Airfix models.

The Me 109E were painted as per the Altmark instruction for yellow 5 flown by Oberieutnant Egon Troha, Major Helmut Wick and Leutnant Werner Machold, (always struck me odd that a German Luftwaffe pilot had a Scottish name, must be a story there somewhere.) the other 109E and 109G were painted up to represent a dessert scheme All paints used were the new Humbrol Authentic colour range except the 109G which I used Airfix’s dessert yellow, (I still have that tin it’s marked M5 wonder if it’s still any good.) the Revell 109E dessert scheme was done using the Humbrol colour, (if you check the photos the G is slightly lighter than the E.) the Greens and Blues were all Humbrol Authentic. Not sure now how I thinned the paints down but probably used ordinary turps and thinned it down until it went through the airbrush. Some crude masking using ordinary masking tape, you can see the shapes on the wings, the white nose was brush painted; lots of coats required if I remember correctly, same with the fuselage bands after masking, the 109G band is way too far forward; the badges on the dessert one’s were also painted as decals at that time were unavailable. When it came to doing the mottling the airbrush started to splatter, but it did give me the mottled effect. Looking back now it was surly my inexperience at using an airbrush the paint not thinned correctly and me being in my usual hurry, but at the time even though it wasn’t quite what I wanted it was a whole lot better than using a brush, and I was quite chuffed. Now??? Well lets not go into that.

The models were then packed into their boxes to await for completion at a later date. Fast forward 56 years and I’m grubbing around my stash and find 4 boxes of Revell 109E’s and the 1960’s models still inside waiting. Nice opportunity to quickly reduce my stash by 5 models and use the old Altmark decals to see if they still worked. Well; wheels painted canopies roughly done with a fine brush and wing glued on and the main decals done. The Revell antennas were all replaced with stretched sprue the Airfix one still OK, and the models finished. Never did the rigging or used the pilot tubes or mass balances, photos taken and then given to some kids to play with, doubt they lasted the week. And my stash was reduced by 5. Wow!

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/idiotone/Messerschmitt%20BF%20109E%20Shoot-out/3%20Old%20Me%20109s%20First%20attempt%20at%20airbrushing/Messerschmitt%20Bf%20109E%20amp%20Me%20109G_zpsxncefqwr.jpg

All five together

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/idiotone/Messerschmitt%20BF%20109E%20Shoot-out/3%20Old%20Me%20109s%20First%20attempt%20at%20airbrushing/Messerschmitt%20Me%20109G%20Desert%20Camo%201_zpsrwxfbfcn.jpg

The old Airfix 109G with stratched airfilter.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/idiotone/Messerschmitt%20BF%20109E%20Shoot-out/3%20Old%20Me%20109s%20First%20attempt%20at%20airbrushing/Messerschmitt%20Bf%20109E%20Desert%20camo%201_zps11x8ndxt.jpg

109E Again scratched filter

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/idiotone/Messerschmitt%20BF%20109E%20Shoot-out/3%20Old%20Me%20109s%20First%20attempt%20at%20airbrushing/Messerschmitt%20Bf%20109E%20Egon%20Troha_zps8grgq79h.jpg

Yellow 5 of Oberieutnant Egin Troha.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/idiotone/Messerschmitt%20BF%20109E%20Shoot-out/3%20Old%20Me%20109s%20First%20attempt%20at%20airbrushing/Messerschmitt%20Bf%20109E%20Helmet%20Wick_zps9kx3i24n.jpg

Me 109E of Leutnant Werner Machold.

http://i1275.photobucket.com/albums/y451/idiotone/Messerschmitt%20BF%20109E%20Shoot-out/3%20Old%20Me%20109s%20First%20attempt%20at%20airbrushing/Messerschmitt%20Bf%20109E%20Werner%20Machold_zpsiluautz9.jpg

Me 109E of Major Helmut Wick.

Looking at them after after 56 years I hope my modelling skills have noe improved as well as my airbrush techniques, but I doubt I’ll try that mottling effect with an airbrush again soon. Personally I think the Airfix 109G came out the best.

Remember we do this for fun          John the Pom

 

[DavidJC]

I started to use an airbrush on my return to modelling around 3-4 years ago now after having completely failed the first time around; a cheap but cheeful Humbrol airbrush off a compressed air can. I am still learning but I have surprised myself at some of the results I've got, including practice fine lines/mottling which I want to try on a Me109 when I can pluck up the courage.

 

I have an Iwata Eclipse running off a cheap but cheerful air compressor with a pressure control knob now and really glad I made the investments.

[Captain Triggers]

Me+airbrush=accident

[148 scale only]

Hi everyone,

I am 15 and have been doing models here and there for the past 2 years. At first I used brushes, but then I went on using spray cans for cars and tanks, rather that planes as I didn't have an airbrush to make the camouflage. I made a tiger tank, and it was a sort-of practice for weathering techniques so I think I am ok in regards to weathering, and I have decided to invest in an airbrush as I have recently gotten back into the hobby and am enjoying it. My father has 2 air compressor, one small portable one and one big stationary one. i was looking to use the small one but do not know if this will suit for modelling or if I need to buy a specific compressor. Also I need to buy my first airbrush/airbrush kit but I don't wat to spend more than $100 au and I don't want it to be hard to clean/high maintenance, so if you could include links for some entry level airbrushed that would be great.

Anu help will be appreciated!

[Ratch]

 Any compressor is OK provided you have the correct connections and you can regulate the air pressure - remember, the lower air pressure the better.

[Bletch]

Nice back story John and even nicer work!

I'm still using my original airbrush purchase a Badger 150 some 25 years ago-albeit with replacement needles,washers etc over the years-but at least spares are still available-more than you can say for some makes I think....so good luck "1/48 scale only" but theres no way you can skimp on the cleaning or maintenance or it will spit/splutter and bite you as we all learn...!