jayhkr

Thanks. Just wanted to be sure before I started ripping into everything. Lets hope that round two fairs better!

Picked up a bottle tonight and a container at the dollar store, going to try it before work tomorrow and see what I come home to! Really didn't like the way my body turned out using Testor's Gloss Black from a can.

Well I got done painting the body of my '59 Corvette but I'm definitely not happy with the results. I used the Testor's can spray (didn't have my airbrush yet) and it just came out all grainy and crummy. So I was at the dollar store and remember seeing a post on here about LA's Totally Awesome stuff. Picked a bottle up and a plastic container. Thought before I did the deed I'd get some quick feedback from those of you that have used it and could post up some personal results. That's the nice thing about paint, most of the time you can "erase" your mistakes, if you're careful!

Well I had some good luck this weekend at the casino so I bought my Paasche H airbrush set from Hobby Lobby using the 40% off coupon. Not a bad deal however I think I may have to take it back. I think I got 2 #1 needle sets and a #3 set instead of 1,3, & 5. The #3 is already installed on the brush and there are 2 packages with the exact same part number on it "H1HC1". I'm assuming that the other way to tell what size the needle set is, is by the number of rings on them. I'm sure those that have the H model know what I'm talking about. The ones in the bag have one ring on them and the one installed has 3 rings. On the box I can see one with 5 rings. So I won't be practicing anything tonight, hopefully they have another to exchange, if not I have to make a longer drive to another one. Anyway, wanted ya'll to know I finally got my brush, pretty excited to start "re-learning" to use it again. I'm sure my neighbors will love me now hearing my compressor kick on every now and then. Shouldn't kick on to much, it's an 8 gallon tank. Needs a new moisture/oil trap though (harbor freight here I come). Thought I would get the bigger trap on the tank itself then get an inline disposable one too. Never used those so I don't really know if I want to cut my airline or not. Anyway enough rambling!

Yeah, garage sales are getting ready to start popping up, I'll be all over them! Been checking out ebay, craigslist, and will be going to the local model club next month to see what else I can find! I'm getting really excited. About 1/2 done with my current model which is the first model I've done in over 25 years. I'm building it just the way I did 25 years ago then my next model I'm going to put forth the knowledge I have learned here. (learned them after I started) My ultimate score will be doing a 1967 Mustang for my wife. That is her dream car so I'm going to practice good and hard before I dive into that project. Anyway, thanks for the help, I didn't even notice all the similar colors. I'll keep looking, I don't have a "C" note anyway. LOL

So I was surfing around wishing I had a money tree when I came across this Ebay listing! Man, that would be a nice haul! If I'm going to follow in Don's footsteps I need to start investing in this paint starting now. (yes before I get my airbrush) That way I'm ready when I get it! Just wish my current situation was a bit different. I have to wait about another 7-8 months then I should be back to "normal"

Born, raised, and live in the Kansas City area.

If you want better airflow then I would say your issue lies in your ducting at the back. That tape isn't helping much IMO. I know I've seen them at home improvement stores, but you may want to look into an actual "Y" splitter instead of using that flexible hose. I could be wrong but to me it just makes sense with air friction. It looks really good though! Nicely done. I've been looking on Ebay and Craigslist for blower fans. Cheapest I've found is $60 so I need to keep looking. Don't really want to spend more than $25-30 on it since materials will run me about the same. I was looking at this booth as a possibility. But that's a much later project for me. Again, well done!

So a question to Donn Yost: I know in your video you use MM Acrylic however how would you compare that with HOK? Just trying to find the best bang for my buck. Kind of modeling on a budget at the moment.

Where's the update to this. You can't leave us hanging! LOL

I can attest, since I work for TRU, that we have gotten out of selling models for the most part. I started back in 2005 and my store (Kansas City) only had about 3-4 models that were clearanced. The Star Wars models that you see are for our features shop due to the new 3D release of the Star Wars movies. They won't be around much past the movie at the cinema. Not sure if the website still carries anything (I'm sure they do), but you're better off going to your local HS or other online venue as we are pretty pricey. As we should be because we are a novelty store and not a "big box" like others. I'm actually surprised we still sell model rockets to be honest. (although that selection is dwindling too).

Maybe also try a 10:1 ratio of bleach to it and see if that helps. Not sure what that will do, so use a test strip.

Is the ratio still the same for doing flats? 2:1

Ok, just read all 216 (ish) posts and WOW. Am I excited about getting my airbrush! I can't wait till I get a few more bucks and will get Don's DVD's. He really seems to not only know his stuff but also GENUINELY care about what he does and how he teaches it. You can't ask for much more than that. I'm ready to start NOW, just need to wait a bit more. Hell you'd think at 34 patients would come easier. LOL

I did check them out, but my hobby lobby can still get me into an H model for $62 after tax, no waiting!! If I could have only found my VL I wouldn't have to worry about a hose. I wonder if harbor freights hose will work with the H model? Anyone know? Link

Pardon me while I wipe myself....... INCREDIBLE.

So is it worth the added price. Not sure if my hobby lobby carries the H or the HS, might just stick with whatever they have and call it good. TO MANY choices out there. LOL

Good tip there, any chance when you get a moment to post a picture of what you're mentioning? I did a little price comparison and noticed that if I use the hobby lobby 40% off coupon the H model is only .15 cents more then if I buy it online at the cheapest place I've found (think it was either dixieart or coast airbrush) after shipping. Of course I'm always looking to help my community so unless I can find it cheaper than $61.95 after shipping I'll be picking one up in the next few weeks. What I need to find is a pistol grip style moisture trap for it less than $30 from what they want there (of course it would only be $19.55 if I went to another store to use the coupon). Any thoughts on those moisture traps at all? Here's the link. Thanks again guys. Paasche H here I come!

Ok, all this talk about HOK paint made me start looking into them and getting a good price comparison going. I initially went on ebay, but quickly found that it's a ###### shoot. So I compared, what I believe were two popular websites out there. I compared the Kandy Kolor HOK from TCP Global and Coast Airbrush. Here's what I found. TCP sells the 2oz bottles for $6.95 each but their shipping is really funny. If you buy just 1 bottle, shipping is only A BUCK, which makes it $7.95, but if you buy 2 the shipping SOARS to $11.55 making your total $25.45. 3 bottles - $33.00, 4 bottles - $40.41, 5 bottles - $47.76, 16 bottles - $128.02, 20 bottles - $157.16 Then I compared Coast Airbrush. Their shipping was a bit more streamlined and easier to follow (of course all these were estimated prices) Their cost on a 2oz bottle was a buck less at $5.95 but shipping on the first 16 bottles was $9.00. So 1 bottle was 14.95 (more than TCP) but 2 bottles was $20.90 almost a $5 dollar savings, 3 bottles $26.85 ($6 dollar savings) 4 bottles - $32.80 ($7.50 savings) 5 bottles - $38.75 ($9.00 savings) 16 bottles - $104.20 ($24 dollar savings), and 20 bottles - $129.71 ($27 dollar savings) So if I decide to go with HOK, I will buy in bulk. However if you just need one color, TCP is the way to go. Just thought I'd through this out to anyone. Of course if someone else has a cheaper find or knows a better place, post it up! Next up are the Testor's 1/4oz bottles.

Those quick ratchet clamps are also really good for shaking up your paint bottles. I had to grind the end down on my a bit and I put it in my jig saw, clamped the bottle down on it and pressed the trigger about 1/2 way. Shakes them up real good and saves my arm from feeling like jello afterward. Any ideas where I could pick one of those up or maybe post a picture of what it looks like. I have a water trap on my compressor right after the regulator but was thinking of adding an additional water/oil trap after that but before my airbrush hose. It's a brand new oiled compressor I got from HF so it probably will spit out a little bit of oil too, I assume. I wasn't aware that NAPA could mix up paints, at least I've never looked for it. What size do they do and what's the approx. price on them. I assume they are mixed in a can or bottle?

I just may make an appearance next month to say HI. By then I should at least have some of my '59 Corvette completed. Think I may go with Coast Airbrush as they are about $9 cheaper than dixieart and anyone else I found. I've looked high and low for my Paasche and it's nowhere to be found. Really bums me out too, as I think when I was moving out of my old house it got tossed. Makes me a little sick to think about it now.

What's the difference in the Paschee H and the Pachee HS? What does the locking cup offer over the other?

Yep, if I don't find my older Paasche VL that is somewhere I will get the Paasche H through dixieart.com. I appreciate the additional help. Chuck, do you go to the model car club in NKC at all? Been thinking of stopping by there too to get some hints and tips.

Well started reading lots of reviews on the Pachee H and think I will lean towards that. I really like that you say its nice and easy to clean which is a plus. Not to mention I don't plan on doing any intricate work right away. I need to get back in the saddle and remember what I learned 15+ years ago. I have one more place to look for my old airbrush (pachee VL) but if I don't find it there I will order that kit by the end of the month or beginning of the next. Thanks for the help!!

Thank you both. I have had my body, hood and trunk in the dehydrator for about 6 days. I unfortunately left it on while I'm out on business so it'll be at least another 5 days before I get back to it. Just means that it'll be SUPER ready for clearcoat. How many coats do you put on of clear? I was thinking of 3-4 with progressively finer sanding in between. After the last sanding of 12000 do I put one more coat of clear on or go straight in to polish? I'm really looking forward and getting excited to see how the body will turn out. I want to practice on this model and maybe one more before I do my big project for my wife. She has always had a fascination with the '68 Ford Mustang so that will be what I'm shooting for to be the absolute best show quality piece I can make for her. One day I just may surprise her with a real one. Thanks for the replies and I had no doubt that this forum would be great, it takes a lot more than that to discourage me!