Oh about 18 months on and off, including the figures that l find the hardest part of modeling.

Its all brush painted in Humbrol, with the Ferdi and the FAMO 9/1 have are painted with an airbrush.

It was great fun scratch-building houses.

Anto

Louth here, although originally from England. I am new to this modelling lark. I picked a couple of Airfix sets up on a whim when the missus had me traipsing round Hobbycraft over Christmas. Thought it would pass the time, keep me out of the pub and release some pent-up creative energy. Already on my third build. Far from the standards I've seen around here but enjoying it immensely so far.

Hi Kevin,
welcome (back?) to the hobby and welcome to Armorama. You should have seen my first builds when I came back to the hobby after the usual gap for dating, career, family etc. The great thing here is you'll find all standards and learn a lot. Everyone is friendly and willing to help, advise and guide in a nice way.

I shouldn't really advertise it here but there is also an IPMS Ireland forum, not as busy as this, but we get together in Dublin once a month also if you'er interested in poping down. Nextmeeting is Easter Saturday and you'd be more than welcome. You don't even need to be a member.

Thanks very much for the welcome Sean. I have never built model armour before now, although as a kid I seem to remember knocking together one or two planes and my brother sometimes let me lose with a paintbrush on his Warhammer figures.
I will have to take a look at the IPMS forum you linked to. Could be very useful.
While I am here I do have a quick question. I am in the process of painting my second model, the Airfix King Tiger. I did a lovely job on the base camouflage scheme (if I do say so myself ). I went for the three colours Light Olive, Brown Yellow and German Cam Red Brown.

When I tried to apply a wash I completely ruined it, especially the light coloured areas. I'm not sure I fully understand the technique behind it.

My base coat is Humbrol acrylics. The wash I tried was a 10:1 mix of Burnt Umber acrylic:water.

What have I done wrong? Should I be using an enamel or oil wash on acrylic? Maybe a pin wash would be better on a small scale model? I am very open to suggestions and advice.

Cheers,
Kevin

Hi Kevin,
I don't use acrylics at all....tried them once and didn't like how fast they dried...just my personal preference but I use Humbrol enamels. The one thing I do know is never mix enamel & acrylic: they don't get on together and can react badly. It sounds though like your wash was too heavy. I'd almost do it with the ratio of paint:water the other way around. When making my own enamel wash it's approx 4 parts white spirit to 1 part paint or even less paint. Pin washes are one bit I've never got to work satisfactory but then I'm no master painter. There is a Techniques forum on here and you'll probably find all the answers you need. You tube normally has some good vides also which makes things clearer when you can see what they are talking about. e.g: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ema3y7oFAAw

Cheers
Sean

Hi all,
I'm from Newbridge in Co. Kildare, Work in Dublin training as a printer in the DF. I build mostly armour with the odd aircraft and helicopter thrown in. I entered an Irish A-34 Comet into the IMSS show last year with a good bit of help from a few guys on the forum here and i will be attending again this year

Nice to meet you Shane...I'm just down the road in Athy! Last years IMSS was the first I'd missed in years....looking forward to the next one.

Hey Sean,
Hopefully we can find a few more Kildare men, I'm gonna miss the first day this year but i have a few entries ready for this year and hopefully i'll have another one for the ''An Cosantoir'' class again. Are you entering anything??

Thanks for the tip Sean. My mistake in my last message. I meant to say I had the ration 10:1 water:burn umber acrylic. I did have a good read up on techniques and ended up giving it a complete gloss coat, then wash with oil and thinners. Much better.

Cheers again,
Kevin

Kevin, glad to hear it worked out for you. Are you going to make it to the Dublin branch meet of IPMS Ireland this Saturday and bring it along?

Shane, we already have a load of Lily Whites in the Dublin branch. Can you make Saturday as well?

Hey, I'm not 100 per cent sure yet about making the saturday but i will defo make sunday and my entries will be put in for me by a friend if i cannot make it. Good to hear we are well represented up in Dublin hopefully i'll get to join the club next year

Sorry Shane, I meant to the monthly get-together of the IPMS Dublin branch in The Exchange, Temple Bar this coming Saturday from 11:00-13:00. Check out the link above to see what goes on. Non members always welcomed! Only criteria is to like the smell of glue & paint at any time of the day.

I was on duty yesterday so i couldnt make it. Hopefully i can make the april one when is it on? i love the smell of model glue and paint in the morning!!!!

Next one is April 20th Shane. Hope we see you there

Brilliant thanks hopefully i can make it