Tips and helpful suggestions

[Geek44]

I collect and dismantle all manner of electronic stuff for wire. I used to work at an electrical factory in the early nineties and I'm still working through my collection. Fuse wire works well too. Another good source is gardening suppliers. The wire they use to 'train' bonsai plants is very good and comes in many gauges.
The twist drill is an indispensable tool on my bench. It allows total control of the bit, so if needed, one can drill holes at a half turn at a time. A motor tool keeps spinning even after you switch off the power. Just one of the beautiful jeweller's tools I inherited from my father.

[McCoy]

n' if you want copper wire you'll get an lifetime suply by buyin' a foot of high end speaker wire...

[Whiterook]

Just ordered an airbrush compressor with tank, that comes with a double action airbrush and three jars...the special included free shipping and a gift of a micro twist drill set! My FineScale Modeller magazine just paid for itself in the savings I just reaped. So, all I've read on the benefits of the twist drill sets is soon to be tried!

[Geek44]

Excellent stuff mate. I think you'll enjoy these new tools and the benefits they bring.

[MAGNA]

Twist drills are certainly well worth having. the airbrush could be handy at times too.

[Whiterook]

I've actually always wanted to try airbrushing, and besides now model kits, I'll also be able to weather my model trains rolling stock; and the possibilities of illustrations is wide open...I've always wanted to do some WWII subjects in airbrush! This could become addictive!

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by Whiterook

I've actually always wanted to try airbrushing, and besides now model kits, I'll also be able to weather my model trains rolling stock; and the possibilities of illustrations is wide open...I've always wanted to do some WWII subjects in airbrush! This could become addictive!

It can mate. I've been using my airbrush in art for years. Personally, I don't like the works done with the airbrush by itself, like it's the be-all and end-all' of tools. They tend to stand out as 'airbrush art'. Like any other tool it has its applications, but I like to mix it up a little. Airbrush on scratch-board works really well. 'Scratch (scraper) - board is that chalk impregnated stuff that one usually paints black and then 'draws' on with a sharp tool to expose the white again.

[Whiterook]

Nice tip there. Yeah, oddly enough, the only medium I stay "pure" in is oils...just oil paint. Everything else, I like to do mixed media. I've just started experimenting with a technique that starts out with pencil, the black water-proof ink for the darks, then watercolors, and end with colored pencil for highlights. Lends amazing depth.

The airbrush compressor just arrived today...on the porch when I got home! Will open it this weekend. I'm going to a local craft store tomorrow and using a 50% off coupon on a braided hose for the airbrush!

[Geek44]

Mate, for me, watercolours are a master's medium. I'm a long way from using those well. There's a Sci-Fi artist I admire who somehow pushes oil paint through an airbrush...amazing colour.

burns044.jpg

'Terran Derelict' by Jim Burns

[Whiterook]

Wow, that's amazing! Beautiful. I like the clarity of the bubble. I can see why you like it. I've always had a softspot for sci-fi art.

Yeah, I agree with you on the watercolors.....incredibly difficult to master, thinking in the negative from oils or acrylics. A totally differnet approach. It's a funny thing how watercolors are considerd a "housewifes" medium by so many, when in my opinion, it takes an amazing deftness to master the medium. Yet if you look at most WWII art, for instance, they are primarily done in oil, from my experience.