Archive for the ‘Painting and Airbrushing’ Category

Ken  Schlotfeldt, president of Badger Air-Brush Company, sent me this information on their upcoming line of “pistol-grip” airbrushes. The photos he sent are all in the prototype/concept stage, so things may change somewhat before they’re in production. But it certainly gives a good sense of what we’ll be seeing soon from Badger! 

If you missed it, Ken did an interview for Agape Models a few years ago.

And finally, Ken has graciously set up a discount code at WebAirbrushes.com especially for the readers of Agape Models.  If you’re in the market for an airbrush, just enter PROVERBS16 on the payment screen in the coupon code area, click Apply Coupon, and you’ll get up to 40% discounted off the price of the airbrush!

Ken, thanks so much for your support of AgapeModels.com! 

The Badger MARKSMAN Model 200PG

Planned production and availability – 4th quarter 2012

Single Action / Internal Mix / Bottom Feed
Standard Nozzle: .5mm
Spray Pattern Range: Pencil line to 2.5”
Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price Goal: $125.00 – $150.00

The single action-internal mix Marksman 200PG pistol grip airbrush is the perfect airbrush for fixed fine detail spray needs or wide open base/clear coat applications. The Marksman 200PG is an ideal airbrush for fine prototypical finish applications or subtle detailing applications. It’s a quick and simple, set and spray, airbrush that’s proficient in all finishing applications. From custom automotive graphic backdrops to precise recurring detail line work in fine scale finishing applications, from soft color gradations in bakery applications to fine realistic patterns in taxidermy and wood carving art, from fine art canvas prep to mural backgrounds – the Marksman is the most proficient airbrush for the job. With the quick turn of a dial and an even quicker pull of the trigger the 200PG has utility in all finishing applications.

The Badger EXPERT Model 1055PG

Planned production and availability – 2nd quarter 2013

Double Action / Internal Mix / Gravity Feed
Standard Nozzle: .5mm Optional Nozzle: .3mm
Spray Pattern Range: Technical Pencil line to 2.5”
Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price Goal: $175.00 – $225.00

When I was in high school, I wanted a fast, flashy car. A Camaro, or Mustang, or Firebird. Or better yet, a Corvette. To have such a car would make me cool (I already had the mullet and the Van Halen t-shirt), and of course the girls would see me as wonderful, my friends would see me as the epitome of manliness, and all would be just right with the world.

I finally got the car- a 1982 Firebird. It was so cool…. had the equalizer in it with all sorts of little knobs, speakers in every corner, fat tires, gorgeous rims… I had arrived.

Only I still had no girlfriend, my friends still thought I was a goofball, and looking back, that mullet really made me look like a dufus.

I had a friend who had a truck. An F-150. Nothing fancy. Regular tires. Stock radio. Plain old paint job. But he had a girlfriend. And most everyone agreed he was a one of the coolest guys around. I asked him “why a truck?” His answer was simple- “it gets the job done”.

I think sometimes that’s the way it is with airbrushes for modelers. We like to talk about the sporty ones, with the shiny features and capabilities to go from 0-60 in nothing flat and corner on a dime. But as with cars- very few of us actually have the ability to actually make good use of all that power. Most of the time, we just need to get the job done.

Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you to Badger Air-Brush Company’s latest offering- the Badger 105 “Patriot”. Read the rest of this entry »

Drew Hatch has a new toy, Badger’s Velocity airbrush, one of it’s newly released Renegade series. He shares his impressions of it with with us.

Badger’s newest line of airbrushes hit the market in full stride. A beautiful set of 3 different feed systems to suit all airbrushing needs. The gravity fed Velocity was one I just had to have for myself. Arrival of the airbrush created quite a stir in my house. “You got another airbrush?” was the comment from my wife. “Yup. Need another. But this will be the last one, just like I said the last time I got one. But I mean it this time.” (yea – right!)

Read the rest of this entry »

The modeling hobby, at least for me, is a series of plateaus and peaks, times that I feel like I’m doing well, and then times when I realize I’m growing. Those times of growth are fun and exciting, because they usually begin with an encounter with something that provides one of those “Ah-ha!” moments in life that can be so fun.

And through this site, it makes it even more joyful to share in those moments. And I’m loving this one.

Brett Green and Hyperscale are one of the greatest resources a modeler can have to see great work from all over the world. And Agapemodels.com contributor Parker Ewing pointed me to a series of articles on Hyperscale that, while a few years old, provided enough “Ah-ha’s!” for the next few months.

A gentleman by the name of Gregg Cooper did a 3-part series on building Tamiya’s 1/48 Nakajima J1N1 Gekko out of the box, and to call it stunning is an understatement. His description on everything from detailing the interior to weathering the outside is so thorough yet so simple that it made me realize “I can do that!” And I hope, after reading it, you too will have had some of those “A-ha’s!” and will find new ways to grow your modeling skills.

I’ve never met you, Mr. Cooper, but I just want to say “thank you” for sharing your skill with us, and for helping me along in the joy I find in my model building journey.

Part 1: Building Tamiya’s Nakajima J1N1Gekko (Irving) “Straight Out Of The Box”
Part 2: Completing Tamiya’s Nakajima J1N1Gekko (Irving) “Straight Out Of The Box”
Part 3: Painting and Weathering Tamiya’s Nakajima J1N1Gekko (Irving) “Straight Out Of The Box”

Many folks like to build their models looking factory fresh, while others want that weathered look. A good, realistic weathering finish really gives a model it’s own life. I’m currently working on 21st Century Toys 1/32 F4U-1A Corsair, which is a great bargain. It will be in the marking’s of Ike Kepford’s White 29 of VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” fame.

In researching Corsairs that served in the Solomon’s in ’43 and ’44, I saw that the Corsair’s finish really took a beating. Paint fading on nearly every part, resulting in a mottled patchwork of blues. I’ve not done a lot of weathering and shading with my airbrush, so I wasn’t quite sure how to approach this build. And with the tri-color camo scheme the Navy used during that time, I needed to find a method for mottling and fading different colors. Read the rest of this entry »