APR 14th 2019

This month's meeting was held at the amazing Community Centre in beautiful Niagara on the Lake... it was a miserably wet and cold day.

The theme of the meeting was Air Brushing with a very detailed and informative presentation by Pat.
He explained that the compressor was the heartbeat of the process so those interested should invest in a good one.  His included a regulator and water trap.  Pat described two types of air brushes: the single action and the dual action.  Basically the single action is that you simply depress the button and it opens the valve to allow the compressed air to pass through.  The dual action requires you to depress the button and pull back on it so it acts as a safety device.  The dual action is good for painting pictures and fading out.

The air brush can have a cup or a jar to hold the paint.  The drip cup is used for small parts as it holds a smaller quantity of paint.
With the compressor powered ON you need to do a test spray to set the atomizing rate with an adjustment screw near the discharge orifice/needle.
Paint is applied to the part in light "dust" coats, starting off the part, passing over and beyond the part so as not to build up paint on the part at the start and finish points.  It is best to allow a short drying time (about 5 minutes) between coats.  Most paints require thinning which is usually done at a rate of 1/3 thinner to 2/3 paint.  He mixes his in a small plastic cup (shot glass size) with a stir stick.  Once thoroughly mixed he pours it into the cup or jar.  He mentioned that you can blend like paints (enamel with enamel or acrylic with acrylic) but do not mix unlike paints!

Pat talked about masking showing us thin flexible tape and tape with waxed paper attached to one half providing over spray protection.

Holding parts for painting can be tricky. Pat uses a homemade Medusa looking NEMA wire and alligator clip assembly on an heavy base.  He also employs several types of tweezers to grip small parts. (see photos below)
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Cleaning up is an important step as it will insure your equipment is in good working order next time.  You do not want to invest in a good air brush gun only to find it clogged up with dry paint.  Pat uses alcohol, enamel cleaner, extremely fine (0000) steel wool, lint free Kimtech Wipes and small pipe cleaner type dental cleaners to keep his gear sparkling.

Once again - sorry you missed it!

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Brandon brought his 3D prints back in to show some of them painted flat black.  He also had a set of guns printed for a 74 gun war ship of circa 1780's (without the breeching rope ring): 9 Pdr short, 9 Pdr Long, 18 Pdr and 32 Pdr.  This were brought as examples to the meeting for Alan as he is looking for a supply for his model.

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Ray brought in his completed half hull of the MUSIGNY at 1:16 scale.  He has done a fine job of painting the hull.  The mounting board and finish edging are teak.  He also showed us the back side to allow us to see the strong hanging brackets and lower bumper pads added to protect the wall and help the model rest properly against the wall when hung.

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David R. brought in a couple of new items he has added to his work shop.

One was a LED illuminating magnifying visor he had purchased from Lee Valley Tools.  It comes with a variety of magnifying clip on lenses and holds two at a time.  They also flip up and out of the way when required.  They were advertised as a limited quantity and I cannot find them on the website.

The other was a centre marking gauge used to mark the centre on round stock.    He purchased this from Busy Bee Tools.   www.busybeetools.com/products/center-finder-woodworking.html

He also brought in a Native American Double Drone Flute he had made for his daughter.  It was a beautiful looking and soft sounding instrument.  He described in some detail how it was made out of pine in two halves.  How the two chambers are divided and the air is slowed down and directed.  How the holes are located and the wall thinned to create the perfect notes.  His was described as pentatonic which for the non-musician means every note is perfect pitch.
Here is a link to a website that further describes the instrument.
www.flutopedia.com/faq.htm

Alan had brought in his incomplete bowsprit, jib boom and jack staff assembly for his 1:64 scale HMS Bellerophon build to show the group.
He is presently working on the forward cant frames and decided to build the bowsprit to test fit the opening made through the bollard timbers and at the head of the stem post. 
The 7'-6" x 11'-3" Union Jack is water thinned Acrylic paint brushed onto Silkspan.  The representation is dated prior to 1801 union with Ireland (less the FitzGerald Red Saltire, aka St. Patrick's Cross) and it bent to the halyard with white marline.  
The incomplete assembly, temporarily held together with elastic bands, will go into storage until it is ready to be finished and mounted onto the ship model.

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Although Tijs could not make the meeting he had forwarded photos of his recently completed model of the ROGER B TANEY, a US Revenue Service Cutter (Morris-Taney Class)  dated from December 1833 to  January 1858. 
(Photos below)