The Little World

Gather round me now…

Rain clouds at dawning, model maker take warning
Whiskey at night, model maker’s delight.

Arrr, the old tales be the true ones…

I have never taken so much notice of temperature and humidity as when I started airbrushing scale models. I was fool enough to try the art when the weather department could have warned me to stay in the house.

I tried shooting paint in cold and humid conditions and watched it ruin models. Apparently water vapour can be trapped in the paint or varnish coat and entirely alter the result – and that rarely for the better.

Hot dry days were no better if I selected a rapid-drying thinner for the paint. It dried out on the way from the gun to the model and left a rough, gritty surface.

Now I temper my shed with a couple old space heaters in the wintertime and avoid the worse of the rainy days altogether. I retire from the space when the thermometer passes 36 degrees Celsius. I assiduously dry the tank and lines after every spray session.

And I unplug my computer and hard drive during thunderstorms. I join the dog under the bed.