Since my Tau Devilfish is nearing completion, it's time to start thinking about laying down some exterior camo. I don't trust my 30 year-old airbrush so this past weekend I paid a visit to Granddad's Hobby Shop. At Granddad's, the emphasis is mostly on model trains and scenery, but I know they also have a good selection of military models, airbrushes, paints and other tools...

http://www.granddadshobbyshop.com/

Had a wonderful conversation with one of their resident train experts about steam excursions and museums including the Strasburg Railroad and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, home of "Old Rivets", an early GG-1 with riveted skins. Damn, that there's a pretty sight...

http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/about/roster/gg1.htm

I asked him about the Norfolk & Western 1218, which I've ridden behind on past steam excursions, and he believes that the 1218 and the Norfolk & Western J class 611 are both in the Roanoke Transport Museum. Guess there's just not enough interest in steam excursions anymore...

http://www.vmt.org/exhibits.htm

He also showed me a 1939 Lionel 1666 locomotive they had on consignment. Although I love Lionel trains, pre-war models are not my particular interest. He admitted it isn't rare either, but a good deal for $140, and he told me a story about a rare GG-1 issued by the factory with silver stripes, not gold. The box alone sold for $800. Whoooeeeee, those model train collectors are so extreme!

Granddad's is a gem for 3D scenery designers as they carry lots of sheet plastic and decorative parts, mostly for scale model railroads but also for military modelers. They also stock an excellent selection of paints (Floquil, Tamaya, Humbrol and Valejo). Humbrol were my favorites back in the early 70's.

I left with some modeler's tape and a brand new dual-action Paasche airbrush. Air compressors are quite expensive so I think I'll see if I can resurrect my 30-year old air compressor. The owner of the store was very helpful and I enjoyed our discussion about airbrush equipment and techniques. For one thing, I'll have to be careful about running acrylic paints through this airbrush. I'm used to solvent based paints which take their time to dry. Acrylics dry quickly and can gum up the airbrush.

"Yup, these compressors are probably made in the same factory, with the same machinery, by the same little old guy as they were 30 years ago."

Tonight, I disassembled my old air compressor and gave it a good cleaning. Surprisingly, the interior of the compressor was very clean, with only a small bit of dust. The rubber diaphragm, which I expected to have crumbled to dust by now, was in perfect shape. Excellent! I just saved myself $200!