I am another, who dabbled in this world of creativity, so many years ago. I guess it was in the early 70s, when I wanted to craft ideas that were floating around my head, and wanting to see if I could make those ideas and/or looks come alive. In my early years assigned to Air Force electronics technical school, I remember seeing some of the guys place so much time carefully working on mostly custom model cars, but a few model aircraft. i was amazed to see guys actually making their own parts, not made or added to the kits, like creating their own headers and traction bars for the cars. All in the name of more detail and/or realism. I did do a couple of cars but it was the military aircraft that drew me in.I even did a larger scale Navy Martin Mars, "Flying Boat" as a project. I turned the aircraft into a German warplane, complete with Luftwaffe insignia. A lot of time in fine details even to chipping on the leading edges and the props. (early weathering)
Military jobs kept me on the go for years. As an Air Force Air Traffic Controller, stationed at Kadena, in Okinawa, I worked with so many different aircraft, including the F4G Wild Weasels and the Lockheed Martin SR-71s. And, yes, I happened to be there when SR-71, tail number 17978, nicknamed Rapid Rabbit, crashed on our runway. He was being controlled by my good controller friend, Rick. I was placed on the investigative team for this accident. It was a monumental experience. My wife, this past Christmas, gave me die cast models of the two most impressionable aircraft in my heart. One was a Hobby Master F4G Wild Weasel and the other was a Century Wings SR-71, of the Rapid Rabbit from Kadena. Both had incredible detail, and I loved them. However the hook had been set. I began researching several plastic models that seemed to have the highest degree of accurate detail that I could find. So begins the list.
I had the desire to want to build these researched model kits, but since I had absolutely no experience with air brushing, thinning paints, working with 3D resin accessories, paint booths, and weathering, I had things really cut out for me.
Finding out about the incredible new (to me) Tamiya Extra Thin cement was a major thing to me, especially when I learned HOW the stuff worked. Just amazing.
Which brings me to seriously choosing the best Air brush and compressor components. Let me add that reading the post from Linebacker felt like it was to me. I even took notes.