Okay, so I'm working on a P40-B model and I'm doing some painting on it.

Now, since I'm starting up modelling again since I used to do it when I was younger and never bothered to paint the finished product I want to now try my hand at detailing my model.

Down to the point here is that I'm not quite sure how to go about cleaning my brushes. I started myself out on a Testors model finishing kit for military/aircraft and it came with a small bottle of enamel thinner.

So, exactly, what do I do in order to keep my materials well maintained?

Any tips, help, criticisms, or suggestions are greatly reccomended and appreciated, thanks!

Thanks, it was my preferred choice over the limited selection my local Walmart had, so I grabbed it since I probably wouldn't be able to find a nice Bf-109 at a local hobby shop until I actually looked around for some shops. I'm mostly a fan of armor though, I can't wait to get my hands on a piece of German WWII armor.

Well, to clean your brushes in the supplied thinner, insert the bristle end and shake around vigorously and wipe clean with a paper towel or just flick the end a couple of times. Never just drop your brushes in the bottle and leave there as it will deform the bristles. Store them upright .

Another useful tip. If you can store your brushes in an airtight cannister, this keeps dust off of the bristles, in turn keeping dust off of your models! A cleaned out pringles can works great as a brush storage container.

Where did the pics go. Would like to see your work!

Oh and welcome!!

Ah, thanks!

Well, I was a little hesitant at first to just put the brushes in the thinner itself as it discolors it and I was also told doing that would also "deactivate" the thinner altogether. Thanks for the info!

Heh heh! I'll have to go and get the Nikon and get some shots then!

Yeah, the little bottle of thinner will last a short while for brush cleaning. Your best bet is to go buy a pint of low odor mineral spirits at a hardware store, Wal-Mart, etc. Use this to give "clean refills" to your small bottle when it gets too polluted. A pint will cost you under 2 bucksand last you quite awhile.

Ah good, cause the thinner fumes were starting to kill me after so long.

Edit: Here come some images of my work so far in the next reply.

Here are some photos of my WIP... sorry if they're a little large, let me know and I can drop them down to 320x240.

Thanks ZzZGuy, that's some really helpful information cause as it's been I've been using the paints that have come with a simple Testors model finishing kit and just doing this model as if it's my first, I plan on doing some German tanks and a BF-109 sometime in the future. I also plan on helping my gf with her Memphis Belle model she got at Warner Robins AFB in Georgia.

As far as painting goes, I'll admit to using quite a bit here and there, but then again I started light in the beginning and I'm just a bit impatient. Although more patient that I used to be :-)

I'm wondering where I should go to get a nice set of paints, I'll also look into some better and finer brushes next time I'm around Walmart.

All I can say is that I'm planning on doing this plane in the colors of the US WWII-era version and not the typical "Flying Tigers" color scheme.

Oh and no airbrush yet, I'm not even sure how to go about them at the moment.

Edit: Nice job on that B-25!

Ah you are loaded with some very helpful info, I do shop quite often online, all sorts of places, amazon, newegg, svc, etc. I think I'll give a few of those places a looksie.

Oh and yeah, I know about where to find the good brushes in Walmart, my gf is very artistic and we visit the arts & crafts section all the time.

Another question I'd like to ask and decided to just place into my current thread is this: what kind of paint should I be using for most models? Is there any real advantage or difference between acrylic versus enamel?

Also, another question a little off-topic on the subject of painting but what's everyone's method for gluing models together? I've been working on my Monogram P-40B and I found that gluing the fuselage together was the hardest part to manage. Tips?

Hmm, ok then I guess I'll stick with my enamels and probably look into getting some liquid cement to compliment my tube of glue Testors gave me. But damn was gluing that fuselage hard, I would up having to sand down some of the seams cause the glue was showing up a bit due to me needing to relocate my attention to the other areas of the fuselage for pressure. Is there an easy way to apply glue? Maybe like using a brush of some sort or something?

Also, when should I sand and when shouldn't I sand? I'm kinda learning that sanding shouldnt really have to happen on the main body of the model unless necessary, I needed to smoothen out my rough spots on the P-40B, should I have not done this?