Creating a Realistic Waterfall

How are you doing today? Are you in a creative mood?
We came across this great YouTube video from Woodland Scenics showing how to use the Realistic Water & the Water Effects system to create great waterfalls and rapids on your diorama or layout. We do carry the Woodland Scenics line at both our North and South stores.

We can assist you in helping to create a great look to your diorama or layout with our traditional and creative ideas. Don't forget we also host Birthday Parties to teach kids this unique experiance.

Let us know what you think of our blog and what you would like to see. Please don't forget to 'Like' our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ChinookAndHobbyWest and our Twitter page www.twitter.com/HobbyandToy.
We have a FREE Collectors Club where we send you tips, updates on hobby news, info on sales and local events. http://www.chinookandhobbywest.com/collectors-club.html

I was on http://www.yakface.com/ this morning checking out the latest news and found out that today is the 35th anniversary of Star Wars! Wow it sure doesn't seem that long ago. I remember I lived in Fort McMurray when Star Wars came out in theatres. My dad was going to take me, I was 5, and always drawing space ships. Then my mom went into labour with my youngest brother. The next time I was able to see that movie in the theatres I was... ahem... much older...

Now I am able to share the Star Wars Universe with my whole family! Yep, my husband and kids (age 6 & 9) are all into Star Wars and in different degrees. I enjoy the books and the movies and I'm pretty good at knowing most of the little known characters and have a greater knowledge of the popular ones. My husband was obsessed with the traditional trilogy (episodes 4, 5, & 6) to the point that he knows the alien languages and you can mute any of these movies at any time, and he will continue the dialog so when you unmute he is in sync with the movie. My 9 year old knows all the characters and loves to design and set up custom figures, envirnments and dioramas to act out different scenes. (ever see 50 battle droids lined up in formation on your living room floor?) My 6 year old chooses figures based on their colours and species and makes up scenes.

My husband loves to use his toys to make store displays mainly at the South store. Check out our Facebook page for his Hoth Battle last year www.facebook.com/ChinookAndHobbyWest for some great pictures! Our North store has a life size R2D2 that both little and big kids love to see.

Star Wars has got to be the best movie series to suck in so many generations and share so many memories.

For more great sources for Star Wars check out www.yodanews.com , http://www.rebelscum.com/ and please share your favourite sites!

What is your first Star Wars memory? We would love to hear your stories!

Airbrush Terms

Hi all; Sorry Monday was supposed to be Trains, and the schedule got 'derailed'. Will do better, promise. So we are going to go right to Wednesday: Models. (Although today's post can be used for trains too)

Today as per our website www.chinookandhobbywest.com, we are talking about Airbrush Terms. On our site we shared the difference between Single Action and Dual Action airbrushes. See our Hobby Talk page on our website if you haven't read it.

The MIX regarding airbrushes, refers to the way air and paint come together or 'atomize' while airbrushing. Airbrushes spray a series of dots (atomised material).
External Mix - air and paint mix outside the airbrush resulting in a coarse round spray pattern. This is preferred for larger surface coverage and volume spray applications.
Internal Mix - air and paint mix inside the airbrush creating a precisely atomised 'fine dot' spray pattern. This is preferred for precision finishing needs, like colour graduation, shading and fine lines.


The FEED refers to the place of entry and manner the paint enters the airbrush.
Bottom Feed - the paint enters through a syphon tube or colour cup attached to the bottom of the airbrush. This type of airbrush should have at least 18 PSI while spraying to operate properly.  This is best used for general purpose. It uses the paint without having to frequently fill the cup.  It also allows the artist to work at a faster pace when desired.
Gravity Feed - the paint enters at the top of the airbrush through a tip mounted colour reservoir.  Gravity draws the material in to airbrush.  This airbrush can be operated a as low as 8 PSI.  This one allows the artist to slow down as gravity pulls the paint into the airbrush to improve the control of the airbrush.  This makes it easier to do finer detail work as the finishing process can be done at a more deliberate pace.  This is best for detail airbrushing.
Side Feed - the paint enters at the side of the airbrush through a side attached colour cup. This airbrush operates best at about 12 PSI.  The swivel side cup allows more flexibility for airbrushing if difficult to reach areas or on contoured pieces.  This is great for detail work because the side feed cup eliminates any sight line obstruction to the needle tip when doing 'close in' intricate detailing.
Dual Feed - this airbrush can be used as either gravity feed or bottom feed depending on your varying application needs. This type of airbrush is exclusive to Badger Air-Brush Co.


PSI - Pressure per square inch, the measurement of the level of air pressure.

Nozzle Sizes - There are so many choices for spraying and each has some effect on the line an airbrush produces. Nozzle sizes (Fine, Medium, Heavy or 1, 3 and 5) refer more to the paint sprayed through the airbrush than the fineness of line produced.  The fineness of the line is determined by many factors - nozzle size, needle's linear air flow angel, pigment ratio of paint, pigment size, operating pressure, etc.  NOTE: you must have the correct nozzle/needle size with the right paint for optimum airbrush performance.

Fine/1: sprays thin, low viscosity inks, water colours, dyes, stains, etc.
Medium/3: The most popular; sprays airbrush ready paints, properly thinned acrylics, lacquers, enamels and special applications such as tanning solutions, body paints, food airbrushing colours, etc.
Heavy/5: Best for heavily pigmented and high viscosity mediums such as glazes, gesso, latex and varnish.

Lots of Changes

Wow! Everyone has so much on their plate these days. Errands, getting kids from school, work, dealing with renos.... the list goes on.

What about your downtime? Your Sanity (temporary as it may be - ha ha). It is so important to have a hobby, especially in today's busy world. Better yet, to share that hobby with your family. Building a model railroad layout together, putting together a model kit and then designing a diorama to display that model, perhaps Rocketry. Come down to either of our stores and we can help you find a hobby (even if we may not sell it).

Changing the subject slightly.... we have a NEW WEBSITE! Please check out http://www.chinookandhobbywest.com and let us know what you think. Visit the Collectors Club page so you can get updates on what's happening in your favourite hobby, contests, and more.

Our Facebook link is www.facebook.com/ChinookAndHobbyWest
We are also on Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Tumblr. Check out our websites Hobby Talk page for links to all of these. Please email Valerie if you would like to add a blogpost and we will give you credit.

We have a new logo to go with our new look. Our North Store (2604 - 4th St. NW has the completed look). We would love your opinion on how we are doing, so please email and share with us!

We are also going to have a regular blog. Mondays - Trains, Wednesdays - Models, Fridays - Toys and Collectibles. Feel free to contribute.

I hope you have a great day and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Our Diecast Dept. has Cars and Airplanes

Check out our Toys!

Our signature G scale train runs in both stores

Part of our Model Railroading Dept.

Model Railroading: Fun for Little and Big Kids!

One of my first memories was watching my dad unpack a new train set he just bought. He set it all out on a shelf and warned us not to touch it as it wasn't a toy. Then he brought in a large piece of plywood and we all got to help plan out track and scenery and it became a great family project!

We never did get to run that train although I remember the joy on my dad's face as he ran it. Now its my turn. I have a 9 year old boy and my husband, son, daughter and myself added on to the set that Santa brought. Every time I go into the playroom my son has a whole story line going on. He'll watch a documentary in the background and act it out on his layout. Using the same or similar locomotives and cars and rearranging the buildings and creating mountains with crumpled paper, or a farm with his sisters animals. Its amazing to watch. My favourite is when my husband brings in one of the trains that his father used to run and the two of them are lost in that world of imagination and creativity.

This is one of the sets my son bought with Christmas and birthday money. (I did chip in a bit)

Over the last five years many of the old model railroaders have passed on or just cannot carry on the hobby and the hobby industry started panicking about how there will be no one to sell model railroading too. I have to say, that's not what I am seeing at our Chinook & Hobby West stores (address' at the bottom of this blog).

I get to see adults and kids everyday and the wonder in their eyes as they see the big G scale run around our stores. The beginner sets we have in HO and N are great to start into as you can set them up on the kitchen table to start with. There are Model Railroading shows throughout the world on a regular basis.  Supertrain 2012 is this April 21 & 22 (http://www.supertrain.ca) and is Canada's largest train show with layouts, classes, clinics and vendors to help you find and satisfy your train bug.

Lately with shows like The Big Bang Theory, we see young adults getting into the excitement of the model railroading hobby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCNrs23r4DA here is the clip to enjoy!

So, come on down and see us here at Chinook & Hobby West and let us help YOU find the fun!

South Store:
5011 MacLeod Tr. SW
Calgary, AB   T2G 0A9
ph- 1-877-525-5785
hobbywest@shaw.ca


North Store:
2604- 4th St. NW
Calgary, AB   T2G 0A9
ph - 403-984-3438
hobbywest@gmail.com

Have You Lost Your Sense of Wonder?

     Today I was asked the question, "When was the last time you felt a sense of wonder?". I can honestly say I get to see it every day. I get to see it at home through the eyes of my 6 and 9 year old kids. I love seeing it in our store when a customer comes in and notices the G scale train running around above their heads. To see the kids as they notice the Star Wars movie playing in our toy section and my favourite, to see someone get inspired by one of the dioramas or models we have on display around the store.

At both our North and South store you can see a unique G scale train travelling above your head!

At our South Store you can see this 6 ft. Star Destroyer that is an exact scale replica of the one they used in the Star Wars movie "A New Hope".

When was the last time you felt that sense of wonder? The 'Wow is that cool!' or 'I remember that when I was a kid!'. I asked a few people how they might rekindle their sense of wonder.

1. Look at your next task through the eyes of  a child.
2. Make a list of your favourite things you did/built/played with as a child. Pick something off the list and do it. (look up at the clouds and find shapes for example)
3. Take a different route to work, if you can't then make it a point to notice something different every time you stop at a traffic light. (maybe the grass is turning green or there are more potholes)
4. Forget your cell phone at home and walk around your neighbourhood.

Its amazing how much stress dissolves and what great memories are made when you rediscover your sense of wonder. We look forward to you coming down and experiencing the wonder for yourselves!

Let us know what you did!

Val

  

Basic Tips For Model Building

Basic Tips For Model Building

– From Valerie at Chinook & Hobby West

1.      Wash all plastic parts in warm water and liquid dish soap.  Use a grease cutting soap such as Sunlight. Do not use soap that claims to be ‘nice to your hands’ because these soaps are designed to replace skin oils in your hands.  They will put oils on the plastic.  You are trying to get rid of the oils and mold release (anti-sticking agents) from the plastic.

     After letting the plastic soak for 10-15 minutes, agitate the water to get the soap into any cracks or grooves and then rinse with clean water.  Let the plastic air-dry.

     Your model is now clean and ready for painting.  You should get in the habit of washing your hands in the same soap anytime you work on your model, both building and painting.  Grease cutting soaps will help to reduce skin oils on your hands better than bar soaps and therefore reduce the chance of getting fingerprints on you model.

2.     Remove parts from their frames only as you need them.  Once all the parts have been removed from a section of frame (sprue), save the frame, it has many uses and costs nothing.

     A section of frame can be used to mix your paints.  It can also be used to test the dryness of the paints on your model.  If you are doing a paint scheme where one color will overlap another color, paint some of the first color on a section of frame at the same time that you paint your model.  When you think that the paint is dry, paint some of the second color on the frame over the first color and wait for about 15 minutes.  If there is no reaction, then it’s safe to paint the second color on your mode.  Repeat this step if further colors are to be used on top of the other tow, such as I a multi-colored camouflage scheme.  This process can also be used to test the dryness of your finished paint scheme before applying clear coats.  If you intend to use clear coats on your models, always install your clear parts AFTER you use the clear coat.  Clear finishes will cause clear parts to fog. Also test the clear coat on your painted frame as some brands of clear coat can cause yellowing to light and white colors.  Install clear parts by using clear drying white glue, as regular model glues will fog the clear parts too.

Building Your Model

3.    After removing the parts from the frame, remove any excess plastic from the parts using your hobby knife, sandpaper, sprue cutter or a file.  When using files be very careful as the plastic is soft and you can take off too much.

Dry fit the parts before gluing to make sure the parts fit firmly.  (Known as dry    fitting). Further sanding may be required.  Apply glue sparingly. The more glue you use, the worse it sticks.  This applies mainly to tube glue.  The thicker you apply any glue the longer it takes to dry.  When using tube glue, us glue tips.

To Prime or Not To Prime?

4. You will get different opinions on this but we suggest the following;
• Pre-paint parts that will be difficult to paint after assembly, such as aircraft cockpits.
• Assemble parts first that will end up the same color.
• Assemble parts first when putty will be used to fill seam lines such as aircraft body parts and the paint.

When pre-painting parts, be sure not to get paint on the area where the glue is to be applied.  The glue will not stick through the paint.

The most important thing to remember about building models is:

·        Take your time!!

·        Give paints time to dry!!

·        Give glue time to dry!!

If you have any questions please call us, we can help you.  403-243-1997 or email hobbywest@shaw.ca.

Basic Tools To Have On Hand When Model Building

• Model glue (superglue works well too)
• White glue or canopy glue (for clear parts)
• Hobby Knife
• Sprue Cutter (optional)
• Water (if working with acrylic paint)
• Thinner (if working with enamel or laquer paint)
• Acrylic (water based) or Enamel (oil or laquer based) paint
• Paint brush(s)
• magnifying lense (helps to see numbers on sprues and small print on instructions)
• A SENSE OF HUMOUR AND SOME PATIENCE!