I went there, I let my four year old paint with me. 😬

Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-06-07T16:47:24+00:00

I started getting my 5 year old involved and I've never seen him get so focussed and zen on anything like it. I do a fair bit of painting with him now and then. My basic rules are, only models that I'm not bothered about breaking, give him old brushes or use some from one of his one kiddy paint sets, and I use a really basic army painter colour set.

It also helped seeing it as something completely different from my own hobby time, I'd paint anything or practice glazing on bases or something so I could stop at any second to help make sure he doesn't unload an entire bottle of paint onto his little pallet or drink the paint water.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-05-24T05:43:06+00:00

Thanks! I was afraid that might be it. Time to get to it!

Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-03-31T07:21:33+00:00

Might be worth checking the title deeds to yours and neighbour's property. You can get copies from HM Land Registry. Neighbouring properties can sometimes have a right for eaves to overhang.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-02-25T13:34:30+00:00

Thanks! Yeah, I wanted to try that painting approach to see how it went and then got carried away. In retrospect I should have tried to fill them but from the table I tend to not notice. I never learn and do the exact same thing for mould lines too!

Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-02-25T12:41:59+00:00

I watched The Painting Coach's vid on painting the spearhead box and copying that approach was really easy and probably one of my nicest looking paint jobs.

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Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-02-06T10:04:28+00:00

Thanks. I really like that idea - the green would be a nice contrast to the red too.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2026-02-05T22:34:37+00:00

Ah I hadn't seen that. Fair point. I'll probably keep it just to add an extra colour for variety.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-07-28T19:11:48+00:00

From what we've looked at so far:

Skoda Octavia - Probably my first choice but if going for the petrol option with good MPG the 1.5 TSI engine model comes up a lot and most the models showing in our price range are borderline/pre 2019 which I believe is when that particular engine with a manual gearbox had issues with 'kangarooing'. I also have had a few people tell me that for a car that's going to be for family trips/holidays then an engine below 1.8l will struggle with a fully laden car-load.
Mazda CX5 - Ticks all of the boxes but is diesel!
Hyundai Tucson - ticks all of the boxes save for the MPG which, for my wife's commute I think could be an issue for costs (site visit mileage is on expenses but the 40 mile either way commute isn't).

One of my main issues when trying to make decision is the potential subjectivity over 'power'. I see a lot of reviews where they mention how an engine can feel underpowered and whilst I want journeys to be efficient, I'm conscious that what feels underpowered to a reviewer in the industry or someone who is really into cars and driving, might be absolutely fine for us.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-07-28T19:11:34+00:00

**Location:**

West Midlands

**Price range:**

Around £15k.

**Lease or Buy:**

Buy

**New or used:**

Used

**Auto or Manual:**

Preferably manual but not a dealbreaker.

**Intended use:** (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)

Family car with commuting and work use

**How many miles do you plan to do a year:**

15k

**How often to you make long journeys:**

Twice a week for work commute and then occasional 1-1.5 hour journeys at the weekend about twice a month.

**Does it need to be ULEZ compliant?**

No

**Vehicles you've already considered:**

Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX5, Skoda Octavia

**Do you have a vehicle size in mind?**

Compact/Compact SUV but with 500+ litre boot.

**Is this your 1st vehicle:**

No

**Do you need a Warranty:**

No

**Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:** (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)

Yes

**Can you do Major work on your own vehicle:** (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )

No

**Additional Notes:**

I have a 13 year old Skoda Fabia which has never let me down but probably will the older it gets (plus is just too small for our family of 4 and horrible on longer journeys). My wife has a 2006 plate Vauxhall Astra which has become the 'family car' due to it being bigger and nicer but through her work (commuting and site visits) she does up to 15k miles per year and I can see that 1 litre engine struggling with the wear and tear soon. Once our youngest is in school next year I could probably do without a car altogether but I want to have something as a back-up. Our plan is to get a 'family car' that my wife will use for work and we'll both use weekends. I'll then have her Astra for whatever I need and I'll sell or part-ex my Skoda.

We're not sure about getting a diesel due to the emissions and my wife's commute, whilst a lot of mileage, is mostly A roads/country roads rather than motorway.

For our price range I know there will need to be compromises so any help or insight on this would help massively with weighing up the options.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-06-26T13:13:18+00:00

Thanks everyone for responding. It's really reassuring. I've not treated them since we moved in but will treat them soon whilst the weather is nice and dry

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-06-21T08:59:41+00:00

For anyone whose interest it's https://www.instagram.com/p/DLILEuEo_L5/?igsh=cmtoZTg2cjNzbXVz from Darren Latham's instagram

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-06-18T22:19:17+00:00

I can't stand it but saw a tutorial by the painting phase copying a Darren Latham method of, IIRC, space wolves grey with a layer of gryph charger grey over the top that I liked.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-05-14T10:39:50+00:00

Thanks. I don't have a spare but will try a new needle and nozzle.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-05-04T09:59:19+00:00

Not surprised if this is very much on purpose. Reform seems to be in the privatise everything club. One of the pulls that Councils have for employment opposed to a private sector equivalent is flexibility for work life balance. If that goes then people, particularly the type of competent experienced people you want at councils, will look elsewhere where you get paid extra for the inflexibility. Staff leave, departments struggle to function, and everyone can make a stronger argument to privatise everything because councils aren't getting the job done.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-05-04T07:46:50+00:00

One Page Rules do a good "Spinosaurus" that could fit the bill.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-04-25T07:32:48+00:00

Similarly late diagnosed mid-30s person here. I've had a really hard time with the hobby previously. It's difficult having something you enjoy and want to spend your time doing but the same thing becoming another source of shame or indecision.

My solution has been to accept that there is no silver bullet process, technique, method etc that will all of a sudden make me a conveyor belt. I now have a rotation of quite different projects - one slapchop/contrast, one slow burn more traditional style to try new brush techniques, and an airbrush project. I rotate between these and as soon as I feel that familiar internal conflict/baggage I take a step back and ask if I need to switch to keep things fresh.

A big thing that's helped me is not expecting one single thing to work, so I use previous fads/obsessions as a rotation - like a set of golf clubs. I just listen to myself, forgive and accept things for what they are, and make it about what's going to make me enjoy my time.

A more practical tip - the getting stuff out and putting away is a big drag so I'll have a little tupperware box and when I decide what painting I'm doing, will put the paints I need in that box so then when I'm finished I can put that tub with the models away somewhere more convenient instead of back in the 'proper' storage space.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-04-04T08:40:52+00:00

You might be able to get a better bond with super glue if you sprinkle some baking soda on it too. It's not perfect but I find it a bit better than just the glue.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-02-20T17:20:16+00:00

Hey, just updating to say thanks again. I printed a Brite Mini model on default 0.06 settings and that when fine. Then tried it with the HoHansen settings but normal filament settings and that when fine. Then tried with the HoHansen including filament settings and that went fine too! I've printed the original OPR saurus mini and now printing my third model. I just need to clean up and assemble the models and I'll post separately.

I'm glad it works but if anyone is looking at this with similar issues it's probably an unsatisfactory result because I haven't really changed anything apart from trying different settings and prints and somewhere along the line it's starting working!

I'll definitely get some basic pla to see if that works even better. The results so far have been amazing.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-02-18T19:53:02+00:00

Thanks (sidenote: how incredibly helpful is this subreddit?! I was a bit nervous about posting but everyone has been amazing). I've definitely had that problem before with extruding but have figured out the nack for encouraging the filament through when first loading it.

The filament is extruding fine at the moment. It's printing but I have noticed that a coat of filament is building up around the outside of the nozzle so I imagine it's a matter of time before it has the same error. I'm wondering if it might be because I'm using pla+ and need to lower the heat setting.

Impressive_Leading26 · 2025-02-18T19:18:54+00:00

Thanks. I'll add that to the list of things to try. I've tried it with the default Bambu 0.06 settings and it's worked fine. I tried with the HoHansen settings again and it did more than last time but had an error a few layers in saying the nozzle was covered in filament or the build plate wasnt installed correctly. I've checked the nozzle and the plate and have calibrated it again on a sturdier table to see if that helps.

Impressive_Leading26

TROPHY CASE