Model Building?

[d4mo]

Anyone here do any model car, plane, ship building?

I've done 1 or 2 when I was a kid, and I would kind of like to do a ship or a tank. Do you need to have airbrushes and be really good at painting for stuff to look any good?

This is what I was looking at doing:

http://www.amazon.com/Revell-535-USS...1854680&sr=1-1

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I used to do them when i was younger.

Painting skills will make them look better, but it can still be enjoyable if you understand your limits.

 

[mmntech]

Yes, but not static models. I fly radio controlled airplanes in the summer. I never scratch or kit build though. All "almost ready to fly" stuff. I used to build the plastic models when I was a kid but was never vary good at it. There's nothing more rewarding about watching your own creation take to the sky.

 

[Raduque]

I paint smaller pieces by hand (engines, suspension parts, interior), but for things like frames, body panels, or the whole body, you want to paint them some other way. I typically use rattlecans with a spraygun handle. Wash, sand lightly, wash again, dry, coat or two of primer, several light coats of flat color base, wash, very lightly sand, wash again, several very light coats of clearcoat, wash, polish done.

 

[ktehmok]

Anyone here do any model car, plane, ship building?

I've done 1 or 2 when I was a kid, and I would kind of like to do a ship or a tank. Do you need to have airbrushes and be really good at painting for stuff to look any good?

This is what I was looking at doing:

http://www.amazon.com/Revell-535-USS...1854680&sr=1-1

That looks like a good one to start off with. Decent size, not too small.

Work on assembling first, you can always paint it later. Use an exacto knife to remove excess plastic from the molding tabs, then clean up with an emery board. Dry fit parts before gluing them to see how they look.

I wouldn't worry about air brushing, a good set of brushes and patience is fine.

 

[CRXican]

far too tedious

 

[Mike Gayner]

Yes, but not static models. I fly radio controlled airplanes in the summer. I never scratch or kit build though. All "almost ready to fly" stuff. I used to build the plastic models when I was a kid but was never vary good at it. There's nothing more rewarding about watching your own creation take to the sky.

It's not really your own creation if you didn't build it yourself.

 

[T9D]

...

 

[Squisher]

Model building was quite big back in the 60s. I built everything that was available, monsters, cars, war machines, ships, planes, space ships, you name it, I built it. My mother destroyed every one of them trying to dust them.

The last one I built at the age of 12 (1969) was probably my best. I built the Wright Bros. plane from Kitty Hawk without a kit. All I had was a 3" X 2" picture of the blueprints out an encyclopedia. Bent, cut, and soldered all the copper tubing. Bent and carved all the balsa wood.

 

[mmntech]

It's not really your own creation if you didn't build it yourself.

I guess I shouldn't say never but I was speaking in general here. I just vary rarely do because I'm not that good at it. I've built a couple experimental gliders. I've got an electric aerobat I'm also slowly working on.

 

[waggy]

I loved doing models. now though i can't afford them they want $2000 for half an hour =(

ok bad joke.

I used to do them all the time. But none of the store's around carry them anymore. I found a place on the internet to buy them and got nice one of a 59 Ford truck. but found my arthritis was to bad i couldn't enjoy doing it.

 

[StageLeft]

My dad has several nice ships/boats. He spends a long time with them, a couple with full rigging and a couple he made RC. I dabble with RC planes but they're in great part about the flying as opposed to intricate modelling, at least to the degree I do.

 

[ZzZGuy]

First off, that is a Revell kit which likely means bad quality. Look up reviews of the kit before you buy it.

Tamiya/Dragon models have good detail and fit together well (makes things so much easier) but they tend to cost more. If you don't have a certain subject you like, you should try 1/72 armor as it is cheap, small and quick to build.

I do not recommend airbrushing unless you get heavily into model building. For hand painting I like Humbrol enamel and Model Master acrylic.

Humbrol enamal creates fumes which require proper ventilation and are harder to clean up the brushes requiring paint thinner (I use mineral spirits) but are the most forgiving. Can be thinned with paint thinner. Drying time can be as little as 1 hour (won't be fully cured but the paint will not be stripped). Primer not needed.

Model Master acrylic creates very little fumes (still want some ventilation) and need only soapy water to clean up. Not as forgiving as humborl but there is little worry of stripping off paint in one sitting. Wait 24 hours to dry between coats, touch ups on small parts can be done in ~1 hour. Best thinned with distilled water (check drug store). Primer is required (Tamiya's spray paint primer I find works very well as it spreads out nicely without blobing over small details).

The key to a good paint job is to apply several thin layers. Above all make sure the paint does not puddle and/or crate blobs on small details, being transparent for the first few coats is normal. Depending on the darkness of the color it can range from two to four coats, lite colors taking the most coats. Always do the lite color first and put darker colors on top. Use larger brushes for larger surfaces to reduce brush lines. A layer of spray paint "dull coat" or "clear coat" (last one is shiny) will remove most brush lines as long as you apply several thin coats of paint so it is smooth.

You can start with cheap nylon brushes that look soft & smooth, they yield good results. Always clean brushes immediately after use, prevent paint from drying on during use and store with the brush end pointed up to avoid damage.

Basic tools I use are hobby knife, wire cutters with one side flat and the other side a V shape (close clean cut), a sanding stick with 3 grit grades which can be washed (like what woman use on their nails), Testors glue with the needle tip (makes things sooooo much easier) and finally Tamiya masking tape (leaves no residue and forms a tight bond if you want a straight edge when painting)

-edit- Always use safety glasses when cutting/trimming plastic parts. Bits of plastic will fly off at high speed and may result in eye injuries. Do not buy a pair of safety glasses if you can not try them on first as many have warped surfaces obscuring vision.

-also edited- fro engrish,

 

[ucdbiendog]

Model building was quite big back in the 60s. I built everything that was available, monsters, cars, war machines, ships, planes, space ships, you name it, I built it. My mother destroyed every one of them trying to dust them.

The last one I built at the age of 12 (1969) was probably my best. I built the Wright Bros. plane from Kitty Hawk without a kit. All I had was a 3" X 2" picture of the blueprints out an encyclopedia. Bent, cut, and soldered all the copper tubing. Bent and carved all the balsa wood.

That's amazing for a 12yr old!

 

[d4mo]

Alot of good responses. Thanks.

Anyone know of any sites with tutorials or tips in general or technique?

Or is it basically just do whatever you find looks good.

 

[Locut0s]

I've often thought of getting back into it more seriously. I built a number as a kid but I'd like to build some with real skill now, including proper application of model paint, the whole 9 yards.

 

[Born2bwire]

Nowadays I prefer the silk and wood models than plastic. With those it is a little more about craftsmanship since you have to build from the plans (but still most parts are die cut or laser cut which make it much easier).

 

[Spydermag68]

I have made Warhammer 40K models. I also use putty filler and several files. For paint I use model master.

I entered one of my models into 40K painting contest and came in third place. Some of the "professionals" were making comments that they never would use acrylic paints.

I have not done any models in years.

 

[spacejamz]

haven't built a model in about 25 years...picked up a Grand National kit (i used to love these cars back when I was in high school) for $8 on Amazon about two weeks ago...have been jacking around with it for about a week or so...

for anyone who knows what a grand national is, the thing about this model kit is that all the parts came out in white and the grand national was only produced in black.

This kit was supposed to have a lift kit and 26" wheels but there is no way in hell I would bastardize this car...the only reason I got the kit was that came with the option to build the stock version...I had to paint the parts black (the exhaust pipes/muffler were spray painted aluminum) and the interior was spray painted gray...

 

[spacejamz]

for grins and giggles, here is what the real deal looks like:

 

[d4mo]

Ah the Grand National. Wasn't that a Buick with a super charger?

I need to get some brushes. Would this be a good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRUMPETER-Model...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a562bd12f

 

[spacejamz]

Ah the Grand National. Wasn't that a Buick with a super charger?

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v6 turbo...sub 5.0 sec 0-60 times...hilarious watching this car blow mustang GT's off the line back in the day...especially since most GT drivers back then were pretty arrogant and thought only corvettes could beat them...

 

[datalink7]

I play miniature games (Warhammer, Warmachine, etc.). You don't have to paint your models to play. I'm not a very good painter but stuff still looks better to play with when they are painted.

Example of my poor painting ability:

 

[Linflas]

If you want to see some true modeling skills check out this link.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Ah the Grand National. Wasn't that a Buick with a super charger?

I need to get some brushes. Would this be a good deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRUMPETER-Model...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a562bd12f

you can probably get better brushes for the same or less at Hobby Lobby/Michaels. Get the proper bristle type for the type of paint you plan to use.