P-51B Mustang "Old Crow" Academy 1:72
Discussion
I applaud your efforts and look forward to seeing how you get on. I must have a couple of hundred old kits I never got round to building and am scared to in case I make an arse of it. In particular I never got the hang of painting authentic colours (which I know are only really authentic once modified a bit more) using Micro varnish, applying decals with Microsol etc and varnishing again. Somehow the model only looked as if it had been over varnished, not authentic at all
Have a go. You will learn a lot by doing and messing up.
Small 1/72 kits are cheap (under £10 mostly) so can be "wasted" as you learn. If you have a stash of unbuilt kits, select one of the simplest you have and give it a try.
Dr Gn's models are top class - and a beginer won't be able to match his levels. I've been building for almost 50 years and would never achieve that skill level either.
But that doesn't matter. Build to the standard YOU are happy with - and use the good Dr as a source of inspiration (as I do), not as a discouragement.
Small 1/72 kits are cheap (under £10 mostly) so can be "wasted" as you learn. If you have a stash of unbuilt kits, select one of the simplest you have and give it a try.
Dr Gn's models are top class - and a beginer won't be able to match his levels. I've been building for almost 50 years and would never achieve that skill level either.
But that doesn't matter. Build to the standard YOU are happy with - and use the good Dr as a source of inspiration (as I do), not as a discouragement.
Eric Mc said:
Have a go. You will learn a lot by doing and messing up.
Small 1/72 kits are cheap (under £10 mostly) so can be "wasted" as you learn. If you have a stash of unbuilt kits, select one of the simplest you have and give it a try.
Dr Gn's models are top class - and a beginer won't be able to match his levels. I've been building for almost 50 years and would never achieve that skill level either.
But that doesn't matter. Build to the standard YOU are happy with - and use the good Dr as a source of inspiration (as I do), not as a discouragement.
I appreciate your comments, but I'm not sure the way I build a model is fundamentally any different from anyone else, yours included.Small 1/72 kits are cheap (under £10 mostly) so can be "wasted" as you learn. If you have a stash of unbuilt kits, select one of the simplest you have and give it a try.
Dr Gn's models are top class - and a beginer won't be able to match his levels. I've been building for almost 50 years and would never achieve that skill level either.
But that doesn't matter. Build to the standard YOU are happy with - and use the good Dr as a source of inspiration (as I do), not as a discouragement.
I've been model building for as long as I can remember (and I'm 43), but it was only this past 4 years or so that I've tried different techniques. Even so, the standard of my models is much higher than it was 4 years ago. The first model I tried anything new on was the Globemaster, there is a build log on PH somewhere. The Globemaster was the lightbulb moment when I realised that things like preshading and washes are in fact, not at all difficult, but they make a massive difference to the look of a model. The rest is basic modelling like cleaning parts up well, filling gaps and masking canopies. All things that even now I usually have to make multiple attempts at.
The real uber-modellers - the ones who can really weather a model realistically, are still in a different class, and I'm not even sure I'm that motivated to try to join them. I'm fairly happy with the standard I'm at.
Cardigan kid, you should just have a go as Eric suggested. At the end of the day you're building something unique that didn't previously exist, which is a nice feeling. Your skills will undoubtedly improve. One thing is for sure though: If you don't make a start, you'll always be at the same level!
It's the super detailing in 1/72 that I wouldn't really attempt. I'm now 55 (soon to be 56) and the expression "life's too short" is now beginning to have a real meaning for me. I've simply too many models to build and not enough time to build them.
My strategy now is to try to paint and finish the models to as high a level as I can manage. I'm not too fussed about internal cockpit detail as most of it just become invisible once the fuselage halves are joined.
My strategy now is to try to paint and finish the models to as high a level as I can manage. I'm not too fussed about internal cockpit detail as most of it just become invisible once the fuselage halves are joined.
Must try that on the next one, the detail add ons and weathering.
Been looking at them Eduard bits for a while now but dropped models for a year for some reason. Just picked up finishing off the Tempest (just applied the wrong colour to the top... doh! more sanding today) and started the Spitfire Mk22 but keeping it simple. And eyeing up that 1/48 Mossie that I only have the start of the cabin done.
cardigankid, I have a long way to go but get in there..... I am still having issues with poor joins and how to deal with it but the kit was £7. Discovered some decent grit papers, up to 12000 for them filled joins etc. Finding that without an airbrush, a wide artists brush will return excellent results for the surfaces, you get a boost and crack on. Then you get the itch for the extra's when you see threads like this......
Been looking at them Eduard bits for a while now but dropped models for a year for some reason. Just picked up finishing off the Tempest (just applied the wrong colour to the top... doh! more sanding today) and started the Spitfire Mk22 but keeping it simple. And eyeing up that 1/48 Mossie that I only have the start of the cabin done.
cardigankid, I have a long way to go but get in there..... I am still having issues with poor joins and how to deal with it but the kit was £7. Discovered some decent grit papers, up to 12000 for them filled joins etc. Finding that without an airbrush, a wide artists brush will return excellent results for the surfaces, you get a boost and crack on. Then you get the itch for the extra's when you see threads like this......
Edited by jmorgan on Tuesday 20th May 07:17
Ayahuasca said:
Nudge....white wall tyres
Glad I found this thread I love Dr model builds.
Thanks, yeah he mentioned that his crew chief painted them with "barn paint" as a personal touch. I think the main tyres will be easy, but I might be defeated by the tailwheel tyre, unelss I can find some spare circular white decals to put on there.Glad I found this thread I love Dr model builds.
dr_gn said:
Thanks, yeah he mentioned that his crew chief painted them with "barn paint" as a personal touch. I think the main tyres will be easy, but I might be defeated by the tailwheel tyre, unelss I can find some spare circular white decals to put on there.
Diameter, thickness, density. Sorted 
Red Firecracker said:
dr_gn said:
Thanks, yeah he mentioned that his crew chief painted them with "barn paint" as a personal touch. I think the main tyres will be easy, but I might be defeated by the tailwheel tyre, unelss I can find some spare circular white decals to put on there.
Diameter, thickness, density. Sorted dr_gn said:
Thanks, yeah he mentioned that his crew chief painted them with "barn paint" as a personal touch. I think the main tyres will be easy, but I might be defeated by the tailwheel tyre, unelss I can find some spare circular white decals to put on there.
Possibly the same paint as the invasion stripes. 
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