General Modelling Observations
Discussion
Yesterday I picked up "Scale Aircraft Modelling" and "Model Airplane International" magazines ("I see James May had the desired effect after all" said the missus with raised eyebrows. Rubbish! Whatever...
These were two of about five publications specific to model making. The number of adverts for aftermarket detail kits, decals, photo-etch, resin cockpits, wheel wells, engines, even beautiful turned steel gun barrels - is incredible. They seem to outnumber basic kit reviews by a significant margin. Then there's the build articles. Perdu alluded to the fact that top modellers today go to so much more trouble than their predecessors. A glance through a 1980's "Airfix Magazine" confirms this beyond doubt. The range of building accesories these days is unbelievable: dozens of airbrushes, panel scribing pens, photo-etch jigs, canopy masks, marking masks, walkway textured paint, Alclad coatings, etc. etc. etc. If kids aren't building kits anymore, someone must be...
My next model was going to be either a Saab Viggen or Saab Draken, with a few extras. Turns out the few extras would add up to far more than the base kit, and a massive increase in building time. Having seen the standard achieved with all these extras, and having had some success with a few new techniques on my last model, it's making me reluctant to build a standard kit again, but I can't justify the extra cost and time at the moment. Strange situation for someone who a few months ago would have been more than happy to finish a totally standard kit with no weathering or extra detailing whatsoever.
Just some thoughts.
These were two of about five publications specific to model making. The number of adverts for aftermarket detail kits, decals, photo-etch, resin cockpits, wheel wells, engines, even beautiful turned steel gun barrels - is incredible. They seem to outnumber basic kit reviews by a significant margin. Then there's the build articles. Perdu alluded to the fact that top modellers today go to so much more trouble than their predecessors. A glance through a 1980's "Airfix Magazine" confirms this beyond doubt. The range of building accesories these days is unbelievable: dozens of airbrushes, panel scribing pens, photo-etch jigs, canopy masks, marking masks, walkway textured paint, Alclad coatings, etc. etc. etc. If kids aren't building kits anymore, someone must be...
My next model was going to be either a Saab Viggen or Saab Draken, with a few extras. Turns out the few extras would add up to far more than the base kit, and a massive increase in building time. Having seen the standard achieved with all these extras, and having had some success with a few new techniques on my last model, it's making me reluctant to build a standard kit again, but I can't justify the extra cost and time at the moment. Strange situation for someone who a few months ago would have been more than happy to finish a totally standard kit with no weathering or extra detailing whatsoever.
Just some thoughts.
I get what you are saying, I try to stay away from these type of magazines as I tend to get in to deep and then get frustrated and disapointed.
I now just buy standard kits and build them as best I can and I'm happy, sometimes I add things like my home made Shurzen on my Panzer IV.
I do have a 1/32nd Stuka on order, I may go a bit further with this as I rarely build planes but really love the JU-87.
Does anyone know a decent place were I could buy the add on guns to make my Stuka into one of these?
FYI the one I have is a JU-87D so the other details are close enough.
I now just buy standard kits and build them as best I can and I'm happy, sometimes I add things like my home made Shurzen on my Panzer IV.
I do have a 1/32nd Stuka on order, I may go a bit further with this as I rarely build planes but really love the JU-87.
Does anyone know a decent place were I could buy the add on guns to make my Stuka into one of these?
FYI the one I have is a JU-87D so the other details are close enough.
Edited by T89 Callan on Sunday 1st November 22:55
Edited by T89 Callan on Sunday 1st November 22:56
dr_gn said:
Yesterday I picked up "Scale Aircraft Modelling" and "Model Airplane International" magazines ("I see James May had the desired effect after all" said the missus with raised eyebrows. Rubbish! Whatever...
These were two of about five publications specific to model making. The number of adverts for aftermarket detail kits, decals, photo-etch, resin cockpits, wheel wells, engines, even beautiful turned steel gun barrels - is incredible. They seem to outnumber basic kit reviews by a significant margin. Then there's the build articles. Perdu alluded to the fact that top modellers today go to so much more trouble than their predecessors. A glance through a 1980's "Airfix Magazine" confirms this beyond doubt. The range of building accesories these days is unbelievable: dozens of airbrushes, panel scribing pens, photo-etch jigs, canopy masks, marking masks, walkway textured paint, Alclad coatings, etc. etc. etc. If kids aren't building kits anymore, someone must be...
My next model was going to be either a Saab Viggen or Saab Draken, with a few extras. Turns out the few extras would add up to far more than the base kit, and a massive increase in building time. Having seen the standard achieved with all these extras, and having had some success with a few new techniques on my last model, it's making me reluctant to build a standard kit again, but I can't justify the extra cost and time at the moment. Strange situation for someone who a few months ago would have been more than happy to finish a totally standard kit with no weathering or extra detailing whatsoever.
Just some thoughts.
And absolutely spot on.These were two of about five publications specific to model making. The number of adverts for aftermarket detail kits, decals, photo-etch, resin cockpits, wheel wells, engines, even beautiful turned steel gun barrels - is incredible. They seem to outnumber basic kit reviews by a significant margin. Then there's the build articles. Perdu alluded to the fact that top modellers today go to so much more trouble than their predecessors. A glance through a 1980's "Airfix Magazine" confirms this beyond doubt. The range of building accesories these days is unbelievable: dozens of airbrushes, panel scribing pens, photo-etch jigs, canopy masks, marking masks, walkway textured paint, Alclad coatings, etc. etc. etc. If kids aren't building kits anymore, someone must be...
My next model was going to be either a Saab Viggen or Saab Draken, with a few extras. Turns out the few extras would add up to far more than the base kit, and a massive increase in building time. Having seen the standard achieved with all these extras, and having had some success with a few new techniques on my last model, it's making me reluctant to build a standard kit again, but I can't justify the extra cost and time at the moment. Strange situation for someone who a few months ago would have been more than happy to finish a totally standard kit with no weathering or extra detailing whatsoever.
Just some thoughts.
The great thing about the hobby these days is that YOU can decide how far you want to go with your kit.
I can appreciate a good job done on a £4.99 Airfix Spitfire "out of the box" with no extras but I can also admire the level of work put into a model on which the full panoply of extras has been added.
As for scale aviation model magazines, off hand I can think of -
Sale Aircraft Modelling (the daddy of them all)
Scale Aviation Modeller International
Model Airplane International
Military Aircraft Monthly (formerly Model Aircraft Monthly)
Air Modeller
This excludes those more general scale modelling magazines that include aircraft models as well as the more usual armour, car, sci-fi and figure models, Examples of these would be the American Fine Scale Modeler and the UK's Military in Scale. I understand that the latter will be launching a new aviation only scale model later this month..
Prior to 1978, there were precisely NO model magazines devoted entirely to scale model aircraft. Airfix Magazine and Scale Models did include aircraft in their articles but they also included lots of other stuff too. The late Alan W Hall (former editor of Airfix Magazine) was the first to launch an all aircraft magazine when he produced Issue No. 1 of Scale Aircraft Modelling in the Autumn of 1978. I have every single edition of this magazine (through all its permutations) to date.
As I said previously (probably on the James May Toy Stories thread in the TV Forum). modellers have never had it so good.
T89 Callan said:
I get what you are saying, I try to stay away from these type of magazines as I tend to get in to deep and then get frustrated and disapointed.
I now just buy standard kits and build them as best I can and I'm happy, sometimes I add things like my home made Shurzen on my Panzer IV.
I do have a 1/32nd Stuka on order, I may go a bit further with this as I rarely build planes but really love the JU-87.
Does anyone know a decent place were I could buy the add on guns to make my Stuka into one of these?
FYI the one I have is a JU-87D so the other details are close enough.
Detail kit here - includes turned barrels...I now just buy standard kits and build them as best I can and I'm happy, sometimes I add things like my home made Shurzen on my Panzer IV.
I do have a 1/32nd Stuka on order, I may go a bit further with this as I rarely build planes but really love the JU-87.
Does anyone know a decent place were I could buy the add on guns to make my Stuka into one of these?
FYI the one I have is a JU-87D so the other details are close enough.
Edited by T89 Callan on Sunday 1st November 22:55
Edited by T89 Callan on Sunday 1st November 22:56
http://www.jbmodel.eu/product_info.php/products_id...
more here:
http://scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php?op...
dr_gn said:
T89 Callan said:
I get what you are saying, I try to stay away from these type of magazines as I tend to get in to deep and then get frustrated and disapointed.
I now just buy standard kits and build them as best I can and I'm happy, sometimes I add things like my home made Shurzen on my Panzer IV.
I do have a 1/32nd Stuka on order, I may go a bit further with this as I rarely build planes but really love the JU-87.
Does anyone know a decent place were I could buy the add on guns to make my Stuka into one of these?
FYI the one I have is a JU-87D so the other details are close enough.
Detail kit here - includes turned barrels...I now just buy standard kits and build them as best I can and I'm happy, sometimes I add things like my home made Shurzen on my Panzer IV.
I do have a 1/32nd Stuka on order, I may go a bit further with this as I rarely build planes but really love the JU-87.
Does anyone know a decent place were I could buy the add on guns to make my Stuka into one of these?
FYI the one I have is a JU-87D so the other details are close enough.
Edited by T89 Callan on Sunday 1st November 22:55
Edited by T89 Callan on Sunday 1st November 22:56
http://www.jbmodel.eu/product_info.php/products_id...
more here:
http://scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php?op...
whoever said "be afraid, be very afraid"
knew what he was talking about
in my day we made our own
phew
scary stuff
When the early white metal parts became available was when I went off plastic modelling, the whole point of it for me was making the models in plastic
but these new components are seriously beautiful (which is the toolmaker in me talking)
Nothing to stop you sticking to (literally sometimes) plastic if you want.
The great thing about today's modelling is "choice".
I am reluctant to splash out huge amounts on extras and accessories - mainly 'cos I'm mean.
However, for the Skua I am making at the moment, I have bought an Aeroclub white metal Bristol Perseus (the engine that comes with the kit looks like a squashed spider rather than a radial engine).
I also had the Falcon vacform canopy set for WW2 Fleet AIr Arm aircraft which includes a Skua canopy. The old FROG canopy isn't too bad but the vacform is clearer so I'll use it instead.
I managed to cut the canopy from the backing sheet without incident this evening.
One of the great traumatic moments for a modeller is removing vacform canopies from their backing sheets.
The great thing about today's modelling is "choice".
I am reluctant to splash out huge amounts on extras and accessories - mainly 'cos I'm mean.
However, for the Skua I am making at the moment, I have bought an Aeroclub white metal Bristol Perseus (the engine that comes with the kit looks like a squashed spider rather than a radial engine).
I also had the Falcon vacform canopy set for WW2 Fleet AIr Arm aircraft which includes a Skua canopy. The old FROG canopy isn't too bad but the vacform is clearer so I'll use it instead.
I managed to cut the canopy from the backing sheet without incident this evening.
One of the great traumatic moments for a modeller is removing vacform canopies from their backing sheets.
Eric Mc said:
Nothing to stop you sticking to (literally sometimes) plastic if you want.
The great thing about today's modelling is "choice".
I am reluctant to splash out huge amounts on extras and accessories - mainly 'cos I'm mean.
However, for the Skua I am making at the moment, I have bought an Aeroclub white metal Bristol Perseus (the engine that comes with the kit looks like a squashed spider rather than a radial engine).
I also had the Falcon vacform canopy set for WW2 Fleet AIr Arm aircraft which includes a Skua canopy. The old FROG canopy isn't too bad but the vacform is clearer so I'll use it instead.
I managed to cut the canopy from the backing sheet without incident this evening.
One of the great traumatic moments for a modeller is removing vacform canopies from their backing sheets.
I think what I am going to do sometime is build a full-on detailled 1:48 model (just to prove to myself I can do it), then stick to 1:72. This is the scale I mostly built as a kid, and it will be cheaper and less space hungry. I think at Christmas I may get a model - luckily it seems to be a tradition as far as my Siblings in Law are concerned, and I'm happy to build whatever they send me!The great thing about today's modelling is "choice".
I am reluctant to splash out huge amounts on extras and accessories - mainly 'cos I'm mean.
However, for the Skua I am making at the moment, I have bought an Aeroclub white metal Bristol Perseus (the engine that comes with the kit looks like a squashed spider rather than a radial engine).
I also had the Falcon vacform canopy set for WW2 Fleet AIr Arm aircraft which includes a Skua canopy. The old FROG canopy isn't too bad but the vacform is clearer so I'll use it instead.
I managed to cut the canopy from the backing sheet without incident this evening.
One of the great traumatic moments for a modeller is removing vacform canopies from their backing sheets.
dr_gn said:
Eric Mc said:
Nothing to stop you sticking to (literally sometimes) plastic if you want.
The great thing about today's modelling is "choice".
I am reluctant to splash out huge amounts on extras and accessories - mainly 'cos I'm mean.
However, for the Skua I am making at the moment, I have bought an Aeroclub white metal Bristol Perseus (the engine that comes with the kit looks like a squashed spider rather than a radial engine).
I also had the Falcon vacform canopy set for WW2 Fleet AIr Arm aircraft which includes a Skua canopy. The old FROG canopy isn't too bad but the vacform is clearer so I'll use it instead.
I managed to cut the canopy from the backing sheet without incident this evening.
One of the great traumatic moments for a modeller is removing vacform canopies from their backing sheets.
I think what I am going to do sometime is build a full-on detailled 1:48 model (just to prove to myself I can do it), then stick to 1:72. This is the scale I mostly built as a kid, and it will be cheaper and less space hungry. I think at Christmas I may get a model - luckily it seems to be a tradition as far as my Siblings in Law are concerned, and I'm happy to build whatever they send me!The great thing about today's modelling is "choice".
I am reluctant to splash out huge amounts on extras and accessories - mainly 'cos I'm mean.
However, for the Skua I am making at the moment, I have bought an Aeroclub white metal Bristol Perseus (the engine that comes with the kit looks like a squashed spider rather than a radial engine).
I also had the Falcon vacform canopy set for WW2 Fleet AIr Arm aircraft which includes a Skua canopy. The old FROG canopy isn't too bad but the vacform is clearer so I'll use it instead.
I managed to cut the canopy from the backing sheet without incident this evening.
One of the great traumatic moments for a modeller is removing vacform canopies from their backing sheets.
Having worked on what was Scale Models International some years back, I can appreciate your point OP.
There is a fine line between informing and baffling with science, certainly some modelers will never go near etched brass, some will spend 10 time the kit value to achieve museum level replica's. Most publishers of less specialised title will try and fall between.
Commercially there is as much (if not more) ad revenue in after-market parts than from manufacturers, this is why you will see so many offers for brass and resin bits.
Personally it depended on what I was making as to the level of detail, sometimes it was just nice to paint, sometimes the research and detail of a big build kept my interest.
My advice is try it all, you never know, bending metal might just be your thing!
There is a fine line between informing and baffling with science, certainly some modelers will never go near etched brass, some will spend 10 time the kit value to achieve museum level replica's. Most publishers of less specialised title will try and fall between.
Commercially there is as much (if not more) ad revenue in after-market parts than from manufacturers, this is why you will see so many offers for brass and resin bits.
Personally it depended on what I was making as to the level of detail, sometimes it was just nice to paint, sometimes the research and detail of a big build kept my interest.
My advice is try it all, you never know, bending metal might just be your thing!
Not on the list of magaziones is one of my favourites : Tamiya Model Magazine International. Comes out monthly and, despite the title, reviews more than just Tamiya stuff and the reviews and "how to's" are excellent.
The July '09 edition had a tremendous build report of the Tamiya 1/24 Ferrari FXX. kit was built with carbon fibte effect overall and a super detail set that covers just about everything. Mind you, for £126 it should. I generally stand and browse the mag in the newsagent's and only buy if there's something interesting/relevant.
The standard of building is now phenomenal and the very best can be seen at the IPMS show at Telford this weekend. Lots of trade stands, as well.
www.ipms-uk.co.uk/smw_index.htm
The July '09 edition had a tremendous build report of the Tamiya 1/24 Ferrari FXX. kit was built with carbon fibte effect overall and a super detail set that covers just about everything. Mind you, for £126 it should. I generally stand and browse the mag in the newsagent's and only buy if there's something interesting/relevant.
The standard of building is now phenomenal and the very best can be seen at the IPMS show at Telford this weekend. Lots of trade stands, as well.
www.ipms-uk.co.uk/smw_index.htm
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