Tips for a beginner modeler.
Discussion
Hi All,
I've been looking for tips to make any plastic model kits I build the best they can be. I could use some advice regarding the whole process (building, painting etc).
My wife recently bought me a 1:32 Fiesta WRC Airfix kit and I want to do a good job of if. My goal is to put some display cases in a spare room to show them off eventually, but I need to learn to crawl before I can walk.
Where is the best place to gather info on how to go about a clean build and what sort of tools should I look to buy?
Thanks in advance.
I've been looking for tips to make any plastic model kits I build the best they can be. I could use some advice regarding the whole process (building, painting etc).
My wife recently bought me a 1:32 Fiesta WRC Airfix kit and I want to do a good job of if. My goal is to put some display cases in a spare room to show them off eventually, but I need to learn to crawl before I can walk.
Where is the best place to gather info on how to go about a clean build and what sort of tools should I look to buy?
Thanks in advance.
There are lots of websites about now where you can pick up lots of hints and tips on plastic kit construction. In the UK Britmodeller is probably the best. I look there - although I tend to chat most on the Unofficial Airfix Forum (UAF)
There are also the traditional model magazines. Most of these concentrate on military subjects - mainly aircraft and armour. However, the American Mag Fine Scale Modeller, the new Airfix Magazine and Tamiya Magazine nearly always feature at least one civilian vehicle each month.
Building good looking civilian cars and trucks is one of the hardest types of plastic modelling, in my opinion, mainly because of the quality of finish required, getting the clear parts attached cleanly and ensuring all the wheels sit correctly on the ground.
In comparison, armour is easy with aircraft being somewhere in the middle.
There are also the traditional model magazines. Most of these concentrate on military subjects - mainly aircraft and armour. However, the American Mag Fine Scale Modeller, the new Airfix Magazine and Tamiya Magazine nearly always feature at least one civilian vehicle each month.
Building good looking civilian cars and trucks is one of the hardest types of plastic modelling, in my opinion, mainly because of the quality of finish required, getting the clear parts attached cleanly and ensuring all the wheels sit correctly on the ground.
In comparison, armour is easy with aircraft being somewhere in the middle.
Cheers for the info Eric. I'm just browsing the Unofficial Airfix Modelers site now and found some good info. I'll try that other site too. I think I'll try a few different types of models to see how I get on.
Going to search the house to find some little tools I may already have (nail scissors, cocktail sticks, tweezers etc).
Going to search the house to find some little tools I may already have (nail scissors, cocktail sticks, tweezers etc).
Best thing to do is make a start and ask questions.
You could spend months reading about how to do it, but you'll learn much faster by doing it.
If you see a model on a forum that you like, ask the person who built it for tips for getting whatever effect or technique you're after, modellers are usually helpful people.
You could spend months reading about how to do it, but you'll learn much faster by doing it.
If you see a model on a forum that you like, ask the person who built it for tips for getting whatever effect or technique you're after, modellers are usually helpful people.
dr_gn said:
RichB said:
A good thing is that, assuming it's the one I can see images of on Google, you can get e correct shade of Ford blus at Halfords.
Unless it's metallic, in which case it will look crap at 1:32.RichB said:
dr_gn said:
RichB said:
A good thing is that, assuming it's the one I can see images of on Google, you can get e correct shade of Ford blus at Halfords.
Unless it's metallic, in which case it will look crap at 1:32.dr gn is a master modeller so aspiring to his standards early on may be more disheartening than encouraging.
I myself would go with a Halfords version for an early attempt.
One of the problems of using aerosol paints is that they tend to spray large and wide and you have little control over the paint flow. Therefore, you need to be very careful about masking and also where you actually carry out the spraying.
Another effect you can get with aerosol paints is an effect known as "orange peel" which can ruin the look of the model.
To get around these problems, many people decant some aerosol paint into a jar - allow it to outgas for a while and apply the paint from an airbrush where the paint flow can be controlled much more effectively.
At this stage I wouldn't suggest you go to this trouble.
What I would suggest is get hold of a cheap, simple kit that doesn't require such a high standard of finish and have a go at that. That will help you build up your confidence and you will learn about applying polystyrene cement, painting small details etc.
I myself would go with a Halfords version for an early attempt.
One of the problems of using aerosol paints is that they tend to spray large and wide and you have little control over the paint flow. Therefore, you need to be very careful about masking and also where you actually carry out the spraying.
Another effect you can get with aerosol paints is an effect known as "orange peel" which can ruin the look of the model.
To get around these problems, many people decant some aerosol paint into a jar - allow it to outgas for a while and apply the paint from an airbrush where the paint flow can be controlled much more effectively.
At this stage I wouldn't suggest you go to this trouble.
What I would suggest is get hold of a cheap, simple kit that doesn't require such a high standard of finish and have a go at that. That will help you build up your confidence and you will learn about applying polystyrene cement, painting small details etc.
1:32 is Scalectrix size and from what I can see the Fiesta WRC is pretty well covered in logos and advertising decals so I think it would do a reasonable job. One thing I do is keep the nozzles off old used rattle cans that sprayed well. Then soak them in cellulose thinners to keep then clean, often they fit new cans with dodgy nozzles and it's useful to have a selection of nozzles.
Jonny1984 said:
What are your opinions on applying acrylic paint via brushing on smaller kits? I will eventually have a practice with spraying (I have been impatient with Tamiya body shells in the past).
I think I've become a lot more patient with age now though.
Spray all the way - apart from on small parts.I think I've become a lot more patient with age now though.
Jonny1984 said:
This is great stuff guys. I had a small MG Midget model last Christmas and completely ruined it trying to brush paint it (without washing the plastic parts first).
I think I've learned my lesson from that. I'll stick to brushing details and spraying large parts?
Use enamels for brushing, unless it's nothing much more than a dot of colour.I think I've learned my lesson from that. I'll stick to brushing details and spraying large parts?
Eric Mc said:
dr gn is a master modeller so aspiring to his standards early on may be more disheartening than encouraging.
I myself would go with a Halfords version for an early attempt.
One of the problems of using aerosol paints is that they tend to spray large and wide and you have little control over the paint flow. Therefore, you need to be very careful about masking and also where you actually carry out the spraying.
Another effect you can get with aerosol paints is an effect known as "orange peel" which can ruin the look of the model.
To get around these problems, many people decant some aerosol paint into a jar - allow it to outgas for a while and apply the paint from an airbrush where the paint flow can be controlled much more effectively.
At this stage I wouldn't suggest you go to this trouble.
What I would suggest is get hold of a cheap, simple kit that doesn't require such a high standard of finish and have a go at that. That will help you build up your confidence and you will learn about applying polystyrene cement, painting small details etc.
Thanks for the compliment, but my S2000 turned into a disaster - all the paint cracked (or at least the varnish reacted with someting), so I'm no expert.I myself would go with a Halfords version for an early attempt.
One of the problems of using aerosol paints is that they tend to spray large and wide and you have little control over the paint flow. Therefore, you need to be very careful about masking and also where you actually carry out the spraying.
Another effect you can get with aerosol paints is an effect known as "orange peel" which can ruin the look of the model.
To get around these problems, many people decant some aerosol paint into a jar - allow it to outgas for a while and apply the paint from an airbrush where the paint flow can be controlled much more effectively.
At this stage I wouldn't suggest you go to this trouble.
What I would suggest is get hold of a cheap, simple kit that doesn't require such a high standard of finish and have a go at that. That will help you build up your confidence and you will learn about applying polystyrene cement, painting small details etc.
I'm sure RedFirecracker will know how to get a decent metallic finish - some full size car metallics have small flakes as standard - it depends on the colour.
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