Hey everyone, I've recently started building a Hasegawa 1/48 F/A-18E and think I might have found a new hobby! I've made a few in the past but I've never really taken my time with them or really even painted them apart from the tires and some of the cockpit. The biggest thing that suprised me was how many tools there are out there to build these things! I have a basic set of tools now, I still want a decent airbrush so any help there would be great. Hopefully this will teach me how to take my time, slow down, and take note of the finer details of life. If any of you have and hints or tips feel free to share.
Anybody build plastic models?
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I used to. I wish I had the time to. I tried getting my older son started but didn't have the time to commit, and he got frustrated with a couple of parts that didn't fit very well. Hopefully the opportunity will come up again.
I used to when I was MUCH younger (like 10-16 years old). Built some nice ones too. 1/96 scale Revell Cutty Sark (clipper), USS Kearsarge (Civil War steam/sail warship), CSS Alabama (Civil War steam/sail privateer). Those are some BIG models (like 3-4 FEET long and over 3 feet tall)
http://modelingmadness.com/review/misc/robertocs.htm
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/misc/sail/kearsarge-96-drc/drc-index.html
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/134975.aspx
I think I must have built several hundred models in those 6 years that I was "hooked"
I will say that I did buy another model last year that I want to assemble to go on a wall display next to my ready room chair (the model is of the carrier that the chair was on in WW II).
It will be interesting to see how much I have forgotten in the last half a century
http://modelingmadness.com/review/misc/robertocs.htm
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/misc/sail/kearsarge-96-drc/drc-index.html
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/134975.aspx
I think I must have built several hundred models in those 6 years that I was "hooked"
I will say that I did buy another model last year that I want to assemble to go on a wall display next to my ready room chair (the model is of the carrier that the chair was on in WW II).
It will be interesting to see how much I have forgotten in the last half a century
built a lot of 1:72 Airfix WW2 planes and modern jets during my teen years.
Never quite finished my 1:24 Stuka.....
Never quite finished my 1:24 Stuka.....
I did a 1/8 '63 corvette. I still have the 1/8 '32 Ford Roadster waiting to be finished. It's been waiting for me for 30 years now. You all know how that line goes, "Someday I'm gonna'..."
OK so what movie did this line come from?
"Rose, there's a Messerschmitt on the table. Can you clean it up for me?"
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I'm hoping to build a model airplane once the work of my MA thesis is past (very soon). I think I'll start with a Supermarine Spitfire. If my results are good I might try a bigger plane like the Avro Lancaster.
I'm currently dormant, as far as building them goes, but I have a huge stash of boxed armor kits waiting for me. It's a great hobby, and the kits today are light years ahead of anything I built when I was younger. My eyesight isn't the same, so I have to use an Optivisor for almost everything modeling-related.
There are a number of websites out there for almost every type of scale modeling genre out there. You can get a lot of help and inspiration from these sites, but there is a certain "uptight nerd" crowd in each one, colloquially called "rivet counters," who can be very annoying. Just ignore them or stay entertained by their antics.
Iwata seems to be the airbrush of choice at the moment, but Paasche and Badger make good airbrushes, too. I'd recommend a double-action, where you control the air and paint with a single lever. A compressor would be a good investment, too. Take some time to practice with it; it's a learned technique that requires a certain amount of hand/finger dexterity.
Take your time, and do it for yourself. You can feel totally inadequate when you see some of the work that is being done out there. A lot of these people can truly be called artists. You are not in competition with them.
Don
There are a number of websites out there for almost every type of scale modeling genre out there. You can get a lot of help and inspiration from these sites, but there is a certain "uptight nerd" crowd in each one, colloquially called "rivet counters," who can be very annoying. Just ignore them or stay entertained by their antics.
Iwata seems to be the airbrush of choice at the moment, but Paasche and Badger make good airbrushes, too. I'd recommend a double-action, where you control the air and paint with a single lever. A compressor would be a good investment, too. Take some time to practice with it; it's a learned technique that requires a certain amount of hand/finger dexterity.
Take your time, and do it for yourself. You can feel totally inadequate when you see some of the work that is being done out there. A lot of these people can truly be called artists. You are not in competition with them.
Don
I'm waiting. Tamiya is supposed to be bringing out a new 1/350 scale USS Missouri in the Persian Gulf arrangement. That would make the model about 31 inches long.
Have looked high and low for a decent Belknap / Leahy Class Guided Missile Cruiser (CG-16 / CG-26 Class) as I want a CG-30 model, but the only one I've been able to find is a resin model in 1/350 scale for $250.00.
For a Cruiser that was only 547 feet long, that's a bit much for such a small scale model (about 18 inches long)
Have looked high and low for a decent Belknap / Leahy Class Guided Missile Cruiser (CG-16 / CG-26 Class) as I want a CG-30 model, but the only one I've been able to find is a resin model in 1/350 scale for $250.00.
For a Cruiser that was only 547 feet long, that's a bit much for such a small scale model (about 18 inches long)
I must say, Tamiya has always been top notch for detail. If you build that one, I'd like to come see it.
Have you ever been to The House on the Rock? They have a bunch of large model warships.
Have you ever been to The House on the Rock? They have a bunch of large model warships.
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Thanks for the great reply, I have been referencing a few forums with stuff I need help with. I do have my eye on an Iwata airbrush at Hobby Lobby, it's dual action and gravity fed and it's $65 which just right. I have a pancake compressor and it might be a good idea to get a filter for it. I think my next project will be a Trumpeter 1/32 MiG 23 flogger which is a huge jump in difficulty as it has 700 parts and mine has 239 lol!!
I use to really LOVE building WWII tanks; esp. the Tamiya models. I built a Tiger, Tiger II, and Hunting Tiger, a US M4, plus many more.
I still have a Walker Bulldog sitting around waiting to be built - one day.
I still have a Walker Bulldog sitting around waiting to be built - one day.
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One more item I would like to share; When I was a teenager, I use to go to a particular hobby shop that had every plastic model kit imaginable, plus a wealth of reference books. Many of the customers would display their heavily customized builds. There was this one guy (an older retiree I think) would build model ships of plastic totally from scratch. One of these he built was the Bismark; something like 2 feet long. It was impressive. I was amazed by the talent on display. My models were ok - but not like these.
These hobby shops seem to be few and far between now; replaced by on-line stores. Oh well.
These hobby shops seem to be few and far between now; replaced by on-line stores. Oh well.
You sound like an aircraft guy. If you haven't been there yet, try: www.hyperscale.com. Just exploring the links page will keep you busy for a while. Don't rule out local clubs, either.
Your compressor sounds okay. If by a filter, you mean a moisture trap, I recommend it wholeheartedly. The best ones fit in your airbrush hose line. I have one on my compressor and in my hose. Nothing can ruin an airbrushing session more that a big burst of unwanted water when you least expect it.
It's a good hobby. Most modelers buy more kits than they are able to build. All serious modelers have an unbuilt "stash" that draws puzzled looks and headshaking from wives, family members, and sometimes other modelers, but it's part of the fun.
Don
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