Any Model Builders here?

Cafe Society
1

I’m an old guy (55). I recently got sucked into an Internet vortex and found myself looking at all sorts of books, videos, pictures etc. of model building and it really appeals to me.

I think it’s the narrow focus aspect of it combined with the detail. Whether it’s doll house furniture, or model building, or anything else; I’d like to learn more. I don’t particularly want to build a plastic car or airplane kit car; but are there any ‘adult’ kits that you guys would recommend? Or is that even the best way to start?

Where do I start? Can anyone recommend any good books? Should I just get a lighted magnifying glass and get started? :slight_smile: I picture myself as eventually a Lester Freamon type of guy I guess. (That was a reference to The Wire for those of you that still need to watch that amazing show. :p)

2

For starters, I’d look around at discussion forums. There’s probably at least one for every subject of models you can think of.

Rule #1: Have Fun!

3

I used to glue small plastic parts to my fingers. Does that count?

4

You could try out these Star Wars paper models, downloadable for free, print at home, different sets for varying skill levels. Messy, [del]frustrating[/del] challenging fun!

Or you could try one of those miniature metal models. No glue required, just time, patience, and a whole lot of dexterity. They’re cheap, most of them are just $7 - $20.

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5

I hope so! That’s pretty much my childhood modeling experience. That and scores of unfinished balsa wood airplanes! I’m not sure I ever actually met anyone who has ever finished one of those things. My best friend in middle school got so far as putting the paper on the wings, but I don’t think he ever finished it.

6

Find the Doper with the username Rocketeer - he’s a model making master.

Here’s his most recent build thread: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=813674

7

Space and SF modeler here. One problem for anybody getting into this hobby is that kits have gotten expensive. I cut my teeth on the old Aurora monster and super-hero kits which, at the time went for about a buck. The cost of the exact same kits now is about 30 bucks, way past the rate of inflation. It’s like the old comedian said about there not being anyplace to be bad anymore. So my only advice would be try to absorb technique by reading a lot at first, rather than by doing badly until you can do well.

8

Plastic kits are definitely adult. It’s insulting to say otherwise.

Given that, you have top decide what you want to do. Each discipline requires different tools. Wood vs plastic vs vinyl vs resin vs metal all use different tools, adhesives, paints etc. Once you know what you want, then you can get what you need.

There are tons if internet forums for models of all types, but, like most of the internet, many are filled with idiots. Tread carefully, and don’t believe everything you read. (good advice for anything…)

9

I built one.
Flew like a rock.

10

My comment about plastic kits is, of course, in reference to the plastic kits we’d buy as a kid that anyone can put together disassembling the pieces and snapping them together. In other words the ones meant for kids. If someone is insulted then they’re a little too sensitive as I’m obviously coming in here to get information; not hand out opinions or judgement.

Which is why I posted in here; to hear about the experiences of different model builders. By asking questions I can continue to refine my interests.

11

I’ve built scores of models of all kinds and I loved doing the balsa models! I built a rubber band powered L-19 in Blaze orange that turned out pretty well.

Since there are practically models for almost every genre your first decision is what do you want to build? I’ve done ships, planes, figures, cars, trucks, star ships I built from left over parts of other models, 25 mm fantasy lead figures, paper architecture, balsa.

Cars are generally a good place to start as they can be easily customized and you aren’t constrained by paint colours. There are complete kits with everything you need to get started for a pretty modest cost and then you can decide if you want to get deeper and look at air brushes, xacto knives, and all the other goodies.

12

Thanks, WordMan; Rocketeer has been PMd.

13

Danger, Will Robinson! Do not start out with those tiny metal models unless you already have tons of relevant experience, say as a jewelry maker or something. Those suckers are hard!

14

Plastic models are more than just snap kits.

If you like ships and submarines, you might be interested in the 1/72 scale Gato class submarine.. It’s about three feet long. There are aftermarket brass accessoriesfor it for additional detail.

How about spaceships? There is a beautiful 1/350 Starship Enterprisethat can be built withlights and rotating engine nacelle ends.

Airplanes have awesome kits available. Helicopters, too.

Cars aren’t left out. The kits available cover all subjects. Top Fuel. F1. Trucks, too.

You can weather them, or build them new.

How about figures? There are tons available in all styles.

Dioramas? There’s where the scratchbuildingcomes into play.

Balsa planes aren’t just for kids, either. But they really are meant to fly.

How about metal models?

trains? Weathered? Mint?

the sky’s the limit. Or not.

15

Crikey, I have too many models to build.

16

WordMan is too kind :slight_smile:

Enright3 asked how I got into modelling, why I like resin, and what else I’ve tried.

Ahem. Like every boy of my age group, I had fiddled a bit with models, but the real turning point was in 5th grade, when a couple friends brought some model cars to school that they had customized. Holy cow, you didn’t have to follow the instructions! You could mix and match parts between kits! It was a revelation; I went home and tore apart two model cars I’d built and rebuilt them.

So I built model cars for years, trying to put my own spin on every one, trying to build each one a bit better.

My second revelation was when I bought one of the old Monogram halftrack kits, and inside was a little pamphlet Monogram had commissioned from Shep Paine,explaining how to build a little scene (a diorama) to set your model in. It was my first view of a bigger, wider, more interesting world of modeling.

And then one day I stumbled over a garage kit site, where people sold resin kits of monsters and girls. And about simultaneously I went to my first SciFan, a local model contest specializing in fantasy and science fiction.

I decided I’d had about enough of wiring engines and routing brake lines in 1/25th scale, and ever since I’ve build fantasy and sci-fi. The pulp novels of the 30s and 40s appeal to me with the vivid cover art, so what I usually build is pulp-inpired. That, and the occasional girl kit.

With girl and monster kits, the emphasis is on the painting; the kits typically have very few parts. So I got a set of oils and taught myself to paint figures, using Shep Paine’s How to Build Dioramas as my Bible.

And I also started building spaceships and suchlike out of my own head. Usually I start with a kit to get a basic shape, and then add or subtract, hack and glue, until I get something I like. Super detailing doesn’t especially appeal to me, and research about what color scheme Tiger tanks wore during late 1944 certainly doesn’t; so I build fantasy subjects where I can concentrate on what I like: Trying to build something with the “Wow!” factor.

So if you want to get started, I’d buy a nice modern kit of whatever subject appeals to you. Building a model, properly, takes a significant amount of time and money, so make sure you really like the subject. A beginner doesn’t need fancy tools or an airbrush; what he needs is practice in the basics: Getting parts to fit properly, making seams disappear, not getting glue on the windscreen :wink: , surface preparation, and laying down a smooth even paint job.

Find a local model club and attend meetings. Even if they build tanks and you build dragsters, there’s something to be learned by talking to other modelers.

And don’t be afraid to put your own spin on things. Maybe you think a car rides too high in front, or would look better with a big blower on the engine; maybe you don’t like the gas drums that mount to the rear hull o fa T-34. Make your own gas drums; swap on a blower from another kit. And try to think about the big picture, the artistic result you’re trying to achieve.

Why do I like resin? If you have an interest in pinup girls or horror movie characters, resin is your friend. There are lots of resin figure kits out there, of subjects you’d never imagine would be kitted. They’re expensive, but they’re available. And resin figures are easy to repose (cut apart, pin the bits together with brass rod, bent to the pose you like; fill in the gaps with epoxy putty). Buc Wheat’s website has a useful roundup of the year’s resin kits: http://www.bucwheat.com/2k17/2k17.htm

But spaceships and other mechanical devices I usually use styrene for; it’s better suited to flat surfaces and complicated mechanisms.

Bla blah blah, that guy talks a lot. Time to shut up now. :smiley:

PS: Oh, here’s a link to my Photobucket albums: Photo Storage

PPS: One-sentence advice for various genres:

Cars: Bare-Metal Foil is your friend!
Armor: Learn to do washes and drybrushing
Airplanes: I got nothin’
Star Trek: Aztec Dummy pre-cut painting masks
Figures: Exaggerate shadows and highlights

Okay, I’m really shutting up now.

17

I have about a dozen kits awaiting my attention and a couple of scratch-building projects underway. I started building kits at around 12 or 13 and for eight or so years I was paid to build models. My advice would be to pick a subject that personally interests you. It’s no fun to do weeks of research if you’re not interested in the subject at hand.For initial knowledge I’d recommend anything from Kalmbach publishing. They’re a small publishing house specializing in hobbies and such. Any local hobby store should have copies of Fine Scale Modeler: It’s their bi-monthly mag and a terrific resource for techniques and suppliers. Feel free to PM me and I’ll send you a back issue; I was just reading through some older issues last night in fact. In fact feel free to PM me with any questions.

LIke I said pick something YOU like: there’s no point in jumping into some $500 plank-on-frame model of the USS Constitution if you don’t like ships, a LOT. Good for you, and remember that all of the skills those contest-winning builders have are learnable

18

Oh, for a first model?

For a tank, I’d try to find one of the Monogram (now Revell) armor kits. Simple inexpensive kits, good way to get your feet wet.

Cars: Something by Tamiya. It’s going to fit right; you can almost just paint the parts and assemble them. Most other manufacturer’s kits require test-fitting, adjusting the fit, etc.

Airplanes: One of the new-tool Airfix kits. Not one of the old kits; you want something from their recent renaissance. Ask the hobby shop guy.

Figures: In styrene, get one of Moebius’ kits. They’re all well-engineered. Most of the other kits out on the market are reissues of 1960s kits, and the fit is generally abominable.

19

I used to build model railroads with my dad (he’s still busy at it). Doper Bumbazine works on them, if recall. If you have any interest in that direction, let me know or PM him, and one of us can point you in the right direction to get started. There aren’t as many good kit builders are there used to be.

20

I built a Revell b-17 this winter. First model I’d touched in about thirty years. I think I enjoyed the painting bits more than any other part.

It was a good way to spend a quiet evening that didn’t involve staring at the TV.