Model building - a childhood past time??

[Neale]

Originally Posted by Cheese3

That looks amazing, i just wish at the restoration stage it would of had John Travolta standing on the roof singing instead, because everyone knows thats how cars are really restored

ha ha ha, cheers... go greese lightning.

[Neale]

Also I found this website. Im not sure if many of you know about it but its got some great decals including alot of aussie touring car stuff

http://members.optusnet.com.au/pattosplace/home.html

[macman]

This is awesome, just had to drag it onto the next page

[SLO247]

Some awesome work here guys. Brilliant thread, I have a pile of kits here to do and I'll probably buy more now lol. I may even build some.

Keep them coming.

[vhcbm]

Used to do these heaps (mainly planes)

I think this was my favourite.

[2011G6E]

The Wright Flier must have been a nightmare to build...all those spindly struts and braces and wires...well done!

Off down to Rocky on friday and saturday...getting the 30,000 service on the G6E and visiting real estate agents...and I happen to have a gift voucher from Toyworld my son gave me still sitting in my wallet...

To get the ball rolling, one 1/24 Ford model of some kind coming up...

[superpursuit83]

Dam you wulos. Now I want to build a model car. Just like I did when I was a kid. I reckon I can keep the glue off the windscreen now that I am older.
I have build many rc planes from balsa etc and still do. But I have always thought the teeny weeny bits of these type of models are much harder and require way more patience to build.
Kudos to all the builders of the UNREAL ( should say REAL) looking models in these pages. Nice work

[macman]

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

... I reckon I can keep the glue off the windscreen now that I am older...

Hahaha, true!

[DJL351]

**Not mine, a very good friend with too much spare time (and skill)

[Neale]

great detail on your friends models

[JG34JA]

Some great models there by your friend DJR.
Also loved the detailed 429 earlier on by 2011G6E.

Can I ask what's the best camera setting to use when taking model close up pics?

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by JG34JA

Some great models there by your friend DJR.
Also loved the detailed 429 earlier on by 2011G6E.

Can I ask what's the best camera setting to use when taking model close up pics?

Better than I used...

Got a much better camera now with a proper Macro setting so proper close ups of small objects can be done easily.
Macro is the setting, but it's a bit of trial and error unless you know what you're doing...and I don't yet...

[wulos]

Hehehe - that's like asking someone what the best paint brush to use...
Ultimately the techniques you use are more important then the tools themselves..
Any camera with decent macro capabilities should be up to the job. Best tips I can give is shoot the models in GOOD light, and depending upon the setup, make sure you use a tripod.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by rex351

Noticed the one in this thread has gold side stripes, is it a prototype? My car has black stripes.

it's just a trick of the light bouncing off the stripe. it's black, not gold.

[K10wN]

Originally Posted by wulos

Hehehe - that's like asking someone what the best paint brush to use...
Ultimately the techniques you use are more important then the tools themselves..

Sable brushes give the best finish for fine detail work. Paint flows off them well. 000, 00, 0 sizes. Horse hair and pig hair brushes can be used to get effects into the paint as it dries. Avoid dipping the bristles too deeply into the paint. Try to only use 2/3rd of the bristles to hold paint. Most sable brushes will come with a plastic protective cover for the tip, and it's a good idea to fit it back to the brush when not in use to keep the very soft bristles in their nice shape.

Large areas are best done with an airbrush or pressure pack can.

Paint under very good lighting and take a break every few minutes when concentrating on small detail up close. I have 3x 100W spot downlights mounted over my modelling desk about 60cm apart all pointed at the centre of the desk to help reduce shadowing effects and make it very bright.

[wulos]

Hehehe - not exactly what I meant - but good info nonetheless..

[Scott]

Great thread I'm not one for models but my Dad could well be. He's 68, was in the RAAF, in to radio, in to Military Weaponary and in to British cars.

He's had two strokes but is about 90% fine with his motor skills, he is an absolute perfectionist and will therefore happily spend hours of work on monotonous tasks to ensure that the things he is interested in are done well.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a "not so fine" and "not so painted/decal'd" project I could look at for him that would fit the genres above?

Thanks in advance, Scott

[wulos]

Perhaps going for a larger scale would be of use. The larger the scale, generally speaking, the less demanding it is on fine, tiny details(obviously there is more room to allow for even more room if that is what he so desires)
One of the earlier builds I did was a 1:32nd scal f14 - the thing is/was HUGE.I found it to be a bit for forgiving in as much as I could get my hands around it, and if I was slightly amiss with the painting, it wasn't quite so dramatic as in smaller scales. The larger scales also tend to allow more room to move for fill / blending of seams, which if your old man is into being a perfectionist would suit well.
From memory, I think that there are a range of 1/4, or 1/6 weaponry out there, that the rc crowd are into that may be a suitable option?
iirc - airfix make 1:24 spitfire, hurricane, mustangs which end up around 18" or so long

[JC]

Originally Posted by wulos

I remember as a child wasting away many enjoyable? hours surrounded by plastic, paints, and the smell of plastics glue. Looking back now, I wonder how many 'simple tradesman skills', I picked up along the way that have helped me learn the right (and wrong) ways of solving many larger problems.
With that in mind, I thought I'd introduce my lad to the joys of model building.
The following are a couple of quick snaps of his first ever build - A dodge Viper GTS-R(He picked it out as he said it looked like a Ford GT. brought a smile to my face)
While the model was a quite straightforward build compared to many kits out there today, I think he did pretty well, and considering the look of accomplishment on his face when he finished, was well worth the "father and son" time.
image

image

image

How many other model collectors /builders do we have here on AFF? Have you passed on any of your hobbies to your children???

That's a great first effort Wulos.

Although I built (and blew up) many a plastic model in my youth, I have only introduced my kids to lego at this stage - it gives them the ability to follow instructions, to look at a diagram and see what's different in this step compared to last, and to work out some things for themselves when things "go wrong".

When they're 10 ( a couple of years time), I will get then their first plastic model kit - probably a Tamiya, as the Tamiya quality is way better than revell etc, and usually requires less painting, therefore faster build time.

[Chopped]

There are some great models in this thread. Good job everyone.

It inspired me to go searching for my old models that had been stored for at about 10 years.
I was bit annoyed when I found them though. I found two and they were not stored properly :( .
The box I had them stored in has shifted it's contents which has squashed my models.





They were covered in cocky poo (little mongrels!). I think they have eaten some of the paint and decals as well. They chowed into the intake trumpets !




The wheels are stuffed !






The Ducati is looking sad !



They were built about 15 years ago. (The last time I made a model)


I did find this though which I now plan to build




Thanks for the inspiration to do something I haven't done for ages !

[wulos]

whooooa - looks like the cockies have slashed your tires as well!!!
damn vandals!!!

[Scott]

Originally Posted by wulos

Perhaps going for a larger scale would be of use. The larger the scale, generally speaking, the less demanding it is on fine, tiny details(obviously there is more room to allow for even more room if that is what he so desires)
One of the earlier builds I did was a 1:32nd scal f14 - the thing is/was HUGE.I found it to be a bit for forgiving in as much as I could get my hands around it, and if I was slightly amiss with the painting, it wasn't quite so dramatic as in smaller scales. The larger scales also tend to allow more room to move for fill / blending of seams, which if your old man is into being a perfectionist would suit well.
From memory, I think that there are a range of 1/4, or 1/6 weaponry out there, that the rc crowd are into that may be a suitable option?
iirc - airfix make 1:24 spitfire, hurricane, mustangs which end up around 18" or so long

Thanks Wulos, plenty for me to go trawling for there.

[Chopped]

Originally Posted by wulos

whooooa - looks like the cockies have slashed your tires as well!!!
damn vandals!!!

They are little vandals (I'm thinking of a differnet name but it isn't family friendly), lucky cockroaches don't have keys otherwise they would have keyed it as well I reckon !

I'm wondering if I can order replacement wheels somehow.
(Or I can turn it into a crash scene)

[JC]

Originally Posted by Chopped

(Or I can turn it into a crash scene)

That's what I was thinking - you have the beginnings of a diorama - "Barn find F1 car"

[Qwik6]

I'm hoping to get back into model kits soon once my garage is sorted.
Its been a good 8 years since my last one. Man have the prices changed. Looks like Ebay is the go.

[Neale]

Originally Posted by Chopped

They are little vandals (I'm thinking of a differnet name but it isn't family friendly), lucky cockroaches don't have keys otherwise they would have keyed it as well I reckon !

I'm wondering if I can order replacement wheels somehow.
(Or I can turn it into a crash scene)

Crash scene, all you need then is the Senna McLaren

[Envi XR8]

ok, so I checked the stash for my subject of choice.

I picked out 4 possibles. An AMT Bigfoot monster truck, a Fujimi Mitsu Canter, a Hasegawa celica 1600GT and a Tamiya 95 Mustang. Just gotta decide now....

I looked at some military stuff too, but thought I would keep to the nature of the forums by going with something car based.

I love the way people are 'finding' old kits they had stashed and getting amp'ed to build them. That 1/12 Williams is awesome.

Loving this thread.

[Chopped]

Originally Posted by Neale

Crash scene, all you need then is the Senna McLaren

I like your thinking...and I could actually do it http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-12-Tamiya-...-/290622402848 I'll look into it.

I like the barn find idea as well.

You guys are gonna make me poor

[K10wN]

I have this one hiding at the back of the cupboard. The wife bought it as a gift years ago. Still NIP.



And this one NIP:



And several of these NIP:



And a couple of these NIP:



It was an addiction at one time. I'd see a Ford kit and buy it even if I already had it.

[Envi XR8]

Originally Posted by K10wN

It was an addiction at one time. I'd see a Ford kit and buy it even if I already had it.

I don't see the problem.