Basics, basics, basics.....

[JohnReid]

Pay attention to detail especially in the finishing.Many times I have seen great models beautifully done and then poorly presented.Remember if you do a model on a base it is like the frame of a picture.Take care in selecting the wood, if that is what you are using.Have some consideration for scale. A 1/72 aircraft sitting on a large grained piece of pine wood looks overwhelmed .The focus should always be on the main subject,the airplane.When attaching the aircraft to its base ,if you use glue, use it sparingly.How many times have you seen the aircraft wheels with big ,shiny blobs of glue where the base meets the wheel?No matter how nice the airplane,your eye is distracted to the blob.A better way would be to cut off the head of a screw ,imbed the screw in the wheel,drill down thru the base and secure it with a countersunk nut in the base. Hey I think I like this new,Basics,Basics,Basics section of the forum ,Stephen ,as it allows me to get some pet peeves off my chest. <_< I hope that what I have to say doesnt sound to preachy as it is only meant as constructive criticism to help others avoid some of the mistakes I have made over a 35 year modeling career. Damn am I really getting that old ? Cheers&#33; John.

[StephenLawson]

In this case it is good to preach to the choir&#33;

[StephenLawson]

Greetings all were off to a great start.

Time investment Repeating my earlier statement, learn to balance your work with the realization that you have limitations that need to be dealt with. Time, eyesight and dexterity are your personal hurdles that can impair an enjoyable build. In the planning stages use the kit instructions to document what you have done, will do, wont do by colour coding your steps with pastel high-lighters. Pink=complete, yellow=delete Green=scratch-build/alter & blue= replace with an existing kit item. Magnify by using an ‘Optivisor’, to bring your work closer and you make your problems small by making minute corrections. Using tweezers and needle nose pliers / cutters helps you place a part exactly where it needs to be.

[JohnReid]

Be prepared to hit dry spells in your creativity.We all have those periods when we just dont feel like modelling, no matter how keen we are otherwise.Personally, I find that I usually start off with great enthusiasm and then wane somewhere mid-project and then as I see the end in sight my old enthusiasm returns.During these dry spells I will devote time to research etc...Go to a museum ,hobby store,or whatever and fill the well up again.People who are creative are usually very visual and the more images they see and are influenced by the better.Dry spells allow for this otherwise we become bored and in an artistic rut. So welcome those dry spells and then just model on. Cheers&#33; John.

[PeterL]

Originally posted by Romani
[b]I am a completely unskilled, and inexperienced modeller, so I am eminently qualified to give advice to those poor souls new to modelling that don&#39;t know what mess they are getting into, based on my experience

Behind the irony there is a truth. Those who feel inexperience precludes their offering advice in a forum such as this may be right, though I very much doubt it. What we all have is a shared experience, and that&#39;s the real value in group like this.

[StephenLawson]

The real aim is to please yourself. Have you achieved the goal set for yourself? Are you happy with the result or do you want to improve your skills? If you decide that you want to go a step further then look at what are you willing to put into a project. Remember that cost is not a good indicator of the quality of a kit. Great art work belies a poorly manufactured kit. Stick with the better or more reliable manufacturers. Evaluate the kit for what you want out of it. Ask yourself ‘...will it need additions, what will you have to scratch build or buy to make it right? Even the oldest name companies put out a bad kit once in a while. Improving one of these will make you a better modeler. Eventually you will ask, are you building for yourself or are you building to compete with others? Contests will allow you to compete with other modelers but you will learn quickly to keep your build simple to start. Put a short paragraph with a description of your work beside the model. Contest judges can’t read your mind-and sometimes have lost theirs.

I certainly qualify as a "noob" next to stellar talents like Mr Lawson, Dan-San, RAGIII and others, but here&#39;s a couple of things I&#39;ve found really helpful:

1. Small nail clippers to detach parts from sprue and also for use in making circular cut-outs. These clippers have also been a life-saver for trimming struts.

2. A small pair of "sewing" scissors...these come imcluded in a lot of cheap thread sets etc. (even in the comp. ones you get at better hotels) and are excellent for trimming lightweight plastic, vac-form canopies, and especially decals.

3. Dime store emory boards for sanding in those tight places. I like that these come with a "fine" side and a "heavy" side in terms of grit.

Lastly, I can&#39;t tell you how CA cement has saved more than one project&#33; Especially when I bashed a Curtiss PW from a (Smer?) Avia kit. I had no idea CA would work on polystyrene until I saw it mentioned on Internet Modeller.

Enjoying this thread and taking notes,
Brian da Basher

[StephenLawson]

CA is about all I use.

Capt KB

You forgot tweezers for those decals. I have 4 or 5 different sizes and shapes.

John R.

Those dry spells suck. And visiting a hobby shop during a dry spell ?????? Bad idea.....15 more unbuilt kits.

[JohnReid]

Hey topgun&#33; I guess you are right about hobby stores ,too much temptation to buy.I dont have that problem as my projects tend to take a long time and I know that what I have to build right now will take me well into my 70s if I am lucky.(1/18th diecast classic cars are another story though,I try to stay away from those stores)Chose whatever works for you when filling the well ,a good research library or musuem anything that appeals to you visually that is the key.Cheers&#33; John.