Models of whatever in plastic kits

[Lesley_Roberta]

Looking at the threads and polls and it seems no one has mentioned making models yet.

I am a model maker.

I build planes tanks and ships, military miniatures aka figures, I am a model railroder as well. I have worked building architectural models in the past (office towers under construction).

I like it for the one aspect, I like to make things. I also make a lot of other things that involve creative skills, but I am going to focus on models here.

My biggest love in the Tamiya model company, as they seem to do everything great.

Anyone else like me around?

[Sara Thomas]

I love the idea of model-making... but never have any time. 

My dad, and I, had a model railroad when I was a youngster - and I would certainly enjoy taking it up again one day.

[V M]

I use to be a modeler and enjoyed it quite a bit, everything from race cars, model railroading to military stuff along with other things    I always got compliments from folks and also high marks from my history teachers for my diorama displays

Unfortunately, my step dad had a habit of throwing all my stuff out so all of my childhood and/or collectible items are gone    A good portion of it was stuff I knew to be collectible and planned to resale, stuff I see on ebay going for thousands of dollars now... I am more angry than sad about it

Who knows, maybe I'll start up again with something someday     But having my efforts to go disrespected so often has caused me to not take much interest in doing much of anything anymore

I think about taking up hobbies sometimes but my engines die and so those things get lost in the the shuffle of daily life

Sorry for the depressing rant 

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Old time modeler.  Cars, military vehicles, diorama, spacecraft.  I don't have room right now, but if I ever move into a proper two bedroom apartment, I will again.

I use to detail engine compartments, cut open doors and do upholstery.

[V M]

Oh yes    Airplanes and space craft as well

I also would love making my own modifications and had built quite a kit    Soldering irons, Xacto blades, glue, huge paint set etc. It was great fun

There was also a real slot car track in town at the time and I loved taking my small fleet of cars to race 

[Beth Andrea]

When I was a teen, I had a LOT of models...all scales.

Military aircraft, tanks, spacecraft (I had that tall Saturn V model...33" tall, iirc) and even made a 6' Galactica model in wood shop.

Don't have any of that now...but I have got 4 1/72nd aircraft: B-52, A-4, P-40, and a Fokker DR-1 (Red Baron triplane)...the idea was to have the smallest (the DR-1) next to the largest (the B-52). The A-4 is probably the smallest jet fighter attack aircraft the world ever saw, and the P-40...c'mon that's the Flying Tigers plane! :-)

[big kim]

Loved it when i was younger!I made 1/72 warplanes,mainly WW2,tanks soldiers  and military vehicles from WW2 in 1/76 scale and cars which I can't remember the scale.I had a lot more patience then!I got out of it when I made most of the models that interested me and I discovered girls,dressing up,motorbikes and drinking.I always wanted to make the Sunderland flying boat but never did when i had the money it was never in my shop and when it was I had no money. Airfix,Frog and Revell models where the makes I remember making most

[Beth Andrea]

Anyone build the old Guillows balsa wood planes? I would build the frames, but never got the hang of gluing the tissue-paper skin...

[big kim]

I tried a flying balsa plane but never got as far as skinning it,it sat around til it was lost in a house move.

[Jenny07]

Always been a modeller and have won quite a few nation awards for my work.
I like Tamyia especialy the F1 models that I super detail, Photoetch, white metal parts and all of the correct decals not provided due to laws. Got paid to make them in the past which was great. The new Tamyia 1/32 Spitfire and Mustangs are the best models ever produced! They are simply incredible kits and fit together like a glove. (not OJ's glove ok?).
Fujimi is new to F1 models and their kits are as good as those by Tamyia, my favourite is the black beauty Lotus Renault 97T driven by Senna in 1985. Dragon make some nice Apollo models now. Poor instruction though for the uninitiated.

However I focus on model trains which I buy, pull appart, super detail up from reference books as well as scratch build many items.
Airbrush is a must and lost of specific detail parts and custom decal etc. What I can't buy I make. I also collect brass model trains as well which are at the top end of the scale and not cheap. Most engines have a computer chip installed which sound and speakers.
Have taken out national awards for my models in OZ and they have featured in US magazines also so they must not be half bad?

It keeps me out of trouble and my mind busy.

[Sara Thomas]

Model Railroading hint (which may be widely known, but I'll throw it out there anyway): use powdered make-up (eye-shadow, etc...) for adding age and wear to models; affix it with a dull-coat.

Works great - drove my mom nuts!

... and you can't beat the synchronicity...

[Beth Andrea]

My next project is going to be a 1/72 F-111a, with a full load of bombs...8 pylons with six 500 lbs'ers on each...the max designed load.

In reality, only the Aussies ever actually flew with this load, but that's because...well, they're Aussies. ;-) The rest of the 111 world (ok, just the USAF) only used the two inner pylons so the wings could be fully swept.

Anyone know of a good source for the extra pylons etc? I've googled, and have a place or two, but if you know any really neato place to get stuff, let me know please...thx!

(yes, pics when finished)

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I want to do a Klingon Bird or Prey with lighting.

[Beth Andrea]

I want to do a Klingon Bird or Prey with lighting.

Cool! Lighting would be with optic fibers, or "grain of rice" bulbs?

For me the best/most fun part of Klingon ship building is the painting...one could go with basic dark gray, or any number of "space camouflages" (flat black with bright white "stars", angular black/dk gray/lt gray "ocean" camo, or anything that looks...Klingon-ish. 

iirc, the AMT/Ertl required a bit of green stuff to cover the misfitting parts  ...but hey, that's why they make it, right? 

[Devlyn]

I've made hundreds of models. In the service I made as many of the planes that we learned in VACR as I could find. I made an EF-111A Raven, the 111 is a beautiful bird. I was stationed in Zweibrucken and built an RF-4D* painted to match one of the local recon units, down to the tail numbers. One of my favourites was a British Mosquito, fascinating airplane. I built a cutaway nuclear submarine, and a rubber band powered balsa wood plane, the skeleton, the tissue paper and aircraft dope kind. It was as big as the kitchen table. The NTSB is still examining the wreckage of that one! I have a big pile of N scale model railroad items, I like the diesel era. The MBTA Commuter Rail runs in front of my house, I'm thinking of modeling my house and the tracks.

* edit: Did some fact checking, that was an RF-4C

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

 optic fibers for the port windows and grains of rice for engine and scanner dish.

Self contained power supply.

[Beth Andrea]

I've made hundreds of models. In the service I made as many of the planes that we learned in VACR as I could find. I made an EF-111A Raven, the 111 is a beautiful bird. I was stationed in Zweibrucken and built an RF-4D painted to match one of the local recon units, down to the tail numbers. One of my favourites was a British Mosquito, fascinating airplane. I built a cutaway nuclear submarine, and a rubber band powered balsa wood plane, the skeleton, the tissue paper and aircraft dope kind. It was as big as the kitchen table. The NTSB is still examining the wreckage of that one! I have a big pile of N scale model railroad items, I like the diesel era. The MBTA Commuter Rail runs in front of my house, I'm thinking of modeling my house and the tracks.

I worked on that one for 5 years... Awesome electronic warfare potential, now collecting dust at Davis-Montham...



OMG I just checked...I can see only one EF!! There used to be all 42 there!! 

[Devlyn]

Nice picture!

[Devlyn]

Almost forgot, I made an Avro Vulcan bomber in this paint scheme, and then ran into one on the tarmac at Goose Bay, Canada and watched it run up and take off. Wicked cool.

[big kim]

Lynn Braithwaite helped restore the last flying Vulcan a few years ago.She worked on them when she was in the RAF.I Lynn was a real character I am proud to have been to have been a friend of.The Vulcan flew over at her funeral Don't know if I'd have the patience for model making now,I know I haven't the eye sight!The Mosquito was a favourite of mine I made 2 of them. A tricky one to build was the P 38 Lightning I made 1 but it never looked right