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heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
32 25 July 2024, 13:45

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
10 8 March, 17:09

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
8 8 April, 17:04

I'm running out of cricketing superlatives John, alright (through gritted teeth 😬😅) that's a Home Run . 👍🥸🤘
1 8 April, 19:37

Thank Gentlemen, this plane has been on my bucket list for years. Very happy with how it turned out.
26 April, 12:39

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
8 afbeeldingen
1/48 Eduard Spitfire LF VB, 402 SQN, Overloard
1:48
Project: Spitfire MK VB LF, 402 SQN, D-Day
9 1 April, 17:02

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
5 afbeeldingen
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate Frank
1:48
Project: Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate Frank
1 26 April, 12:34

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
37 afbeeldingen
Panzer III J Initial Production
1:35
Project: German Army Group Build 2025
10 25 April, 23:20

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
75 24 February, 14:38

WOW! I'm amazed at how you make the scene so realistic. Your attention to detail is remarkable.
1 25 February, 07:11

This diorama is mind blowing. Literally thought it was a photo of a real scene at first. Thanks for shar8ng, fabulous example of model making art.
1 25 February, 07:16

Beautifully done diorama and very nice photos. Wonderful! Just the way Neuling does it so well! 👏👏👏
1 25 February, 07:40

Another dio with all the qualities we came to cherish from you. Again a treat.
27 February, 13:28

I just don't know how you do it - building such perfect pieces, laying them out on a beautifully haunting setting and arranging everything to tell a story is simply astounding! ❤️❤️❤️
1 1 March, 16:11

Awesome diorama and great setting. With thr background it adds a certain level of realism!
14 March, 04:26

It's all been said before but great storytelling diorama and the builds are excellent 👍
14 March, 07:56

The film camera effect makes it look like a war correspondent's photo. Nice work!
15 March, 06:08

Mine your step...! 🙂 Great scene again Neuling with your usual high build quality. I like the rubble.
26 April, 12:31

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
18 afbeeldingen
Valkyrie
1:48
So, this thing showed up on my porch the other day, commission build. As cool as it is, it's still going to be a handful!
Project: The Great White Whale
51 18 November 2024, 18:55

Oh boy, I want to see that behemoth built! I really like the products of the HPH Models guys, right now I watch one of their 32nd scale Me-323 being built on one of our local modelling forums and it's literally a solid piece of furniture 🙂
18 November 2024, 21:12

Thank you all.for the good luck, I'm going to need it! Andrezj, I saw that kit when I looked on the HpH website for their epoxy. It makes this kit look small...
Thanks also Gerrit. I hope I don't lose a leg over the course of the build!
It may be a while between updates, need to finish the F-16, then holidays approaching.
18 November 2024, 23:43

I probably didn't need to know that this kit exists! 🙂. J/k, can't wait to see your progress! This is has been one of my favorite airplanes since I was a kid!
21 March, 19:16

Thanks for the likes and comments, gents! Yes, this is going to be a lot of work and I hope to do it justice. I'm currently trying to figure out how to make the wingtips droop to 25 degrees for a more interesting look and checking out a build over on Britmodeler where a fellow did just that. It looks...painful.
21 March, 20:19

I welcome everyone to the peanut gallery, feel free to throw rotten vegetables and laugh when I fall on my face 😄
Frank I think it's the opposite of your Goblin, it would probably just about fit into the cockpit!
Ben, I certainly foresee a lot, lot of sanding and filling on this one at a minimum!
2 22 March, 20:19

Nice start of the project.... looking good, hope you have a good spray gun 🤣.
Good luck on next steps 👍👍
22 March, 21:45

The bomber crew was surprised to hear a humming noise. The flight engineer found the cause: someone had left the toilet window open and a goblin was circling around the lamp. 😉
1 23 March, 11:49

dude, you probably be better using a roller and a Costco bucket of wall paint, than an airbrush and a dozen of 10ml paint bottles.
3 23 March, 17:19

@ Never a Pro, that is why there are spraycans. Easy and quick. Gonna be a handfull. Cant wait to see the endresult.
23 March, 17:58

Yes, the thought of trim paint rollers has crossed my mind and I've been casting an eye on the cheap automotive spray guns at the local china-tool place! In reality, the primer coat will probably be automotive spray primer, something that sticks to fiberglass. I don't think Mr. Surfacer is gonna cut it for this one. I don't think much of a doodle coat will be needed since it will represent AV-1 at or near rollout. The challenge will be to give some depth to the paint while still keeping it clean overall. I suppose I could take the full plunge and represent it after the paint started to flake off during flights 1-4 and do a full hairspray chipping, but I like to hold on to what's left of my sanity!
1 24 March, 14:56

And there I was expecting a well endowed mezzo soprano on a winged hoss. Mind you, talking of big beasts that's a beaut' got a seat in the stalls for this . 👍🥸🤘
1 25 April, 18:50

You're welcome to the peanut gallery anytime Mark. Updates are slow in coming because I am currently trying to tweak the fit of the canopy over the hole that must be sawed in the fuselage. If you thought Eduargh was ill-fitting, this takes the cake! Razor saw 0.2mm or so here, block sand a touch there, add a bit of plastic card and sand that to fit...on it goes. More to follow soon!
1 25 April, 19:35

Goodness John, I thought hph were up there with the best of them. Tamiyaesque, Zouki type quality. Good luck in the endeavour. 👍🥸👍
26 April, 07:39

I think their reputation is simply being able to provide subjects in scales no one else will touch. Certainly I have not heard them praised for ease of build! That being said, it's all here and they never promised a rose garden.
26 April, 12:24

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
20 afbeeldingen
JASDF Mitubishi F-1
1:48
Project: JASDF Mitubishi F-1
Scratchbuilt
4 26 April, 11:49

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
3 afbeeldingen
The Castafiore Emerald - The Supercolor-Tryphonar
1:72
Scratchbuilt
6 25 April, 15:50

So here's an interesting Tintin project I've been working on for a while now. The hardest part was getting the electronics to work. After beating an ESP32 microcontroller into submission I was finally able to get my tiny screen to display the video/audio clip I trimmed from the Tintin animated series. With that success, I moved on to 3D design of the awesome Professor Calculus invention, The Supercolor-Tryphonar (as seen in the Castafiore Emerald album). Next up... 3D printing and assembly.
In the meantime, here's the proof-of-concept video...
youtube.com/shorts/U..?si=u-ootNYEMdGWY8cm
2 25 April, 15:55

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
25 16 January 2024, 10:34

Nice work on the camouflage and masking work. I take my hat off to you!
1 26 April, 09:43

really nice results Tony. What product did you use in slide 20 and 21? It looks like it may be Panzer putty? Whatever it is, it worked great for you.
1 26 April, 11:03

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
82 11 July 2024, 21:06

Oh ya!
Built a couple of Broplan vac kits, a real challenge but great for the feeling of overcoming a challenge and creative accomplishment
11 July 2024, 23:27

OMG, what a challenge! 🙂 Those panel lines look quite uneven, will you try to rescribe them or just take them for what they are? In any way, I am super curious how these sheets of plastic can be turned into a model, so I will watch with interest!
12 July 2024, 02:31

Welcome mates, the panellines are aweful but the material is so thin, i'm scarred that i cut right trough it when i try to rescribe them.
1 12 July 2024, 06:24

Following. Got my first vacu kit this weekend. I hope I can learn something here.
16 July 2024, 14:48

Hi DuperScale, I built a couple of Broplan vac ATR kits, converting one 72 500 to a 42 300. A few pics of the work in my "albums" if you're interested in the kind of model you can achieve from a Broplan kit with a bit of work…sweat and tears, foul language, alcohol and time….
1 16 July 2024, 23:24

DuperScale, how about scribing into a layer of primer paint?
This way, scribing should be a lot easier afaik, scribing into the primer layer of paing, and not plastic.
This guy on youtube did this, on regular plastic models though.
1 20 August 2024, 05:21

As for the clear parts, I wonder if it could be done this way
1) Cut out a square/rectangle shape, removing the oval form from windows. The larger the hole the better, to create some extra space around the old window shape. Enough space to work with putty later on.
2) Glue in a flat thin strip of transparent styrene on inside of model.
3) Glue in a square/rectangle shape transparent styrene, outside the model, laminated with the existing strip of transparent styrene on inside, so double layered.
If keeping the new window parts larger than the old window shape it should be easier to use some putty after adding masking tape that have the shape of the old windows. The larger these new outer square/rectangle window shapes are, the easier it is to add putty to create a smooth surface, then hopefully the center part is clear enough, to mask off the final shape of the old window shape, before painting.
Afaik a common issue using Mikro Kristal Klear is that you can't sand the clear part afterwards, because the clear part is like rubber iirc. You can iirc easily remove this clear part though, just poke/pull it out. Unsure if there would be any residue left after removing the rubber like liquid clear stuff after it dries.
1 20 August 2024, 05:25

Another thing one could do with clear parts an idea:
1) Glue in a long strip of transparent styrene on inside of plane.
2) Add some kind of epoxy or something that can be sanded, without the epoxy damaging the underlying transparent styrene.
3) Idea is to use the liquid stuff to fill in the perfectly shaped holes for the windows, then sand the liquid stuff flush after it dries.
What won't work imo, is doing multiple rounds of adding liquids to create some goo that goes transparent. I think if you sand this stuff multiple times adding more liquid stuff, you get a flawed result I think. I tried something like that with gloss varnish, trying to build up a solid clear shape. Did not work as expected.
1 20 August 2024, 05:35

In this thread, and in photo #13, the guy apparently put tape outside, and poured clear resin on the inside to fill the window holes. Unsure if such resin will react and maybe eat up or warp any thin parts ala vacuum kits. I guess this can be tested with some scrap plastic if having some piece left over.
Boeing 737-530 Smart Wings 1:144 | Album by Zbynek (1:144)
1 20 August 2024, 07:35

The UV transparent resin is usually sandable (to some degree), maybe that might help?
Similarly to Treehugger I'd reinforce it with a transparent styrene from the inside of the fuselage anyway.
Or you might leave the windows open and fill them with Kristal Klear after painting - this is what I did on my Jetstream, Avanti & Yak-40. But if you want to seal it with gloss varnish, remember to keep very thin layers (guess how I learned it 🙂).
[img1]
Blue Jetstream (SP-KWN) | Album by Woody (1:72)
Avanti! | Album by Woody (1:72)
1 20 August 2024, 07:59

Hi, thanks for the input mates. I'm quite happy with the kristal clear on the small windows and i think i do it like Lukasz said. After everything is done i do the windows as the last step.
The windscreen window could work but i think i used little to much of the kristal clear.
1 20 August 2024, 16:10

Like the cockpit..👍
Lots of work but doing a 👍 job... Be rewarding when done.
17 September 2024, 20:48

The kit is coming together very good. You are skilled and brave!
Great to follow the journey to see the final result. 👍🏻
30 September 2024, 19:28

Thanks for the nice comments, from far away it looks good but the fit, lack of detail and scale problems are really annoying.😅
6 October 2024, 14:37

That's the main reason why I've never dared to try a vacu kit before. I've learned a lot from you. Looks good so far.
6 October 2024, 16:08

I agree with mates 👍
@DuperScale, I'm glad you're taking up this project again.
1 25 February, 20:14

Fantastic job! I am impressed with your skills and perseverance, chapeau bas!
1 3 April, 17:41

Close to the finish, at the Moment i try to get the windows done….man i cant get them the way i want. I already tried 3 times and messed them up. Stay tuned….. 😅
8 April, 06:01

So tell us what you really feel about Vaccuform! Don't hold back on us...
1 13 April, 13:29

I'm done, from this point it's just getting worse… 🤪 my opinion, for that price (over 50€) it is really not worth it… the amount of headache you get with a kit like that you can build 10 normal kits. The lack of detail and wrong shapes is so massiv, it's stupid i paid that price 😂
24 April, 20:28

High price? No details? Pain in the a***? Hey, this is the holy grail of modelling. Just bought my first vacu-kit. Ask me again after I build it. 😉
3 25 April, 13:52

You fought bravely and didn't surrender! Respect!
Of course the transparencies would look better on a Tamiya kit, but hey that's not what vacu is about! 😉
1 25 April, 14:38

@Michael, i will follow that one for shure
@all thank you mates 😁👍
25 April, 15:21

Excellent build of a difficult kit. I've never been brave enough to tackle a vacu kit so far. The closest I got was cutting a vacu canopy to fit on a build and I found that a challenge! 👍
1 25 April, 15:30

I think you did a great work with the kit, pushing through the challenges! Hat's off👏🏼
Vacu tends to be a real pain in some stages of the builds. Nevertheless it's a good way to challenge yourself and develop your modelling skills
As some wise fellow modeller said: "Why buy a Tamiya instead of vacu when you can have great fun, rip your hair, spend hours on dry fitting, putty, sanding & rescribing, question your choice of kit during the build…" 😉😅
1 25 April, 15:39

Great job! Many of us couldn't have done it better. Plus, you now have an exclusive model in your display case 😉
Congrats!
1 25 April, 19:32

This is a fantastic effort. There are sooo many pitfalls associated with vac kits. Your efforts look great so far!!!
1 25 April, 21:23

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
11 afbeeldingen
Progress of my Second 1:35 AFV Build (T-34/85)
1:35
Project: T34/85 1:35 Airfix #112 Factory
19 20 March, 11:36

At 55 years old here it's really hard to stand on my head, if you go into advanced settings you can turn your photo's to face correctly. I know because I have to fix all of mine too. Have fun with the photo etch, thats actually my favorite part of building a model. You'll need a folding jig to do really nice bends, and for glue I've used and had great results with Clear Nail Polish, Microscale's Micro Kristal Klear, Mig Ultra Glue, and of course super glue. For positioning I do a 2 step process when my pe part is ready to install, first a tiny dab of Microscale's Micro Liquitape and let it dry a few minutes till it turns clear. It in now sticky like a very light adhesive and can be placed and manipulated into just the right position, then a dab of your choice of glue. If you go with any brand super glue and it's the thin kind I highly recommend a Glue Looper set, very cheap and will last forever. Clean up old glue on the tip with a cigarette lighter. Good luck and I hope you enjoy your build 🙂
1 20 March, 18:44

I've done a terrible job with my first ever part.
Glue looper? Why have I never heard of these things? lol we are practically twins. Well, I'm 56. With the modelling skills of a 5 year old 😳😂
20 March, 22:01

@lorraine are there actual female modellers? Clair is that a male name where you live? Surely there aren't 2 female modellers on earth? I'm showing my 1970's attitude here. 😳😂
By the way Lorraine cute cat. I have a dog but he's scared of cats. In fact he's even scared of doors! lol
20 March, 22:03

Danny, female modelers are relatively fewer in China, especially military modelers. But we do exist😜 And I also see many females in this community.
[img1]
3 20 March, 23:38

Thats ok Danny, Im 55 and act about 5 lol. I get along with my 3 year old grand daughter on the same level 🙂 Clair is a dude unless there's an e on the end usually. I have 2 cats, the one is super skittish, I remember when he was a kitten he farted, it scared him n he ran a good 15 feet before turning around to look at his butt. Hahaha
2 21 March, 00:06

Oh and to get that paper off use some nail polish remover. It dissolves super glue pretty quick. Then touch it up.
1 21 March, 00:12

Great conversation going on here!
I have to catchup:
1st - I'm in the same age bracket at 59 with the modelling ability of a 90 year old who can't find his glasses 🙂
2nd - whats this I here about using a lighter to cleanup the tip on glue! How does that work? Is it for super glue cleanup? I'm always dealing with nasty clogs.
3rd - Where I live in Canada we have very few female modellers. In fact, I have never seen one. I have a theory that females can be amazing modellers because of small fingers. I don't have fat sausage fingers but they are big enough to get in the way of intricate work.
4th - @Danny I know another modeller on here named Jennifer. She is relative new to the hobby and already quite good. Lorraine's work is amazing!
Lastly - I have cats. I use to have dogs when I was younger, but now it's cats. They drive me crazy and I think the little assassins are trying to kill me, but I love them to bits.
1 21 March, 03:48

I love this site. So much good advice and just when I felt like giving up I get lots of lovely people encouraging me to carry on. Thank you. I also need to give a shout out to Jakko. I drive him crazy with almost daily questions and he's never once told me to stop and leave him alone! 🙂
@Rui, I'd love to see a few more females in the hobby. In fact I need a new wife and one who could help me build a model would be a definite bonus. It's all about the lack of sausage fingers, as you say 😂
2 21 March, 07:02

For PE parts, I use lighter to clean up the instant glue. It works very well, 100% burned up.
And sometimes, I wish I had a third hand, help me to hold the small parts so I can glue them together😛
2 21 March, 08:33

Remove superglue from a glue looper, a needle, blade, or whatever metal item you use, by holding it into the flame of a lighter. Let the tool cool of, remove residue with a paper towel.
1 21 March, 08:53

Thanks Thomas.
@lorraine a third hand would be invaluable! In fact on a serious note are there items you can get to help with that? I often find myself wishing I had something to place a model in when I need to add a tricky part. I bought a small jewellers vice that I sometimes use but if there are other devices I'd love to try one!
21 March, 10:35

I bought a soldering helping hands in electronics store. It helps sometimes.
2 21 March, 12:04

I think I'll get one too Lorraine. By the way I'm seriously impressed at your skill. Are you a professional model maker? Or something similar? Film business?
21 March, 23:30

I have the same kit on my workbench right now, take care the instructions have a few errors and some missing steps to do, just in case you haven't noticed
1 22 March, 10:43

Danny, I'm not a professional modeler. Building
models is just a hobby in my spare time. I've learned a lot of skills in this community.
3 22 March, 15:23

I have 3 or 4 helping hands of different sizes but this one is on my "snag it eventually" list : amazon.com/gp/produc..8B8CMKBF3NX&th=1 , should prove handy when I am repairing electronics as well.
1 22 March, 19:12

@Robert yeah I've noticed one error so far. I bet yours comes out a lot better than mine!
23 March, 17:35

@lorraine how long have you been modelling? You really are skilled. I'm very new to it but I think it'd take me at least a decade to get to your level!
23 March, 17:37

@Danny, t's not about better, it's just about fun !! and you learn and get better with every model you build - may you've noticed that K3 and K4 track parts the designations are swapped, some drill holes that need to be made are not shown, best you download the instructions of the original Academy kit, last page shows some corretions .... scalemates.com/products/img/5/1/1/839511-44-instructions.pdf
3 23 March, 21:34

Well said Robert, without having a fun time we'd all be doing something else instead.
3 23 March, 23:29

@Danny, about 6-7 years. Agree with Robert and Clair, it's all about having a fun time. I enjoy those few hours late at night when I build models. I can fully immerse myself and forget about other worries. And I also enjoy to learn and to share with all the friendly mates here.
3 24 March, 03:21

I agree but I'm at the stage where I'm messing everything up. I think it'll be a lot more fun when I get a bit better and I have a system for doing things. I mostly make (so far. I have 61 kits and about 2/3rds are AFV) tanks. Can't decide whether it's better to spray the wheels and tracks before adding them or once they're glued in place. I'm veering towards the 'before' scenario. Same with the tools and things like machine guns and rifles (from my universal carrier). I don't feel confident at all with figures. In fact I'd even say they scare me. 😳😂
24 March, 16:13

@Danny, take it easy, may start with your more simple kits, to mess something up sometimes is part of the never ending learning process and fortunely on armour models you can easy hide a mistake by covering it with something, at least mostly 😉 I airbrush the assembled main groups, hull, turret, wheels, tracks... separately. I also glue small things like tools before airbrushing to the hull, I've no problem to paint small things with a fine brush after... just look always what makes more sense. Figure painting is also not such a big deal, many tuturial on YT, start with simple guides.... and don't try to paint eyes, mostly not necessary at all 😮
2 25 March, 12:26

Danny bro,. you didn't mess anything up... Thats the beauty of modelling war machines, Battle Damage 🙂 I've been building models on and off since '74 and I still make colossal goofs here and there. I was doing a Santa Maria all wood kit and guess what, I goofed and cut off in scale probably about 10 feet on the poop deck. I just planked and kept going, now it's a pee deck that bring your own bottle Hahahaha. We all screw up dont fret just learn and do better on the next one buddy 🙂 As for painting, I always paint parts separately, my hands shake a good bit anymore so I'd make one hell of a mess if I didnt.
2 25 March, 23:40

Thanks chaps. Great advice. That made me laugh clair. Pee deck and bring your own bottle. 😂
I actually thought this yesterday. Why am I worrying about a rip in a wire mesh on a machine that's had dozens of armour piercing shells slung its way? Of course it's gonna look beaten up! That's a sure sign that I've not (yet) done any weathering whatsoever! 🙂
And Robert I agree. It's a good job I've (now) got 62 kits (just bought another panzer iv by Ryefield oh and a hetzer by Takom so 63 kits! (They were so cheap on temu. The Ryefield was just £11! Well with my discount.
I have now stopped buying. For now 🙂
1 26 March, 08:03

Danny You surely can do better. Because I just joined this community last year, while you've been here since the very beginning😜
26 March, 15:22

Not me Lorraine. I only joined in November. Or thereabouts 🙂
You did say you've been model building for about 6 years? I might have mixed up your comment with someone else. It's my age! Lol
27 March, 10:24

Can somebody take away my credit card please? I just saw a Takom 1:35 panzer III Ausf.M mit schurzen (armour skirts) on Temu and it was only £15. God knows where I'm gonna put these models once they're built? I'll need at least 3 more houses. Maybe I can build a few model blocks of flats? 😂
While I'm here, do any of you use those PE bending tools to help you? Some are like metal rulers with lots of different shapes to bend around. Another type is a square with another square with shapes cut out and there's a screw down clamp to securely fix the part down when bending. I can get one of each type for around £7 with my current discount . Are they worthwhile or just a gimmick?
On a similar note, I wish I could find a solution to my many different diameter circle masks. Being primarily interested in AFV builds, I find I need (especially if the road wheels are rubber edged and therefore painted in black(ish), I know you can buy specific wheel masks for many kits but they're not cheap. I was wondering if there's a good universal solution. A tool or technique where you can make your own masks or stencils. Bearing in mind, I have the abilities of a not particularly bright or gifted toddler 😂😂😂
27 March, 10:39

I use a Bug from the Small Shop and it's simply a must have to get great folds on the first try. Each bend at the same spot makes brass weaker. So yes, definitely get a screw down type.
As for question 2 >>> Tadah!!!!! scalehobbyist.com/ca..00000048/product.php
I bought one, seems nice quality but haven't needed to actually use it yet.
1 27 March, 10:47

Thanks Clair. You the man. As they say. Funny to think I thought you might've been the (wo)man before you educated me about the different spellings of your name! 🙂 then again (I'm assuming here yet again) you Americans do love to change the spelling of the mother tongue! lol 😂😂😂😁😁
But seriously, thanks for the reply and advice. It does make it feel like I'm not in this arms race against 1940's nazism alone. Even though I'm building German tanks 😁😊
You've convinced me. I'm gonna buy a screw down clamp thing. I mean, for equivalent of ten US dollars, you can't really go wrong?
27 March, 11:11

I wonder if that stencil you linked would cover the British tanks too? I see that panzer iv is mentioned. I have all the British tanks to build. Churchill, Cromwell, valentine, crusader, Matilda as well as the Brit versions of American tanks like Grants, Lees, Stuart's, and shermans ? I guess it'd be expecting a bit too much to have a single stencil to cover all German, American and Brit machines? 🙂
27 March, 11:39

@Danny, I have this USTAR UA-80026, covers all wheel diameters, at least I didn't have one where it didn't fit in scale 1/35. For bending PE parts just a small tool which is usually sufficient for what I need it [img1] [img2]
1 27 March, 12:37

Thanks Robert. I've just bought something similar on temu and a square one that you can screw down. Because I've been buying a lot of kits from them I had some discount. The screw down type was originally £20. I got it for £6. Hopefully it'll be decent quality. I'll have a look at the wheel mask. As well as the one Clair suggested. Thanks to you both.
2 29 March, 20:55

Helpful tips abound here. Sorry I missed it til now. Photo 5 looks nicely done. I apply superglue with a sewing needle with the end of the eye cut off like a tiny little U. When it gets gummed up I burn the glue off with a lighter. In my late 50's as well.
My girlfriend builds models as well but isn't on scalemates. I like to build things with my kids also.
3 29 March, 21:04

Gee Ben, that's a really smart idea there with the needle. I like the ingenuity bud 🙂
1 30 March, 07:24

Hi Ben. I forgot that I bought this little tool from Temu. It's a very fine needle on a small spring and it unscrews from the handle where it's safely stored away. Basically you just dip it in the super glue then dot it where you want it. When it first arrived a couple of months ago I was disappointed but it really has helped. Though I obviously had to remember I had it first! lol
So your whole family model build? That's great 🙂
30 March, 12:55

@clair shall I post a link to the needle tool I bought? It's just a small bullet looking piece of metal that unscrews then you screw it in the other end. It's just a really fine needle on a small limited movement spring like joint. A lot more handy than I first thought! Bear with me I'm not good with computers/phones. I've added a picture of the tool in the project/build photos. See it? They sell them on Amazon too but it was half that price on temu.
2 30 March, 12:58

Actually Danny yeah I'll grab me a few next week when I get my ssi in.Thanks man I'd like to give that a shot, looks very useful.
1 30 March, 15:52

I'm embarrassed to post any more pics of the build. It looks like an explosion in a Humbrol liquid poly and Tamiya extra thin plant as an Airfix lorry carrying T34-85 112 Factory production 1:35 kits was passing….😳
Don't think I'm ever gonna get a call from Industrial Light and Magic with a job offer. 😂
1 13 April, 12:35

Naw buddy, Im sure it's nothing some putty wont take care of, nothing else use tarps and mud to cover bad spots. Perhaps it's a battle damaged 34 getting hauled back for repairs... 🙂
2 13 April, 20:41

Everybody started somewhere, and nobody built award-winning models when they were just starting out.
Also, you'll be amazed what a coat of paint while hide, never mind the suggestions above 🙂
2 13 April, 20:48

I think it's because I'm thinking I can put every part in place then use extra thin. I used to apply glue BEFORE placing the part as a kid. Do you glue before for some parts and only glue while in place if you can do that from the unseen side as it were? Like inside a tank for example and the part being on the outside. Also Like the seams of the hull for example?
I am still enjoying building but I seem to be very slow. I just cut a few parts from the tree, sand them down then add a few then stop. I rarely sit for hours at a time. Just half hour here and there while tv is on. 🙂
These 65 kits (yes 65 now but definitely stopped buying. For now 😂 ) are gonna take a loooooong time! 😳😂😂😂
1 14 April, 16:40

One more quick question. After handling the model for weeks, it's obviously covered in grease from your hands, do you wash the model before spraying? Like wipe with a little soapy water? It's gotta help the painting, no?
1 14 April, 16:48

I glue some parts by putting glue on first, others by putting the part in place and then flowing glue into the seam. It largely depends on whether I think it will stay put ot not without glue 🙂
As for washing it: if the first coat is going to be paint that is alcohol-based, a lacquer, an enamel, or anything else with a solvent in it stronger than water, there's almost certainly no need to wash off grease etc. Which is to say: I can't remember ever doing it, and the only paints that have given me trouble on bare plastic have been water-based acrylics, especially airbrush-ready ones.
2 14 April, 17:21

Like Jakko, it just depends for me on the particular part and how it positions before I even decide which glue to use.
For the wash I absolutely give a nice warm bath with Dawn dish soap to my parts before painting, Im a sweat hog so my hands get all kinds of sweat on the parts, probably a bit of tobacco breath too so they get a nice wash n dry, then paint away with usually acrylics.
2 14 April, 22:10

To be honest Jakko, I only have acrylic paints, even the primers I have are acrylic so I'll probably do the same as Clair and give this one a bath. I didn't with my first 1:35 build a Tamiya Panther (I should add some pics but it's awaiting its 2nd coat of gelbraun and the olivgrun and rotbrun too) and it looked like it might've struggled to stick in a couple of small areas due to what was probably greasy fingers. I did buy some latex finger glove things. But they'll take about an hour to put on! Each finger. 😳😂
1 17 April, 05:48

It can't hurt to wash the model, certainly. Well, as long as you're careful not to break any bits off, anyway 😉
1 17 April, 08:51

Well, there is that of course Jakko. Knowing me, it'll probably end up just adding more glue to the surface somehow. I'll use the wrong toothbrush. One loaded with poly instead of fairy liquid. 😳😂
1 18 April, 07:23

If you apply glue with a toothbrush then I think we've just located the problem 😉
2 18 April, 08:40

Hahaha. Actually, I use a toilet cleaner brush. I find toothbrushes don't allow quite enough poly to get on 🙂.
Can I ask you an unrelated question? I know I have literally asked your advice on hundreds of occasions (no exaggeration. You have the patience of a modelling saint). I know I said I was gonna stop buying kits but there are 3 vehicles I love (one was one I discovered reading the book you wrote Tanks at Westkapelle) the LVT-A4 (is that the one with the cannon on top and MG at the back? That one. And 2 aircraft. The A10 Warthog and the P38 Lightning.
I know you did tell me before but it'd take ages trawling thru your previous replies. Do you know a decent kit of any of them but in particular the LVT? I really want one. Watched 2 documentaries last night. One called Hell in the Pacific and it had LVTs as they landed on Guadalcanal.
The other documentary I watched was set in your local area (or relatively close by). Isleer or Ismeer lake? It was about an Avro Lancaster that had been damaged by flak in Germany and as it flew over the Netherlands to the coast it was picked up by a luftwaffe night fighter and it came down with the loss of all 7 crew. But the Dutch authorities in 2023 built a dam around the crash site, drained it and recovered the bodies so the families of the 3 missing could finally have closure. I think it's great your country shows its thanks and respect all this time later!
2 18 April, 09:39

In 1:35 you only really have two options: AFV Club has an early and a late LVT (4), while Italeri has a range of them (those were also sold in Revell boxes, BTW). The AFV Club kits are much better detailed but harder to build, the Italeri ones are simpler to build but have a number of mistakes. Also, you can probably get two Italeri LVTs for the price of one AFV Club one.
For LVTs in the Pacific, any of the above will do. For British ones in Europe, though, you want an LVT (2), LVT(A) (2) or LVT (4) kit, and if you go for the AFV Club one, the early type, not the late. None of these include the 20 mm Polsten gun, though. LVT-2 Amtrac (Italeri 6462, 1:35) LVT-(A)2 "Saipan" (Italeri 6470, 1:35) LVT-4 Water Buffalo (Italeri 379, 1:35) Water Buffalo LVT-4 (AFV Club AF35205, 1:35)
As for the lake: you mean the IJsselmeer 🙂 That's quite a way from where I live, but I had heard of it, yes.
1 18 April, 10:36

Yes that's the lake 🙂.
Wow, as ever Jakko your knowledge blows me away. To be honest the first time I've ever really noticed the LVT (prob cos of my new interest in tracked vehicles since starting modelling) was in your book Tanks at Westkappelle. I think I'll go for an AFV club version but the one with the cannon wasn't at westkappelle, is that what you're saying? Please forgive me, not been up long and I've overdone things a bit this weekend. Not booze. Just walking and stuff. I could sleep another week!
Do AFV do one with a polsten cannon? Was that the A4? The 'A' stood for armoured, is that correct?
Basically I want the one that helped liberate my old mate Jakko! 🙂 but the one with the MG facing front and one facing back would suffice.
I was telling my brother that the allies bombed the dykes on your island the hinder the Germans defence but killed 159 islanders thru drowning in the process! Necessary I suppose but civilians bore a lot of the brunt of things. As usual.
Have you ever built an LVT by the way? Sure I asked before.
Ps that Buffalo with the shark teeth looks great. That might be the one I think. Was that version at westkappelle/vlissingen, etc?
21 April, 09:32

Did you see it on the news in Netherlands Jakko? At the time? Last year? Or year before? The Dutch authorities do spend large sums making sure allied aircrew get recovered wherever possible. Which is fantastic and a great way of trying to repay the allies sacrifice. Good on you all. I've always liked the Dutch (I know Dutch isn't the correct term for all netherlanders but that's how we were taught . That everyone from the Netherlands are Dutch and all from Holland. And you rightly corrected me. Unfortunately my brain isn't as plastic as it once was and new info tends to need constant reinforcement before it sticks. My brain is under assault at the moment too, trying to learn how to build models 😳😳😳😂😂😂😂😂
21 April, 09:41

The rest of you who want information about LVT's on Walcheren? That's not that difficult: do what Danny did and buy Book: Tanks at Westkapelle (by Jakko Westerbeke) 😉 (All proceeds go to the museum that published it, BTW, so you'd be supporting a good cause!)
1 22 April, 08:48

I'm priming her over the weekend. Just a few bits to add after priming. I add the wheels and tracks at the end after painting too so a fair bit to do. I'll show the end result Robert H. To give you a laugh 🙂
1 25 April, 05:49

Well, after it's painted and decals on. Actually I noticed that I'll have to add the small (handles?) on rear of turret after the decal because of their position. They I'll have to paint one white cos it's exactly in line of the decal but it's too big to drape the decal over. You'll know what I mean from the scale drawing pics from the instructions. I'll post in the album. I'm not explaining it very well.
2 25 April, 05:53

@Robert H, I'm so sorry. How rude of me to not ask you about yours? Have you finished? Have you got an album of your one? That I can follow?
1 25 April, 05:59

I'm so glad that you people here don't openly mock my attempts. Obviously I'm very, very slap dash at the moment and untrained but I do feel like I'm learning along the way. Like most skills in life, you get some people who have a more natural talent for a particular skill but for most people it's a case of putting in that 10k hours of practice before becoming expert. (I'm too scared to try and work out if I have another 10k hours left! Surely I have? (Don't call me Shirley). Badoom Tsssk. 😳😂😂
Oh @Robert H, I found your T34 album. Inspiring. Absolutely fantastic work. As were the rest of your albums and builds. There really are a lot of talented people on this site. Definitely the right place for people like me to get great advice. Thank you all once again for all your help. And poor old Jakko whose ear I chew off almost every day this year! In fact, if I spent as long actually building rather than asking about it or searching for kits I'd probably already have completed ten thousand practice hours ! 😳😳😳😂😂😂😂😂👊🏻
1 26 April, 10:21

The only thing that counts is whether you're enjoying it, really. The skills will come naturally when you do.
Well, unless you intend to enter your models into competitions, THEN what matters is building them to please the judges. That way, unhappiness lies 🙂
26 April, 11:18

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
32 11 February, 21:10

Welcome Christian \, Nathan! Lots of F-q6 builds going on at the moment, so I hope to do this one justice!
@Christian - I absolutely love your Su-30 eggplant build!
@Nathan - following your Ukrainian F-16 build with interest - already used your resin drop tanks to improve my bare bones drop tanks! 😀
18 February, 16:40

Those ResKit drop tanks look great when attached. Your build is looking excellent.
18 February, 17:05

Thanks Nathan! It's coming along too slowly for me, but should be done this weekend. 😀
21 February, 16:44

Thanks Gorby! Interesting scratch building you have going on your workbench!
1 26 February, 21:31

Excellent work Capt! This is giving me the inspiration to finish my F-16s.
26 February, 23:27

Thanks Dave/ Nathan and Rui!
@Nathan - looking forward to seeing your F-16 builds!
@Rui, your dioramas and recent sdkfz always inspire me!
27 February, 15:06

Thanks for your words mate. My sdkfz it's not recent but the sand dune base for it is.
One day I'm going to do a propeller plane and I'm hopping that it will be as good looking as your birds 😉
1 27 February, 15:08

Final upload of the finished product. Lighting not the best, we'll have to look into that later.
I chose the Arizona markings for Luke Air Force Base in part homage to Desert Marlin and Max Afterburner, Arizonans who motivated me with their aircraft builds over the years.
27 February, 19:00

Thanks Gary!
Neuling, I thought long and hard about weathering this bird up a lot, but opted against rain weathering, since it doesn't rain at all in Arizona! The sun bleaching didn't turn out as striking as I would have wanted after the gloss and Matt coating - but there's always the next kit! 😜
1 March, 16:15

Hi,
As SCM Topic: Seatbelts now has 959 items,
can it be split into Seatbelts (Vehicle) and Seatbelts (Aircraft)?
As SCM Topic: Seatbelts now has 959 items,
can it be split into Seatbelts (Vehicle) and Seatbelts (Aircraft)?
26 April, 11:05

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
17 afbeeldingen
Opel Blitz radio Kfz 305/22 et remorque radio Italeri 1/35 + CMK
25 April, 15:01

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
36 1 February 2024, 13:37

Its all been said above. Beautiful work. The figures and the weathering are a standout
1 26 April, 10:44

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
16 24 March, 11:44

Good progress so far! The canopy looks great, what approach did you use to get the nice tint?
23 April, 18:47

It's highly diluted Tamiya clear green sprayed from a somewhat long distance (about 12cm). It takes many passes and you can get a very subtle tint
23 April, 19:19

Got this kit in my stash too .... so following 🙂
And nice to see someone else who also mounts the gear struts before any painting goes on 🙂
24 April, 21:14

I usually avoid it, for the sake of painting, but it's quite a complex gear, I wouldn't be able to assemble it properly on a painted aircraft. I normally dry fit, then decide
25 April, 06:38

Ì usually do it because unpainted plastic fuses best to have a really sturdy undercarriage .... but indeed, not every build alows it 🙂
25 April, 17:32

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
4 afbeeldingen
Completed Models 2025
Airfix Landrover 1 Tonne FC Ambulance 1/76
5 1 January, 17:16

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
6 afbeeldingen
2025.1 Tamiya Lotus Super 7
1:24
Box and Contents
Project: 2025-1 Lotus Super 7 Series II
8 4 January, 16:59

Watching too! (I plan to build the same kit in the memory of my Dad, who loved this car)
1 4 January, 18:05

Question for all of you:
You know Good Omens, the Amazon Prime Series?
Many men here knows more older cars than me, sooo:
Is there any (near/similar) model kit to that one and only one unique Bentley on this world?
1934 Derby Bentley Thrupp & Maberley Bodied Coupe
Source:
classicrollsroyce-be..aberley-bodied-coupe
You know Good Omens, the Amazon Prime Series?
Many men here knows more older cars than me, sooo:
Is there any (near/similar) model kit to that one and only one unique Bentley on this world?
1934 Derby Bentley Thrupp & Maberley Bodied Coupe
Source:
classicrollsroyce-be..aberley-bodied-coupe
24 April, 23:32

That type of bodywork looks reasonably similar to the RR Phantom II.
The 1/8 Pocher kit looks the closest, but good luck finding it for a reasonable price: Rolls-Royce (Pocher K/72, 1:8)
Next would be the 1/16 Revell kit which would be much more affordable: Phantom II Continental (1934) (Revell 07459, 1:16)
SCM Search: Rolls Royce Phantom II
1 25 April, 07:23

!!! YOU ARE AWESOME, gorby !!! Thank you soooo much! Thank you! ♥♥♥♥♥♥
1 25 April, 19:54

Meanwhile I found some very affordable ones and I'm still in contact with the sellers. Hard times for negotiate the price for it. ^-^
One is so darn cheap, but w/o sending (pick up only and I live 600 miles away from it) and the other one stands on his price which is a bit high to me. Both are Revell ones. I look into the Revell model and I found out I would have to make some own items for it w/o a 3D-Printer.
We will see and I'll keep this Posting up to date!
1 26 April, 09:54

You might need to wait a while for a reasonably priced one to crop up.
Only this morning a friend of mine bought a kit he's been trying to get for years, it normally sells for about £90 and he found one for £40.
1 26 April, 10:27

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
46 afbeeldingen
Revell Rosenbauer GFLF Simba 8x8
1:24
Project: Revell Rosenbauer GFLF Simba 8x8
21 7 October 2024, 13:54

I have been drooling over this kit since it was new, so definitely following
7 October 2024, 14:21

Yeah, I agree with Martin. This has always been a kit, I wanted to get my hands on. I actually saw the built model, at Bolton IPMS in January. Those tyres are amazing and the vehicle itself, looked almost space-like.
13 October 2024, 06:42

Thank you, Bozzer! Right now, I'm working on the equipment boxes in the back. I didn't start with the cabin. I will post some pictures later
19 October 2024, 07:16

It most definitely is, a "must have" kit, for me! I can't help but wonder, why it's not been re-released again? I can only assume, it's something to do with the licence?
24 October 2024, 21:59

It has been twice after approximately 10 years. Last one was in 2013….
25 October 2024, 05:55

It's possible to buy this kit from eBay, but it costs round about 150€. I bought the kit produced in the 1980th and the plastic is very fragile and the equipment boxes aren't well detailed and it's not possible to open them fully. Besides that, I love this kit. The overall fitting is good and this kit is well designed. If it is possible to get this kit in a bundle with other kits, it is possible to get it relatively cheap
25 October 2024, 07:22

Let's hope they release it again, soon? I read an interesting review of this kit, from when it first came out. I'll share it, just incase anyone has missed it?
25 October 2024, 16:11

My kit finally arrived. Still factory sealed and all the way from Poland. I'm looking forward to building it, in the new year. I'll certainly be creating a build log, of it 👍
Yours is looking mighty fine, and proof, that these things can't be rushed 🙂
24 November 2024, 23:15

You need to be careful with the black and white parts. I broke many of them while building the chassis
25 November 2024, 06:47

That cab looks mighty complicated to operate.
I guess that it's safer inside, than outside?
Them boys deal with firefighting, on a different level.
Excellent work, as always, and merry Christmas to you.
28 December 2024, 17:44

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
23 15 April, 22:06

Not my favorite scale (to clumsy fingers and bad eyes) , though I like to see those little gems ........
2 20 April, 07:59

I agree with Neuling to add to the clumsy on my part, dropssy, where've I put that, where has it gone and what's it doing there. Does not detract from your build though Xa 👏🤟🥸🤘
1 22 April, 15:29

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
37 20 April, 16:48

Paintwork, weathering, accessories, position of figures: everything just fine!
1 21 April, 10:01

Wow!! God, I'm so jealous! Still I'm but a baby in modelling terms. I be a toddler soon hopefully. Then a child. Then I might even make teenager! lol
Great work Robert
Ps you bought the figures separately?
1 25 April, 06:02

Do you do YouTube videos? I've got so many questions. What's the part hanging in the back of the turret for example?
25 April, 06:08

On both sides in the grab rails, you mean? They're two links of spare track.
1 25 April, 09:49

@Danny, many thanks, you make a good job !!! no one is born a master.... I don't have a YT channel or similar, no drive and time for that, I'm already so slow with the build of a kit, also patience and research take time. On the back of the turret are lashing straps for a tarpaulin or something similar (is that what you mean?). I always make research and watch historical photos and film footage to get ideas that can be applied to the model. The two top figures are from Master Box set MB3568, the driver is a left over one from an old T-34 Tamiya kit (which I never build because of a missing sprue) [img1] [img2]
2 25 April, 12:04

@jakko and @Robert H, you see the 6 very small u shaped parts? One set angled upwards and the bottom set angled downwards? Where the decal is? Or would be if followed the Airfix guide? Where it says 329 on the drawings, you have a square item on top of the small u shaped parts. Are they spare track as Jakko suggests? They're not the same colour as the rest of the track. I don't think. Actually I think it is a tarp as you said Robert. And you should know 🙂
By the way that's the first t34 pic I've seen with the fuel tank slots without the drums attached. I just watched a Russian film called Iron Fury with a T34 that was sans fuel tanks and it threw me for a moment. Since beginning modelling I'm constantly looking at the vehicles and boring my brother about it all. 😂
1 25 April, 17:46

Do you mean parts M6 in steps 11 and 13? Those are the loops that the straps go through that Robert mentions. In the photo he posted above of the real tanks, the rolled-up tarp (or whatever) is tied to them by means of the three straps you can see on it.
1 25 April, 17:59

@Danny - Jakko described it well what the part no. M6 are and were used for. But I don't know what you mean... like "329", which square item?? Could you provide the parts and building steps numbers to make it a bit more specific? another pic of the rear view of a museum T-34, mounting brackets for the rear fuel barrels and a attached tarp on the rear of the turret [img1]
26 April, 09:53

I think Danny means the turret number on the rear, per page 10 of the Airfix kit instructions, though the number is actually 342 🙂.
1 26 April, 10:12

heeft een nieuw fotoalbum toegevoegd.
19 9 September 2022, 10:35

I shortened the missiles on mine. I don't remember by how much, but a little, maybe hm, 3-4 mm.
I had difficulty using the rubber parts, so prepare for some fiddly stuff. Maybe an idea to heat them up just a little to make them bend more naturally, without ruining the rubber. I never tired that myself. Aah, and I think I remember now, there is some wiring that goes around the rubber parts as well.
1 12 September 2022, 09:31

very well done , the pic's of the completed model and base with background provided a very realistic result 👍 🙂
1 3 October 2022, 15:39
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