Just bought my 1st model in over 30 years!

[PH5121]

My sons are at an age where they build Airfix plastic model aircraft kits. Up until now I've resisted the urge to have a go as it's over 30 years since I last assembled one, and the 1/72nd scale planes seem so intricate and small.

However, yesterday whilst accompanying my wife to Hobbycraft we (me and the boys) ended up in the model aisle, I was taken back in time and got giddy.
I couldn't afford the 1/35th Tamiya tanks as a youngster but had a few of the soft skin vehicles. I saw the WW2 desert SAS jeep and had to have it for £10. I've recently read a couple of books about the LRDG and formation of the SAS, so fancy doing the Jeep and LRDG Chevy (a set which I had in 1/72 or 1/76 from Matchbox in my youth).

I got home and had a look on the internet and Britmodeller - wow I have a lot to learn. As a youngster I must have made hundreds of plastic kits, but looking at what people can achieve makes me realise there's much more to making a model than just following the instructions and slapping a bit of paint on out of a Humbrol tin.

I'm now reluctant to start as I won't be able to achieve the finish I'd like, I follow threads on this part of the forum, and am amazed at what can be achieved at 1/72 scale. Could anyone point me in the direction of an 'idiots' guide to weathering as it's a technique I'd like to get to grips with, or any other pearls of wisdom to help me.

Thanks in advance

PH

[Eric Mc]

£10 was a good price.

[dave_s13]

Eric Mc said:

£10 was a good price.

It'll offset the £1000 needed to by all the other kit nicely.




I found myself at a model railway exhibition a few weeks ago, to please my young lad mainly, and the amount you can spend on modelling gear is frightening. And the level of geekery was off the scale, I like a bit a model railway as much as the next bloke but I can never, ever see myself getting that into it.

There were a lot of balding middle age men in there who I'd bet have never kissed a woman.

[robemcdonald]

I got back into moddling a year or so ago.

its possible to spend a fortune on the various bits and pieces, but you don't really have to spend that much. The best thing you can do is buy all the paints listed at the start of the instructions. They cost about £2.50 each at hobbycraft. You are probably going to need 6-10 for that kit. don't be tempted by revel or humbrol paints if they are cheaper (they are rubbish) Also pick up some X-20A thinners to thin the paint down and a rattle can of the Tamiya primer, get some decent brushes, some Tamiya extra thin cement and a scalpel with a number 11 blade (be careful with that).
That's probably around £40-£50 to build a £10 model. But once you have the materials you can use them again and again.
It seems expensive, but that £50 will buy you several hours of "entertainment" so its not too bad really.

I've always fancied building that kit myself. I'm definitely not claiming to be any sort of expert, but if you want I can try and pick it up and do a group build step by step with you. (maybe a few others would fancy a crack at it too)

Let me know if your interested and I'll swing past a hobbycraft to pick one up.

[Eric Mc]

dave_s13 said:

Eric Mc said:

£10 was a good price.

It'll offset the £1000 needed to by all the other kit nicely.




I found myself at a model railway exhibition a few weeks ago, to please my young lad mainly, and the amount you can spend on modelling gear is frightening. And the level of geekery was off the scale, I like a bit a model railway as much as the next bloke but I can never, ever see myself getting that into it.

There were a lot of balding middle age men in there who I'd bet have never kissed a woman.

This always gets me - why people feel the need to denigrate someone else's hobby - or passion. If you don't "get" model making, that's fine. Just don't be rude about those who do.

And why come on to the model forum to make your rather mean minded point?

PH is really filling up with quite nasty pieces of work these days.

[Gary29]

dave_s13 said:

It'll offset the £1000 needed to by all the other kit nicely.




I found myself at a model railway exhibition a few weeks ago, to please my young lad mainly, and the amount you can spend on modelling gear is frightening. And the level of geekery was off the scale, I like a bit a model railway as much as the next bloke but I can never, ever see myself getting that into it.

There were a lot of balding middle age men in there who I'd bet have never kissed a woman.

I'm in my 30's, not bald, and I have kissed a woman (once even on the lips!) I spent around £2-300 on a LOAD of modelling stuff, air brush, compressor, booth, tools, paint, glues, files, etc etc etc, can get a half decent set up for a relatively modest outlay that will last you YEARS.

I know what you're saying though, it's a shame it's such an 'uncool' hobby. Only my mrs and a few people who see the fruits of my labour actually know I do it at all. Not a single one of my colleagues knows I mess about with plastic toys in my spare time when I have nothing better to do.

[Eric Mc]

robemcdonald said:

I got back into moddling a year or so ago.

its possible to spend a fortune on the various bits and pieces, but you don't really have to spend that much. The best thing you can do is buy all the paints listed at the start of the instructions. They cost about £2.50 each at hobbycraft. You are probably going to need 6-10 for that kit. don't be tempted by revel or humbrol paints if they are cheaper (they are rubbish) Also pick up some X-20A thinners to thin the paint down and a rattle can of the Tamiya primer, get some decent brushes, some Tamiya extra thin cement and a scalpel with a number 11 blade (be careful with that).
That's probably around £40-£50 to build a £10 model. But once you have the materials you can use them again and again.
It seems expensive, but that £50 will buy you several hours of "entertainment" so its not too bad really.

I've always fancied building that kit myself. I'm definitely not claiming to be any sort of expert, but if you want I can try and pick it up and do a group build step by step with you. (maybe a few others would fancy a crack at it too)

Let me know if your interested and I'll swing past a hobbycraft to pick one up.

We did a group build here a few years ago on the Hawker Tempest.

I have the old Matchbox LRDG kit which I wouldn't mind having a go at. It's been in my unbuilt pile for 40 years or so.

[dr_gn]

See this is why model forums cost money. I’ve seen that kit in Hobbycraft too for a bargain price, and have been tempted. I built one 35+ years ago, and it’s really well detailed and went together perfectly. In fact I’ve still got it:



I’d be well up for getting another and doing it properly - I may even paint the next one!

I’ve posted these a few times recently, but they are really very good books for beginner modellers. The aircraft one is still relevant to AFV’s in many areas, and the painting and weathering one covers all the basics on vehicles as well as aircraft:





Robemcdonald has given good advice - his build threads also show how rapidly you can go from relative novice to advanced builder in just a few kits...

[PH5121]

Thanks for the responses, I'll see if I can find those books as I prefer having a physical book to refer to.

If anyone decides to have a bash at building the set I'll follow their progress with great interest!

[sgrimshaw]

robemcdonald said:

I bet you're fighting the women off with a stty stick in your Kia Soul though.

ROFL !

[robemcdonald]

Not my finest hour to be honest I usually like to rise above that sort of thing.

[robemcdonald]

dr_gn said:

Robemcdonald has given good advice - his build threads also show how rapidly you can go from relative novice to advanced builder in just a few kits...

Thanks for the kind, albeit overly generous words.

[dave_s13]

sgrimshaw said:

robemcdonald said:

I bet you're fighting the women off with a stty stick in your Kia Soul though.

ROFL !

It went last week, replaced it with a 15yo Renault Clio that I picked up for 280 quid.

I used my modelling skilz to refurb some knackered alloys I picked up on Facebook actually. The paint primer, paint and lacquer didn't cost far off the price of the wheels and tyres, a bit like the OPs model.




Now, the Kia was a fanny magnet and no mistake. This takes the heat off for a bit.

And my comment was tongue in cheek but I remain convinced however that proper, hardcore modelling, is on the spectrum. But we are all somewhere on the same spectrum so crack on.

[Eric Mc]

Exactly - if you are on PH, you are on some spectrum or other - so be careful who you attempt to make fun of.

[allegerita]

robemcdonald said:

I got back into moddling a year or so ago.

its possible to spend a fortune on the various bits and pieces, but you don't really have to spend that much. The best thing you can do is buy all the paints listed at the start of the instructions. They cost about £2.50 each at hobbycraft. You are probably going to need 6-10 for that kit. don't be tempted by revel or humbrol paints if they are cheaper (they are rubbish) Also pick up some X-20A thinners to thin the paint down and a rattle can of the Tamiya primer, get some decent brushes, some Tamiya extra thin cement and a scalpel with a number 11 blade (be careful with that).
That's probably around £40-£50 to build a £10 model. But once you have the materials you can use them again and again.
It seems expensive, but that £50 will buy you several hours of "entertainment" so its not too bad really.

I've always fancied building that kit myself. I'm definitely not claiming to be any sort of expert, but if you want I can try and pick it up and do a group build step by step with you. (maybe a few others would fancy a crack at it too)

Let me know if your interested and I'll swing past a hobbycraft to pick one up.

Forgive me my ignorance, but how does that work precisely, a group build? Are a group of people building the same kit within a deadline and share progress? Or has a group build something to do with a theme rather than 1 particular kit? Or still something else?

[Eric Mc]

allegerita said:

Forgive me my ignorance, but how does that work precisely, a group build? Are a group of people building the same kit within a deadline and share progress? Or has a group build something to do with a theme rather than 1 particular kit? Or still something else?

A bit of all that. On model forums sometimes there are set time limits. The one we had here a few years ago for the Hawker Tempest didn't set any time limits - and didn't even set a specific kit. In the end, a number of different kits were chosen by individuals - split between Revell and Airfix/Heller - and all 1/72.

[mcdjl]

Eric Mc said:

A bit of all that. On model forums sometimes there are set time limits. The one we had here a few years ago for the Hawker Tempest didn't set any time limits - and didn't even set a specific kit. In the end, a number of different kits were chosen by individuals - split between Revell and Airfix/Heller - and all 1/72.

There was talk of following that up with a WW1 theme as it was the centenary of the start of that conflict. I may finish my one by the centenary of its end.