30 Years later.....

[Guest]

Hey all,

So the last model I can recall making was a F14 tomcat, I was probably about 11 or 12 at the time, it was the last in a very long line of models that I enjoyed making all through childhood but it kinda stopped when I discovered computers.... (this is also my first time posting here so thanks for all the great stuff I read already).....

Fast forward almost 30 years and I have had a Hasegawa SV 51 Macross kit that I bought about two years ago which gets taken out of it's box, admired, googled, and then put back again when I finally bottle actually having to do anything with it in case I wreck it......

So....

I have a few specific issues and questions which I will ask and then hopefully I can get resolved and actually build the damn kit (and then start oggling all the other cool sci fi kits out there)

I need brushes, my 18 month old son took the revell brushes I had bought and kinda mangled them, could someone recommend a manufacturer and maybe even a "starter pack" or something thats worth buying - after buying the revell painta set I wasnt sold on how good they seemed for fine work

If you know this kit it kinda looks like a russian fighter but it's painted pink and kinda glossy, as it's largely I think only two sections of the model that form the superstructure I was considering spray painting it to get a nice even finish, I cant stretch to an airbrush until I finish this model (as the wife will rightly assume it's a fad and I shouldnt be spending £100 plus on an airbrush that may get used once....) but I was thinking and looking at the little cans of spray paint you can buy from the likes of tamiya and wondering how easy they were to use to get a nice even cover

Should I buy a practice kit ? - I was thinking of just buying something like a spitfire and practising on that first - is that a good idea and if so can someone recommend a nice kit?

Can someone recommend a good online hobby store ?

The kit itself has a list of paints as long as your arm and they are japanese, I found the converter to get the humbrol equivalent colour, but how equivalent is equivalent - will the colours look ok ?

And finally, for a potential starter hobbyist, what are the really, really essential tools that you think I ought to try and aquire before I do anything (and where do I get them from)!!

THanks in advance

Alik.

[stona]

Welcome aboard, wow that's quite a list! I'll have a go at your questions, I'm sure others will be more specific with some answers where their knowledge will be greater than mine.

1: Brushes. I've got all sorts from various hobby shops and artists suppliers. I would say spend the money on some decent brushes in a range of sizes. It will be worth it.

2:Spray paints. I don't use them much but a friend swears by the Tamiya ones. He certainly achieves a very satisfactory finish. I know many people do use them.

3:Practice kit. That's really down to you. If you want to brush up your skills it can't be a bad idea. I would suggest something similar in scale to your sci-fi kit. Really you want to practice your construction technique so I don't think it matters what it is. Tamiya make very good kits but if you don't want to spend a lot to practice almost anything will do.

4: Online stores. There are many. Hannants is big and well known, good luck with their search engine! My favourite is Relish Models, service second to none.

5: Paint conversion. Many of these charts are compiled by modellers and are generally pretty good.

6:Essentials. A big question! People will add to this but I will try to keep it to a minimum for you.

Side cutters - to cut parts from the sprue (just as good as more expensive sprue cutters)

Good model knife - tool you will use a lot. you don't need lots of different blades, a supply of No 11s will see you through most things.

Tweezers - for those small bits. Boots or similar is ideal.I nicked the missus' eyebrow tweezers once. Bad mistake, took a week before the limp wore off. There are many useful modelling supplies in the "ladies" section!

Sanding supplies - no avoiding this. Halfords wet and dry. Get a selection from 400 grit down to 1500 grit. Again from the ladies section you can find various filing/sanding supplies in various grades, excellent sanding sticks! I think they are meant for nails or something.

Glue - I suggest you start with a regular liquid cement like Revell's. You may later move on to something more "watery".You'll have to get this from a model shop

I would also suggest some superglue (medium) for fiddly little bits you don't want to hold for twenty minutes. Any hardware store.

Filler - you will need to fill seams. I use mostly two techniques. For small gaps thick superglue will work. For bigger ones Tamiya putty or Squadron putty, both from model shops. Bigger gaps than that is a whole topic in itself.

I would also suggest some files (hardware shop or model shop) and a drill set (Maplins do a nice one). To go with the drills you will need a pin vice.

I'm sure I've forgotten something vital but someone will fill it in! If you stick with the hobby you will accrue a lot of "stuff", luckily over a considerable period and most of it fairly inexpensive. By far my biggest single investment was my airbrush set up.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with it,let us know how you get on. Any questions,fire away. Someone will have an answer. The only daft question is the one you don't ask!

Cheers

Steve

I forgot masking tape. It needs to be low tack or you'll lift chunks of your lovely paint job. I use the Tamiya stuff, expensive but idiot proof. Believe me it needs to be!

[Guest]

Thanks Stona!

Well I finally painted a few bits tonight, the pilot, which didnt go so well on the first coat and the cockpit base and seat which went ok, they are busy drying now till tommrow night when I will take a crack at the pilot again, I am not sure I like painting on the sprues , which a lot of people recommend, I think I would have been better as the pilot comes in 4 parts putting him together and then sticking him in a bluetac seat! - I didnt buy a practice kit as I couldnt see anything I would really want to build more, and kinda just decided to go for broke

Bought some brushes, still not happy with them so I think that may turn into a long quest to find the right one for me.

Have forgone the pink from the original paint scheme and plan to paint metallic blue, and to that end have bought a tamiya spray paint can, and the associated paint pot, will report back on progress

Bought a good knife, some filler, and some decal softner and fixer (there are a lot of decals on this kit!)

I found a really pretty decent online store , wonderland models, they did same day shipping and everything arrived in good order next day and you cant ask for more than that! - plus paying with paypal is good news.

I am really quite childishly excited now - it's gonna be a long day tommorow until I can get going with the cockpit again

Already looking longingly at a Revell PBY kit, always wanted to make one of those, and the wife says if I finish this model I can get an airbrush - yay!

[stona]

Wonderland models have always been good for me too. I know what you mean about painting on the sprue, I really don't do it. By the time you cut the four pieces of your pilot off the sprues ,clean them up, glue them together and then sort any seams and fit issues I guarantee that you will more or less paint him again anyway!

Steve