Advice gratefully received.

[Guest]

Hi, am recently getting back into modelling having not touched a kit since I was a kid, and I'm looking for general advice on priming and pre painting...on or off the sprue? Assembled or unassembled? As a revisit to this great hobby I really want to do my new model justice. I am about to start on a 1:72 Panavia Tornado GR.1. (Incidentally the first model I was ever given)

Thank you and any advice is gratefully taken.

[Wong Ryan]

my humble opinion, based on what I did with my aircraft models

1. Prime and paint inner parts (cockpit, the internal side of air intake, internal side of gear doors)

2. Small parts like wheels...cut of from sprue...prime and paint.

3. Assemble the rest, prime, mask (if required) and paint

4. Glue the small parts

Of course, others may have their own preference and order.

Hope it helps...and do share your build

[BarryW]

Build in subasemblies based on the ease of painting bringing each sub assembly together as needed. Parts need trimming when taken off the sprue so rarely is it appropriate to paint on the sprue. Leave all vulnerable small parts off the model and attach as final fittings after the main work is done.

[Guest]

Thank you gentlamen.

[Guest]

Spot on with Barry. I build in sub sections. I may have a couple or more on the go as sometimes there is a wait for paint to dry or welding to cure.

Best thing when you start a model is to look at the instructions and go through bit by bit. Not necessarily following the sequence in the instructions when you build.

Small pieces aerials undercarts props. I find are best left to the last hour. Put them on before and there is 100% chance of breaking them off.

Painting. I usually weld (glue not actually glueing in the sense of a medium between the plastics) all that I can together before any painting. In an aircraft the fuselage and wings etc as much as possible. You are always going to have to fill poor pieces and seams at some point. If you prime or paint before putting them together you will have a problem. Fill on the bare plastic as you get a better finish. Fill on primer and however well you do it you will see the seam of the filler and primer.

Plastic canopies etc. Difficult one and depends on circumstances. If it fits well with out the need for filler I leave fitting until the last moment.

I am doing a build on a 1/72 Walrus. I have texted this as much as possible to give help to members just starting. This may help. Not the be all and end all as each has his or her way of doing things which develop as your model building experience grows.Any further advice please come back. There are many itchy fingers waiting on the keyboard to help.

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/community/threads/operation-supermarine-walrus.29122/

Laurie

PS best in profile to insert your Christian name so we can identify and makes it more friendly.