Who Is Into Scale Modelling?

[Dr_PepPeR]

I'm in the process of putting together a USS Voyager kit now... been at it for a year already (with this kit). Am still in the painting stage cuz it's really hard to find the colors I want from the shops...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

There are many alternative sources of paint, such as artists oils or artists acrylics. You can mix your own shades using these. You might want to look at wargamers shops, they also have a lot of hobby paints with weird names, but they tend to be a little expensive. Why not try mixing your own colors using the Tamiya acrylics or enamels? They are readily accessible at the model hobby shops listed a few posts above.

[Leibstandarte]

thought i'd share something here.

 

i started building models when i was 13. i bought and built the Tamiya PzKpfw II and Sdkfz 222 (1/35)from National bookstore in Crossing. Went on to build more tanks and attempted building a Mi 24 Hind (1/48) but armor was what i really loved building.

 

i concentrate mainly on German WW2 armor and figures. I dont know but i've always been fascinated by anything German. their AFVs are way too cool! as Dr. Pepper mentioned i also source my kits from the Chinese guy who runs shops in AliMall, GH, ATC etc. sometimes at Lil's but i tried ordering via the internet at Hobbylink Japan. Cool and fast service, they offer some kits with unusual subjects. the price is competetive too.

 

i build mostly for fun and relaxation. but with the advent of the internet, having unlimited access to a wealth of information one cannot help but conduct his personal research with regards to the kit you are building. there are numerous websites as Dr. Pepper mentioned like ML, HS, armorama, planet armor, PMMS etc to help you with your model building. i also have this urge to take my model a step further. before i was satisfied with OOTB builds but now i want to detail it more! in the modeller's lingo: AMS (advanced modellers syndrome)! but i want to clarify that i am not an advanced modeller, i only want an accurate kit. oh God thank you for the new Dragon kits! :thumbsupsmiley:

 

also, being a bit older (31) i have more funds to divert for my hobby (to the chagrin of my wife! LOL ). now i can buy resin figures and PE upgrade sets that when I was in college hangang pangarap lang ako! hehehe. ang dami ng choices and manufacturers of different models specially with WW2 AFVs! before we only had Tamiya and Italeri and Hasegawa. now, we have Dragon, Trumpeter, Tristar, ICM, Minibox, Academy etc!

 

i have lots of unopened kits, i temporarily took a break from scale modelling due to space constraints. our house (condo unit) is too small to accommodate my stash! sayang, i left them at my parent's home. i'll get back to it again once i get a bigger house! LOL! yeah i wish!

 

i'm just glad to know that i have fellow scale modellers here! also, i want to know who builds or are interested in WW2 German armor?

[Experiment 626]

I started building when i was 5 -6 years years old & I haven't stopped building ever since although it takes literally 1+ year for me to finish a model (I'm working on a StuG III since Feb last year) - medyo na adok na ako mag gym eh.

 

I started & (still my first love) is 1/72 aviation. I have 150+ still in good condition. I prefer 1960s up due to their exotic shapes (think Viggen, F 16, F 15 Tornado, A10, etc), as compared to 1940s / WW2 planes (same basic form lahat, mukhang cross), although I like German WW2 due to their exotic paint job. I only tried 3 1950s planes (Mig 15, Mig 21 & F86), I get intimidated doing the 'stainless steel' finish paint job (Have to buy Metallizer paints from the US).

 

Yun nga lang medyo wala nang modern warplanes since '91 (excluding choppers & transports) so I shifted to Armor in the mid 90s. I only have around 15 armor (usually mga MBTs) since I don't really know how to weather them.

 

I like Battleships but they are hard to put on display (pahaba lahat). Never liked Sci Fi kits.

 

I still have 30 so so kits under my bed . . .

[floppydrive]

Nice thread!

 

Got my first exposure to plastic model kids when I was 7. I built 7 kits in one day, and I was hooked! I'd save my daily allowance for months just so I could buy a prized kit.

 

Up to today, I have a stack of kits to build. I started out with planes. My favorite was the Messerschmit BF-109a/b/c/d/e, Me262 Komet, the Sopwith Camel and a matching Red Baron Fokker Triplane. From planes I shifted to space, then scifi kits. Revell's Apollo 11 moon landing diorama was a nice build for an 11 year old kid.

 

What I didn't like about prop planes is that they only look good with the landing gears down, and it would have to be on the shelf. Jet planes were cooler - you can hang them! And that's why they didn't last long - one strong wind through the room, and it's build time again.

 

My last build was a Bandai Enterprise NCC-1701, but it's not really a plastic model kit - it was a prepainted snapfit. But it looks great, though!

 

What I don't like with some decals is they turn yellow after some time. So if it's on a white plastic kit, it looks out of place.

[Yu-gi-oh]

Sure, welcome!

 

Before starting a new model project, try to make up your mind about what you want to achieve with it. Be realistic - if this is the first time you touch an airbrush, or if this is your very first model kit, don't expect it to be an IPMS-winner. Settle for something less. Don't compare your results with what you may have seen in the magazines, and try to enjoy building your model straight out of the box. There is nothing wrong with just having a good time building a reasonably pretty model to be sitting on the shelf to be admired by yourself and your friends.

 

You also need decide on if you want to build the model straight out of the box, or if you want to superdetail it to the limits of your skills. Can you stand having a model project to stretch through a couple of months, or do you just want to spend a few weekends working on it? If you - like myself - have very little spare time for model building, maybe you are quite happy if you can finish a model in reasonable time without adding more detail that is already in the box.

 

It's generally a good idea to focus only on a few details that makes the model appear gorgeous without actually being a perfect masterpiece. For aircraft, I believe that the most important part is the cockpit area. This will definitely be the first thing that draws everybody's attention.

 

People will try to peek inside the tiny cockpit and a nicely detailed instrument panel, a good ejection seat and a perfectly masked/painted canopy will immediately impress everybody. I usually like to add a crew figure sitting in the cockpit as it makes the size of the real object more comprehensible.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Salamat po......

[Dr_PepPeR]

thought i'd share something here.

 

i started building models when i was 13.  i bought and built the Tamiya PzKpfw II and Sdkfz 222 (1/35)from National bookstore in Crossing.  Went on to build more tanks and attempted building a Mi 24 Hind (1/48) but armor was what i really loved building.

 

i concentrate mainly on German WW2 armor and figures.  I dont know  but i've always been fascinated by anything German.  their AFVs are way too cool!  as Dr. Pepper mentioned i also source my kits from the Chinese guy who runs shops in AliMall, GH, ATC etc.  sometimes at Lil's but i tried ordering via the internet at Hobbylink Japan.  Cool and fast service, they offer some kits with unusual subjects.  the price is competetive too.

 

i build mostly for fun and relaxation.  but with the advent of the internet, having unlimited access to a wealth of information one cannot help but conduct his personal research with regards to the kit you are building.  there are numerous websites as Dr. Pepper mentioned like ML, HS, armorama, planet armor, PMMS etc to help you with your model building.  i also have this urge to take my model a step further.  before i was satisfied with OOTB builds but now i want to detail it more!  in the modeller's lingo: AMS (advanced modellers syndrome)! but i want to clarify that i am not an advanced modeller, i only want an accurate kit.  oh God thank you for the new Dragon kits!  :thumbsupsmiley:

 

also, being a bit older (31) i have more funds to divert for my hobby (to the chagrin of my wife! LOL  ).  now i can buy resin figures and PE upgrade sets that when I was in college hangang pangarap lang ako! hehehe.  ang dami ng choices and manufacturers of different models specially with WW2 AFVs!  before we only had Tamiya and Italeri and Hasegawa.  now, we have Dragon, Trumpeter, Tristar, ICM, Minibox, Academy etc! 

 

i have lots of unopened kits, i temporarily took a break from scale modelling due to space constraints.  our house (condo unit) is too small to accommodate my stash!  sayang, i left them at my parent's home.  i'll get back to it again once i get a bigger house!  LOL! yeah i wish!

 

i'm just glad to know that i have fellow scale modellers here!  also, i want to know who builds or are interested in WW2 German armor?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Same here. I'm happy that there are a lot of us here. I think German WWII armor is really kewl, dig those 3 tone camos especially the ambush pattern! Glad to share with my fellow modellers!

 

Nice handle. I'm partial to the Panzer Lehr myself.

[Yu-gi-oh]

mga bro how much ang isa, I would like to buy batman ang jedi's

[floppydrive]

mga bro how much ang isa, I would like to buy batman ang jedi's

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haven't seen a Batman kit lately. The closest was a die cast Johnny Lightning Batmobile that you needed to assemble.

 

Regarding Jedi or StarWars, ERTL has a StarWars line, but they are not to scale.

 

Fine Molds has accurate models of the X-Wing (Red Squadron - Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Tie Fighter, Tie Interceptor, Jedi Starfighter with Lightspeed booster ring (Episode 2 starfighter), and the all time Japanese favorite StarWars craft - Slave 1. All in 1:72 scale.

 

Most of the StarWars models are available at Specialty Toys. Price range - P800 to P4500, depending on the size of the model.

 

If the kit is not available locally, you can go to www.hlj.com and order it from them. They can ship it to the Philippines, but you'll have to work with the customs at the post office regarding taxes and import duties.

[Experiment 626]

Me262 Komet - Pre sorry for nitpicking but Me 262 is a Stormbird / Stromvogel. Me163 is the Komet

 

Revell's Apollo 11 moon landing diorama was a nice build for an 11 year old kid - Can't find a model of that anymore. I haven't even remember if there is one in any store I visited.

 

 

What I didn't like about prop planes is that they only look good with the landing gears down, and it would have to be on the shelf. - exactly, & their silhouettes are the same. Jets have more 'exotic' shapes (e.g. delta wing, double delta, swept wwing, swing wing, etc)

 

 

My last build was a Bandai Enterprise NCC-1701, but it's not really a plastic model kit - it was a prepainted snapfit. But it looks great, though! - The Kirk or Picard Enterprise? To think of it, the only science / sci fi kits I built are Gundams. Medyo relaxin gkasi no research neccesary.

 

 

What I don't like with some decals is they turn yellow after some time. So if it's on a white plastic kit, it looks out of place - Pre overcoat your model with Future Floor Polish. You can airbrush it since it's dilute. it acts as a protective cover yun nga lang medyo glossy dating kits mo. I read in a recent FSM back issue that you add something to Futur to make their sheen semi gloss.

[Kaneda]

cool. a thread for plastic model hobbyists/enthusiasts. dying breed na tayo. kahit ako nga, nag-hibernate rin.

 

used to do tanks when i was in grade school. (that was the time na marami ka pa makikitang plastic models dun sa main branch ng national bookstore sa cubao. ) i did it more for the toy perspective. kahit na punuin ng cement yung gitna, basta dumikit! wala na pintura-pintura. and the only ones you saw were tamiya, hasegawa and the occasional revell.

 

in high school (in the us), semi-active lang. a kit took months to build (maybe even a year?). but i did stockpiling. mainly star wars ako nun. i had the x-wing, snowspeeder, darth vader tie fighter, AT-AT, BIG scale millenium falcon (gift from my sis ). i only got to finish x-wing and snowspeeder and some other small scale military aircraft (f-16 and a-10). it was also the first time i got into painting the models. spray paint first and then graduating to a single action airbrush with propellant can. thankfully, nai-uwi dito sa pi yung AT-AT; still untouched up to now. but the (unbuilt) millenium falcon is still in the us and have no idea what its condition is now. baka napatungan na ng kung ano yung kahon at pipe na. same goes for the other models i made... masyado nang hassle just to bring them here.

 

tried a few car models when i got back here to pass the time. 2 nissan skyline models. that was before college. nag-hibernate during college. did some f1 models after college. am now back in hibernation mode. meron nang asawa at anak e. and most of the free time is spent on ps2.

 

though i ought to fix up those f1 models and put them on display. sayang naman kung mabanish na lang. does anyone know where to get those acrylic cases? or is it easier to make one? para hindi naman alikabukin ng todo when its out. and so that no one will pick them up and play with them!

 

most irritating line i've ever heard - "do the wipers move? oops!" Well, duh!!! it's not a real car, is it? sheesh, tao talaga. worst one is a maid dusted an f1 model with a rag. pag-kita ko, tanggal na lahat ng wings and steering wheel, and the side mirrors and antennas were missing in action. galit na galit ako nun! :grr: bought another one to do over again. non-hobbyists don't understand us at all... at least my wife does.

[Dr_PepPeR]

mga bro how much ang isa, I would like to buy batman ang jedi's

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Haven't seen a Batman kit lately.  The closest was a die cast Johnny Lightning Batmobile that you needed to assemble.

 

Regarding Jedi or StarWars, ERTL has a StarWars line, but they are not to scale. 

 

Fine Molds has accurate models of the X-Wing (Red Squadron - Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Tie Fighter, Tie Interceptor, Jedi Starfighter with Lightspeed booster ring (Episode 2 starfighter), and the all time Japanese favorite StarWars craft - Slave 1.  All in 1:72 scale.

 

Most of the StarWars models are available at Specialty Toys.  Price range - P800 to P4500, depending on the size of the model.

 

If the kit is not available locally, you can go to www.hlj.com and order it from them.  They can ship it to the Philippines, but you'll have to work with the customs at the post office regarding taxes and import duties.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

A few months ago I saw the Bandai 1/35 scale Batmobile kit in Roel's shop in Makati Cinema Square. Although I really wanted to buy it, it was too steep for me (I think it was more than P2K). Anyway, here is what it looks like:

 

http://www.chickslovethecar.com/images/uploaded/62120052402246266-1.jpg

 

http://www.chickslovethecar.com/images/uploaded/632005204151ban934048.jpg

Edited May 3, 2006 by Dr_PepPeR

[Dr_PepPeR]

Haven't seen a Batman kit lately.  The closest was a die cast Johnny Lightning Batmobile that you needed to assemble.

 

Regarding Jedi or StarWars, ERTL has a StarWars line, but they are not to scale. 

 

Fine Molds has accurate models of the X-Wing (Red Squadron - Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Tie Fighter, Tie Interceptor, Jedi Starfighter with Lightspeed booster ring (Episode 2 starfighter), and the all time Japanese favorite StarWars craft - Slave 1.  All in 1:72 scale.

 

Most of the StarWars models are available at Specialty Toys.  Price range - P800 to P4500, depending on the size of the model.

 

If the kit is not available locally, you can go to www.hlj.com and order it from them.  They can ship it to the Philippines, but you'll have to work with the customs at the post office regarding taxes and import duties.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, I remember seeing some of the AMT/ERTL Starwars kits at Winston's shops. I haven't seen the Finemolds 1/72 Millenium Falcon although basing on Finemold's prices, I'm sure that would cost a lot!

 

That is what I hate with Mail Order. Most of the time post office customs will rip you off for tariffs and taxes. I did a trade once with an Aussie and I asked him to dirty and soil the box so it would look used. I think there is a Pinoy mail order company that delivers door to door, they take care of ordering it for you in the US then ship it here. I just forgot their name.

[Dr_PepPeR]

Me262 Komet - Pre sorry for nitpicking but Me 262 is a Stormbird / Stromvogel. Me163 is the Komet 

 

Revell's Apollo 11 moon landing diorama was a nice build for an 11 year old kid - Can't find a model of that anymore. I haven't even remember if there is one in any store I visited.

What I didn't like about prop planes is that they only look good with the landing gears down, and it would have to be on the shelf. - exactly, & their silhouettes are the same. Jets have more 'exotic' shapes (e.g. delta wing, double delta, swept wwing, swing wing, etc)

My last build was a Bandai Enterprise NCC-1701, but it's not really a plastic model kit - it was a prepainted snapfit.  But it looks great, though! -  The Kirk or Picard Enterprise? To think of it, the only science / sci fi kits I built are Gundams. Medyo relaxin gkasi no research neccesary.

What I don't like with some decals is they turn yellow after some time.  So if it's on a white plastic kit, it looks out of place - Pre overcoat your model with Future Floor Polish. You can airbrush it since it's dilute. it acts as a protective cover yun nga lang medyo glossy dating kits mo. I read in a recent FSM back issue that you add something to Futur to make their sheen semi gloss.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You add Tamiya Base Paint to Future to make it semi-gloss or flat. I'm currently experimenting with the Johnsons Wipe and Shine because my English friend, who is also an avid modeler and chemistry professor, says it is similar to future, although the local product is milky, while Future is clear. I've used it to dip canopies in, and it does give that gloss shine that Future does, even if it is milky, the stuff still dries clear. I will find out if I can use it to gloss coat a model to prepare it for oil washes.

 

BTW, I prefer jets to props too, but I will build a prop every now and then.

[Dr_PepPeR]

cool.  a thread for plastic model hobbyists/enthusiasts.  dying breed na tayo.  kahit ako nga, nag-hibernate rin.

 

used to do tanks when i was in grade school.  (that was the time na marami ka pa makikitang plastic models dun sa main branch ng national bookstore sa cubao.  )  i did it more for the toy perspective.  kahit na punuin ng cement yung gitna, basta dumikit!  wala na pintura-pintura.   and the only ones you saw were tamiya, hasegawa and the occasional revell.

 

in high school (in the us), semi-active lang.  a kit took months to build (maybe even a year?).  but i did stockpiling.  mainly star wars ako nun.  i had the x-wing, snowspeeder, darth vader tie fighter, AT-AT, BIG scale millenium falcon (gift from my sis  ).  i only got to finish x-wing and snowspeeder and some other small scale military aircraft (f-16 and a-10).  it was also the first time i got into painting the models.  spray paint first and then graduating to a single action airbrush with propellant can.  thankfully, nai-uwi dito sa pi yung AT-AT; still untouched up to now.    but the (unbuilt) millenium falcon is still in the us and have no idea what its condition is now.  baka napatungan na ng kung ano yung kahon at pipe na.    same goes for the other models i made...  masyado nang hassle just to bring them here. 

 

tried a few car models when i got back here to pass the time.  2 nissan skyline models.  that was before college.  nag-hibernate during college.  did some f1 models after college.  am now back in hibernation mode.  meron nang asawa at anak e.  and most of the free time is spent on ps2. 

 

though i ought to fix up those f1 models and put them on display.  sayang naman kung mabanish na lang.  does anyone know where to get those acrylic cases?  or is it easier to make one?  para hindi naman alikabukin ng todo when its out.  and so that no one will pick them up and play with them! 

 

most irritating line i've ever heard - "do the wipers move?  oops!"  Well, duh!!!  it's not a real car, is it?  sheesh, tao talaga.  worst one is a maid dusted an f1 model with a rag.  pag-kita ko, tanggal na lahat ng wings and steering wheel, and the side mirrors and antennas were missing in action.  galit na galit ako nun!    :grr:  bought another one to do over again.  non-hobbyists don't understand us at all...    at least my wife does. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Have to find out about those acrylic cases too. If I run across Shakespeare Ng, I will ask him since he has some kits on display with acrylic cases. I suspect somebody makes them to order. Anyway, we're not as few as we believe, there are a lot of closet scale modelers out there. The funny thing is, we have two competing organizations, the IPMS Philippines Bert Anido Chapter, which is the older one, and the IPMS Philippines which is a sister IPMS of a US IPMS. My impression is that both are not on speaking terms. Sayang naman.

[tobats04]

Hi... Great forum...

 

I'm into Scale Modelling but I'm still an amateur up to now...

I've researched a lot but I always ended up not finishing my scale models...

 

I used to buy WWII planes when I was a kid and wasnt serious enough and just ended up gluing and finishing the model... When I was in High School I found an Italeri F-16A for about a 100pesos bec. Tamiya Models is so expensive (I think even still now!) but didnt know how to use paints... then my sister bought me a genuine F-14 Tomcat 1:72 scale from the U.S. which has decals from the original movie - TOP GUN by Tom Cruise, but just barely started the cockpit and the front nose - (Somehow it was misplaced by my bestfriend who is now in Canada - together with the rest of my other Scale Models which were mainly Academy Kits). I bought a SU-27 1:48 Academy Kit in Seoul when I was in Korea last 1998 but also didnt finish bec. my painting was soooooo bad (I used spray paint cans) - this one I left behind from my workplace somewhere in the pacific but I bought it for a cheap price bec. I saw it from an old store in Seoul (like a typical sari-sari store) which doesnt really sell models but just happens to be there - and so I ended up bringing the big box in the Airport as additions to my luggage.

 

Scale Modelling however, brought me to love everything about every aircraft esp. US aircraft (F-14,F-15,F-16,A-10,F-22,F-117,Apache,Cobra,etc.) and Russian Aircraft(Su-27,Su-22,Mig-29,Antonov,Hind,etc).

For now I am here in Kuala Lumpur and hoping to start again and continue and happen to see Trumpeter Model Kits which has China Airforce Aircrafts and they are on sale for 50% discount last month.

 

Glad to hear from fellow amateur modellers. I hope you can provide Paint Techniques esp. for us amateurs who were having problems with paints and gluing parts.

 

1. Are Spray Paint Cans that good? or should we invest in expensive Air Brush Machines?

2. Are there cheap Air Brush Machines (locally made or Purchase Abroad)? Price Range?

3. How can we know when to use Spray paints or Brush?

4. how about using Putty? even now I still have problems with parts that have gaps when they are fitted?

5. Any Particular techniques in painting camouflage like mixing Green/Black/White/Brown?

6. Any tips about doing Weathering?

 

 

I read about using a clear top coat paint after finishing the paints and the decals to preserve the look. I also read that the 'mint' condition of the scale model also depends on the genuine Decals which are based on hard-to-find real insignias from the military.

 

Keep us updated and good to hear from this forum.

 

P.S. Any info on where I can buy the original TOP GUN movie F-14? as I've said it was already lost, and I wanted to buy again, but I can't search anything from the internet. Any info would be very well appreciated. I think my previous model kit was made by Revell. Thanks