Sorry if this has been asked before

[Guest]

I've had a search about but can't seem to find the answers to these, but sorry if they are out there and i've missed them.

1. Is there a book that tells you the basics of modelling, like what tools you need, the best way to build, all the little tips that take you from being a complete newby to a compitent modeller is what i'm looking for. Books or dvds or magazines

2 Are there any good modelling mags in the uk, are they worth subscribing too? (i'm seeming to be drawn towards military modelling, especially WW2)

3 Airbrush. Highly important piece of kit or something that is nice to have when you can afford it? What type of airbrush, and is there a "starter" airbrush or is it go for the big money name?

I think thats it all covered!

Cheers in advance peeps.

[spanner570]

1. I would suggest the best way to learn is not through publications, but hands on, trial and error, and ask away here with as many questions as you like.

2. I have never subscribed to a mag. or bought one...I would prefer to get advise from places such as this forum rather than read articles and adverts.

3. Can't help as I aint got one...yet! But I await with interest the replies.

All a bit negative, but I prefer to get my hands dirty, ask someone and learn from my mistakes as I go along and form my own style. I hope you see what I'm getting at?

Ron

[jspitza]

Hello:

Checkout Phil Flory's site www.promodeller.com He has a bunch of free full build DVDs and is very friendly. He's even a member of our illustrious group! If you have some money to spend, Floyd S. Werner, Jr. has a phenomenal 5 hour DVD build video. Its called "Master Class Clinic#1 and still makes my head spin. HTH Jeff

[Guest]

As Ron said, the only way to start is by knocking out a kit & seeing how it goes. If you're looking to make WW2 stuff, then for 1/35 armour I'd go with Tamiya all the time. There are cheaper brands (Revell or Italeri) but Tamiya is a nice blend of detail, good workmanship without being too hard for a newbie. Also, go for a reasonably new kit as they tend to have less issues with fitting the parts together-a good example is Tamiya's late Tiger 1 which was my 1st one & was a lovely kit to make. For advise & stuff, you can't do better than the collective wisdom on here.

I do occasionally buy some magazines, if they have an article that interests me but I wouldn't say any or better than others-I go for the cheaper one's if I'm honest! One 'book' that I did buy was 'How to build Tamiya's steel-wheeled Tiger' by Angus Creighton' and that's an excellent one, with many techniques applicable to all AFV's.

lol reading this back it looks like I'm working for Tamiya! Not true!

With regard to an airbrush, I personally started with rattle cans (still use them for base coats!) then moved to a single action AB. This provided a fairly hassle-free way to get into practising the techniques. Looking back now, prices have dropped so much that for what I paid for just the AB, I could have got a full set-up with a compressor! What I'm hoping to get now is this one:

COMPLETE AIRBRUSH COMPRESSOR KIT AIR BRUSH ACCESSORIES on eBay (end time 16-Dec-09 22:29:17 GMT)

It's a comprehensive set with just about everything you need (except a mini inline watertrap). I know Chris (Gladiator111) has one one these & he reported it's working well after 6 months of having it.

Patrick

[stona]

The guys have got this covered. I'd just add that I used to subscribe to a couple of mags but no longer. I may pick one up if it covers something I am doing or have convinced myself I will do.

There are some good online "how to" videos about. Brett Green did a series of "Testor's scale workshop" videos which are pretty good. He plugs his Testor/Aztec kit a bit relentlessly but there is plenty of information to be gleaned and he builds beautiful models.

Steve

[Guest]

Cheers all some good info there. If anyone else has anything to say keep it coming.

I think getting stuck into a few kits is going to be the best learning curve but i just don't want to finish a kit look at it and think :censored2 when i've missed something simple that could have saved it! I think i'm turning this into rocket science. Ha ha

One other thing i've just thought of is what brushes do people use? I think i'm trying to run before i can walk here, but hey ho i like to have as much info on things as possible.

[Guest]

I think we've all done that with a few kits! I've got 2 King Tigers on the go, simply coz I messed up the original & I had to buy another kit to finish both of them!

I've got basic Revell brushes & a few 'proper' sable one's that I had previously but I don't think it makes much difference-the Revell one's are good & don't shed their bristles at all.

Patrick

[spanner570]

Good advise from 'The Dub' and I would add a fine detail brush to your stash.

Don't make the mistake I did when buying brushes and go for a cheap set, the bristles open out in nothing flat and are useless. The above mentioned one cost me £3.50 alone, but well worth it.

Finally, the bestest ever advise I was given and I pass on to you is make a small notice and pin it by your modelling board for reference. On it should read...."ALWAYS HAVE FUN", got it?

O.K., Onwards and upwards!!

:grinball1: Ron

[Gern]

I've got to second Spanner's advice here. I'm stuck with a huge stash of kits that I'm half frightened of starting in case I make a mess of them - and a stack of half-done kits with problems I can't solve at the moment. Things like badly fitting parts, awkward seams, tricky masking or difficult paint schemes. I wish I'd left some of these 'til I got better skills, but I'll be able to go back to them one day.

I have limited time to build so now I'm cracking on with some of the simpler stuff and learning as I go. Not all of my work is successful (I wish I'd got a camera - you listening Santa? - so I could show you some of my mistakes and get some useful feedback) and I'm embarrassed at some of my earlier stuff, but now I wouldn't be frightened of showing my more recent work - even though it's nowhere near as good as what we see regularly on this forum.

Don't talk yourself out of building things, but at the same time, be a bit selective over the kits you start. You wouldn't want to ruin or be unable to finish something that cost £100 when you can practise the techniques you need on kits which cost a tenth of that.

Gern

[Guest]

All good advice from Ron & Gern there-something occured to me though! On another thread we were talking about ready-made models bought on ebay, so if you pick some up cheaply, you could use them as 'test-beds' for painting or dio building without worrying that you're wasting an expensive model (not to mention the time you might invest in construction of said model!)

Patrick

[stona]

I think getting stuck into a few kits is going to be the best learning curve but i just don't want to finish a kit look at it and think :censored2 when i've missed something simple that could have saved it! I think i'm turning this into rocket science. Ha ha.

Has anyone ever built something that they were 100% happy with? I've built plenty I'm happy with but there is always something......! I've got a lot of models on which I prefer one side to the other,how sad is that lol.

I don't mean that to sound negative,it's just there is always room for improvement. For me that's part of the fun.

Steve

[Guest]

Completely agree Steve. Every model i've built i've never been overly happy with but i make a note of it and improve for the future. One of the more heart-breaking sides is when buying some material, thinner or whatever and it completely decimates weeks of work. I bought a bottle of Revel thinners or my acrylics when applying a wash... my god, it stripped the paint off right down to the bone. Yep, it's trial and error which maybe expensive at times but hey ho live and learn.

I bought a handful of magazines when i was back i Blighty during the summer. Not so much useful stuff but they at least give references to online model shops, give some tips which i might use and give me a quality to aim towards. As for books, Osprey make some good ones. They outline all tools required plus techniques and provide numerous examples. They even specialise in some books. Luckily when i went to the Mosquito museum slap bang next to where i livED in June, i picked up an Osprey book on modelling the Mosquito which i have sitting on my shelf waiting to be built when i'm not so scared anymore Funnilt enough, i've read all the books i bought cover to cover several times but as the lads have said, it's a case of DIY and discovering what works for you.

As for the airbrush, our Patrick hit the nail on the head. I started with spray cans which served me well on my first projects and then realised for that extra special touch, an airbrush would provide sexiness. I got myself a Badger 100 dual action. Yep, it does take a while to get used to and again a case of trial and error. I love my airbrush and want to be burried with it.

Some useful things have been mentioned. I've also seen Brett Green on Testor's Scale Workshop and yeah, he blasts on about his Aztec airbrush a bit and i love the way he always swivels into each new shot but the guy knows what he's talking about. In fact i get most tips off the internet especially Youtube.

As the Chinese said: First comes skill then comes creativity.

Cheers

Paul

[Guest]

Roll on tomorrow, day off with nothing to do but get stuck into some of the kits i've got sitting here giving me the eye!

Cheers

Wayne