Tricky Bits on kits

[Guest]

I don't know if anyone has done a thread like this before being new to this site.

I thought it would be helpful for us all in that it would highlight problem areas on kits that you have found.

I know a couple of members have either got kits on the go that I have nearly completed or in my stash awaiting my attention.

so I thought it maybe an idea to have somewhere members could ask or tell each other the problem and how they over came it.

I hope this makes sense

Terry

[flyjoe180]

Hi Terry. Most of us running a build thread will talk about issues that arise during the build. Possibly too broad a topic for a single thread, there are a large number of kits out there.

[Guest]

Ok cheers for you thoughts Joe much appreciated

[flyjoe180]

Having said that, general issues and building solutions can be found in the various sections here : http://www.scale-models.co.uk/#modelling.70

We have a review section here too: http://www.scale-models.co.uk/forums...ct-reviews.91/

Great idea though Terry, and welcome along to the forum too if I haven't already said gidday.

[Guest]

Thanks Joe

[Guest]

Good idea Terry. I think some kind of database highlighting problem areas would be a great asset to newcomers to the hobby. Good, easier to built kits are around which could be recommended for newbies which would built confidence , instead of making a stab in the dark choice with enough niggles to put you off for life.

[Ian M]

I doubt if we will ever get a data base together, way to many variables.

I think that a quick search on the forum after a subject might dig up a few results of builds.

Trust me, if some one has hit a bump in the road, they will say so in their thread. One thing to remember though: Plastic is a 'living' material. It can change shape.

A kit I build and say is great and falls together and fits great, could have been stored in a cool room and the same kit built by another, could be stored in a hot dry shop window. Thus he will say that the fit was cr*p and the decals rubbish. It could also be an experienced builder saying its a good kit where as a not so experienced builder might have problems building it.

I always find that a search on the WWW normally turns up a good half dozen build reviews. I form an idea out from those. Most of the time I just buy the kit and build it, accepting the challenges as they come.

Ian M

[Dave W]

As Ian says,There are plenty of reviews on the Internet.If I'm thinking of buying a certain kit I just google 'Revell 1/48 F15E' for instance and up will come several reviews.I also use 'modelling madness.com' which has a lot of kit reviews by people like us.

[Guest]

Thanks for your thoughts guys I will cancel the idea

Terry

[Guest]

Search the net by all means. If kit originate from the sixties or early, accept frustrations and buy a large tube of filler and sanding sticks and expect some rescribing. Buy more recent kits, and you will enjoy a better result.

[eddiesolo]

Many older kits, that I have got cheap, have been problematic due to storage in poor conditions, poor shut lines, slight warping etc. Tried many things even hot welding, sometimes they work sometimes not.

Si

[Guest]

Hi Terry & welcome.

Well here is one. One wing on my Lysander dropped off. There is no way with out major surgery of refitting.

Yucks only had about 6 hours work on it to complete.

Still after the annoyance (being kind to myself there) I am looking forward to a bit of dramatic brain power ingenuity & nimble fingers to solve the problem.

In the mean time off for a week. Agree with Ian so many problems & how do you data base them. Best is for problems to be sorted in a new article. It is amazing what is thrown up, new & old,on how to get around a difficulty. That would not happen with a data base.

Laurie

[stona]

Whenever I build a kit which throws up some tricky bits I'll always highlight the issue in a build thread. Thankfully major fit issues are few and far between these days on more recent mass production kits.

If you are going to attempt an older or limited run kit then a check on the internet is a good idea. Someone will have built it and should raise the issue(s). I always try and find a build by a fellow modeller rather than always relying on reviews by someone who was given the kit and is effectively writing an advert for the manufacturer. Sometimes (not always) these reviews can be a little bit economical with the truth. Someone like you or me is going to call it as they see it as they have no incentive to do otherwise.

For example, I built a PCM Hurricane here on scale-models. If you follow the instructions to fit the wings to the fuselage you will be in for a world of pain! I can offer one way around the problem, there may be others! It's still a very good kit and makes a very good Hurricane. PCM didn't pay me to say so, nor to point out the ill fitting wings

Cheers

Steve