discussion I HATE ! masking canopies....what do you like least about the hobby?

[Guest]

In my opinion, theres nothing more liable to curb your enthusiasm than masking a canopy...I know its a "me" patience thing and I know there has to be a magic solution that takes 20 seconds and offers a perfect finish....or maybe not.

 

[AlanG]

Masking canopies is the very reason why Eduard do canopy masks lol

 

[Alan 45]

I don't mask I have a very good magnifier and a very thin brush .

what gets me is flash and parts that don't fit properly , until I found this site I would look for reviews on kits id be interested in to get an idea of the problems I might find before I bought a kit, I found there were very few that told me of the problems I would find.

I hate filler as well lol

 

[AlanG]

I would look for reviews on kits id be interested in to get an idea of the problems I might find before I bought a kit, I found there were very few that told me of the problems I would find.

That's because all those so called experts very rarely build a kit out of the box. They always seem to want to add aftermarket extras like PE and resin and then still have the gaul to call it a 'review'

 

[Alan 45]

That's because all those so called experts very rarely build a kit out of the box. They always seem to want to add aftermarket extras like PE and resin and then still have the gaul to call it a 'review'

I have noticed that , I wonder if these self promoted experts work for the manufactures, I did notice on a couple of reviews that the kit they reviewed also dropped in that they used the same manufactures PE and paints, mmmmm

 

[Guest]

If you airbrush paint there is always a chance of paint settling on some parts you don't want it to. The only foolproof way is to mask off the bits you want to keep clear of paint. We me this usually lots of masking tape, paper, blu tac, to name a few. It doesn't exactly get the creative juices flowing.

 

[Guest]

In the very few times i've done a canopy ... i've used the "paint on with thin brush and scratch off excess with cocktail stick when dry" method... works for me with my limited aircraft bulding talents.

What i dislike in the hobby is what i dislike in many aspects of life .... false/misguided/inaccurate advertising.

i.e. waiting for a set of 1/48th figures from airfix, advertised to be a completely new mould and of a comparable quality to other manufacturers ... what i get is a mis-moulded sprue with some lumps of plastic that i have to cut and shape myself so they fit together.... i see that Tony (mossipilot) is having the same problems from his recent thread.

Rant over ... thanks for the excuse Danny

 

[Ian M]

Right now? I would have to say single link tank tracks!!!

Having just built a set up and painted them with out problems, they have now gone into self destruct mode while trying to get them on the tank... I have gone from to tracks of 101 links, to around 10-15 of various lengths. As soon as I get two parts together again, they part company somewhere else.

Avoiding the risk of throwing the whole thing at the nearest wall I have put it to one side until my humour returns.

I saw a neat trick for canopies a while back:

Take a sheet of clear decal film. Paint a bit with the inside colour, and when dry the outside colour for the canopy frames. When dry, cut into strips that are the required width. Apply as if it was a decal.... Sounds easy.......in theory.

Ian M

 

[spanner570]

Canopies? Same as Alan, magnifier and a fine pointed brush....

What really gets my goat is people who imply that just building out of the box produces an inferior model, is a waste of time, and buying PE is the only option to make a kit worth while.....

I realise that sometimes more detail can be achieved with this kind of stuff, but it's a total rip off what is charged for it - usually way more than the actual kit....

I need a lie down after that, I'm emotionally drained!

Ron

 

[Guest]

Cannot say, after consulting my brain, that I hate anything about model making.

Before I started I was an impatient being both with myself & others.

Since model making I have found that I have from some where gained patience which I have found as if by magic.

I love masking canopies & making as best as I can of the work as I know that if I do not I will be unhappy with the result & that goes all through model making for me.

Think It started when producing wedding films a few years ago after I had retired. I knew that if I did not film the event well then editing, the most important part of film making, could not make up for deficiencies in the filming. Same with model making.

Laurie

 

[Dave W]

I'm not keen on canopy masking either.Used an Eduard mask set for the first time on my recent Anson build and it made the job a lot easier.The thing I dislike the most is making up photo etch seat belts and attaching them to the seat.But I have to do it as the seats look bare without them.

 

[AlanG]

I actually don't mind masking. I find it relaxing (sometimes). My biggest thing i dislike (other than experts non-oob reviews) is actually decaling. I find it very boring. I know it makes the kit come to life but i just find it a nessasary evil i have to do to finish a kit

 

[Guest]

At the moment it's painting Tiger and Panther wheels, especially in 1/72.

 

[Guest]

Got to agree with Ian - single tank track links I hate them with a passion .

Richy

 

[colin m]

If it's a difficult canopy, I just do a bit at a time. It might take me four or five days, but hey, no rush.................

 

[Guest]

Cleaning the brushes and paintbrushes after painting, I'll often put off doing a section of paint for a day or two because I don't want to clean the stuff after, daft thing is, it's quick and easy and I realise this everytime I do it, would just be nice to be able to 'telly chef' it, y'know, walk in, pick up ready loaded airbrush, spray, walk out, someone else does the prep and washing up,

I enjoy all aspects of the actual model making, the only thing that can sometimes frustrate me is badly aligned parts and trying to get them aligned and secured properly.

Canopy masking I find quite therapeutic, I can sit with masking tape, scalpel and canopy and do it whilst watching a movie etc

On the 144th stuff, it's nigh on impossible, for these I use acrylic paint, brush on then clean to the edges with the point of a cocktail stick, works a treat.

 

[Ian M]

Oh Allyen hit the nail on the head! Modern aircraft, just how many freaking stencil markings does there need to be on an airframe!

I don't hate making single link tracks, they are a chore to build but the results are normally worth the effort. I just hate it when they fall apart quicker than you can mend them!!! LOL.

I cant realy say there is things I hate, some are just more laborious than others.

Ian M

 

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I use bare metal foil to mask canopies, , trim round it and burnish it down, then paint away. After you remove the foil use a little swab with alcohol to remove any glue on the panes, dip in some Klear , more than once if need be, then use a small brush to apply a matt varnish if require to match the main build,

I hate pilots that dont hold control sticks !!!!!

Adrian

 

[Guest]

Can't think of anything i really dislike....after a day getting stressed at work the whole modelling process is a relaxing diversion - I even like my "clean up the whole den" ritual I go through at the end of each model. - everything is cleaned down and all tools put away before the next is started - my nipper pulls the name of the next one in my stash to be made from a jar at random (stops me avoiding the more difficult ones - i'm a coward) and off i go again....i love the whole thing.

I don't even really mind that i'm not that good a modeller, i'll never be as good as an awful lot of you fellas...but like i said it keeps me happy.

 

[mossiepilot]

The thing I dislike is ill-fitting kits, be they warped parts, parts that don't fit as they should, see my airfix soldiers thread, parts with "tram line" panel lines that don't match up, the list goes on, but masking I find strangely relaxing.

I suppose it's too much to ask for a perfect kit at a price I can afford, there are some really nice kits out there with great after-market bits and bobs, but most are out of my price range, or to be more accurate, I refuse to buy expensive kits, this used to be pocket money hobby, hey ho.

So, until I win the lottery, or a long lost relative leaves me a fortune, cheap kits, with all the problems that come with them will have to do.

Keeps me out of SWMBO's hair, and gives her something to buy me for B'Days and Xmas.

Tony.