Scale models

[gofaster]

My first attempt at a diorama.  I thought it turned out ok.



Everyting is in HO-scale except the bombs, which I cannibalized from some 1/72 kits.


Here's an Airfix Me109G I bought for $3 (second-hand, unbuilt).  Crappy kit - wouldn't buy another except for parts.  I decided to make it "crashed" to hide a bottom seam line.  





Here's what is sitting in my garage and on my bench waiting for me.



Sorry for the size, but I'm too lazy to shrink it down.

[B17Skull12]

how much for the 109 and 190?

[gofaster]

I try not to spend more than $6 on a kit ($10 if there's shipping involved).  Most of the second-hand stuff I bought off eBay for $5 or less (plus another $5 for shipping).  Hasegawa and Revell make some phenomenal values for what you can do with them.  They build up well and can turn out really nice with some scratchbuilt c-pit details.

[NUKE]

nice gofaster!

Man, you have LOTS of models! You better get busy

[gofaster]

LOL! Average build time for me is measured in months.  In the case of the Starfighter buried underneath the 109, the barricades, a tree, Sidewinders, and miscellaneous bits and pieces, that's a plane that's sat under there for years.  And it is sitting on top of its box!

What I'm really looking forward to doing next is that tuna clipper sitting off to the side by the dryer.  Its N scale (more or less) and will still be plenty big.  I want to get it built before Autumn, and before the dryer's heat warps the pieces.

The tan 109 is destined for a desert diorama of Hans Joachim-Marseilles.  I just finished painting the palm tree (not pictured) and hope to get started on the crew figures soon.  The plane itself is waiting for landing gear and the prop/spinner, then decals, then a pilot, then the c-pit glass.

The white plane is the "Ike" racer plane.  The white tower is the racing pylon for it.  I'm going to turn it into a diorama I can keep at my desk at work.  It makes a nice non-military diversion from the fleets of 109s and Mustangs I have.

Under the two Spitfire V boxes is a Tamiya F4U that I'm going to try and build with some weathering effects similar to frank's PBY Catalina.  Hopefully I won't screw it up!

[gofaster]

Originally posted by gofaster
My first attempt at a diorama.  I thought it turned out ok.
Here's what is sitting in my garage and on my bench waiting for me.



Sorry for the size, but I'm too lazy to shrink it down.

Ok, now I have a problem.

You see that white plane on its wingtip next to the white tower?  That's a 1/72 scale of the "Ike" racing plane.  Now, according to the pictures I'm using as reference, there's supposed to be some tension wires strung from the wings to the fuselage, and another set betwen the landing carriage (whenever I get around to installing it).

My question is, what do I use for these wires that would be easy to install and wouldn't sag?

[Mathman]

Get some very fine fishing thread or some of the nylon thread that is labelled as "invisible."  Once you have it attached, light a cigarette and hold it under the thread.  It will shrink it up a bit.  Don't touch the thread with the cig, it will melt it.

[gofaster]

Two problems:
(1) I don't smoke
(2) there's not much room between the wing and the "cable".  

Is there any sort of stiff wire that I could use?

[Dune]

Do you always leave your crack-smoking tin foil out where people can see it?

BTW, nice models.

[Mathman]

You could find some very thin brass rod.  You don't have to use cigarettes.  A soldering iron could work as well, you just need to keep it a bit further away.  A candle held at a distance as well.  You could even use the cigarette lighter from your car (you just need to take the model to the car.

[gofaster]

Originally posted by Dune
Do you always leave your crack-smoking tin foil out where people can see it?

BTW, nice models.

LOL!  I use tinfoil because it won't leave fibres on paint like paper would.

and thanks!

[gofaster]

Originally posted by Mathman
You could find some very thin brass rod.  You don't have to use cigarettes.  A soldering iron could work as well, you just need to keep it a bit further away.  A candle held at a distance as well.  You could even use the cigarette lighter from your car (you just need to take the model to the car.

There's some good ideas.  There's an art supply store up the road from where I work.  I'll check it out and see if they would have thin rod.

[Sikboy]

Say GF, is that the Bunker Hill there in the background? I think I have the same model.

-Sik

[Weezer]

u could also use 24ga or 28 ga  copper wire

[Shane]

Originally posted by Weezer
u could also use 24ga or 28 ga  copper wire

way too overscale... even 32ga is pushing it for 1/48 for that purpose.

36ga or more...

some people use hair "donated" from those within arm's length - if it's long enough.