Author Topic: Modellers question III (Read 475 times)

gofaster · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2004, 03:10:43 PM »

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Originally posted by frank3
Yeah the gap...

unfortunately, the model was from Airfix, and Airfix isn't well known for it's high quality models...the gap, along with some other manufacturer mistakes I couldn't hide...

For instance, the bottom fuselage doesn't seem to really join together.

I noticed that Airfix has quality issues, too. But they do make affordable kits so I'm willing to give them some leeway on quality.

For the bottom seam, one trick I've done with Airfix kits is to apply more glue to the main seam than I would normally use on another kit, so that when the two halves are pressed together a small line of glue seeps out from the joint. I let the glue dry overnight so it is real hard, and then I trim it down and sand it. The glue will fill the gaps between the two parts and when you paint it, the viewer will never see the gaps. Airfix uses a softer plastic than other manufacturers, so the excess glue will help convince the plastic to mold to itself to fill the gaps.

Even though you have already glued the fuselage together, you can still fill in that gap with glue (wipe it with your finger to level it out) and brush paint it after it is dry. Since you used flat paint, it should blend ok if you "feather" the edges real thin.

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The .50 machine guns for the waists looked awfull, so I scrap-built 2 of them.

I used 2 machine guns left over from an other modell, I cutted hundreds and hundreds of small pieces of metal wire, representing bullets and glued em onto a strap of paper representing the bullet belt

That's a good idea! I'll have to remember that.

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Also the waist-gunners compartiment hadn't got any detail, so I made some bulkheads, walk-path and fuselage ribs from paper.

I've used paper and I've used sheet plastic. I think the sheet plastic works better because it will join to the fuselage better. Plus, you can glue stuff onto the sheet plastic to give the bulkhead some detail. One thing I like to do is use little pieces of sprue to make fire extinguishers and oxygen tanks. I also use rod styrene to make hydraulic lines and electrical tubing.

Also, for the c-pit windscreen, add some paint along the leading edge to blend it in to the fuselage like the sides are blended in.

So far, it looks good!

frank3 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2004, 06:25:51 AM »

Actually I did all that.

For instance, the cockpit;

The cockpit was horrifying Airfix style....it consisted of 1 bulkhead for the floor, 2 chairs and a instrument panel with 2 steers.

I added a bulkhead behind the chairs, added wire armrest, added fire extinguishers, instrument panels alongside of the chairs, wire throttles, buttons etc.

All scratch build and it looks fairly good!

About the bottom seams, it really can't be fixed well, the upper side joins well, but the bottom seems not to, here's basically how the halfs join.

gofaster · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2004, 08:38:24 AM »

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Originally posted by frank3
Actually I did all that.

For instance, the cockpit;

The cockpit was horrifying Airfix style....it consisted of 1 bulkhead for the floor, 2 chairs and a instrument panel with 2 steers.

I added a bulkhead behind the chairs, added wire armrest, added fire extinguishers, instrument panels alongside of the chairs, wire throttles, buttons etc.

All scratch build and it looks fairly good!

Sounds good! I do the same thing with a couple of Me109 cockpits I'm building - adding throttle quadrants, radio boxes, fuseboxes, sometimes even dashboards. The Airfix Me109G is really just an older MPC 109 kit, and it is kind of crappy. Heller did a better job with its 109 kits and they cost about the same as Airfix, but they don't have much of an interior either.

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About the bottom seams, it really can't be fixed well, the upper side joins well, but the bottom seems not to, here's basically how the halfs join.

Yeah, that looks alot like the Airfix 109 kits I've built!

I end up losing a lot of detail on the bottom as a result. The seam can be fixed, but it takes a lot of filler and sanding to do it. I guess for the PBY, you can leave it since those planes sit so low to the ground anyway.

frank3 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 11, 2004, 09:35:53 AM »

Yeah, Im not planning to do anything about that anyway, it's hardly visible.

I've weathered the white parts, I found they were way too white

[img]

gofaster · « **Reply #19 on:** June 11, 2004, 12:34:46 PM »

What did you use for the weathering? Thinned brown or off-white?

frank3 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2004, 12:56:11 PM »

I used brown chalk.
Rasp some chalk with a knive, put it in a small container with a tiny bit of water and dishwasher, paint it on, wait a minute or two and whipe it off with a damp tissue.

debuman · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2004, 02:43:22 PM »

I've used the "Smoke" paint from Tamiya thinned down with a lot of thinner to create the same type of effects before.

I liked the ideas for the paint chipping techniques!

United · « **Reply #22 on:** June 18, 2004, 03:12:42 PM »

Do you guys actually paint or do you use an airbrush like me. Cause if you do paint, thats some awesome work there frank!

gofaster · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2004, 08:31:50 AM »

I use paint (or spray paint), but my models are usually 1/72 fighters so I can get away with it.