Advice or Tips on large kit building?

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

I’ve inherited some of my Dad’s unfinished model kits. We made over 100+ models together and I’ve decided to finish some of the one’s he started before his health failed him.The first one on the list is a 1/72nd scale B-1 made by Monogram. The others are a 1/48 B-1B Lancer (Revell), an F-16…that I believe is 1/32…a B-17 made by Monogram, 1/72nd B-36- Peacemaker and a c-47 Skytrain as well.

I’m used to building in 1/72nd scale mostly. So…the larger kits are a litle intimidating (especially the Peacemaker).

First thing I need to do is buy a new workbench. What I currently work on is too small. Oh no…not a new workbench! Anything but that!

I haven’t built a large kit like any of these for quite some time.

Any tips or best practices or pitfalls to avoid when making ‘the big ones’?

2

Having a large workbench is nice but not a necessity. As long as you build in subassemblies, then marry the assemblies together you’ll be fine.

Don’t be intimidated by size, the process to assemble is the same. You might actually find that building bigger is much easier.

3

I hear ya!

I’m about to start working on a Revell 1:48 scale B-29. This thing is freakin’ HUGE! I’ve got NO idea where I’m going to put it when I’m done! Will probably end up building a custom case for it!

4

I’m with Hawkeye on this one. It is actually easier to work on the big ones, especially 1/24 scale. The addition of details and the actual building is easier on both the fingers and the eyes.[8-|] The only drawback is the need for more display space.

5

Have fun,but your biggest problem might be where to dispay them.

6

Display isn’t a problem if you plan it right… The B-17 will fit nicely on a 20 inch shelf… I’ve fit mine on 18 inches, as a matter of fact… Ya just gotta watch that the wife doesn’t clip a wing when she throws her coat on near it… All ya need is enough width to park it at an angle that allows all three wheels to sit on the shelf…

7

Build them the same way you would a small kit, except build it as if it were bigger—or something like that…

8

I haven’t figured out the display issue with my Monogram B-52, so that project fell flat. I don’t care for hanging models as I am tall, and my ceilings are low. I would just say plan where you will display them.

(I would love to do a Peacemaker in 1/72nd scale, but…)

9

Yah…displaying them will be a totally different issue.

10

There’s some guys here that display large models by hanging them vertically on the wall…

Hawkeye did this:

11

Hey, that’s a good idea! Never thought of that. I recently built the 1/72 B-36 Peacemaker. I used a 3’ X 6’ folding table for the final assembly and had no problems. I tried to hang it from the ceiling in the TV room/den but the old lady had a fit- so now it’s hanging by two wires from the rafters above my basement workshop where nobody can see it…

[:(]

12

The only tip I have with building the kits is the same as scratch-building: keep chipping away at it, making the big picture into smaller, simpler shapes and sub-assemblies. Just stick with it, and eventually you’ll get it done.

However, when it comes to displaying it, your on your own when it comes to me[:S]