HI, having just returned to modelling after 20 odd years I have noticed a vast array of extras that can now be bought to enhance any models, I’d like to ask if everyone here uses such parts and if it’s frowned upon if I dont. I dont have anyone to show the models to after completion and neither do I have membership to any clubs to enter any competitions.
I’ve started doing a little weathering on my models but I am not up to the high standard that I see on many of the pics, I’ve looked through the forum and taken a few tips to help me get better results but there is a wide variety of choices so bearing in mind I am from England and so cant find some of the items I see from other countries , what is the most useful items to buy for weathering, are the Tamiya sets worth there money?
Some use the aftermarket parts. Some don’t. There is no shame in it. Some kits really need the help.
A good place to start with weathering are highly thinned artists oil paints. Search for something like a Sludge Wash or a Pin Wash to find out more. There are literally thousands of ways to weather.
The choice is yours and no one here will conbenm you either way. Some guys don’t touch Am, and others like myself add every thing we can lay our hands on. And like you, i don’t take my models to shows and very few people see them. I just like to add them for my own pleasure.
There are quite a few of us here from the UK. So if you see a product that one of our American cousins are useing and you don’t think you can get it here, somone will know of an alternative. But there ain’t that many things we can’t get, and if you really want it it can be easy enough to get from Europe or the US, often cheaper than it would be from the UK.
And yes, the Tamiya sets are deffinatly worth it. You might also want to consider pastel chalk that you can get from art shops and don’t cost alot and last ages.
Welcome to the site, always good to have another Brit on board to help balance things out.
On one hand, it’s been beaucoup years since I built a kit 100% out-of-the-box; on the other, I tend to buy materials rather than parts. So count me as neutral.
I’d say it’s a spectrum. What IS an aftermarket part anyway? (I’m being factitious.) But do we limit it to commercially available goodies (and then what about items once but no longer commercially available aka “unobtainium”)? What if I make/sculpt/carve(/GROW???) it myself? What’s the difference really between painting/decaling (esp. with aftermarket decals)/using commercial camo masks? And just to really phurn your gourd, what about scratch-building?
As part of my current project, I’m doing the reverse! I’ve REMOVED an extraneous piece from a pre-built kit (because I need an earlier incarnation for a diorama).
First off, welcome back to modeling. Since picking this back up myself about 3mos ago (from a 30yr hiatus) it is overwhelming what is now available. I must say, I first intend to do builds (OTB) out of the box but will use some scratch built seatbelts etc., That being said, I did order an aftermarket conversion kit from one of your fellow countrymen (Model Design Construction) in order to convert an unavailble version of an aircraft I wanted to build. At any rate, you can build a very presentable kit OTB. As far as weathering, that is an art which takes practice, practice, practice (but getting pointers from the guys on here makes it a lot easier [;)]).
You ask if it is frowned upon if oyu don’t use aftermarket parts. Build your kit the way you want, don’t let anybody tell you what is right or wrong. After all, this hobby is supposed to be fun. It’s bad enough that the high prices of kits, and their associated aftermarket parts, are discouraging to many people who are new, or returning to the hobby. Others get scared off or discouraged by the so-called “experts” who find it necessary to point out any little flaw or lack of detail in someone else’s finished work.
Personally, I try to build my kits as accurately and as detailed as I can, but I will never criticize anyone for the lack of aftermarket details or an accurate color scheme. I do bring some of my work to shows, to be displayed for others to enjoy. If they win in their category, that’s great, if not, no big deal. As I stated before, this hobby is supposed to be fun, so relax, open up that kit, & get started! Build it the way you want, to the best of your ability, & you will never be disappointed.
I decided to order a resin cockpit set with etched parts, I have two BF 109’s I picked up really cheap so I’m going to build one out of the box and the other I’ll add a few extras and see how much of a difference it makes to the final kits.
Thanks for the advice about weathering, I spent a good few hours looking through loads of tips and videos and now feel I could at least make a decent attempt, I picked up some pastels a month or so ago along with a huge supply of Tamiya paints, including the smoke that is mentioned a few times. I think I am fairly well set up now with everything I need including various airbrushes both single and dual, but if anyone has any most have items on there list please let me know.
oh nearly forgot , on the weathering topic, people talk about dishwasher cleaner, are we talking about the likes of Fairy and not actual dishwasher machine liquids?
When it comes to resin cockpits, i would suggest alot of test fitting. And you will probably find you will have to thin the plastic of the cockpit walls. What make are you getting.
If your are referring to a sludge wash, then yes, normal washing up liquid is what they mean.
Good choice on both accounts there. I have used a few on their 72nd pits, and always loved them. But you will still deffinatly need to thin the cockpit and may even have to trim some of the resin to fit. But well worth it.
Do what you want to do with it. I tend to buy AM parts for things I either don’t have the skill or willingness to scratch. I usually will buy gun barrels, or seat belts, I have made seat belts and they came out ok but they could be better.
As far as the Taymia sets, they work good, and i have used them but to me they just don’t give the same results as I have seen with people using pigments.
Well, the resin cockpit arrived and I have started my 2nd BF109, the first is almost finished and made completely out of the box so I can see the difference between the two.
I’ve seperated all the resin parts for my 2nd one and I’ve thinned out the cockpit area ready, one side question do I use superglue or something similar to glue the cockpit together?
You need to use superglue for resin. I use Zap a Gap as it comes in different sort with different setting times, but standard superglue will do the job. Just make sure you test fit several time before glueing.
It all depends on what you want to do and what you want to use. Instead of oils I am experimenting with chalks so I can clean up if I make a mistake. Welcome back .[proplr]