Just about everything I build is scratchbuilt or drasticly kit bashed and scratch. This is due to the fact that there is no kits available.in my chosen subjects(Vietnam Era) Also because I have got to feed myself more challenging projects. Sometimes I will build OOB, but I find myself getting bored with it and then I will start to research the model and you know where this leads too. My $15.00 models becaomes a $60.00 one with after market parts. It is cheaper to scratch the parts.
I scratchbuild quite a bit. Right now, there is a 1/16th scale Pitts S2B under construction, soldered brass rod fuselage structure, wooden rib-and-spar wings covered in heat-shrink covering. Also doing a 1/24th Aeronca 7AC in the same medium. It is actually a lot of fun.
Got me there Mike! Nope sure dont build the blanks…I get mine from Fenwick,St.Croix,All star just to name a few…
What if I told you there was a mill & lathe combo package for under $400 ! Check it out here http://www.clisby.com.au/ Doesn’t look like a toy either!
Hi Woody, i have been plucking up the courage to start a scrachbuild of a comper swift in 1/72 (odd subject i know but its a pretty little aircraft) the plans are in a book that i have but they are in 1/48th but that wont be a problem.
Greg
Hey Greg, Are you building the inline or radial engine version? By the way I’m sorry I haven’t sent out your package yet. De got very sick and eventually ended up in the hospital. She is feeling much better now and has come home. I haven’t forgotten about you I promise! [;)]
Hi Woody:
As you can see from all the replies there are lots of resources here to reach out to, so I hope this gives you and some of the others the needed confidence to go ahead.
Regarding the balsa wood, I will be doing something like that to reinforce the vac form wings in my 1:48 Halifax kit, but right now I’m concentrating on the ship.
BTW, there is a product out there in hardware stores called Sanding Sealer which is specifically designed to close the grain in wood. Won’t be quite as strong as your CA bath, but it would probably be cheaper if you do this a lot.
My models are all one-off, so I just build the part rather than making a mold. For items that I need a few of I’ll make a wooden or metal master and then cast what I need. For things like ship’s rigging blocks I just sit in front of the TV for a couple of nights and turn them out from wood blanks.
For the wooden ships I usually use softwood to make keels and bulkheads and then plank with hardwood strips. This similar method I’m doing now in styrene is turning into a bit of an adventure, but so far I like the results.
Good luck with your build,
Bruce
If everything turns out right my Panther with correct turet will be in my sig. [:D]
To my knowledge very few (Possibly only one) of the Pz IV/Panther D hybreds were built. They had no turret traverse (Bolted on.) and were used as command vehicles on the eastern front. I have more info but can’t remember the particulars right now.
Hey Woody,
I just found those Clisby lathes/mills the other day myself. I did a bit of research and it’s tough to find anything wrong with them. I am SERIOUSLY thinking of ordering from them. The price is SO right and they’d do anything I would need for model building.
Personally, I’d like to try scratch-building a modern chopper (bike) like they seem to be showing all over TV these days (someone else posted one on here a while back). Other than that, it’s just the odd component here and there…
Murray
Hey Murray, They look like great tools don’t they! There is supposed to be a CNC conversion available from the US distributor. As a side note Mr Clisby is the Fellow who designed the Sherline lathes!
Here is a picture of my F2G. This is still very early in the shaping proccess but the basic shape is there.
Let me know what you think.
I have to thank Woody for putting me on to them as well! Will be getting one hopefully in the next year or so…!
I been scratching together a dio of the Gate Room from Stargate SG-1 for several months now. The hard part has been finding any quality photos to work from. Of course the scale is all guessitmated but I’ve got some 1/35 figures to pose as the SG team. It keeps getting put on the back burner as I run into snags or have other projects take priority, but I hope to get in done before MGM decides to put out a model kit or the end of this decade. [:D]
I’m also getting used to scratchbuilding alot of other stuff for planned diorama window dressing. I’ve changed my whole method of shopping. Instead of I need this… it’s become, What can I do with this.
Don[alien]
Here is another picture of my F2G.
This is made up of seven pieces of balsa inpregnated with thin CA. My plan was to use this as a master for RTV molds and cast the final bird in polyester or epoxie resin.
This picture doesn’t really do these parts justice. I suppose that is because of the grey & black paint I’m using to find flaws. [;)]
I started my modellinghobby with scratch bulding. I was very keen on ships and small boats and I couldn’t get kits 40 odd years ago of what I wanted or they were too expensive so as mentioned above good reference material with hull plans and deck photos and a balsa creation evolved. All motorised too. It was about 10 years later that I started with model cars, the first serious one being Airifx’s 1/12th Bentley. I still have one of my first model ships (English Ton class minesweeper) albeit in very poor condition as its the only model I’ve ever won anything with! Since I’ve done a lot of detail work on model cars but not to the extent many of you above do. One thing I’m planning to do is to convert a Tamiya 962 to a road car. I’ve found some photos of one such beast and it doesn’t look too difficult a conversion but there a substantial rear body changes.
me…
i’m just about finished with a scratchbuilt uparmor conversion of a 1/72 panzer iv ausf. g (side skirts and spaced turret armor plus a few other minor items) and about to start on a Panther ausf. g to ersatz M10 conversion, also in 1/72.
even if there were aftermarket goodies available, i’d feel kinda silly spending more on them than i did on the kit…
and i don’t mind spending a little time 2 make sure that my model isn’t exactly the same as everyone else’s…
someday when my skills improve enough, i plan 2 do a scratchbuilt
s-tank in 1/72… i’ll probably get it finished just in time 2 find out that hasegawa or dragon will b releasing one shortly, but whatever…[;)]
frosty[:)]
I scratch build or try to whatever I want on a Kit and either can’t find or don’t want to break down and go aftermarket. I’m making a working buckle for the collar of a 54mm patrol dog. Yes I’m crazy most of us here are.
Woody,
I am in the process of scratchbuilding a Quad 40mm bofors in 1/32 scale. I find 1/2 of the enjoyment is the research and the planning stage. The other half is building something that cant be bought at that scale or in a kit. For those of you who feel they dont have the skills I would say that everyone has the skills but you just need the project to bring them out. Just get it done.
discipline by example.
ICIT
Well said icit! The important thing is to start a project. If you care about the subject your working on the rest will follow. [swg]