The Scale Models Thread

[Pico]

I couldn't think of a better place to put this, but I think this is best. Not sure how many people here are into this, but I hope there's enough!

 

This will be where all of us scale modelers can come and show off your current and past works, give and get tips and tricks, and just BS about scale modeling.

 

A little backstory on myself: I first picked up a Gundam kit about 10 years ago when it was big here in the US. I eventually put about 30 or so together, and look back they came out very sh*tty. Even my best lacked refinement. With my free time to sit around, I figured I'd pick myself up a new kit and some supplies and start screwing around. So last week I grabbed a 1/100 Master Grade Wing Gundam and some basic supplies and got to work. And today I went out and picked up a car to expand my horizon a bit, and to give myself models to alternate while waiting for stuff to dry, etc. Below you can see some inprogress shots and some more info.

 

 

Ferrari 458 Italia, 1/24 scale (Level 3) by Revell. Just picked it up today. Decided I'd go with a flat black look, I always love how this looks on cars and I think with the right light hitting it the bodylines pop beautifully. This is after the first clear coat, I'll probably apply at least 2 more. I also plan on rigging up some LEDs... although I can't seem to get such a simple circuit to work without almost starting a fire...

 

 

 

 

Wing Gundam, 1/100 scale (Master Grade) by Bandai. I picked this up last Sunday. This is it all put together. Since this I've disassembled the legs and painted the outside pieces. Primer, 3 coats of white, and 4 coats on the red parts (doesn't want to take well). The white parts should be good now, I may start lining those next. I think I'm going to finish the legs, then the arms or torso. The head itself will be a project, with all the detail. And the wings will be last.

 

 

 

 

That's enough of my crap. Let's see what you've got, in progress or finished!

[iRloading]

my [wip] area is a mess/junkyard atm so i'll leave those pics for later.

 

as for anything relevant that i've finished:

 

 

1/144 scale gn-archer from gundam 0, kit-bashed from old kit parts i had lying around.

 

this was the base:

 

 

this was actually a 'segway' while I was working on an MG crossbone kit (which is sadly still a work in progress... cant figure out how to progress as far as weathering it or not)

 

the crossbone in question:

 

 

and attempt at weathering:

 

 

and sorta shading more noticable:

 

 

I then realized: "f*ck, this dude's mainly in space... how the sh*tters did he get so dirty specially on the feet?" so yeah, might have to rework on that

 

I got back into scale modeling just a year and a half ago when funds finally allowed me to buy enough paint and the tools necessary learned a lot tho... most impartantly that plastic eventually wears thin the more you repaint a surface (having that you either use thinner or sand down the paint). But i've learned and still learning a lot of stuff, like panel lining, creating panel lines (etching), and using plaplates or styrene sheets to modify/add detail. The MG kits make good practice really.

 

so yeah, sorta a fledging gunpla dork here

 

I had prior experience in handbrushing miniatures like the warhammer 40k units, but the paint was pricey as well as the metal-cast figurines

 

now it's all airbrush for main parts, i use laquer paint after priming. then acrylic or enamel for detailing since it'd be easier to wash off/thin on the laquer surface (laquer wont remove unless used laquer thinner or sanded down) really small brushes, patience, multiple layers/coating and hours to dry even overnight, working on the seamlines, etc. etc. must feel good to have a finished product...

 

just realized I still have 3 MG kits waiting, 1 still in cryostasis, 2 1/100 no grade kits, a 1/72 valkyrie from macross/robotech and a lot of my old toys/figures need some retouching from age

Edited March 5, 2011 by iRloading

[Pico]

I like the weather on the Crossbone. I thought of the weather while watching one of those Bandai tutorials online recently and realized all the weathering I did on my Gundam Wing series models was pretty damn retarded. They did go on earth, but the majority of time, and damage taken, was in space. Something I'll have to keep in mind for future work. As for the Wing Gundam above, I plan on just sticking to the clean, "fresh out of the factory" look, if you will.

 

Since you brought up etching, I must say it's a bitch. I can't seem to trace an already created line worth dick. I end up having to sand out the accidental scrapes, and in order to do so well it ends up shortening the depth of the line as it is.

I haven't dared creating any of my own just yet... I won't on the Wing model I'm working on, as it's already got plenty. I guys I need to bite the bullet and just buy a small, cheap kit to practice different techniques on so regain and learn some new skills.

 

Now you brought up your work area... mine so far has been all over my bedroom, and the outside balcony and outside closet. I do all the pre-work (putting it together, gluing, sanding, setting it up for paint, etc) in my room, take it out on the balcony to spray, then put it in the outside closet to dry. It's a perfect drying place as it's out of the house (so no fumes) and it isn't temperature controlled. So in the 85*F Arizona weather, it gets like 95 in there and bakes the paint

 

edit: 48 views and only our posts... hope this thread doesn't crash and burn.

[Mark]

edit: 48 views and only our posts... hope this thread doesn't crash and burn.

Oh I'm lurking I'm sure others are like me, nothing of interest to post. Not done any in an age. Got a 1:48 scale F-104 up in the attic, may just crack it out when I can be arsed. Would be a good item to photograph too.

[Ja750]

Lovely colour on that 458 Pico looks great

 

I Bought a 1/350 Minicraft RMS Titanic a while ago now and it's still in the box, i'll get to it sometime when i eventually get the paints. It Measures about 30" in length.

[Brown Sugar]

I have sh*tloads of military planes from WWII to modern fighter jets, not the most skilled painter but my favourite one has to be my 1:48 eurofighter typhoon, if I can get any pics i'll post them later but I prefer collecting the pre built minichamps f1 models now.

[Pico]

I've purchased some prebuilt car models before... but I know the ones I build will have much more meaning, and I'm sure you'd agree.

 

@Ja750, thanks!

 

It's proving to be a bitch though... I masked it off to do a red stripe down the left side, offset similar to the Viper ACR. I removed all the paint (holy sh*t, getting through 3 layers of flat black and 2 layers of flat clear coat is tough!), and brushed on the red. I've learned that I need to avoid brush paints at all costs, lol. They just don't lay down as thick and leave transparencies, and are more likely to pick up dust particles while being applied as well as having brush lines.

The worst part is, the masking tape didn't hold in two spots causing some ugliness... and I don't know if I'll be able to fix it. I'm going to give the body 24 hours, at least, to dry to see if I can repair it.

Other than that, the red stripe is thicker than the surrounding paint, and thinner in other spots. Not noticeable to the eye, and I think enough clear coat will conceal it just fine.

 

I just finished painting the wheels... and realized I'm going to go for the time attack look. So I just wasted a bunch of time painting them silver, lol.

The Gundam is on hold, at the moment.

 

Glad to see some others posting in here!

 

edit: Some progress. Still some work left on the body paint, then it's all down to the engine and under carriage and I'm done. The wheels are staying as is for various reasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also picked up a 2006 Audi R10 TDI LeMans car. This one is going to be tougher, and more so for the fact that I'm going to stick to the original paint scheme so no artistic freedom like with the 458.

 

 

Edited March 7, 2011 by Pico