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Model Construction – Techniques Bank

August 23, 2010 By Adam Brown

The aim of this area of the Techniques Bank will be to provide you with the means to choose the right kit for your skill level and provide guidance on the processes necessary to prepare and construct the component parts to produce an accurate, blemish-free and suitably detailed model, ready for painting and/or airbrushing.

The range of topics that will be covered in the Model Construction area will, we are sure, evolve with time but this is the range of techniques that we either have available now or are in the development stage to go live as soon as possible.


A Beginners Tutorial – How to Build a 1:35 AFV Kit: Tamiya 1:35 Steyr 1500

  • Part 1 Construction – 1 Full Length HD Video Demo Tamiya 1:35 Steyr 1500
  • Part 2 Painting, Decals – 1 Full Length HD Video Demo Tamiya 1:35 Steyr 1500

Adding detail and super detailing (see also Photo Etch below)

  • Adding cast texture to turrets – 2 Video Demos
  • Aerial wires – creating realistic aerial wires – 10 Video Demos!
  • Aerial wires – Luftwaffe cone-shaped anti-icing isolators
  • Annealing PE belts to soften and bend to shape – 4 Video Demos!
  • Balsa wood to add detail quickly and simply – Video Demo
  • Barbed wire, how to make it – Video Demo
  • Converting AIM-9 to AAM-3 of JASDF
  • FOD guards for jet aircraft intakes – make your own! – 7 HD Video Demos!
  • Fruil Tracks and how to assemble them
  • Making a dinghy and flares for 5th Emergency Squadron USAAF P-47D – Video Demos
  • Making a model tree
  • Making corrugated iron – Video Demo
  • Making jet aircraft mirrors for canopies
  • Making jet landing gear retraction locks
  • Making oxygen hoses for aircraft cockpits – HD Video Demo
  • Making sandbags
  • Making Tracks
  • Metal foil for seat belts and harness
  • Metal foil to detail undercarriage and stores
  • Mini Spares Box – do you have one? – HD Video Demo
  • Navigation lights – making wing tip navigation lights
  • Quinta detail sets – how to add the F-14 detail set – HD Video Demo
  • Ship rigging
  • Spoked wheels for WWI Bi-planes
  • Spoked wheels – Re-spoking wheels on motorcycles
  • Stretched sprue for rigging, aerials and lots of uses! – HD Video Demo
  • Turret periscope lenses on AFVs – HD Video Demo

Adding improved parts

  • Adding resin parts, getting the fit right
  • How to use AMMO Anti-Slip Paste – HD Video Demo
  • Assembling and Burnishing Friul Tracks
  • Construction of a 1:700th scale Photo Etch catapult
  • Creating ship masts in brass HD Video Demo
  • Eduard Superfabric seat belts (HGW) and how to use them HD Video Demo
  • HGW Micro Textile Seatbelts
  • Hinges
  • Making curved metal parts HD Video Demo
  • Making one-off new components (Trumpeter EA-7L Conversion currently in Finished Now)
  • Type conversions (Trumpeter EA-7L Conversion currently in Finished Now)
  • Vacuum forming your own components (Trumpeter EA-7L Conversion currently in Finished Now)
  • Vac-form canopies
  • Working with Fruil Modelisimo metal tracks – 4 HD Video Demos!

Canopies and clear parts

  • for painting canopies see Model Painting and Airbrushing
  • for painting canopies see Airliner windows – Bondo Automotive Body Glazing and Spot Putty 907C
  • Attaching clear parts– 2 HD Video Demos!
  • Broken glass effects
  • Cleaning canopies – HD Video Demo
  • Dipping canopies and clear parts to improve clarity
  • Epoxy lights – how to make them – HD Video Demo
  • Polishing canopies – 3 HD Video Demos!
  • Polishing canopies using UMP 4-Part system– Video Demo
  • Removing mould seam lines from canopies – 4 HD Video Demos!
  • Seamless front windscreens on aircraft – 3 HD Video Demos!
  • Vac-form canopies – 4 HD Video Demos!
  • Wing tip navigation and landing light covers – HD Video Demos!

Casting your own parts

  • Blue Stuff/Oyumaru – How to cheaply cast miniatures or plastic models

Clamping and fixing parts

  • Making Individual Track Links
  • Model Clamp to hold your model
  • Mini pegs for holding small parts – HD Video Demo

Cutting Tools, other useful tools and getting underway

  • Starting out on your first armour project with Andy Burton
  • Knives, what Geoff C uses – HD Video Demo
  • The DSPIAE MT-C Stepless Adjustment Circular Cutter
  • Gyro Cut swivel head cutting tool – HD Video Demo
  • Lighting your workbench – a quick intro!
  • Mini Long Nose Pliers – HD Video Demo
  • Mini Needle Files from Revell – HD Video Demo
  • Magnetic Handle 60 by RP Toolz
  • Revell Precision Scraper – How to use it – HD Video Demo
  • Side cutters, important choices and decisions – HD Video Demo
  • Simple ideas for parts holders – HD Video Demo
  • Tweezers – great value set from Pixnor – HD Video Demo
  • Using a razor saw – HD Video Demo
  • Many reviews of useful modelling tools in Here Now

Drills and Drilling

  • Drilling out gun ports on aircraft – HD Video Demo
  • Mini Needle Files from Revell – HD Video Demo
  • Pin vice drills – using the Humbrol Pin Vice Drill – HD Video Demo
  • Pin vice drill – using a pin vice drill to enhance rivet detail – HD Video Demo

Filler

  • for painting canopies see Airliner windows – Bondo Automotive Body Glazing and Spot Putty 907C
  • Cyano (superglue) and baby powder mix – 2 HD Video Demos
  • Filling seams with Mr Surfacer
  • How to Apply Arming Putty Classic – VIDEO DEMO
  • Milliput White as filler
  • Using PVA Glue as a filler – HD Video Demo

Glues and gluing

  • Applying cyano (superglue) with an applicator with Andy Brown – HD Video Demo
  • Attaching clear parts – 2 HD Video Demo
  • Cyano or superglue, my favourite by a mile – HD Video Demo
  • How To Use AMMO Cyanoacrylate Glues – HD Video Demo
  • Getting started on a new project – glues, tools and approach with Andy Burton
  • Glues the choices and how to use them – 7 HD Video Demo
  • Gluing deck sections using Pin Flow Applicator
  • Homemade cyano applicator
  • Pin Point Bottle Kit – HD Video Demo
  • Ultimate Glue Bottle Holder (for Tamiya glue) – HD Video Demo
  • Using an artist ruling pen to apply cyano/superglue
  • Using liquid poly to join parts and avoid filling – HD Video Demo
  • Using polystyrene cement – HD Video Demo

IDF Model Projects

  • Common errors with IDF models

Kit Instructions

  • Kit instructions – an introduction and tips – 3 HD Video Demos
  • Making a plan

Light and sound projects and resources

Here are links to full builds in SMN that feature light and sound kits:

  • Adding light and sound to Revell 1.48 Bristol Beaufighter
  • Revell 1:32 F4U1A Corsair
  • Tamiya 1:32 De Havilland Mosquito FB.VI

See also these pages:

  • Magic Scale Modelling Now
  • SmartFX Now

Magnets

  • Preventing aircraft with tricycle undercarriage from tail sitting – HD Video Demo

Planning

  • Deciding on and planning your next project

Plans

  • Questions, Thoughts and Resources for using plans

Photo Etch (PE)

  • Advantages of adding Photo Etch to your Armour kits – HD Video Demo
  • Annealing PE belts to soften and bend to shape – 4 HD Video Demos!
  • Pre-painted Photo Etch (PE) Brass in cockpits
  • Working with Photo Etch, getting started – 6 HD Video Demos

Reference material

  • Choosing and using reference material – Aircraft
  • German Vehicle Colours
  • Operation Northern Watch 1994-95 F-4G, EF-111A, Harrier GR5

Repairing mistakes, reinstating and creating surface detail

  • Filling seams with Mr Surfacer
  • Getting rid of mould ejector pin and sink marks – 3 HD Video Demos
  • Hiding join lines inside engine cowls – 3 HD Video Demos
  • Improving overdone moulded rivet detail
  • Join lines – filling and getting rid of join lines – HD Video Demo
  • Mini chisel set to remove kit detail – 2 HD Video Demos
  • Oil Canning, how to create stressed metal effects
  • How to use Plasticator Thin & Thick by AMMO – HD Video Demo
  • Removing ghost seam line joins – Micromesh – 2 HD Video Demos
  • Repairing broken aircraft tail wheels – HD Video Demo
  • Riveting aircraft – 2 HD Video Demos
  • Scribing and re-scribing panel lines – HD Video Demo
  • Stressed metal effects on the Avro Lancaster
  • Stressed metal effects on panels – 4 HD Video Demos!
  • Using Dymo tape as a guide edge for riveting – HD Video Demo

Resin

  • Removing the casting block from resin parts HD Video Demo
  • Thinking of trying a resin kit or accessory?
  • ‘Resin Rookie’ – building your first resin armour kit

Resurrecting old kits

  • Resurrecting old armour kits

Rigging

  • How to rig a WWI Albatros Bi-plane in 1.32 scale – 20 HD VIDEO DEMOS!
  • How To Use AMMO Rigging – HD VIDEO DEMOS!
  • How to rig a WWI biplane
  • Ship rigging
  • Stretched sprue for rigging, aerials and lots of uses! – HD Video Demo

Riveting

  • Adding rivets using a pin vice drill – 2 HD Video Demos
  • HGW Positive Rivets – how to apply them
  • Improving overdone moulded rivet detail
  • Making rivets using old airbrush nozzle tips
  • Revell Rivet Maker – 2 HD Video Demos
  • Riveting aircraft – 2 HD Video Demos
  • Rosie The Riveter – how to use this excellent tool – HD Video Demo
  • Using Dymo tape as a guide edge – HD Video Demo

Rubber-vinyl tyres

  • Removing mould seam lines – HD Video Demo
  • Finishing Off – HD Video Demo

Safety

  • Basic safety equipment – introduction – HD Video Demo

Sanding and Polishing

  • Fine-sanding alternative: the coffee filter ‘onion’
  • Micromesh to get rid of paint demarcation lines
  • Micromesh Polishing Cloths – 6 Video Demos
  • Polishing canopies – 3 HD Video Demos!
  • Sanders, Buffers and Thinny Sticks – HD Video Demo
  • Tools to get you started – sander and buffers
  • Ultimate Customisable Sanding Sheets – HD Video Demo
  • Using Albion Alloys plastic sanding needles – HD Video Demo
  • Using Micromesh to polish the paint surface

Scratchbuilding

  • Getting started
  • Scratchbuilding an aero engine

Selecting a Kit

  • Selecting a Kit
  • 1:48 Armour

Soldering

  • Soldering – how to do it

Storing parts during construction

  • Plastic containers

Trouble-shooting

  • Nose weight – adding nose weight to stop tail-sitters
  • Stripping a Painted Model

Waterline Models

  • Converting a full hull vessel into a waterline model

Other

  • Fitting painted wheels, avoiding damage to painted areas
  • Getting angled wheels and tyres to sit correctly – VIDEO DEMO
  • Making adjustments to fit (Panzer 3L)
  • Removing pieces from their sprues (Panzer 3L)
  • Test fitting parts (Panzer 3L)

Top Gun Special! Building Maverick’s F-14A Tomcat 1:48

Read Dave Coward’s review of how to make a well weathered F-14A and in particular one from the movie ‘Top Gun’.

 

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modelconstruction
techniques-landing

Painting Techniques

Weathering Techniques


Model Construction Techniques

A BEGINNER'S TUTORIAL – How to Build a 1:35 AFV Kit
ADDING DETAIL & SUPER DETAILING
Adding cast texture to turrets
Advantages of adding Photo Etch to your Armour kits - Video Demo
Aerial wires – creating realistic aerial wires
Annealing PE belts to soften and bend to shape - VIDEO DEMOS
Converting AIM-9 to AAM-3 of JASDF
FOD guards for jet aircraft intakes – make your own! - 7 VIDEO DEMOS
Making corrugated iron - Video Demo
Making a model tree
Making jet aircraft mirrors for canopies
Making jet landing gear retraction locks
Making oxygen hoses for aircraft cockpits - VIDEO DEMO
Making sandbags
Metal foil for seat belts and harness
Metal foil to detail undercarriage and stores
Mini Spares Box – do you have one?
Navigation lights – making wing tip navigation lights
Pre-painted Photo Etch (PE) Brass in cockpits
Quinta detail sets – how to add the F-14 detail set - VIDEO DEMO
Ship rigging
Spoked wheels for WWI Bi-planes
Spoked wheels – Re-spoking wheels on motorcycles
Stretched sprue for rigging, aerials and lots of uses! - VIDEO DEMO
Turret periscope lenses on AFVs - VIDEO DEMOS
ADDING IMPROVED PARTS
Adding resin parts, getting the fit right
How to use AMMO Anti-Slip Paste - VIDEO DEMO
Assembling and Burnishing Friul Tracks
Construction of a 1:700th scale Photo Etch catapult
Creating ship masts in brass - VIDEO DEMO
Eduard Superfabric seat belts (HGW) and how to use them - VIDEO DEMO
HGW Micro Textile Seatbelts
Hinges
Making curved metal parts - VIDEO DEMO
Making one-off new components
Type conversions
Vac-form canopies
Vacuum forming your own components
Working with Fruil Modelisimo metal tracks - VIDEO DEMOS
CANOPIES
Attaching clear parts
Broken glass effects
Dipping canopies and clear parts to improve clarity
Epoxy lights – how to make them - VIDEO DEMO
Polishing canopies
Polishing canopies using UMP 4-Part system - VIDEO DEMO
Removing mould seam lines from canopies - 4 VIDEO DEMOS
Seamless front windscreens on aircraft - 3 VIDEO DEMOS
Wing tip navigation and landing light covers - VIDEO DEMOS
CLAMPING & FIXING PARTS
Making individual track links
Model Clamp to hold your model
Mini pegs for holding small parts - VIDEO DEMO
CUTTING TOOLS, OTHER USEFUL TOOLS and GETTING UNDERWAY
Starting out on your first armour project
The DSPIAE MT-C Stepless Adjustment Circular Cutter
Gyro Cut swivel head cutting tool - VIDEO DEMO
Infini Easy cutting mat Type B - VIDEO DEMO
Knives, what Geoff C uses
Lighting your workbench
Magnetic Handle 60 by RP Toolz
Mini Long Nose Pliers - VIDEO DEMO
Mini Needle Files - VIDEO DEMO
Revell Precision Scraper – How to use it
Side cutters, important choices and decisions - VIDEO DEMO
Simple ideas for parts holders - VIDEO DEMO
Tweezers – great value set from Pixnor - VIDEO DEMO
Using a razor saw - VIDEO DEMO
DRILLS AND DRILLING
Drilling out gun ports on aircraft - VIDEO DEMO
Pin vice drills – using the Humbrol Pin Vice Drill - VIDEO DEMO
FILLER
Filling seams with Mr Surfacer
Milliput White as filler
Using PVA Glue as a filler
GLUES & GLUING
How To Use AMMO Cyanoacrylate Glues - HD VIDEO
Applying cyano (superglue) with an applicator with Andy Brown - HD VIDEO DEMO
Attaching clear parts - HD VIDEO DEMO
Getting started on a new project – glues, tools and approach with Andy Burton
Glues the choices and how to use them - 7 VIDEO DEMOS
Gluing deck sections using Pin Flow Applicator - VIDEO DEMO
Homemade cyano applicator
Pin Point Bottle Kit - VIDEO DEMO
Ultimate Glue Bottle Holder (for Tamiya glue) - VIDEO DEMO
Using liquid poly to join parts and avoid filling - VIDEO DEMO
Using polystyrene cement - HD VIDEO DEMO
IDF MODEL PROJECTS
Common errors with IDF models
KIT INSTRUCTIONS
Kit instructions – an introduction and tips
Making a plan
LIGHT and SOUND PROJECTS and RESOURCES
Adding light and sound to Revell 1.48 Bristol Beaufighter
Revell 1:32 F4U1A Corsair
Tamiya 1:32 De Havilland Mosquito FB.VI
Magic Scale Modelling Now
SmartFX Now
MAGNETS
Preventing aircraft with tricycle undercarriage from tail sitting - VIDEO DEMO
PHOTO ETCH
Annealing PE belts to soften and bend to shape - VIDEO DEMOS
Working with Photo Etch, getting started
PLANNING
Deciding on and planning your next project
PLANS
Questions, Thoughts and Resources for using plans
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Choosing and using reference material – Aircraft
Operation Northern Watch 1994-95 F-4G, EF-111A, Harrier GR5
REPAIRING MISTAKES, REINSTATING & CREATING SURFACE DETAIL
Filling seams with Mr Surfacer
Hiding join lines inside engine cowls - VIDEO DEMOS
Improving overdone moulded rivet detail
Join lines: filling and getting rid of join lines - VIDEO DEMO
Mini chisel set to remove kit detail - VIDEO DEMOS
Oil Canning, how to create stressed metal effects – technique
How to use Plasticator Thin & Thick by AMMO - VIDEO DEMO
Removing ghost seam line joins – Micromesh - 2 VIDEO DEMOS
Repairing broken aircraft tail wheels - VIDEO DEMO
Scribing and re-scribing panel lines - VIDEO DEMO
Stressed metal effects on the Avro Lancaster
Stressed metal effects on panels
RESIN
‘Resin Rookie’ – building your first resin armour kit
Thinking of trying a resin kit or accessory?
RIGGING
How to rig a WWI Albatros Bi-plane in 1.32 scale
How to rig a WWI Biplane with Dave Coward – preview
How To Use AMMO Rigging
Ship Rigging
Stretched sprue for rigging, aerials and lots of uses!
RIVETING
Adding rivets using a pin vice drill - VIDEO DEMO
HGW Positive Rivets – how to apply them
Improving overdone moulded rivet detail
Revell Rivet Maker - 2 VIDEO DEMOS
Riveting aircraft - 2 VIDEO DEMOS
Rosie The Riveter – how to use this excellent tool - VIDEO DEMO
Using Dymo tape as a guide edge - VIDEO DEMO
Using a pin vice drill to enhance rivet detail = VIDEO DEMO
RUBBER-VINYL TYRES
Removing mould seam lines - VIDEO DEMO
Finishing Off - VIDEO DEMO
SANDING & POLISHING
Fine-sanding alternative: the coffee filter ‘onion’
How to use Ultimate Modellers sanders, buffers and Skinny Sticks - VIDEO DEMO
Polishing canopies
Tools to get you started – sander and buffers
Ultimate Customisable Sanding Sheets - VIDEO DEMO
Using Albion Alloys plastic sanding needles
SCRATCHBUILDING
Scratchbuilding – getting started
Scratchbuilding an aero engine
SELECTING A KIT
Selecting a Kit
1:48 Armour
SOLDERING
Soldering – how to do it
STORING PARTS DURING CONSTRUCTION
Plastic containers
TROUBLE-SHOOTING
Adding nose weight to stop tail-sitters
Stripping a Painted Model
OTHER
Fitting painted wheels, avoiding damage to painted areas

Disclaimer

While the hints, tips and advice in Scale Modelling Now magazine have worked for us, no guarantee is given that they will always work, that they are applicable to you or that there may be Health & Safety issues if you do follow the advice. It’s very much up to you to decide if you want to try them out. All relevant safety regulations regarding knives, adhesives, solvents, paints, etc. are implied.

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