Any airfix kit builders on here

[blackolive (Ste)]

Ive been after something to occupy me for an hour or so in the evenings now the endless darkness is upon us, I do like fiddling with ham radio sets but theres only so much you can do at the breakfast bar without dragging soldering irons etc into the house.

Remembered the eldest had given me a tamiya mini cooper she had picked up at a steam rally so having a go at that. My there are a lot of tiny parts.

Going to log how many hours it takes to do.

Ive just ordered the required tins of enamel paint, which of course will need using up so it could become a serial hobby. Im planning next doing a eurofighter typhoon, but with added nav lights, anti collision lights, and the mass remote position indicator which I helped design, either using tiny leds or fibre optics.

Anyone else building kits , and any tips, particularly around paint application on the larger surfaces ?

 

[bourbon]

Remember, the solvent you use will stink

 

[Popcorn]

If you want a really nice finish on the large area's, you really need a Air Brush.

 

[chunkolini]

I have a few untouched Tamiya tank kits if anybody is interested.
Make us an offer
Ill pass any funds onto the air ambulance

 

[northwest]

Remember, the solvent you use will stink

That is subjective, I Personally love the smell and it takes me back to a time when life was very simple.

 

[zzr1200]

I have a few untouched Tamiya tank kits if anybody is interested.
Make us an offer
Ill pass any funds onto the air ambulance
View attachment 422629

I have a mate who is into models any idea how much you might want for them, answer by pm possibly??

 

[grim_d]

I got as far as "occupy me for an hour or so in the evenings".

The answer is "get a lathe"

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Remember, the solvent you use will stink

I got as far as "occupy me for an hour or so in the evenings".

The answer is "get a lathe"

Its come with a nifty glue thing with a needle on it that does tiny drops which smell very nice.

Ive a garage full of machinery, cars, and radio stuff. This seems like a nice chill and relax from the day before I sit down sit down if that makes sense

 

[ajlelectronics]

The answer is "get a lathe"

Or a 3D printer.

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

Its going to be a bit more easy on the joints etc than the full size ones I spent god knows how many hours on

 

[optima21]

Ive got a few boats kits to convert to radio control once I get round to it, and I try and get 2 of each kit as then you have spare parts to modify.

ohh and may as well show some of my smaller radio controlled boats that I play with on a lake

the landing craft )2nd from the left) is from a revell kit, the paddleboat (in the middle) is scratch built from styrene, and was designed as I went along, so no general arrangement drawings for it, just some parts that need to be made accurately. the other 3 are toys that have been converted to radio control
as for painting larger area, here's something I posted earlier this year
with airbrushing its not just a case of thinning the paint, it also depends on the area you're trying to paint, for the model boats Im building I use both single acting ones like this one

PRO MINI AIR BRUSH KIT ARTIST CRAFTS AIRBRUSH SPRAY GUN Airbrush Compressor | eBay

The paint flow and spray pattern are adjusted turning the fluid cap situated at the front of the airbrush. Suitable for general artwork, drawing, crafts, plastic models and art student use. The air regulator valve is designed for propellant cans.

www.ebay.co.uk

and double acting ones like this one (I used one with interchangeable cups though)

Pardon our interruption...

I find that the double acting ones are good for very small areas (like the white piece in the photo below because of its legs) as I find the spray is very dry (even with a larger 0.5mm needle and nozzle), so if spraying large area, the air will dry the sprayed finish, so its hard to get a wet finish, unless you go over the same area several times and it ends up being a thicker coat of paint

for larger areas I use single action airbrushes (like the grey part in the photo) as the needle and nozzle is about 0.8mm, so it allows more paint to be used and you can get a wet finish, it also helps that the single action airbrush has a wider spray cone so its easier to get a more consistent finish. Also show are the primers that I use that are designed for spraying from the bottle (for models) and I spray at 20psi, so its not the consistency of the paint that is the issue, its the design of the airbrush. the ones I use are cheap generic ones (even though my brother in law sells ones for up to £250).

if you're painting by brush rather than airbrush, for larger areas, I'd go for a flat brush thin the paint 1:1 paint:thinners if you're using enamel paint and on the subject of painting, if you need to mask something, dont use household masking tape, use Tamiya masking tape as it gives a very clean line.
there are loads of videos about model making on youtube and even how to make specific models, this one may be the same as you're making (although this one is modified)

 

[minimutly]

I only ever built one airfix kit. It was a ww2 bomber. It didn’t fly very well if I recall, never saw the point after that...

 

[northwest]

Its going to be a bit more easy on the joints etc than the full size ones I spent god knows how many hours on

View attachment 422644 View attachment 422645 View attachment 422646 View attachment 422647 View attachment 422648

Signal Orange , my favourite RS2000 colour. Caught up with an old pal of mine recently and he still has his in the same colour, bought new by him back in the day and painted by me must be nearly thirty years ago

 

[droopsnoot]

I bought some 1:43 white metal kits years ago, I suspect they might be a bit too detailed for me / my eyesight as the pedals, gearlever and gearknob are all separate components.

 

[Morrisman]

My daughter bought me a model kit of the Bismark several birthdays ago, after I had mentioned I used to make lots of model cars and planes as a teenager. It's still under my bed, unopened, unfortunately, I have zero interest in models any more.

I did price up the little pots of paint required and they were something like 3 quid each at a local model shop.

I only ever built one airfix kit. It was a ww2 bomber. It didn’t fly very well if I recall, never saw the point after that...

I lived in Singapore as a kid, RAF brat. There I made quite a few Airfix kits, Spitfire, Lancaster etc. When the time came to return to the U.K. I wasn't allowed to bring them, too fragile and awkward to pack, so a friend and me went off into the jungle and played war, setting fire to them, crash landings etc.

That was where I discovered how hot and sticky burning plastic is....

 

[dobbslc]

Here's my effort while off work last year for a knee operation, it's an Airfix kit of a Ford GT. It's a basic beginners kit and I didn't do a very good job of it
Harder than I remember and I can't see what I'm doing as well anymore!

 

[RichardM]

I have a Tamiya KR1000F to build sometime. (I used to do 1/35 scale Tamiya when I was young). Currently looking at making a model of a Comet Tank in metal.

 

[lchris21]

That is subjective, I Personally love the smell and it takes me back to a time when life was very simple.

.........me too, and I could never keep the stuff of the cockpit glass

 

[bert]

I don't do airfix type models bit I do warhammer stuff. Paints are the biggest cost of the hobby.

I do have an airbrush but don't use it much as I paint mostly figures but for vehicles I would definitely use it or an aerosol

 

[blackolive (Ste)]

I bought some 1:43 white metal kits years ago, I suspect they might be a bit too detailed for me / my eyesight as the pedals, gearlever and gearknob are all separate components.

What have you got. May be interested if you wish to move them on