Amy model builders here?

[MikeyBugs95 29]

So, just like the title says, is there anybody else here who builds model kits? If so, what are your mainly interested in building and what are you working on right now? Any stash pictures or pictures of previous work? Any WIPs?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You only have to look at the STEX recent submissions to find the modellers.  I haven't done any since about 2006.  You might find some interest in this thread.

[MikeyBugs95 29]

No, no, no. Not those modellers. The hobby model builders. Scale model builders. But speaking of the STEx I do have some ideas to submit.

[Sabretooth78 808]

I used to - personally I preferred ocean liners but also some naval ships and various aircraft - both because I was interested in them anyway and because they can be quite challenging due to all the nuances.  I was never into cars.  My favorite was the Minicraft 1:350 Titanic I built while in college.  Unfortunately several parts of it have broken over time and while you used to be able to order replacement parts I don't think I can do that anymore as the particular version I have was discontinued/revamped several years ago.  I still have a few I never finished, actually, tops among them a 1:350 Lusitania.  It wouldn't be too much of a hassle to pick them back up seeing as they never got much past the "painting while still on the sprues" stage.

 

Nowadays, I have an entire closet full of probably nearly $1000 worth of HO model railroad kits (most still in shrink wrap) that I picked up on eBay and from going to quite a few model railroad shows to go with an 8x5 layout in the basement.  I started doing work on it and then bought a house, leaving little time for it.  Some day.  I've always wanted to have one of those "whole basement" sorts of layouts.  For now I have SC4 for what is effectively a virtual model railroad!

 

These pictures hark from way back in 2002: (!)

 

Lusitania:

 

Titanic:

 

If you know anything about this model, you'll notice that I actually went ahead and scratch-built a few additions that weren't part of the kit; chief among them the center anchor on the forepeak.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Ah!  Those kinds of models.  I think I gave that up about 70 years ago.  My extended family was full of cousins who were much more acquainted with balsa lumber and amyl acetate.

[Hotwheeler 409]

Oh yes,of course there are some model builders around.Currently i`m trying to get everything together to start again with model building.

I am building car model kits,mostly in a 1/24 scale.I already have a bunch of new kits lying around here that will be build this winter:

Made by Revell:

Volkswagen Bettle (late 60s Model)

Volkswagen Golf Mk I GTI

 

Made by Round 2 (AMT,Lindberg,MPC...):

1975 AMC Gremlin

Chevrolet Chevelle Stationwagon (AMT Superwagon)

Ford Model T Double Kit (one stock T and a Hotrod can be build,but with some new Tyres and a spare Engine the stock T will be hotrodded, too)

 

Also i`m currently waiting for an Amazon Order.I ordered a 1/24 Motorcycle.IT`s a WWII German Bike but i will turn it into a customized Bobber,complete with Fishtail Pipes...

 

Oh and BTW,here are some Pics of my older Models

 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides that,i`m also a Collector of small Die Cast Vehicles.

Sometimes i even take them apart and customize them....

 

This one for example started it`s life as a regular Matchbox Car with a plain and boring color.

I painted it in primer grey,lowered it and the roof was hand painted...

 

 

These two were both painted,new wheels were added and the Pickup got some wooden sidings

 

 

Or how about a beaten up AMC Javelin Junker?

 

 

 

Any Questions?

[Jasoncw 11,839]

When I was a teenager I started getting into gundam models. I still keep track of it but until I have the money to buy the proper equipment (and the models themselves for that matter). I even have plans of using 3ds max and a 3d printer to help produce conversion kits.

[Odainsaker 2,133]

I admit I also have a 1985 version of the Minicraft 1:350 Titanic, the Holy Grail of my Titanic collection when I was younger.  I must also admit that I have never built the thing, as my model kit building, kit bashing, and airbrushing skills are nowhere near where I would want them to be able to give the giant project the level of care and craftsmanship I would insist upon.  Maybe one day...

 

Hickam Air Force Base on Oahu once had a warehouse shop on Kuntz Avenue just across the canal from Ohana Nui Circle that was devoted to model kit imports.  It was a Tamiya, Hasegawa, Aoshima, and Fujimi heaven!  Of course, the instructions were often printed solely in Japanese, but at least explanatory images are almost mandatory in this hobby.  All those Imperial Japanese Navy warship models with sexy battle box art to skew our youngest impressions...just down the road from Pearl Harbor!  I was giddy with an SDF-1 Macross by Imai when "Robotech" first came out.

 

A friend of mine builds model military airplanes and old cars, and has an aerial fleet hanging overhead in his man cave as well as a closet packed full of unbuilt model kits.  We've been joking about scratch-building a matching 1:48 scale Hindenburg to hang in his garage.  It would only be about 3 feet tall and 16 feet long...perhaps we can even fill it with helium and ballast, motorize the propeller nacelles, install the GoPro camera, and radio control it out over the neighborhood on the non-windy days.  Maybe one day...

[RipRap 4,400]

I did some model building not too long ago; it was a couple of helicopters from Japan. My brother still does them, but with Gundams.

[Hotwheeler 409]

That 1:48 Hindenburg would be huge but also very impressive and awesome to look at.

About the Gundam Thingies: these guys never caught my attention but i have to say that the skills you need to build and paint it properly are mindblowing.

That Tamiya, Fujimi etc Store sounds great.

I'm more into the AMT kits but i habe to admit that these japanese kit manufacturers are great.

The Kits are super detailed and very precise.

They are real "shakerkits".You could rattle the box and all the pieces would fall together on how they are supposed to be.

Speaking of Tamiya, this reminds me that i also have a Tamiya 1965 VW Beetle on my workbench.

A wonderful kit of my favorite car.Definately need to finish it.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

As a kid, I started out with Matchbox planes. As a youth, I discovered 1/700th scale waterline ships, but I never built "professionally", i.e. I didn't check with references, built strictly oob (out of box), and didn't even paint the kits until very late. Even then, the paintjob was very crude and inaccurate. Then the usual loooong hiatus.

 

A few years ago, I discovered a kit maker community and was totally amazed when I saw what they did with paint, weathering, photoetched parts and scratch-built sections. I wanted to get back into the hobby. First I built Revell's tiny 1/1200th scale AIDA cruise ship (out of box, but this time decently assembled and painted!) as a gift for a friend of mine with whom I had travelled on just this type of ship. Then I got an IJN destroyer model (1/700) and some photoetch to go with it. However, I reckoned my skills were by far not up to snuff and I needed to practise on something a bit more simple.

 

This is how I got a 1/200 SMIT Houston (ocean-going tug boat) for a ridiculously cheap 12 € at a local store and started building it for practice. The result can be seen here. Here's a pic from that forum post:

Now I'm in love with civilian ships and don't think I'll go back to military stuff. Civilian ships are just more colourful and attractive than those camouflaged killing machines, and you generally have fewer repetitive work steps ("...and now for the 38 photo-etched 20 mm HA guns, oh joy!").

[MikeyBugs95 29]

Well I guess it's high time I tell about my small part. I build primarily 1/35 Armor, and the occasional 1/48 aircraft. I also do like to do some 1/144 stuff. Currently I'm working on a 1/48 Smer Piper L-4, an Italeri 105mm Howitzer, and a Testors WC-51. I have a small stash of only about 8 kits.

[GMT 389]

here's one... one very very lazy and irregular model builder but I build some sometimes. right now I'm on a 1:144 747-400.

the last models I build prior to that were a school project 8 yrs ago, a display to accompany the battle over britain dvd in which I created a dogfight scene between a spitfire and a stuka, both 1:48... a+ work lol

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I just checked my "stash", and I consider it to be still moderate at 14 models. (At my current speed - 1 year active, 1.5 years hiatus - you can do the math to see how long that will keep me busy ) I don't plan to expand it, though - that would have to be a super duper mega deal.

 

In my defence, most of these kits are long out of production, rare, or hard to come by at a decent price, so you need to grab them when you see them for a good price. For example, the stash includes an ice breaker of Soviet production (not the widespread 1/400 Arktika, but a different one) that I have rarely seen pop up on eBay, or Airfix' 1/600 SS France, the tool of which is said to be destroyed/lost so that there is no chance at all that there will ever be a re-issue. There's also an oil tanker that was sold at gas stations as a promotional item in the 70s and never even entered regular retail... 

 

By the way, Sabretooth, that looks like a really neat job you did on those liners! Very clean paint job and nice rigging, too.

[timmie 988]

I once got a model airplane (Boeing 747?) as a gift, but never finished it. I guess I'm not patient enough for this kind of hobby.

I have a nephew who spends quite a lot of money (and time) on models, though.

[LexusInfernus 908]

I used to collect Warhammer 40k (Imperial Guard) but currently thats on hold due to not enough time and the extremely high costs. 

 

I also got a few models of fighter planes and tanks.