Plastic Modeling

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The wash in the line actually works since it gives a nice texture.

Yeah, the print layers worked pretty well for the hammer and wood parts. The layers are actually way less noticable in person. My phone camera uses software to try to make the image sharper so the minute shading difference is enhanced.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Yeah, the print layers worked pretty well for the hammer and wood parts. The layers are actually way less noticable in person. My phone camera uses software to try to make the image sharper so the minute shading difference is enhanced.

Yep. Every single model I ever take a picture of looks better in real life. Since pictures really show every little flaw I will often "fix" something I saw on the screen that I never even noticed on the real thing.

[Kiske]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

It is sort of cool but cheesy at the same time. Scratch build would be the way to go to get something that has a bit more detail. Especially at that price.

My local shop wants $6.50 per 10x10" sheets of 0.25" thick balsa wood. I figure 8 sheets that would then be overlayed with evergreen styrene sheets would put me right under that $60 price tag.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Kiske

My local shop wants $6.50 per 10x10" sheets of 0.25" thick balsa wood. I figure 8 sheets that would then be overlayed with evergreen styrene sheets would put me right under that $60 price tag.

https://www.dollartree.com/readi-boa...-boards/809955

[Tcoat]

As I said a while ago I have not done any models since spring. Part of that was due to being busy with other things but I also was a little burned out from doing so many extensive scratch building and modification on may last few projects.
So... before I went back to doing the display bases for the various big projects a decided to knock off a couple of out of the box builds with zero additions beyond paint. Luckily my brother in law gave me a couple of perfect kits for this just before Christmas.
This is the first one.

Older but updated Tamiya kit of the M2A2 Bradly supposedly as it appeared in Desert Storm. In reality it is a much later version but since I wasn't doing anything specific with it I really don't care what version it actually is.
All in all a very well detailed kit for it's age and looks good out of the box even if the stowage (included) appears to be held on the sides by magic or fridge magnets or something. Normally I would at least add attachment points and straps but that would defeat the purpose of a 100% out of the box build so hovering Alice packs it is.

[NoHaveMSG]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

As I said a while ago I have not done any models since spring. Part of that was due to being busy with other things but I also was a little burned out from doing so many extensive scratch building and modification on may last few projects.

You ever watch the youtube channel Night Shift? Seems right up your ally. I don't even build models but I have watched quite a few of his videos.

https://www.youtube.com/c/NightShiftScaleModels

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by NoHaveMSG

You ever watch the youtube channel Night Shift? Seems right up your ally. I don't even build models but I have watched quite a few of his videos.

https://www.youtube.com/c/NightShiftScaleModels

It is funny but I never watch videos on model building. No idea why but I just don't find them interesting.

[soundman98]

worked for a surgeon once, and he proclaimed "have you ever watched those home remodeling shows?!? they're all great, they've got such great ideas, it's just like waht you're doing, you could get a lot of helpful tips from them!"

i asked him, "do you ever watch medical drama's in your time off?"

he didn't have anything to say after that...

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by soundman98

i asked him, "do you ever watch medical drama's in your time off?"

Brilliant!

[Tcoat]

Annnnnd here is the second down and dirty out of the box Christmas build provided as a gift from my brother in law.
It is a very old kit from 1975 when they were motorized and considered as much toys as anything. The new boxings do not come with the motor or other parts though.
That said it is still beautifully detailed even by today's standard and the moulds have held up really well.

Hull with battery and motor mounts.


Basic paint on using the new to me airbrushes from @Capt Spaulding. They worked great!




Shading/weather coat of tinted floor polish. The Commander with the raised arm is actually a survivor from a kit I did in 1967 or 68 with a new paint job. I tried to bring his arm down but the 54 year old glue and plastic wasn't having any of that.









The final flat coat to make things realistic.









And then hide it all with the skritzen

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Annnnnd here is the second down and dirty out of the box Christmas build provided as a gift from my brother in law.

...

So all the dark shading around the bolts and in the cracks is all just tinted floor polish?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Spuds

So all the dark shading around the bolts and in the cracks is all just tinted floor polish?

Yes. Also all he "shadows" in the crevasses and angled parts. I prefer it over actual wash products since the self leveling properties means it fades from darker to lighter as it moves out from the main density. I spread it over all the surfaces since I am looking for the overall blotchy effect but you can just apply it to the low points if you are just actuating depth. You can also get a different effect by putting it over a flat or gloss base. Over a gloss base you get less colour change overall and more emphasis on the low spots.

This is a good example of getting artificial shadows and bringing out detail on a gloss surface.

Gloss paint from the bottle.


Tinted polish with a flat overcoat. No other effects needed.
The real thing has no gloss and the dark sections are much more subtle than the picture makes it appear.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Not plastic, but they just arrived in the mail from Japan! I gotta try to paint the wheel spokes gold, and remove the CF decal from the hood.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I guess the higher quality of Mini GT is a con when trying to remove the decal. I'm guessing they have some kind of clear coat over it since it would not budge with the Tamiya mark fit (was using it to try to soften the decal). I don't want to risk damaging the paint, so I'll just leave it.

I painted the wheel spokes gold, the side mirrors with chrome, and drilled out the exhaust tip.