1 Gather your tools: It doesnt take much to get started
elcome to the world of scale
modeling: This is the second of four articles introducing you to a great hobby. In Part 1, we explained a little of the hobbys history and the evolution of con- stant scale. In this installment, well show you basic tools that will get you started on your first model. Choose your model, and take it easy By now you probably have a good idea of what you would like to build. Of course, thats up to you. But heres some advice: Keep the first one easy. Many kits are labeled with skill level or degree of diffi- culty indicated on the box. Or, you can read FineScale Modeler magazine Workbench Reviews, which almost always conclude with a recommendation of the appropriate expertise required to build that model. In other words, take a few practice cuts before swinging away. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a simple model well built. Basic tools and supplies Other than a well-ventilated room with a stationary flat surface, you dont need much to build a basic model kit; you can see the essentials in the picture above. Speaking of ventilation, whether you are sanding plastic or spraying paint, an OSHA-approved respirator mask is recom- mended. Remember this rule: If you can smell it, youre breathing it. Next time: Fundamental techniques for building better models. W Build GREAT SCALE MODELS! Gather your tools: It doesnt take much to get started Most of what you need to begin modeling will fit nicely on a TV tray or a small desktop and you may have some of it in your household already, like the coat hanger that serves as a paint stand for this 1/25 scale AMT/Ertl 1949 Mercury. Clockwise from the car: white glue (for clear parts); super glue accelerator, super glue, and (dont forget!) super glue debonder; sprue clippers; sanding sticks; small and large paintbrushes; hobby knife; assorted sandpaper in various grades; tweezers for tiny parts; a tube of styrene cement; and putty to fill seams. 2 Gather your tools: It doesnt take much to get started 3 tips for immediate improvement Properly used tools and techniques can improve your modeling right away. These three tips go a long way toward cleaner construction: Well talk a lot more about basic techniques in Part 3. Supplies checklist White glue Super glue Super glue accelerator Super glue debonder Sanding sticks Sprue cutter Budget brushes Hobby knife Tweezers Assorted sandpaper Model cement Filler putty Paint set Masking tape Thinner Scissors Decal tweezers Toothpicks Clothespins Rubber bands Spray paint Respirator mask Sprue? Mold lines? Capillary action? Dont let the lingo get you down; you can always look it up in our modeling glossary at www.FineScale.com/How To/Glossary. 1. Use clippers to cut (not twist) parts from the sprue (parts tree). Using the side clippers, cut as close as you can to the part. Be careful: Only cut excess plastic, not molded detail or locating pins. 2. Sand away mold lines (left over from the injection-molding process) and any other irregularities on the part before gluing it. 3. Tube glue has its uses, but liquid styrene cement is much neater and more efficient. Apply it sparingly with a fine brush: Join two pieces, load the brush with a minimal amount of cement, and merely touch the join. Capillary action will pull the cement out of the brush and into the join, where it will melt and fuse the plastic mating surfaces. Unlike the old-fashioned tube glue, no blobs, no strings and it makes a strong bond between plastic pieces. Better yet, if you realize you have glued the wrong two things together, often you can apply a little more liquid cement and part the pieces. Most expert modelers prefer an airbrush, but you can get good paint finishes with spray-can paint. No matter how you paint, wear a respirator mask to protect against irritating and/ or toxic fumes.
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