Modelling aids for the older modeller

[Bill Neill]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, but;

I been modelling aircraft for 50+ years and would like to continue a bit longer. Unfortunately there are some physical issues creeping in, my hands are getting unsteady among other things, I can no longer do fine detail or straight lines by brush.

Anybody know of a source for suitable or adaptable aids to help out?

Thanks

Bill

[Mick4350]

Grandchildren.

[David Womby]

It suppose it could be a bit depressing to feel that one cannot do things to the standard attained in the past. Happens in lots of fields of endeavour, not just modelling. I am afraid I have no concrete suggestions for you except, for fine straight lines, I have used painted decal with some success.

David

[RODH2]

My suggestion would be to go and look at a real aeroplane - show me a straight line, and I will show you dimples, dings, mis-alignments, etc. etc. I am 66, and my models weather themselves naturally, via my ham-fistedness throughout the build. In a practical sense, cheap masking tape will hold that part to the bench, while you slow-down and concentrate on that straight line. Good lighting, and good glasses are essential, and I found I re-learnt patience and the value of modelling's therapeutic effect. I find I am mostly the only critic of my endeavours, and I am enjoying the hobby as much as I ever did!! Hope this helps a bit. BTW, I was a spray painter in the Aviation and Defence Industries, and I think you can allow yourself a bit of "artistic licence".

[Robin-42]

Age gets all of us. Switch to spraying. Masking tape might take all day, but I am guessing you are retired, so you have all day! Stop sweating the detail. Leave it to the kids. I, for example, have stopped doing most 1/72 interiors-the horror! Once you put that canopy on a 1/72 Spitfire, what can you see anyway from a typical viewing distance. Don't get me wrong, the guys that do it impress the hell out of me. Most of the masterpieces here are photographed with macro lenses, which make them appear way bigger than they are. Consider switching gears and building entire runs of simpler models, such as an example of every squadron that flew a certain type. Makes me go wow, when I see it, I don't even start looking for hydraulic lines and etched brass.

Finally, talk to your doctor. There may be drugs that steady your hands. Don't fret what you don't have, enjoy what you do. Personally, I mangled my left wrist a few years ago and my hand is only 75%. I am still typing this, I wasn't a concert pianist, so I can still go to work, so it's all good.

[Don149]

Bill, Im 81, been modelling since 1940, also get a bit of a hand tremble when doing fine detail. I find it works best if I support

my hand as close as possible to the job being worked on, also I have only worked in 1/32nd for about twelve years.

I also mentioned to the doc. he said he could send me to a specialist, I declined!.

[Kiwidave4]

I have never restricted myself to one category of modelling, but when I reached my sixties I decided that 1/35th armour was the best solution to failing eye sight and shaky fingers. As Don149 says, there are things one can do to help. I have always done a lot of scratchbuilding, so have developed my own assembly sequences that facilitate building/attaching small parts, plus use support to steady my hands;- and of course I have the occasional medicinal Scotch when the going gets tough!

[s.e.charles]

mahl stick like the signpainters use might help. or set up some wood blocks bridging the model you're painting to support your forearm & allow access.

david pye*, woodturner, wrote a great book on method. he explained the 'workmanship of risk' and 'the workmanship of certainty'. think of freehanding as the former, and using some sort of straightedge as the latter. enjoy your hobby for years to come.

*it's been out of print for eons, but i believe the title was 'the nature and art of workmanship' - well, spin me 'round and call me dizzy - amazon us has it now - https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Art-Workmanship-David-Pye/dp/0713689315

[viscount806x]

I'm 66 and have similar issues but I just enjoy the modelling and don't worry too much about reaching those inhuman standards often seen in all the best places. I think my worst thing is not being able to use a face mask without the specs steaming up or being able to hear speech on the radio as an accompanying pleasure.

Mind you, we have much better stuff these days to help us such as decent masking tape for e,g. so there is much to enjoy still.

And of course, there is that stash! Come to me my beauties....

[Mottlemaster]

How about one of these . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37246995

[TheRealMrEd]

Bill,

 

I am a whippersnapper at  72, but I'm gonna keep building 1:72 scale until my fingers fall off.  For almost everything, I use a combination of reading glasses, visors or magnifying stands to see what I'm doing clearly. ( If it looks okay at 8X, it'll look fantastic at 1X!)

 

The only freehand painting I do anymore is on cockpit detail, etc. If I can, I use an .5mm paint pen rather than a brush. With larger straight lines, I always mask with either Tamiya tape or Parafilm M.

 

To keep the hand from shaking as much on the smaller stuff, sometimes I stay up until no o'clock in the morning. Seems like when I'm just before "sleepy" tired, I settle down and can paint much better. Guess I'm too wired in the daytime.

 

Hope some of this helps!

 

Ed

 

[Mike]

I'm impressed at the ages of some of you guys, I have to say!   My folks are 82 and 76, and they have given up on the internet completely, as according to my dad it's the cause of all the problems today.

 

I suffer from some weakness in my hands, quick to fatigue, and a bit wobbly at times, so I've taken to using a part-holder, and like some of you, I brace my hands together so that any shaking is minimised.  My OptiVisor is the biggest Dogsend to counter old age, and I use mine almost constantly when I'm modelling.  I'm looking at getting one of these bad-boys too:

 

[cduckworth]

Bill

I lost my eye sight in my right eye due to a detached retina and stopped modeling for 6-7 months. I finally bought a couple strong lamps to better see what I was working on. I still have issues with depth perception but just work slowly.  At 67 I don’t waste my time on poorly designed models as poor fitting parts take the fun out of the hobby.  Example was a C.A. Heinkle 112 that I binned after a couple evenings. 

[dogsbody]

I have a 100 watt light bulb in the ceiling of my room, a 150 watt bulb above my table and a 60 watt in the magnifier. I also have this visor plus my prescription glasses. Sometimes it's a chore to see and handle 1/72 parts, but I have such a large stash of them. So far my hands seem okay. No tremors yet. Knock wood! I expect they'll be along soon. The achy finger joints I've got.

 

 

 

 

Chris

[azureglo]

23 hours ago, dogsbody said:

 

 

 

 

 

Chris

Hey Chris, you don't need to glue the Optivisor on using Elmers: just tighten the head strap, makes taking it off a lot easier as well

[dogsbody]

You know, I just can't get a good buzz off of that stuff either. Not even close to Tenex fumes.

 

 

 

Chris

[Crankycraftsman]

Hey Bill

 I fell you sir, I've been modeling since I was 6 years old watching and helping my older brother build balsa wood planes. I'll be 69 the end of October. I have to use 3 diopter reading glasses and my 5x opti-visor to see up close. 

 I'm a retired Design Engineer in the Automotive and Aircraft industries. Started off drawing on a drafting board, moved to the computor on Cadd Unigraphics UG11 then on to NX. My hands are very arthritic and I've lost some dexterity. They shack sometimes, I try not to paint on those days. I have a bad back from bending over a drafting board for 30+ years, so after 3 - 5 hours at the bench I'm done in. Sometimes I have to take a few days before I can get back to the bench. Getting old really SUCKS!!!  I'm working on the Airfix 1/24 scale F6F-5 Hellcat (I'm converting it back to a F6F-3 in the tri-color paint scheme). I have a couple of build threads going on LSM, one on how to build and paint the P&W R-2800-10W that comes in the kit and one on doing it as  an F6F-3. My handle is Crankycrafstman. 

Ron  G