mikey builder

Thanks for the replies guys: I should have thought of guitar strings, I'm learning to play one! I replaced the strings on mine, and I use bits of the old ones to clean out motorbike carb jets, hence have a supply already. I do like the taper I'm getting from plastic though, as it makes a realistic base for the antenna itself, and is easy to fix in place, but I'll look into your suggestions. I'm just starting a 1:350 Tirpitz, and would love to add all the radio aerials, would fishing line work, and what size would be best? 😁

Hi, I've completed a Coyote and a Jackal, now have got the landrover twin pack (all Airfix operation Herrick 1/48) in progress. None of the kits have any antenna/aerials included, so I've made a few by heating old sprues and stretching them, had some success using black, but just cannot get the length I need 😲 I've several other kits on the go (12 actually) and would like to be able to add my own parts, such as the above, plus wires and rope type bits, just to make the kits as realistic as possible. Is there anywhere that sells black plastic rods that I can heat and draw out? My 'best' so far is 0.25mm and 40mm long, but its rather hit & miss as to when the rod snaps! Thanks, Mike

I've always used bleach, usually strips chrome off plastic in minutes, but this Airfix stuff won't budge. I'll give the cola a try, the main grille looks awful as it was held to the sprues in really visible points, so I've got a crappy looking chrome part with big bits of grey plastic in full view. This model cost a lot of money, no wonder Airfix stopped making it...give me Tamiya stuff any day!

Hi, I've restarted this old kit, had it for a few years, I struggled with the kit and left it! I'm getting on with the build now, its a nightmare finding parts as they are simply numbered from say 1 to 300...no sprue refence, and often parts have wrong numbers. The Chrome parts are terrible, and its rock hard, I cannot find anything to strip it, added to lots of flash (on many other parts) its no fun. So...I'm getting on with it now, but need to find upgrades to do the model any justice. Has anyone found an engine upgrade kit? I am looking for distributor and plug leads, plus any other parts to make it look real! I'm making steel mesh from a sheet of mesh I found in a glass fibre repair kit, the mesh size is pretty much spot on, made a grille, headlamp covers and now making a carb cover that's not in the kit. This kit was a lot of money, and its a big let down!

Update to this old post: I always remove the glass ball from aerosol 'rattle cans' once they are used up, just pop a hole in the can whilst over some rag or paper as theres always paint left! No rusting issues and much lighter...probably why the paint firms use glass...😂

Thanks everyone! Plenty to think about now, I think I'll try the Hycote clear gloss over airbrushed Tamiya paint, on some scrap parts, and see what happens over the next few weeks. I will continue trying Tamiya clear gloss 10ml in my airbrush, but with genuine Tamiya thinners, so far I've just ended up with bloomed/matt finish

Hi. I've been looking for a clear gloss paint, either to airbrush, or spray cans. I'm staggered at the prices for small rattle can/aerosols from Tamiya and other dedicated model suppliers, and after a lifetime of spraying motorbike pars with rattle cans, wonder if its ok on model plastics? 🤔 I use 'Hycote Double Acrylic' concentrated paint most of the time, says suitable for use on Rigid plastics, metal and ceramics, and cellulose (although I've had it react when applied over cellulose rattle can base, up to a month after spraying!), hence my concerns on compatibility Anyone else tried these 'auto' products ? Its acrylic and extremely flammable, much like Tamiya and Humbrol. I bought 2 cans of Humbrol acrylic paint for my Bentley Blower and the cans are 100% identical to Hycote, down to the codes and fire labels etc. Hycote is made about 3 miles from me, but they won't tell me who else they package paint for! Any thoughts or suggestions welcome! 😂

Thanks for the replies, its really helpful to get the views of experienced modellers!

Looking at the WEM deck kit, for £24, I assume this is supplied 'finished' and just needs applying to the standard deck?

I've just got the Tamiya 78015 Tirpitz 1/350 kit. I'm looking at the comments re. errors as its based on Bismark, can anyone highlight the differences please? I once found a video of a build to put this right but just cannot find it again! The next thing I need advice on is the paint ref for the lower hull 'dull red' TS33, and for the deck TS68 'wooden deck tan'. Has anyone got the paint colour X refs? Don't want to pay £10 for a can of spray when I've got hundreds of tubs of paint from 5 makers, and 3 airbrushes.... Would go for a deck timber kit, again any recommendations? Thanks in advance, this is a great site for us 'born again' model makers

Does anyone have any updates on the Hong Kong Models 1/32 Lancaster? Really want to get this kit! Lots of info online, its supposed to out by now, after big delays, but I cannot find one

I was planning to use the standard decals, but if there's better ones available I'll get them: some tiny details on the standard decals are incorrect, I am looking for stencils or suchlike to mask up the fuselage and wings etc. to make painting easier! Also still looking for the kits to mount the correct bomb layouts: Ideally I'd like to keep the Cookie cutter but anything that matches one of the original ones will be great

Thanks...I'm going to use the standard parts: the metal parts are slightly different size, and very bendy, as you found! I won't be buying any more soon, this kit for the Lanc cost over £20, waste of money Has anyone got a link to the kits to make the bomb bay true? I want the Cookie red brackets, 11x 500lb bombs and slips. if possible, thanks

Thanks Graham! That's a big help, I need to repaint the RAF Blue equipment, that's for sure. I'm also adding an ambulance and hopefully a Tank that had a RR engine (forget the name right now!) and its this that would be painted in the Tamiya TS-2 spray I bought. I've got a large shelf set aside in my bookcase, which will hold the diorama, complete with LED lighting, it will just hold all the models, I hope!

Tamiya AS-9 is the rattle can specified for the Tamiya 1/48 lanc 61105, which I'm building...for some reason I bought TS-2 Dark Green...which is correct? Might as well use them, even though I've now got airbrushes I'm building an Airfix 1/48 Albion AM463 3 point fueller, this states the body is camo'd in 30 Matt Dark Green, and 86 Matt Light Olive, these are both the same green! I'm building a diorama of a WW2 airbase, with other vehicles, the Lanc, Mk1 Spit, a Hurricane, and Mosquito. Sjould I paint all the planes the same colours? Also, some of the ancillary stuff is green/olive, and some is RAF Blue...its confusing!

Hi, I bought a set of 'white metal' struts to replace the plastic, as I heard the latter collapsed after standing for some time. its a #48043 kit. I'm really struggling getting the damn things to line up! Has anyone used these before? Should I stay with the standard plastic parts? I'm building a Mk1 'Piccadilly Princess, is it possible to buy painting masks/stencils for the main upper body & wings? I've blown up the images to correct scale but its a nightmare trying to join up the sheets of A4 paper! Thanks, Mike

Hi Jim, Just joined myself, same as yourself, after a long break...like 40 years I have several models on the go now, and will be searching for advice very soon! This site is superb, caters for people like us, right through to experts, I've no need to search online any more

Look pretty good to me! I'm just learning to use an airbrush...and you are miles in front of me already! I keep getting pools of paint and cannot see why...I'll get it sorted soon, I'm sure its just practice needed

Hello there, just joined myself, I can see we have a lot in common! I'm 55 and built 100's of kits when I was younger, now looking forward to building more models, and taking the time to do them properly

Thanks for the replies I've got a good few brushes but they aren't tiny: I bought a set of detail brushes that are supposed to be 5/0 to 20/0, but they are basically the same...think they are just cheapo ones. I'm looking at Sable 20/0 if anyone knows a decent brand I've recently bought a complete kit off a guy who was giving up, got hundreds of paints of all makes, 3 airbrushes including an Iwata Hi-Line, indoor compressor, cleaning tank, glues, the lot...everything I could ever need for ever, just learning to use the airbrushes now!

Hi, Mike from Manchester here, recently got back into model making after 35 ish year break... Bought a 1/48 Lanc, as my Grandad built them at Avroes in Chadderton, and Manchester, I actually live in Chadderton very near the old BA Avro site. I've since decided to build a WW2 diorama, now added a Spitfire and a Hurricane, ground crew, fuel truck, all being built at once! Then I saw a cheap 1/48 Catalina, bought that, then treated myself to the big Airfix Bentley Blower kit. Just added a very rare Tamiya 1/6 Kawasaki Z1300, oh yes also got HMS Victory and Titanic waiting..and a modern Suzuki Katana and a Ferrari 360... Not buying any new stuff now, I'm slowly building the WW2 scene now, I have cut out the side of the Lanc cockpit as you can't see all the extra detail I've put in I have just one question: where can I buy the smallest acrylic paint brush? Struggling to paint the parachute harness straps etc. on the 1/48 figures