Kilroy1988

Thank you, Bissyboat. I have definitely experimented with this build in ways I had not expected. I realized that I was in error to slide the fuselage components one over the other and should have cut and glued the tabs beneath each section to create a flush surface. So, I painstakingly cut the fuselage apart in three places to resolve that issue with mixed results, but overall, I think it looks better than it did. I have used acrylic paint shamelessly to touch-up almost the entire upper surface so I figured I would try it on the bottom as well. The blue I used was far too blue and absorbed into the paper quickly, and I was afraid that I completely ruined the model! It has already been sprayed with some fixative so I dared to take isopropyl alcohol and wipe the paint off the bottom before it dried completely, getting it back to a mottled but more realistic color overall... Anyway, a great learning experience for me, and I'm sure that it'll sit proudly on the shelf as my first attempt for quite some time until perhaps there is no room and some models need to begin going into storage or the rubbish bin! I will attempt to finish all of the detail work that remains before the end of the weekend. Cheers! -Gregory

Thank you, Bissyboat! I can't believe it's been four years since I put this little kit together... It was one of the last scale models I finished before turning back to some other hobbies, and I'm back at it now but have decided to go with a larger scale than 1/72. I don't have a lot of room for display in my current apartment, but I figure that having fewer models of larger scale (and hopefully higher quality) is more interesting!

Fuselage is mostly together and I'll build and attach the wings before I put on all the little details like the exhaust pipes, landing gear or propeller. I've been touching it up with acrylics but if it still doesn't look clean enough for me in the end I will putty, gesso, and sand down the entire body and do a fresh paint scheme then add all the little bits at the end. We'll see how it goes! Either way, I'm 80% satisfied with the actual construction so far, just annoyed by the mess that I've made of it... Cheers! -Gregory

Yes, if you go back to page 7 of the thread you can see where he began to have the hull printed and assembled. A very cool process! Cheers!

Hmm, as far as I can tell there are a lot of build photos already... Large parts of the model appear to be ready. Right? Or do you mean completely built?

A good weekend to you all! Putting together the tail of this model today was probably one of the hardest bits of crafting I've ever done, and I made something of a mess of it... However, it's all together and not terribly crooked, so I consider it reasonable for a first attempt. My biggest mistake in general has been my impatience, as I'm often using quick-dry wood modeling glue and that's what leaves all the residue. I'm hoping a few coats of acrylic lacquer at the end to harden it all up will cover some of the blotch marks. Cheers! -Gregory

Such a fascinating subject and way of going about the modeling process. Thank you for sharing all of the development and progress, @Iceman 29! -Gregory

Thank you, Markus! I'll see how it goes before the end... It's certainly not the easiest way to make a model, but it has some benefits as well. I added the fuselage around the cockpit this morning and came through with a bit of glue residue here and there and slight misalignment, but it's working out so far. My goal for the weekend is to assemble the tail end and attach it to the existing portion. This will be as involved a process as everything up to this point, as far as I can tell from all of the required parts! -Gregory

Splendid stuff, too many words and thoughts to really put down... So I'll leave it at that. Cheers! -Gregory

Hello all, Having visited Belgrade recently, I was inspired to do something a bit different than usual... This is my first build thread for a model and will mirror one that I started on the papermodelers.com forum, where I will post my progress as I build a Rogožarski IK-3 based on a 1/33 kit designed by Marek Pacyński and sold through a couple of online websites as a downloadable file. The 1/33 kit requires A4 paper but since I'm over in California and letter size (8.5x11") is easiest to obtain, I had to scale this down to 95%, so it will actually come out right around 1/35 scale. Over the last two evenings I put together the cockpit, which went together decently. However, I already misplaced the stiffeners behind the seatback by putting them outboard, but my interpretation of the diagrams leads me to believe this won't mess with fitting the rest together. If so, I will saw them out and put them where they were meant to go. There are no instructions with the kit, just two diagrams of how all the parts go together, so I will probably build the fuselage up next, then fiddle with preparing the wheels and landing gear, then do the wings last and put it all together. This is my third attempt at a card model and if successful will be my second to be completed. Cheers! -Gregory

That's a wonderful little plane and accompanying diorama! If I can make one slight criticism, it would be that the effect of having the decking cut in such a shape belies its nature as part of a carefully-fabricated vessel. I would have made the entire square base into the deck, and reserved such shapes for more natural applications like grass fields, where the randomness of the edges accentuates the organic aspect. Just a thought! -Gregory

I'd have skiffed my pants if I realized I'd made their mistake... Very well done bit of modelling!

I just want to chime and say that I've enjoyed reading through this thread, and have felt particularly intrigued by the conversations about what the "nostalgia" of it all actually entails. I only got back into modelling a couple years back, at nearly the age of 30, and began by building 1/72 WWII aircraft for a war game my family plays. I paint my models with the same brushes and thick acrylics I use to do my paint work on canvas and other craft mediums, and build my models right here on the desk in front of my computer screen with just a few little essential tools laying around. Since starting up I've joined the forum. read many a review and critical analysis of this kit versus that kit, etc... Yet somehow I've managed to still collect a pile of rather dated kits which I have enjoyed putting together for the heck of it. I missed the era when many of these moulds were new, but I still appreciate the nostalgia aspect. I also collect, restore, and ride vintage road bicycles, as an example of one of too many crafts I engage in - and those bikes are often more expensive and less practical than buying a new one... 'Tis a similar story to the model kits in some ways! I have no idea when or if I'll buy an airbrush kit and set up a proper little work bench, though reading this thread has honestly made me happy to think that I haven't yet. I'll hold on to what I've got for a while longer, because perhaps what I'm lacking in material is made up for in innocence! Cheers! -Gregory

I stared at the model for quite a while and did not notice that, but it's usually one of the first things that annoys me when it is the case! I must have been overwhelmed by the quality otherwise... But truly, it should be flags with the wind!

Hello folks! I'm recently returned from a trip to Russia, and had an opportunity to spend an afternoon in the Central Naval Museum in Saint Petersburg. I took photos of much of the collection beginning with the birth of the Russian navy, and got through until the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. My camera ran out of batteries and I was tired of taking photos by then, so the more modern part of the collection will have to wait to be documented until my next visit. Here's a Flickr album containing the photos I took. I thought I'd share it here for fellow enthusiasts. Cheers! -Gregory https://www.flickr.com/photos/45665351@N00/albums/72157690676263083

An incredible accomplishment! Wonderfully executed... Bravo! -Gregory

Howdy, folks! This is my first build to show off in the military vehicle category, having only previously finished aircraft... I had plans to use this little fellow in a diorama featuring Bf 109s during the Polish campaign, but may not see the project through. This kit began life with a sidecar that included a machine gun and gunner. The driver was facing forward with both legs and both arms firmly placed on the motorcycle, so I heavily modified his posture to get him and the motorcycle in this rather naturalistic state, with an outstretched arm and letter in hand. I also scratch-built the leather saddle bags, which seem to be an essential feature for a messenger's ride... As the model is only about 2cm tall, this was altogether quite a fun little challenge. Cheers! -Gregory

Hello Greg! Yes, I'm still not quite patient enough to sit and get things just right... I notice many of the issues, but honestly feel that between my lack of experience and the fact that I still use rather thick paint and brushes, I can just ignore the inconsistencies for now. It doesn't seem possible to get "great" results with my current methods, so I just try to build and have fun. Maybe I'll get there someday! Cheers! -Gregory

Bumping this because I finished the stand and added some new photos! ^.^ -Gregory

Between your choice of subjects and your skills, you're officially my favorite modeller on this forum, Fuad! Another exquisite piece! -Gregory

Coming back to this post very late, but feeling that a proper thank you is in order for each of you who took the time to respond and do some research about the question I posed! It's much appreciated. I ended up finishing my Heller model up without a squadron marking at all, because I found a photo of some Cs or Ds in a Polish airfield without any, but with the same style of yellow numbers on the individual aircraft. This seemed appropriate enough, given the possibility that I'll be using the model in a diorama featuring the Polish campaign. Cheers! -Gregory

I've seen it reported in multiple instances but not on any official page, and the rest of the kits in the series also say 1:64, sometimes officially... In any case, it would be nice to know for sure if the length of the bowsprit is considered in typical measurements of either the real ships or models (I assume so for the latter, but am not sure about the former)? I've seen "deck measurements" and "overall length" quotes for the real ships, so I suspect the overall length includes the bowsprit. Is that usually the case? -Gregory

Hello folks! I'm just delving into ship modelling, and am currently looking at branching into wooden kits. I've been an amateur woodworker for years and love the idea of building a traditional vessel from mostly proper materials! Staring at some popular kits, such as those from Amati and Corel, I'm beginning to get very confused by the scales presented. For example, the Amati Russian brig Mercury is reportedly at 1/64 scale by all accounts that I can find online (except their official site or photos of the model's box, which does not seem to list a scale)... The finished model is reportedly 34" long, but my research indicates that the original ship was only about 96 feet in length. Even if that length does not account for the bowsprit, then the model kit should only be about 18" long at most, plus the bowsprit... This does not make any sense to me, unless if I am clearly under-appreciating the lengths of the bowsprits. By way of comparison, a plastic 1/72 scale kit of the frigate Oryel is about 40cm long, while the original ship was ~80 feet in length. This makes much more sense to me! I've come across similar issues for other wooden kits that have piqued my interest. Any insights before I make a plunge on one or another? I don't need things to be exact, but I do like to know that the scales are reasonable! -Gregory (p.s. I would not start out by building a $600 Amati Mercury kit, so no need for warnings! I merely use that as an example... I'll start with something simpler, as common sense demands.)

So brilliant. I knew this would be good when I saw the title and your name next to it! Certainly doesn't disappoint! -Gregory

Thanks. How would one go about applying a wash over raised panel lines? I could put something into the recessed areas between the ailerons and elevators, I suppose, but that doesn't affect much of the surface area...