modelmaker

Unlike me!

YES! I am not alone.....

About 1963 or 4 there was a newsagent at the top of our lane in Purton (not a million miles from Fairford) and they sold Airfix kits in the famous bags for 2/6 if I recall. I can't swear to it but I imagine it would have been a Spit. My dad was ex RAF, as was the head at the school where he taught (Braden Forest) and the pair of them did a display of WWI British aircraft for the anniversary of the start of that war. This must have been what started me on my love of aircraft; I used to do sketches of the artwork in his Profile books (I have the books but sadly not the drawings, not any of the models I made at that time, 'wish I had). He used to organise school trips to Passchendale and wrangled me onto one of them. I haven't thought of any of this for over 50 years, amazing I can still remember any of it! Sorry to go off topic. When I re entered this wonderful hobby, still making them in the same way I did as a kid (imagine!) my first model was ALSO a Spitfire, only this time in 1/48 (I never knew until this point that such HUGE models existed!). It was a model my friend's future ex wife gave me, determined he WASN'T going to have it (he was a naughty boy and got caught). Still got it, and re painted it after the great Strevor Snowden told me about how Klear made transfers work properly. I owe my hobby to him and my dad, thanks to you both.

Slightly off topic, and you might throw me off the forum, but am I the only codger who has trouble with saying the 'd' word? When I was a lad first embarking on what was to become a long, although not necessarily illustrious modelling career kits had waterslide transfers, and I'm sure in one case it has stickers! A lot of the models I make from my childhood still DO have transfers, according to the instructions! When, during my time off from the hobby did they change to 'decals'? It sounds at best like a made up word, and at worst French! (JOKE! I love France and the French and go there every year, and my French pal makes the same sort of jokes in reverse). Just a thought......

I didn't mean to kick a hornet's best when I mentioned that I prefer enamel paint, so I apologise if I have. I have tried all sorts of paint since I tee entered this hobby 25 years ago, having been distracted circa 1970 by motorcycles, girls, wife, kids then divorce. I have, since then, tried various paints (including the odd tin of Airfix paint!) and for a time thought I was the only person in the world who still preferred to use enamel. I'm not trying to get anyone to change their paint stock from one for to another, but merely that I find little trouble with (Humbrol) enamel whereas I constantly struggle to work with these modern paints. I understand they do thin with water, apparently, although isopropyl makes some work better, but not others, causing some types to block airbrushes solidly.I just go to Wilko I and buy a couple of litres (nearly half a gallon) for a couple of quid, which thins all enamel. It never clogs my brush and needs no magic portions to flow more freely. I know and completely understand and respect that others have exactly the opposite view and experience, but I don't. I live in fear of losing my preferred paint as I personally can't get decent results with most acrylic I've tried. Others will be stumped that I can't and they can, but we all have things we get on with that others don't and vice versa. Could be talking about my ex wife... On the subject of Humbrol' s finest, I keep being told by my clubmates that 'the new stuff is rubbish' but I must be doing something Wrong as I seem to manage ok with it. I can also buy it in my art shop in Studley, about a mile away, which is very handy as EVERY model I make needs a new shade of grey. Good hobby, although I am reminded of when I was a motorcyclist; enamel vs acrylic is NOTHING compared to the uproar you'll get if you mention British vs Japanese, 2 stroke vs 4 stroke, the list is endless. Keep on modelling, whatever paint you get on with!

It probably won't work but dipping canopies in Klear (or equivalent) sometimes fixes, or helps, clouding issues, although, for the reasons the assembled wisdom has said it has probably been burned irrevocably by the turps. 'done it myself..... my pal exhibited a BEAUTIFUL dayglo finish on a model recently, using Vallejo, although I haven't tried it myself, being predominantly an enamel user. looked very good though, although not sure if it would brush well. someone here will know. if all else fails please send me a PM and i'll see if I can vac-form one for you; worth a try if nothing else works. good luck

I imagine the extra thin will actually have melted the 2 parts together making them effectively one piece. The pin will presumably be the weakest part and will probably break first so maybe you could make a new pin, clean up the other part etc, normal cock up stuff in my world sadly. Do one job make 2 more.......

For years I thought I was the only one marching in step! I've never really got on with acrylics, although I can manage Tamiya etc as long as I use isopropyl to thin it. Trouble is, I can't easily get either, whereas I can go to my local art shop and buy Humbrol, which has always worked for me, and white spirit is even easier. Sorry to digress from the main question. Average modeller, but I enjoy it...

Enamel all the way, stays where it lands

I use the paracetamol blisters for mixing a little bit of talc with double to make filler, very handy

A modeller can, with a little imagination, find all sorts of things around the house, or at work, often thrown out, which are a good source of plastic. There are many routes of plastic of course, experiment. I keep the various clear plastic boxes that Christmas cards come in (often with glitter polluting it though) and lots of other items too for vac forming canopies. Some work, some don't, but always worth thinking sideways.

Thank you everyone, this gives me something to think about. It's one of those things where it is quite difficult to find a definitive answer but I thank you all, very kind JD

Auto correct! Should d have been 'Fulmar' !

PLEASE excuse me if this is a stupid question but I have always been a bit vague when it comes to the aerial wires strung between radio masts or cockpits and the tail on military aircraft, and specifically what colour they might be for a modeller? For example the C 47 in the museum in St mer Eglise has a cable which appears to be a white cloth covered cable, remeniscent of the wiring you would find in an old car. However I remember the wires beneath the noise of the B 17 in the American museum at Duxford, when I looked many years ago (must go back soon.....) were black, maybe painted, maybe anodized, maybe not original, who knows? Well, hopefully someone HERE knows! I would appreciate your guidance, a good many years I just stretch my sprue, or fishing nylon, and often just leave it at that, although I presume there are a variety of different answers depending on individual aircraft etc. I am presently building the little Revell Fairey Fulmar amongst others.... Very kind, thank you for your thoughts JD

Oh well, thanks anyway, very kind. I often find myself building some of the the stuff I did when I was a kid in the 60s so my 'small' '61 compared quite well to the last one I made (the Airfix, about 50 yrs ago), although I can't actually remember it if course. Mind you I can't remember what I had for breakfast today and I have the same thing ever day. The masochist in me has had a Novo/Frog for some time so I've used the new one to fashion cockpits, bulkheads etc, great fun. Thanks again JD