nheather

I got three of the trumpeter ones - flat edge, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm. Done some test cuts but not used in anger - but so far they do seem rather nice. Cheers, Nigel

Hi, A member here recently suggested that I look at the Hobby Elements Molding Flash Sander. I googled and whilst I could find plenty of videos on YouTube, I couldn't find any stockists and also the Facebook page had not been updated in over a year. The member then gave me an email to try - I did and got a response. Please note that I am in no way connected to Hobby Elements. Actually, although I find the products intriguing and would like to try some, they are rather expensive so I'm not sure that I will buy any, but in case others are interested, here are the details. Cheers, Nigel Molding Flash Sander: 5 pieces in 5 different high quality grits for shaping and smoothing (Rough, Medium , Fine, Super Fine, Ultra Fine) per set, best selling item. Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfjCzlIOxTY (HE7001T) Molding Flash Sander, 25USD/set. Micro Files series: 3 pieces of tough and super thin metal file coated with durable abrasives and able to clean up inside small gaps. These Micro Files have 3 grits (Medium, Super fine, Ultra fine) per set, with different width options, wider width files can shape irregular edge to straignt line edge more easily, narrow files fit into narrow area and can shape straight corner edges such as landing gear parts, sabre files do the best job when sanding near to details contour, they can shape straight corner edges as well. Round files for irregular edge, round corners and holes Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDl6kCrb9pg (HE5001W10) Micro Flat Files, 1MM width , 23USD/set (HE5001W20) Micro Flat Files, 2MM width , 23USD/set (HE5001W30) Micro Flat Files, 3MM width , 23USD/set (HE5001W40) Micro Flat Files, 4MM width , 25USD/set (HE5001W50) Micro Flat Files, 5MM width , 25USD/set Purchase of all Flat Files, 10% off (HE5002W10) Micro Sabre Files,1MM width, 23USD/set (HE5002W20) Micro Sabre Files,2MM width, 23USD/set (HE5002W30) Micro Sabre Files,3MM width, 23USD/set (HE5002W40) Micro Sabre Files,4MM width, 25USD/set (HE5002W50) Micro Sabre Files,5MM width, 25USD/set Purchase of all Sabre Files, 10% off (HE5003R05) Micro Round Files,0.5MM width, 23USD/set Detail Removers series: 3 pieces of Detail Remover shaping/ smoothing grit bits in 3 different grits (Medium, Super Fine, Ultra Fine) plus 3 pieces of polishers in 3 different grit (Medium, Super Fine, Ultra Fine) per set. Ideal for ejection pin marks removal, small area smoothing...etc: Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syjch0ahRdI Related video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjwdRwZZm6o (HE7002T05) Detail Removers, 0.5MM width , 25USD/set (HE7002T10) Detail Removers, 1MM width, 25USD/set (HE7002T20) Detail Removers, 2MM width, 25USD/set (HE7002T30) Detail Removers, 3MM width , 25USD/set Purchase of all Detail Removers, 10% off MICRO Drills: Super small size drill bits that can drill holes of the smallest size you ever can! Ideal to separate parts into 2 with minimal destruction (less gap). Advanced user recommended only. (New!) (HE7004TA01) Micro Drills, 1 set have: 0.1MM bit X2, 0.11MM bit X2, 0.12MM bit X2, 0.15MM bit X2, 0.2MM bit X2. 23 USD/ set (New!) (HE7004T010) Micro Drills, 1 set have: 0.1MM bit X10. 23 USD/ set (New!) (HE7004T011) Micro Drills, 1 set have: 0.11MM bit X10. 23 USD/ set (New!) (HE7004T012) Micro Drills, 1 set have: 0.12MM bit X10. 23 USD/ set (New!) (HE7004T015) Micro Drills, 1 set have: 0.15MM bit X10. 23 USD/ set (New!) (HE7004T020) Micro Drills, 1 set have: 0.2MM bit X10. 23 USD/ set Ball Sanders series: 3 pieces of Ball Sander shaping/ smoothing grit bits in 3 different grits (Medium, Super Fine, Ultra Fine) plus 3 pieces of polishers in 3 different grit (Medium, Super Fine, Ultra Fine) per set, Related video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ8oLa4VOEU (HE7003R10) Ball Sanders, 1MM balls, 20USD/set (HE7003R15) Ball Sanders, 1.5MM balls, 20USD/set (HE7003R25) Ball Sanders, 2.5MM balls, 20USD/set Purchase of all Ball Sanders, 10% off Divider Series: A small tool to divide a line of unknown length to equal length of sections. Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8YHb3By95s (HE2001T) Linear Equal Divider, 17 USD each. (NEW!!) (HE2002T) Circular Equal Divider, 17 USD each. Distance Pointer Series: A series of tool to visualize/ transfer/ judge a distance to workout something in scratch building, such as Related video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2OdzyLyHro (HE3001T) Horizontal Distance Pointer (distance chips from 0.2mm to 3.0MM measured in horizontal direction, total 29 chips ), 20 USD each. (HE3002T) Vertical Distance Pointer (Distance chips from 0.2mm to 3.0MM measured in vertical direction, total 29 chips ), 20 USD each. (HE3003T) Distance Chips 3.1mm to 10MM (Total 70 chips). 45 USD each. (NEW!!) (HE3004T) Mini Divider, quickly picking 2 points of whatever the distance is, 10 USD each. (HE3005T) Depth Guage (1), to detect the deepest location of any object, which is hard to measure with existing tools. Section Tracer Series: Newly modifyed section tracer for high resolution and accuracy profile shape translation, now smaller and more handy to use, weight reduced 2/3, price reduced more than half. Modifyed pins for more function. Ideal for scratchbuild modelers and advanced modelers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTGN4XDuPE8 (NEW!!) (HE1007HR) Section Tracer 7CM, (Now at reasonable price of 85USD, previous version is 180USD, the modification has cut down the production cost), Free Shpping (Apply on whole order) Shipping cost : Shipping 1 item = 4 USD, 2 items = 5 USD, 3 items to 6 items = 9USD, Taking 7-12 items = 13USD, more than that will be a special quotation. I declare very low value of 6 USD, so you do not need to pay much tax. Free Shipping for whole order if you purchase Section Tracer . Order method: Simply reply me your email that accociated with your Paypal account and later I will email you invoice. After payment is done and if stock status is ok, I will arrange packing of items and ship the parcels to the mail address of your Paypal account. Please make sure that your Paypal mailing address is correct. **Note: Do not pay directly to my [email protected] paypal account, I do not receive money there. Please wait for my invoice.**

The Hobby Elements burrs look interesting but are they still going. Can't seem to find their products online and their last facebook page was over a year ago. Cheers, Nigel

Great, been looking at the Bronco one for some time but have been put off by the complexity and the lack of a crew. This could fit the bill very nicely. When is it coming out? Cheers, Nigel

Hi, Talking about the seams on plastic parts where the two halves of the mould meets. Is there a cleaver way of removing them - I just scrape with a edge of blade and/or sand. That works on small parts but on big chunky parts I find it quite dissatisfying that I can't just take the seam off without bits the plastic either side with the blade or the sander. Is there some magic method. Also bonus question: When the seam runs long a moulded spring - what do you use to remove the unwanted material (web) between the spring coils? Cheers, Nigel

All the agents are listed here http://www.tamiya.com/english/agent/agent.htm For the UK it is The Hobby Company Limited Website - http://www.hobbyco.net/ Phone - 01908-209-480 Fax - 01908-605-666 eMail - [email protected] Cheers, Nigel

Wow that was amazingly quick - replacement track received today. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. Gluing them would certainly work because the tops of the tracks are totally hidden. In fact tamiya have made no effort to recreate the track pattern on the 1cm length that glues together so it is expected that goes to the top anyway - though the instructions don't make that clear. Also I sent an eMail to the Tamiya agent in the UK. They have replied saying that they will post out replacements today. BTW - when I looked through my stash, most of my Tamiya tracks were on sprues - and the ones that aren't may have been removed by me. The ones on sprues have all been smaller vehicles though. Perhaps if the tracks are large then they are not on sprues. Cheers, Nigel

Do Tamiya Rubber tank tracks (the newer type that can be glued) always come attached on a rubber sprue, or are they sometimes already separated. The reason I ask is that I have just purchased a kit from a member here. Inside the box the sprues are still sealed in the original bags so it is totally unstarted. The tracks however, are separate (no rubber sprue) and unfortunately one is snapped. I doubt the seller knowingly sold the kit like this, he was either unaware or perhaps it happened in transit as the contents moved about the box. I guess I have four options 1 - notify the seller and let him sort it out 2 - try to repair by gluing together 3 - as it is only about 4cm that has broken off I could just fit gluing the wheels as the top track will be hidden under fenders (it's a Churchill) 4 - contact the local agent reporting it as faulty and getting a replacement My preference is (4) but before I contact them it would be good to know if the tracks would have been on a sprue and for whatever reason the seller has removed them. I don't want the agent to turn round and say that I broke it when removing from the sprue. Cheers, Nigel

Great job. I have a question, not a criticism, just something that I'm not sure about. Would the inside of the hatches have been painted white (Elfenbein). I imagined that they would have been painted exterior colour so as not to show up easily to fighter bombers. Cheers, Nigek

Optivisor are no different from any other magnifier or reading glasses - the higher the magnification the shorter the focal distance. Optivsor are actually better than most because they quote the focal distances for each of their lenses the competitors don't usually bother. You can see them on this page http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/optivisor Even if you aren't going with Optivisor (I accept that they are pretty expensive) then these focal ranges will pretty much hold true for any lenses from expensive stuff right down to the reading glasses from Poundlound. I have an Optivisor with a 2.5x lens - which gives an 8" focal distance. One thing no one has said about the Optivisor - the lenses are optical grade glass not plastic. They do give a clearer brighter image then plastic reading glasses but then they should at that price. I bought mine when working in the US when the you got $1.65 to the £ so I paid about £40 including an accessory set which adds the LED light, loupe and comfort band. Even that was pricey and I would certainly find it hard to justify the UK prices. BTW, although you can get different lenses it is not a quick slip in and go system - especially if you have the additional LED light and/or loupe - there are screws to undo. Despite have the Optivsor and a high quality angle-poise magnifier, most of the time I just use £1 reading glasses from Poundland - just have a whole stack of sizes, more convenient and comfortable to use. Cheers, Nigel

@bootneck They look like the ones. I assume you have the 1mm, 2mm and 3mm there. Do you find uses for all of them or just concentrate on one or two of them. Cheers, Nigel

Do you have a selection of sizes or do you find a particular size that works best. @tank152 - you mentioned Mission Models chisels but then linked Swann and Morton blades - is that what you meant? Cheers, Nigel

The other day, reading the latest Airfix magazine, I learnt about micro chisels. In the article, it used them to remove raised ejector pin marks on the new 1/48 Walrus. So I did a little research and determined that they were neither cheap nor expensive, around £20 for a set of three sizes. But couldn't really find anything about how useful they are. Are they great Do they need sharpening - if so how would you do that Would they just end up in the drawer unused Do x-acto chisel knife blades do the job just as well or better Would appreciate your thoughts. Cheers, Nigel

Amazing, I am in awe. Cheers, Nigel

Nice model. If it were me I would tone the LEDs down, experimenting with different voltages or adding resistors to get them down to a subtle glow. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks for the info. I picked on this Military Modeller International because of price - £55 for 22 editions. But when I was checking it out in WH Smith, I did notice that it had a lot of short articles so probably light on sort of detail I like. I also notice that their back issues are only £2,00 - which suggests the demand is not great. Of the magazines that I looked at, the Airfix one was the style I liked the best. Light on armour of course but the variety is not necessarily a bad thing. Cheers, Nigel

What do you think of this magazine. Looking at getting a subscription but wonder whether it is suitable for beginners. Does it cover techniques and OOB builds or is it all £60 plus £80 worth of after-market built and finished by an expert way beyond my humble abilities. My main modelling interest is WWII Armour. Alternatively, I'm looking at Airfix World magazine because it is more down to earth - even though it is dedicated to Armour the variety also appeals. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks, that makes sense. Cheers, Nigel

I was lucky enough to find a 1:16 Trumpeter T-34 under the Christmas tree. Going to paint it Russian Green with a washable white winter camo scheme. Never done anything this big, will need to buy the paints I need and will have to order online. I will be airbrushing and would appreciate some guidance on how many bottles of paint I should be buying - would a single bottle of Russian Green (17ml) suffice or will I need two, three or more - I have absolutely no ideal. cheers, Nigel

Many thanks, so just to double check, does Gator Grip create clear windows in small openings. Cheers, Nigel

Thanks, Buy glazing, I mean using the glue to glaze small opening rather than attaching transparencies. And for photo-etch I'm thinking of the small fiddly parts. What I'm thinking is that Glue n Glaze would serve all three purposes 1 - attaching transparencies 2 - glazing small openings 3 - attaching small photo etch Cheers, nigel

Looking for some glue for glazing and for attaching photo etch. Seen the following Gator Grip Gator Grip Thin Glue n Glaze Kristal Klear Do I need to buy two or more or are they all effectively the same thing? Cheers, Nigel

Thanks for the suggestions. gavingav - too much work, looking for a kit where someone has worked out the LED positions and colours madmonk - nice but much more than I'm prepared to spend. To give you an idea, the kit was £16 so don't want to spend more than £20. Skilled with a soldering iron and electronics so instructions and DIY wouldbe fine as an alternative to a kit. Cheers, Nigel

I know that there is a Revell Star Trek Enterpise (The Original Series) waiting under the tree for me. Now I know it has it has its failing (over heavy scribing for example), but I'm going to build as is, no photo-etch costing 3x the price of the kit for me. BUT I would like to light it, even with the knowledge that the basic kits cost more than the kit. Again, not looking at the really fancy kits with pulsing engines, would like those but they are seriously expensive. So I see basic kits which have static LEDs and maybe the odd flashing LED are around the £20 mark. Looking on eBay as I've no idea where else to look atamd there are two kits one from the UK and one from Germany that seem to have different approachs, one with many strip lights and one with one with fewer standard LEDs. But there are little other details so not sure which to go for, or even something else. Anyone bought any of these or done something similar. Appreciate hearing your ideas. Cheers, Nigel