SPA Modeler

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 10:26 am**

JimD wrote:
nathant wrote:The whole idea that the best kits out there are...wait for it...???...Tamiya! Especially funny when someone is asking about the best kit of a certain subject and someone immediately chimes in with "Tamiya", and turns out Tamiya doesn't even kit that particular subject. Tamiya does have its share of dog kits, no different from any other manufacturer.
I recently saw someone recommend Tamiya for a subject they don't do. It was hilarious.

I've yet to experience a Tamiya dog. I know the A-10 is one. But it's also really old. Also, Tamiya does rebox some Italeri (and possibly others stuff). So, I wouldn't say any of that qualifies.

Generally, I think if Tamiya has kitted it in the last 10 years then yes, it's the best there is.

In 1/48:

Me 263, Mosquito, Corsair, ABSOLUTELY the P-47, Fairey Swordfish, Zeros...by far are the best out there.

Spitfire, it's old and not great, but it still goes together well. The P-51, Emil 109s and FW 190s...well as far as accuracy and detail there are better...fit...not so much.

Now in 1/32 it's all bets are off.

Only their F-14 is what I'd call "passable." The recent 1/32 Warbirds...no one is touching....the older F-16 same...the F-4 is still king now too with all its problems.

Dog kits: Their 1/48 Fw-190s come to mind..

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 11:21 am**

Oh yeah...thanks for reminding me...sanding tires flat looks absolutely stupid. It doesn't make them weighted...it makes them flat..it's almost always overdone. A fully inflated tire (i. e. as the kit gives them) is not remotely unrealistic. A flat spot on a tire that has no bulging is completely unrealistic. STAPH!

Too many cliches to list, if you ask me, but a few of my favorites are not sanding down the tire tread, especially on wheeled fighting vehicles. Unless the vehicle or aircraft has just had the tires put on, the tread is scuffed.

Not paying attention to construction of actual vehicle. Wooden aircraft do not chip paint and expose "silver". Nor do wooden prop blades bend upon a wheels up landing.

Probably my two favorites are when building aircraft dioramas. If you don't use weighted wheels, (properly weighted, not the almost flat kind), at least put the aircraft in a grassy or hard dirt area where the surface can be built up a little so it appears the tires have settled under the weight.

And my favorite, placing a "ready" aircraft so the nose is facing over grass, while the gear is on a hardstand. Ready birds face the direction of the taxiway or runway. Let's face it, valuable time is lost when a plane has to be turned around, then started, warmed up, pilot harnessed in, and finally moving. Especially defensive aircraft. Those would be armed, fueled and pre-staged in a "hot" area. Also known as "tactical" parking.

On a side note, I've found Model Master US Army Helo Drab to be a great color to simulate rubber tires.

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:07 pm**

I use Akah Old Tire Grey for tires. I picked it up at a LHS just before it closed down for good. Now I wished I had picked up the remaining colors he had left along with some Humbrols too. Anyway, it gives a realistic look of worn used tires.

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 1:16 pm**

NOT!!!

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:37 pm**

JimD wrote:Here are some modeling cliches that make my skin crawl:

"Painting white and yellow is so hard!"

No it's freaking not. Seriously, unless you're trying to brush paint it. In which case: 'Just Buy a Damn Airbrush, Already!' Hell, I spray white over black primer. It's awesome. I don't get why anyone has a problem with this. Pro Tip: Tamiya white seems to give the best coverage followed by Mr. Color, so maybe this will help you?

The "Decompression" Build

Gah, I see this one a lot. It usually, to me, just sounds like an excuse to be lazy or cheap with a build. You know, an excuse not to paint intakes, or add seat harnesses, or to use your damn airbrush.

Now, sure, I can understand not wanting to go all out with 10 pounds and $200 of resin and phtotoetch on every build. Building a kit 100% out of box with kit decals and all is perfectly acceptable if you need a less complex build. That isn't what I'm talking about, guys.

It's when the "oh this is a decompression/relaxed/mojo building (whatever) build" is used as a nicer way to say "I don't actually give a shit about this build" that annoys me. Really, this is a hobby it's supposed to always be about relaxation. Even when I'm spending 20 hours shoehorning a resin cockpit into a build it's "decompression." You know, from life. Time is precious. I can't imagine why anyone would want to spend their bench time churning out turds in the guise of relaxation.

"Jolly Rogers"

Stop building these. If I never see another it will be too soon. I don't dislike the scheme. In fact, I freaking love it on the Super Hornet, but they are way over done.

Build whatever you want. It's your money and your hobby, but it's still cliche.

Pre-Shading

Yes, it's been so overused it's become cliche. What more can I say that fellow blogger Doogs hasn't right HERE. It's a lazy technique that looks completely unrealistic. Yet, folks still get all giddy when they see a paint job that they can play checkers on. I don't get it. STOP!

Feel free to add your own. And if you want to follow hotlinks the original is here: http://jimsmodels.com/2015/10/13/modeli ... that-hurt/

I did not realize that there were modeling clichés...

Painting white/yellow... challenging depending upon the surface, paint used, application method, etc. But yes, an airbrush greatly simplifies the challenge

Decompression build- Yes I like those. Especially after a very involved project such as my B-26 last summer where I added a tone of work on my own that probably tripled the length and saw me up my scratchbuilding game a few notches. usually it is a "shake and bake" Tamiya kit and I avoid the urge that always pops up to add more along the way, either AM or scratch build. Once it gets to the painting stage, I still have the same level of dedication as I do to most any other project. Yes I do give a rats arse about the build all the way thru.

Jolly Rogers- I must have watched the Final Countdown too many times because I do love those VF-84 Tomcats. But seriously, other aircraft such as the F4U, F8F, F9F, F3H, and F-4 that wore the Jolly Rogers skull and cross bones are not seen that often, And to me VF-103 is a posing usurper. Again thank you Final Countdown.

Pre shading- yes, it is overdone, and usually unrealistic. Not my cup of tea.

My clichés? Well if I have to choose them it's the rust and chipping on armor- real AFVs only look that way in outdoor museums or on target ranges. Not the operational vehicles of any army worth its' salt. (a Roman cliché). Visually interesting and artistic, yes. Realistic no. I spent a lot of time around military vehicles from many nations, and have a pretty good subject knowledge on that.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 4:38 am**

JimD wrote:Tread scuffed? Sure...completely worn off...not remotely. I'm not sure if that's what you're suggesting, or if you're saying they should be roughed up...which I don't think can be done realistically in scale..

Yes, scuffed, as in slightly worn. Most kit injection molded tires, (and Tamiya's famous poly ones for 1/35), are cast in a 2 piece mold. This leaves a seam around the center. Taking a fine grit paper, say 600 or finer, lightly sand the center seam away. This serves a 2 fold purpose. It removes the seam, and it places a bit of wear on the tire itself by making the tread depth a bit more shallow.

Stock kit tire on the right, lightly sanded on the left

As for completely worn off, it depends on subject matter. My current PBR build will have 4 tires hanging from the rail as bumpers. Knowing the military as I do, they wouldn't allow new tires for this, but scrap or used ones, yes. So, taking 4 cast resin tires, I sanded the tread down to where I know they would have been changed out, and am planning to mount them.

Also, by using very light touch, patience and a new blade, you can take small pieces off the tread to simulate missing chunks of rubber. The key is being careful and practice.

SPA Modeler

Modeling Cliches That Hurt

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Re: Modeling Cliches That Hurt