A negative mask is one that is grumpy and has a bad outlook on life. OK, that’s not true. 🙂 A negative mask is one that shows an area to be painted, while a positive mask covers an area already painted. Anyway… On the rare occasion that I get adventurous and try to do a paint scheme that I don’t have decals
Read moreScott Des Planques sent in this very interesting look at how his love of history led to restoring an older build to a more modern standard. It looks great Scott- thanks for sharing this! This brief article touches on an often overlooked modeling procedure, rebuilding an old finished kit. A bit over 20 years ago I purchased the Glencoe Grumman
Read moreOne of the more visible and distinctive elements that is easily visible in either a closed or open canopy configuration of the Spitfire is the compass. Unlike many aircraft that had the compass mounted in the instrument panel, directly facing the pilot, the Spitfire had a horizontally mounted compass, hanging just below the instrument panel. Though some kits already have a
Read moreAgapeModels.com forum member Eric Larson posted this excellent tutorial on his method for simulating wood grain. Judging by the results so far on his Wingnut Wings LVG (see picture to the left), I’d say he’s gotten it right! Since I started posting WIP photos of my Wingnut LVG 4 months ago, I have received numerous queries here, and from other
Read moreAgape forum member Ken (icekj) shared this handy technique for building your own sanding sticks. It lets you get exactly the grit you want, and saves you money. Thanks for sharing this Ken! Store bought sanding sticks are costly. They are hard to find in the 800+ grits that I prefer to work with. Some sanding sticks do not hold
Read moreOne of the techniques many modelers use to enhance the look of their models, especially aircraft, is a “wash” to enhance panel lines and other detail. There is quite a bit of debate about how realistic this effect is- but I’ll leave that discussion to the various forums. For me personally, it’s a stylistic question. I like the way it
Read moreIn this third installment on producing natural metal finishes, Al shows us how he does NMF with real foil. For foil finishes, the surface needs preparing as in the first step, but no black primer coat is required. Once you have a smooth, clean surface, you can foil straight on to it. Any painted areas will need to be painted
Read moreAgapeModels.com forum member Pruz- otherwise known as Al- posted some great tips for achieving a natural metal finish (NMF). In this second installment, he outlines steps for a weathered, natural metal finishes. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy Christian fellowship and modeling discussion, I invite you to join our forums! Again, start with the surface. As I would
Read moreAgapeModels.com forum member Pruz- otherwise known as Al- posted some great tips for achieving a natural metal finish (NMF). Today, he outlines steps for a clean, natural metal finishes using painted methods. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy Christian fellowship and modeling discussion, I invite you to join our forums! Getting good results for an NMF starts with
Read moreWhen I was modeling as a teen, in the late 70’s, I built mostly Monogram kits. I don’t ever recall paying much attention to the panel lines at the time, as my goal was to slap ’em together, get it on the shelf, and move on to the next kit. When I got back into the hobby in 2006, I
Read moreDrew Hatch sent in this very useful tutorial for bending photoetch. Though he’s using The Small Shop’s “Bug” bending station, the basics he covers will apply to just about any bending tool. The Small Shop You can get your own “Bug” by visiting The Small Shop’s website. Based in Kalama, Washington, USA, they have a line of photoetch bending tools,
Read moreMy local IPMS club, Lafayette Scale Modelers, holds it’s meetings each month at Hayes Hobby House in Fayetteville, NC, USA. We always hold a raffle, and I’ve been blessed to win a few kits. This last meeting I won Eduard’s 1/48 Albatross D.V Weekend Edition. I normally don’t build WWI aircraft, but I decided to give it a try. The
Read moreRusty Keeler shares a simple but effective technique for getting those top wings mounted correctly on a biplane…. good stuff for me as I’m starting my first one! The 1:72 scale Monogram F4B-4 and the Accurate Miniatures F3F series biplanes are superbly engineered kits and this can be said for assembling the wings as well. My only other experience with
Read moreThe modeling hobby, at least for me, is a series of plateaus and peaks, times that I feel like I’m doing well, and then times when I realize I’m growing. Those times of growth are fun and exciting, because they usually begin with an encounter with something that provides one of those “Ah-ha!” moments in life that can be so
Read moreOne of the most effective ways to make small details “pop” is a technique known as drybrushing. Though a very simple technique, it can add life and realism that can take an average build to being a show winner. And it’s so simple that practically any modeler already has all the tools at hand to use this technique. Will Nichols
Read moreWill Nichols has submitted this great how-to on several ways the modeler can use epoxy putty to add features and detail to models, as well as to close in those pesky gaps. Epoxy putty is not as scary as you might think it is. The basics are all the same. The basics Epoxy putty consists of a epoxy resin &
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