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One done one more to go. This was sooo tedious. It turned out ok though not bad for my first time with PE. I think PE is a lot more common with military models I don't know how you guys deal with it.  Edit: Also it's probably glued to the tape now. It's going to be fun getting it off there.
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Aug 14, 2022 00:27
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| # ? May 29, 2024 18:42 |
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I sympathize with your tedium. I just put the last decal on the Tamiya F-14. It took me five sessions and probably 15 to 20 hours to do all of them. Uuuuugh. Your PE looks great, by the way. Yes, it's probably glued to the tape, a straight razor blade or box cutter blade slid under the part parallel to the surface will help pop it loose without bending the assembly. Good luck!
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Aug 14, 2022 02:40
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Looks like a nice kit, and I hope you keep sharing. 
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Aug 14, 2022 04:57
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Well, after much boohooing and bitching about decals, I have to say I'm pretty happy with the final product. Here are a few quick and dirty shots after just finishing. This is Tamiya's F-14A Tomcat in 1/48th scale (Kit 61114) in the livery of VF-2 as seen on the USS Enterprise around 1975. It's a departure from my normal comfort zone of 1/32 WWII aircraft, so it was kind of refreshing to do something different. I'm just not used to so many damned decals, thus my bitching. Otherwise this is a fantastic kit that goes together exceptionally well, and I would highly recommend it. It's pricey, but the quality is there for sure. Aftermarket includes the Quinta studios 3D printed cockpit set, and ejection seats and wheels from Eduard.        
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Aug 15, 2022 02:03
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Got drat! That is a sexy model. Amazing loving job. I can easily say that's one of the best models I've seen here, or frankly anywhere. If there are any competitions near you, enter it, this thing could sweep.
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Aug 15, 2022 02:32
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Bloody Hedgehog posted:Got drat! That is a sexy model. Amazing loving job. I can easily say that's one of the best models I've seen here, or frankly anywhere. If there are any competitions near you, enter it, this thing could sweep. Speaking as someone who stupidly judged at an IPMS Nationals before - obviously these are pictures so I can't see all around the model like we would do at a competition, but there is nothing here that would be an automatic 'mark down' which is the first thing the judges look for, so that puts it above about 90% of every model entered in competitions! Basically the judges look for construction flaws first, because by screening those out (visible glue marks, misaligned parts, gaps, etc.) you can quickly eliminate a huge number of models and then focus the real effort on the remaining few. It does look great.
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Aug 15, 2022 03:51
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Gewehr 43 posted:Well, after much boohooing and bitching about decals, I have to say I'm pretty happy with the final product. Here are a few quick and dirty shots after just finishing. This is Tamiya's F-14A Tomcat in 1/48th scale (Kit 61114) in the livery of VF-2 as seen on the USS Enterprise around 1975. It's a departure from my normal comfort zone of 1/32 WWII aircraft, so it was kind of refreshing to do something different. I'm just not used to so many damned decals, thus my bitching. Otherwise this is a fantastic kit that goes together exceptionally well, and I would highly recommend it. It's pricey, but the quality is there for sure. Aftermarket includes the Quinta studios 3D printed cockpit set, and ejection seats and wheels from Eduard. If I had to pick at anything, and I rarely make this suggestion, I'd actually like to see this more weathered. The Tomcat was a filthy plane operating in a filthy environment, so some grease staining and general dirt, especially around the wing joints would do it some credit. It's great as-is, though. I wish I had that kind of output in my comfort zone, let alone outside it.
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Aug 15, 2022 04:14
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First and foremost, thank you for the kind words. Sincerely, they mean a lot to me. This sparks something of an interesting conversation. I've never been interested in entering any of my work into any competitions before. Philosophically speaking, I build models for me. An overarching passion for military history has long been one of my defining characteristics. (Since kindergarten when I found a book about the Battle of the Coral Sea at my elementary library.) So, military modeling is really just an extension of that passion. They bring my closer to my passion while allowing me to do something tactile, creative, and well... zen. I share pictures of my work here out of a joy of the hobby. I love looking at the pictures and participating in the conversations surrounding the works of everyone here, and I appreciate the fact that we have modelers of all skill levels in the ranks. I'm also thrilled when people ask me for advise as I love mentoring and teaching, and... no one in my personal life ever asks me for advice about models (except my niece who does amazing Breyer horses). There's never a desire to compete. Just to enjoy the journey and appreciate the work of others. I just realized that I kind of identify with Bob Ross, but only with miniature models. huh. Anyway, why do you model?
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Aug 16, 2022 01:37
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I put up a few of my models on a website with professional modelers and they all got bashed into oblivion. On the other hand MiniArt put one of my dioramas on their website, so I don't know who to believe.
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Aug 16, 2022 04:12
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Ensign Expendable posted:I put up a few of my models on a website with professional modelers and they all got bashed into oblivion. On the other hand MiniArt put one of my dioramas on their website, so I don't know who to believe. Any hobby, but especially any male-dominated hobby, has a certain amount of dick waving disguised as critique or feedback. Or not disguised at all. You get the same bullshit on any site discussing videogames known for their difficulty.  "Anyone have any tips for beating Manus? I'm stuck." "Not sure what your problem is. I beat him first try." "I beat him first try while naked""So that's a no then??" "git güd"
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Aug 16, 2022 05:21
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Gewehr 43 posted:First and foremost, thank you for the kind words. Sincerely, they mean a lot to me. I don't enter my models into competitions because they are nowhere near good enough. I model because I love the challenge of making a bunch of plastic look like a real car. Also I can't afford most of the real life cars I model so between models and games like Forza Horizon it's about as close as I can get to owning the real thing. And I can customize them as much as I like. If that F14 is any indication of your skill level then I'd say you can definitely enter competitions and possibly win.
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Aug 16, 2022 08:16
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Gewehr 43 posted:Anyway, why do you model? For me it's just relaxing to work on a kit and finish it, even if there's lots of decals, fitting issues or I encounter paint problems. Plus, I'm left with something neat to put on a shelf in the end. I don't post some of my finished builds here because I feel they're not as good as they could have been, might have to post more often though.
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Aug 16, 2022 20:05
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^^Just post, dude. ^^ We come here for model pics and model chat. Go nuts. Ensign Expendable posted:I put up a few of my models on a website with professional modelers and they all got bashed into oblivion. On the other hand MiniArt put one of my dioramas on their website, so I don't know who to believe. Yeah, that's ultimately frustrating. I posted this build to a modeling forum years ago and one of the first responses was something like "you could have at least thinned the track skirts down to scale thickness." Pretty sure I never posted there again. Experience has taught me over the years that the pursuit of perfection is a fool's errand. So, if that's the pedantic culture that a particular modeling forum wants to foster, then it ain't for me, and I'll take my stuff elsewhere. I post here because we're all generally supportive and, when criticism is forthcoming, it's constructive and helpful. You could argue that maybe I'm just a pussy who can't stand up to negativity - and I question myself on it sometimes - but I don't think that's it. I think it's more that I deeply embrace the idea that modeling is a hobby and that hobbies should be fun. That said, Ensign, your work is pretty great and I enjoy it quite a bit. Your figure painting has really improved leaps and bounds from the first few figures you posted. So, screw the haters.
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Aug 17, 2022 00:34
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That rivet counting poo poo you get with military and automotive modeling communities is a large reason why I switched almost exclusively to giant robots.
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Aug 17, 2022 00:38
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I make models because I like building things, and also I like tanks and planes and whatnot. All my hobbies involve prolonged concentration and high degrees of hand-eye coordination, so I guess that's what I enjoy most, whether it's video games or drawing or modeling. I built some kits as a kid and fell out of things entirely until I was in my 30s, when I started painting miniatures. That got me into Gundams, and that got me into scale stuff, now that kits weren't all Monogram crap from the sixties and paint was more than struggling with Testors enamel bottles.
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Aug 17, 2022 01:30
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Man, if I post my stuff here, nobody else should feel shy about posting theirs. This thread is very laid back and supportive.
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Aug 17, 2022 02:21
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Gewehr 43 posted:Yeah, that's ultimately frustrating. I posted this build to a modeling forum years ago and one of the first responses was something like "you could have at least thinned the track skirts down to scale thickness." Pretty sure I never posted there again. Beauty of a model. I connected with a local scale model club and to be honest, every time I share something there I am always surprised at how supportive and encouraging everyone is. Sure, at the end of the day its mostly a bunch of old dudes who've known each other 20+ years but they all just seem stoked on people finishing kits. I think I just celebrated my 2 years of making models, and honestly 1) tanks look cool and 2) its good to have a hobby where I feel I'm actually producing something. COVID was hard and it helped me power through some of the funk of not-socializing without just regressing to playing videogames in my boxers and pissing off my wife.
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Aug 17, 2022 02:35
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Gewehr 43 posted:^^Just post, dude. ^^ Well considering that my first post where you can see a face was:  it's not hard  but thanks, that means a lot, especially coming from someone with your skill.
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Aug 17, 2022 03:16
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boba fetacheese posted:Beauty of a model. I connected with a local scale model club and to be honest, every time I share something there I am always surprised at how supportive and encouraging everyone is. Sure, at the end of the day its mostly a bunch of old dudes who've known each other 20+ years but they all just seem stoked on people finishing kits. Honestly almost all modeling clubs I've interacted with (noted exception: Las Vegas IPMS) were just super happy to see anyong younger than their 50's getting into the hobby at all. They all want modeling to thrive, and that won't happen without getting younger people interested and encouraging them. IPMS Phoenix chapter spends a fairly significant portion of their annual budget buying model kits to let kids build for free (with old dudes present to help and encourage) at various events throughout the year.
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Aug 17, 2022 04:10
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I make models because I like doing stuff with my hands. My two crippling factors are I almost never finish anything, and I have so many other hobbies that I can only devote a small amount of time to any of them. As to the first issue, I read an interesting article a while back about people with a terminal inability to finish things, even their own person projects that are near and dear to them. For the longest time, the thought was these people are just lazy, or they have ADHD, or whatever, but study is showing for a lot of these people, it's 110% about the journey, and -1000% the destination. Which really hit home for me, because I like working with my hands and creating stuff, but once I'm like 80% of the way through I go "Well, I've almost completed this project, and I can picture exactly how it would look fully finished, and I've had a ton of fun so far but wouldn't derive much more pleasure from finishing it.... sooooo why bother finishing it." Projects I do push through and finish, I definitely get a "Welp... it's done..." feeling where there's little payoff for me, so it's no surprise I don't finish a lot of stuff.
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Aug 17, 2022 04:40
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Ensign Expendable posted:I put up a few of my models on a website with professional modelers and they all got bashed into oblivion. On the other hand MiniArt put one of my dioramas on their website, so I don't know who to believe. Gewehr 43 posted:Yeah, that's ultimately frustrating. I posted this build to a modeling forum years ago and one of the first responses was something like "you could have at least thinned the track skirts down to scale thickness." Pretty sure I never posted there again.
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Aug 17, 2022 15:10
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grassy gnoll posted:I make models because I like building things, and also I like tanks and planes and whatnot. All my hobbies involve prolonged concentration and high degrees of hand-eye coordination, so I guess that's what I enjoy most, whether it's video games or drawing or modeling. drat, you are my gnoll clone. Exact same reasons. Just enjoy, modeling is great and chill. Post things, I enjoy them greatly even if I haven't been active as of late.
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Aug 17, 2022 20:16
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Bloody Hedgehog posted:I make models because I like doing stuff with my hands. My two crippling factors are I almost never finish anything, and I have so many other hobbies that I can only devote a small amount of time to any of them. This is fascinating to me, because 80% is about the threshold where I've gotten so far and I'm so close, even if I hate whatever it is I'm going to finish it if it kills me. And specifically thinking of it in terms of that 80% figure, even. Not that I could elucidate the difference between a three-quarters complete and 80 percent complete model if I had a gun to my head. I guess what I'm saying is, have you tried spite as a motivator?
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Aug 17, 2022 20:30
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grassy gnoll posted:This is fascinating to me, because 80% is about the threshold where I've gotten so far and I'm so close, even if I hate whatever it is I'm going to finish it if it kills me. And specifically thinking of it in terms of that 80% figure, even. Not that I could elucidate the difference between a three-quarters complete and 80 percent complete model if I had a gun to my head. Currently using up all my spite in a side quarrel with God.
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Aug 17, 2022 22:32
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Ever have that gut feeling where you are like "I don't think I really should pick up this extra part of the hobby. I already have too many!" then still do it anyway? I just had the realization that I am probably going to get a 3D printer.
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Aug 17, 2022 23:34
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Oh god, I'm the same way. I need a 3D printer, and a laser cutter, and a Cricut cutter, and and and... I also build game controllers, and despite the fact I've built like 5 sticks and 3 pinball controllers, by god I just might build another. Can I use them all at once? Nope. Will I sell any? Nope? Do I need another? Probably, yeah.
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Aug 18, 2022 00:14
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I absolutely must buy a 3D printer to make a ton of custom bases for armies I have not even purchased yet, and by the time I get around to it I decide I want to do different bases, so I take the previously 3D printed bases and put them in a rubbermaid storage drawer and they will live there till I move and then they will go into a big storage tote, and then 20+ years from now when I die my son can throw them away.
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Aug 18, 2022 00:16
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I bought a 3D printer and my stash hasn't been touched since. At least the STL files I buy don't take up space in my closet. Note that this does not actually prevent me from buying more model kits.
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Aug 18, 2022 00:30
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My 3D printer has absolutely destroyed my "fiddling around" time at the desk, but I think on balance the time is more productive in the end. I've only had the thing for half a year and now I have a ton of openlock tiles ready to be painted. My scenery development and the iteration time to work on a new model is way faster than my previous methods of scratch everything from styrene. A 3D printer can feel a bit paralysing because I don't know what my end goal is. am I going to put this scene in a detolf? Can I set up a cool giant base on a table top for playing with? for instance: I just printed a set of curved brackets to hold posterboards up as a seamless backdrop, but I need a bigger posterboard.
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Aug 18, 2022 00:41
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Bloody Hedgehog posted:Oh god, I'm the same way. I need a 3D printer, and a laser cutter, and a Cricut cutter, and and and... Everybody knows those items aren't going to do you any good unless you also have a CNC mill/router. You'll also want some dust collection, a drill press, a bandsaw, combo sander, and you'll probably need a lathe, too. And then you'll need somewhere to put all that stuff...
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Aug 18, 2022 01:05
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Ah yes, the "someday I will build a workshop" stage of modelling 
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Aug 18, 2022 01:57
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Arquinsiel posted:Ah yes, the "someday I will build a workshop" stage of modelling Just need a nice 2400 square foot workshop with an attached house.
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Aug 18, 2022 02:37
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IncredibleIgloo posted:Just need a nice 2400 square foot workshop with an attached house. ...might as well start with a bomb shelter.
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Aug 18, 2022 03:21
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SkunkDuster posted:Everybody knows those items aren't going to do you any good unless you also have a CNC mill/router. You'll also want some dust collection, a drill press, a bandsaw, combo sander, and you'll probably need a lathe, too. I already have a drillpress and a bandsaw. And I live in a condo.
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Aug 18, 2022 04:12
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My kids are who I’m really jealous of. Because they are going through the same pick up every hobby problem I did, but their idiot dad already bought the tools, and doesn’t use half of them.
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Aug 18, 2022 04:41
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Arquinsiel posted:Ah yes, the "someday I will build a workshop" stage of modelling Too late, stage completed and now I need a bigger one.
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Aug 18, 2022 04:41
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Bloody Hedgehog posted:Currently using up all my spite in a side quarrel with God. Hate him back, it works for me. I'm looking at getting better with Blender to 3d print some fiddly bits for 1/700 ships and 1/600 coastal forces. Tamiya is pretty high quality, but I'm pretty sure an 8k printer can do better than what they provide for light AA. And the PT Dockyard 1/600s have awful resin detail parts (like guns) that are more flash than part.
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Aug 18, 2022 04:58
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I've been modeling cars for a few years now and have been exclusively using acrylic and lacquer paints. I have basically zero experience with enamels. The only thing I know about them is they take forever to cure? Is there advantage to choosing enamels over lacquer for a car body? And how long do they really take to cure?
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Aug 18, 2022 05:11
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Charliegrs posted:I've been modeling cars for a few years now and have been exclusively using acrylic and lacquer paints. I have basically zero experience with enamels. The only thing I know about them is they take forever to cure? Is there advantage to choosing enamels over lacquer for a car body? And how long do they really take to cure? The only people I really know of who use enamels are older people who’ve been using them for a million years and don’t want to change their processes. In saying that though there are a couple of companies that do colour matched enamels for ships and planes in the same way that zero does for cars. I think the only real benefit with enamels is they are harder wearing once they cure fully
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Aug 18, 2022 08:03
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| # ? May 29, 2024 18:42 |
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Double post because the context is different. mllaneza posted:Hate him back, it works for me. I'd be tempted to look into a hobbyist licence for Fusion 360 as I find it far easier to model in and it has a pile of extra functionality for sending things straight to a 3d printer or CNC machine. It's what I've switched to at work and the school kids I'm teaching with it seem to pick it up far easier than Inventor which I was using previously.
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Aug 18, 2022 08:28
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