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The last time I made a model was with my father back in probably in the late 70s or very early 80s.

I was passing a shop in town the other day and thought "Why not?", so jumped in and bought myself a model. This is the 1:71 scale Me262 Night Fighter B-1AU1 variant. Unfortunately, age is taking it's toll and I didn't have the dexterity in my hands to put the wheels on...1:71 scale is pretty small! I may find myself going for 1:48 scale in the future

I found it very relaxing and took my time...when I made them with my dad, I tended to rush in...really enjoyed it and look forward to making more.

And another...

Must try harder next time. I messed up the camo - not what I wanted to do at all, but the camo I wanted to do...my hands just couldn't do

The kit wasn't the best I have to say...some things were wrong. For example, the two pods at the front (whatever they were) had two little "knobs" each for putting into the underside of the front of the fuselage...but the fuselage did not have any holes for them...so I had to cut off the knobs of plastic. Same for the ariels at the front...no holes for them.

Also there were a bazillion stickers for it! They were so small and fidgety! I find it hard to believe the most dextrous of people could have put them on!

Will look for a Me109 and a Spitfire next...like I said, I'll probably go for 1:48 scale!

Hehe.. reminds me how much I always hated cockpits. I never had the steady hand to paint them 'straight' and any attempts to mask off the 'glass' bits using carefully cut sticky tape, etc, always ended in failure. I really needed five cockpits for each kit; at 1:72nd at least.

I ended up switching mainly to figures, in everything from 10mm to those wonderful old Airfix historical figures in 1:12 (Henry VIII, the Black Prince, etc.. anyone remember them?), partly because I had a decided knack for them but mostly because the completed kits just seem to survive longer. Last kit I built was the Revell Type VII U-Boat as I recall, no doubt suitably inspired by Das Boot, which probably dates it.

As a kid in the early '60s any spending money I had went into Revell aircraft and ships.

I've thought about getting into it again myself but both my hand dexterity and eyesight ain't what it used to be.

For a canopy, I used to cover it in CHEAP scotch tape (emphasis on cheap, as the cheap stuff doesn't stick as well and thus leaves little to no glue on the canopy), then trim the posts of scotch tape with an exacto-knife, leaving the windows masked. Then spray paint the posts (best done with an airbrush).  The only items I'd ever hand paint would be little highlights inside the cockpit. Everything else was masked and spray painted (a plan of attack that is especially helpful with older and possibly shakier hands *grin*).

I haven't built one since the early 70's, but have continued to accumulate a few kits here and there since then. And then I semi-recently inherited my father's life collection of built kits... over 900 1/72nd WWII kits (his life goal was to build every aircraft ever flown in WWII).  I wish I had the room, patience and skill to get back into them.

1/32nd & 1/48th scales are fine for super detailing and if you don't plan on doing that many. But 1/72nd is the way to go if you plan on amassing an air force. Or two. *grin*

JD,

Looks good to me, and I could certainly do no better. It is definitely a cathartic hobby. I keep threatening to get into plank on plank ship building, but those kits are SO dang expensive.

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

The last time I made a model was with my father back in probably in the late 70s or very early 80s.

I was passing a shop in town the other day and thought "Why not?", so jumped in and bought myself a model. This is the 1:71 scale Me262 Night Fighter B-1AU1 variant. Unfortunately, age is taking it's toll and I didn't have the dexterity in my hands to put the wheels on...1:71 scale is pretty small! I may find myself going for 1:48 scale in the future

I found it very relaxing and took my time...when I made them with my dad, I tended to rush in...really enjoyed it and look forward to making more.

If only graphics in games looked so good and detailed.

I buy them, keep telling myself I'll put them together, and never do it. Last one I bought is a 1/350 SMS Konig. Gawd, been sitting on a 1/72 U-Boat for two years. Bought a wooden deck for it. I'll buy the other detail parts for it. Then I swear, I'll put it together.

Riiiiiiight......

Judge it really shows that you can get a great look hand painting rather than spraying. I'm really impressed with the white or grey undercoat as that's a hard color to spread well with a brush.

I couldn't believe what I saw the other day. We can now buy pre-painted models that screw together! I kid you not. Have no idea what the brand was but they had a glorious B17 I nearly grabbed.

I too love going back to the hobby every few years but I've become so meticulous I rarely finish a kit fully. My favorite aircraft had always been the F4 Corsair. Have no idea why [:D]

Thx Adam.

OMG! This is what I hoped mine would look like. I can't even use the excuse of size, as this is a 1:72 scale!

Like I said, I didn't have the dexterity for the paint job. Also, the kit mentioned I think 3 colours...turns out you need at least 6.

Very cool hobby Judge.. I got back into it when I was 37 (cause of my stepson).. although I have fallen away from it (darn PC Games, other things and life), last thing I built was like 3 years ago.. even though I've got a bookcase full of unopened kits (it can be an addicting hobby as far as buying new kits go)..

It's funny another thing that got me back into the hobby was the original Steel Panthers

One of my last builds

hmm can't link to pictures

oh well..

see if this works

That's pretty authentic looking! Nice job. Was never really "into" vehicles though, even though I love tanks!

Superb job. How did you do the grime on the windshield?

Glue would be my guess...at least going by the "accidental grime" I used to get when I was a kid and messed up glueing in cockpits/windows/windshields...

Haven't touched a kit in a long time, my younger half-brother is all over them atm, and I feel kinda tempted whenever I see his kits lying around... but then I remember that I have a truckload of unpainted soldiers that I need to find time for first... haven't really made any progress whatsoever in almost a year...




These are part of the problem, as they're "test runs" for Russians when the Swedes are only about 1% complete (the pics of them in the same directory are outdated, I've since added detail and rebased, I'll see if I can get a pic up once I get back to my place)

thanks.. I loved tanks too.. and planes (although, I thought planes were harder,... cause you had to be 'cleaner' with tanks you make a mistake. you just cover it)..

the windshield - I had a photo etch set that came with masks.. I put them on the windshield.. then airbrushed on light setting a very thinned mixture of Buff colored paint.. the spray is light and looks like gunk or flying mud

on my forum, you would have to hunt for it, but one of ours guys from the old Forum (Carlos) does models with card stock, he has some very impressive snap shots that he posted

ORIGINAL: Golden Bear

You like that picture Sarge? Hey, does anybody breathe around here? No wonder I hang out at card model and civ boards. This place is ded.