Category: Painting
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Modeller’s Memory

We are told that we have all sorts of memory: a. The regular sort that lets you down when you are looking for the car keys. b. Muscle memory that is supposed to guide you to the perfect golf shot or dance step. And it does…it does. As you develop it you find that you…
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The Big Green Things Made Of Wood

You know. Branches, trunks, roots, bird nests. Those things that stand there in front of the forest and obscure it. Whaddaya call ’em…starts with a ” T “. I’ll think of it in a minute… Well modelling can be like that. You do all the research in the world – spend days on the internet…
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We Need The Tiny Tin Can

I am looking at small and large cans of paint – spray paint, as it happens – and wondering at the rationale around it. The can contained a grey Tamiya primer. I’ve just sprayed the very last of it on a 1:72 aircraft and can feel satisfied – it completed the job just before it…
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Cheap And Nasty Or Cheap And Nicely?

When I came to Australia in the 60’s I encountered a whole new division of language. Coming from North America I had experienced Canadian English and American English – now I had Australian English to learn. It wasn’t that hard, once you discarded the ocker colloquialisms. Of course you had to pick them up again…
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Is There A Worse Way To Do It?

Because if there is, I want to know all about it. I love horror stories and the things that people invent to do for themselves in their modelling workshops are no exception. Oh, I don’t mean the accidents and mishaps. I can cut my fingers or spill thinner into the electric fire myself. And who…
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Special Greetings From The Hobby Shop Siege

This is the second day of the hobby shop siege and the management hasn’t gotten me out yet. I’ve holed up behind the paint racks and taken hostages. Police negotiators have turned spotlights onto the acrylics but I am refusing to budge until my demands are met. I have sent out a manifesto and have…
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Hakenkreuz

Swastika. Deal with the idea your own way* – imagine it to be an ancient symbol of good or a modern symbol of evil. Remember whatever you wish to remember. I’m not in charge of your thoughts. I noted some years ago that there was a legal barrier to display of the swastika in Germany…
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When All Else Fails, Cheap Out.

We all cruise the aisle of the hobby shop, hardware store, craft shop, or toy store looking for the Great Bargain. The Score. The Once-In-A-Lifetime chance to buy a $5000 model for 50¢. It never eventuates, of course, and we can become bitter and twisted. The thing we all need to do is realise that…
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The Myriad Of Little Worlds

In one holiday weekend – devoted to Western Australia Day – I found I visited five different Little Worlds. And in most cases the costs were under a sawbuck, including coffee. You can’t beat that on the international travel circuit. Day One: I appear as a cameo walk-on at a belly dance concert…the Little World…
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How Did They Do That? Vs How Would I Do That?

Well there you go. You are now officially trying to out-think the designers and manufacturers of the model kit in the box. You may also be about to transcend the thinking of the original equipment makers. It’s your 30 bucks and your tube of glue, so more power to you and keep out of the way…
