Category: research
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Your Official Licence To Read
A recent look at a modelling forum site was really horrifying…not because the scale models were bad, or because the people were painful, but because the procedure to send them any pictures of your models was so complex as to defy description. Protocols and electronic permissions to the walls… We are not generally in this…
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Well Sir,…
The business of looking for scale models to build in a particular size is one thing. Finding aircraft to suit a particular air force is another. And getting a particular period of time… I always look for 1:72 RCAF WW2 through to 1966. To the great credit of the model kit companies, I can sometimes…
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Boulton Paul Defiant – Part Two – The Paper Work
Every kit I get has some form of paper work associated with it. Mainly instructions, painting sheet, and decals. The BP Defiant is a good example of current Airfix practice. The Instructions these days can be quite complex – if the makers are good communicators. This can depend upon whether they are a large firm…
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Whose Decals Are The Best?
And wouldn’t we all like to know. I have been building kits for a little over a year now – in my old age – and I am learning by experience. So far I’ve racked up: a. Revell Germany b. New Airfix c. Mach 2 d. Academy e. RS f. Special Hobby g. ICM h. Zvezda…
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Mr. Hallelujah
My interest in, and respect for, the products of the Creos GSI corporation is steadily growing. Their ” Mr. ” line of paints, thinners, surfacers, tools, and accessories is extensive and is available in may hobby shops here in Perth – including my favourite: Hobbytech. Of course they are not alone in the paint aisle…
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The Wrong Shade Of Black
Resign yourself – you may have made a fabulous model of a P-61 or a Lancaster or a Mosquito and a great deal – or all – of the thing will be a very definite black colour. But as soon as you show it at any exhibition, someone will tell you you’ve used the wrong…
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Peas And Carrots – Part Five – Cleaning Your Plate
Well, after all the paint mule spraying, I took a second bite at the vegetables next day and discovered that the taste was not as bad as first feared: a. Mr. Hobby matte acrylic paint can be sprayed with the Supercheap Auto clear car acrylic if you cut it with Mr. Hobby Levelling Thinner 400…
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Peas And Carrots – Part Four – The Top Coat
The top coat on a model is intended to seal the decals in place and give the surface whatever sort of reflectivity you feel is appropriate. Night bombers might have a matt or semi-matt surface while civilian planes get a satin or gloss finish. I am partial to the latter myself for some of the…
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Peas And Carrots – Part Three – The First Sealer
The first clear coat on the paint mule chips was meant to duplicate the sealer that one puts on after the paint job is completed to allow decals to be applied without silvering. The US and UK modellers speak of using Future or Kleer acrylic floor polish for this. I tried three of the new…
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Peas And Carrots – Part Two – The Colour Coats
Why peas and carrots? Because they are vegetables that always look better in the images on the cans than they do on your plate – and they are always greener or more orange in someone else’s dinner. My experiments are designed to improve their colour and flavour on mine. The colour paint coats that went…
The Little World 