Tag: detail
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Tupolev TB-3 – Part Three – Ministry Of The Interior
I am in several minds about detailing the insides of 1/72 scale aircraft. On one hand it is a pain, but on the other it means an additional glance into the design – even if I am the only person who will ever see it. In the case of this Tupolev bomber, the open cockpit…
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Curtiss Model 75 A-4 – Part Two – Interior Precision
I am not a fan of super-detailed cockpits. They seem to be too much trouble for too little reward. But I do admire the AML company for the all-resin cockpit tub produced for this fighter plane. I has popped together with a precision that is rarely seen. Not without effort, I might add. Resin parts…
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Nothing To Excess
This is a fine philosophy, but I wouldn’t go overboard on it… It is also good counsel for the people who make the moulds for plastic kits. I was dealing with an old Revell B-24 D kit from the late 70’s that had recessed panel lines and raised rivets. They were the size that would…
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The Brass Band
In my hobby clubs there are people who risk death daily by building models using photo-etched brass parts. The fatal danger they run is showing the rest of us up with their skill and precision. One day they will be found out the side door with little knives in their backs. To be fair, some…
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Consolidated B-24 D – Part Two – The Toxic Rivet
Or should that be noxious? Whatever, the exaggerated rivet detail on this old Revell kit is probably what causes it to be rejected by the modern builders. Yet, under the spotty exterior is a pattern of decent engraved panel lines. I researched other’s efforts and found one ambitious chap who sanded the rivets off entirely.…
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Junkers D.1 – Part two – The Devilling Detail
I’m never quite certain with superdetail, and even less so when the model kit that delivers it is on the bargain shelf. Am I being told a tale? Will the parts come off thee sprue trees in one piece? Will they fit? Does the design of the kit follow the design of the prototype? Roden…
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Chinese Flying Animal – Part Three – Inside Out
This time the I-16 will be built to show off the exquisite engine inside The Soviet version had the side panels on and all the work was invisible. To facilitate this the sub-assemblies can be largely built up before they have to go inside the fuselage – a very welcome design feature. It is never…
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Bristol Type 130 Bombay – Part Two – The Inside Job
I’ve learned to do as I’m told…mostly. I do pay attention when the makers of a kit instruct me to build the aircraft cockpit first. Dropping one in after the fuselage is joined is very rarely an option. It can be done with some Soviet fighters where there is a large opening at the wing…
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Soviet ZIS-5 – Part Two – The Truck Factory
Well, that’s what it feels like as you sit at your bench with a kit of this type. You are working in the factory. This same feeling was encountered years ago with a 1:24 scale kit of a Bedford fuel tanker made by Emhar. They obviously had an original vehicle to base the model upon,…
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Do Not Start Too Small
I met a chap re-entering the hobby recently who was trying to choose his kits to build skill before he tackled the one he really fancied. I thought this was sensible thinking, but I suspect he made a bit of a problem for himself by selecting a 1:144 scale plane. It was charming, but too…
The Little World 