Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I think that my interest in all things military stemmed from my love of making model kits, starting when I was very young.
As all youngsters do I started with an Airfix Spitfire and the early results were not promising resulting in something that no more than roughly represented a Spitfire. It was unpainted and there were join lines and finger marks obvious on the model. Of course in those days it would take all of ten minutes to knock a kit like that together!
It was not too long before I wanted something better, a painted model looking a bit more like the real thing. So I bought some paints and I cringe now at the thought of that glossy green and brown finish...
Naturally it was not long before I discovered the Airfix Magazine and started to realise some of the mistakes I was making. Soon I found myself cutting pieces carefully from the sprues, trimming the pieces, filling gaps, sanding and painting in more accurate matt colours.
Gradually results improved but somehow my efforts still did not look right.
One day I picked up a book by Francoise Verlinden and discovered the Verlinden Method. After some practise I gradually mastered the use of washes, dry brushing and the use of pastels to add oil stains, exhaust stains, chipped paintwork, dirt and mud.
With a little more money to spare I invested in the more expensive kits, larger scale planes in 1:48 and 1:32 scales, not to mention the massive 1:24 kits. I also because a fan of the magnificently detailed Tamiya 1:35 scale tanks. Armed with the Verlinden Method I was able to produce some brilliant results. I also started on 'super detailing' these kits and doing conversions from what was in the box. Models simply came alive with detail and action.
Life though takes over - other priorities reduce the time to do all this. Marriage, work, politics, children, not much time was left and the hobby tailed off.
It is years since I last got involved. Apart from a dabble when my boys were young to get them interested, that is.
A few weeks ago, encouraged by Paula, I decided to take it up again...
I have an ideal well lit and ventilated space in my bedroom close to a power socket just perfect for the hobby. No dust problem either though it is a bedroom, I have only a bedside mat, no carpet and I only use it to sleep - I don't even keep my clothes in the room...
So a workbench was the first purchase. On checking my old tools largely need replacing and 20 year old paints are no longer any good.
Well being in my 50's I need to do this properly. I researched on the web looking at new finishing products, new tools and new methods. I started ordering.... A 'third hand with magnifier', prepared washes, masking materials, paints, brushes, files, twist drills, etc. etc.... not to mention an airbrush and compressor...
Before I knew it I had spent over £450 and not a single model bought...
Right now I am awaiting a delivery of over £115 worth of tools and then I can start.
I have a few old models to work on that I have had years. These are not up to modern standards but are useful to practise with the new tools and get my skills back up to scratch...
Then my first project - right now I am slavering over the new Tamiya 1:32 scales Spitfire MkVIII - cost £117 but from review worth every penny, this is the ultimate Spit model.... Then I noticed there is a nice looking and massive 1:32 JU88 to follow costing only £35 it will need about £40 spent in the 'aftermarket' to get all the details right.... A bargain even so...
Has anyone else returned to an old hobby after years?
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Perhaps Jan has a nice second hand anorak in your size in her shop, Barry! When I gave up modelling I hung all my models from trees in the garden and dispatched them with .177 pellets from my airgun. Most satisfying. Mind you, all mine matched the description of your first attempts! I haven't made one since, but I still have the air rifle.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,904
Plenty of anoraks.
It is really good to have at least one time consuming hobby established before one retires. I know a couple of retired people who have no real hobbies and do not read books or watch much TV, apart from them having very little diverse conversation they get bored very easily.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Ah but Peter - anoraks get obsessed about one thing, I at least have many interests.....
I have to say though Peter I did blow up many of my early efforts with fireworks....
Too much hard work, blood, sweat and tears went into the later ones for that. I think, for me, what made me go beyond the boyhood standards was a real interest in the military hardware. I was and still am fascinated by it. When I was 10 years old I could discuss the different handling characteristics of the bf109E, Spitfire Mk1 and Hurricane Mk1 and fully understood the advantages of the Mustang's laminar flow wing. Don't get me onto the subject of the over-engineering of the German Tiger and Panther Tanks..... And, wow what camouflage schemes the Germans adopted! a real joy and challenge to any modeller to reproduce on tanks and aircraft.
Yes Jan, it is indeed good to have something different and time consuming.
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Did similar to you last year Barry, I bought the Airfix Spitfire kit from Dover Castle shop but sadly I still had the paints!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Well done, Barry!
I too always had a passion for the military. From birth on everything was militarised, every day I saw soldiers marching, or practising.
With my lego I built whole aerodromes full of mass-production planes, didn't bother putting much art to it.
Usually I was playing about with the infantry, though, and I'm a fascinated reader of battles and strategy.l
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Well the bulk of my tools have now been delivered and my workbench is set up ready...
I am ready to make a start and all I now need is that rarest of commodity, one that will not be available for a couple of weeks, time...
But I can plan and prepare for the first proper project. As said before I have a small stock of unmade kits from years ago and I need to practise to get my skills back up to scratch. These old kits are ideal for practising. I have already done some airbrush practise using beetroot juice, practising spraying fine lines and wider areas on paper but it is just not quite the same as doing it for real. Also I need to try out the new weathering materials.
In addition these days the more sophisticated kits include photo etched parts and I have never used these before. Injection molded plastic has its limitations in reproducing fine detail so sophisticated kits have metal photo-etched parts to provide that detail. I do not want more first use of photo-etched parts to be on that £117 Tamiya 1:32 Spitfire... it could be an expensive mistake.
Fortunately one of the older kits I have is a 1:48 scale Tamiya Beaufighter. This is ideal to try out the airbrush for real and the new weathering materials. As a bonus a company called Eduard have a photo-etched set available for this kit in the aftermarket. Ideal - just got to research on the web to find out the best ways to work with photo-etching.
These photo-etched parts are just so tiny and they need cutting/trimming/treating/folding and sticking is exactly the right place... see what I mean:
I am grateful to have bought a 'third hand'...
I can blog on this thread the progress of this kit, with photos, the next perhaps being when the cockpit interior (with all that photo etching) has been constructed, painted and weathered.
Please tell me if you are interested in me doing this - then I will do it, if not I wont bother...
The next stage wont be for a good few weeks though!!!!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
An old hobby of mine is.....flirting. I love the company of women they talk so much sense and are far more attractive to look at than males'
I regret that Howie has banned me from showing a photo my tools....no missus not that...champers and strawberries.
Ooh you are awful...
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 666- Registered: 25 Mar 2008
- Posts: 323
Oh Boy have you got some patience and dedication there.
The last time I ventured into model making I built the Airfix Saturn 5 rocket complete with lunar module and all (circa 1970s) it was my pride and joy, suspended from the ceiling for years over my train layout till 'mommie dearest' decided to trash it to the one day when I was at school.
It went the same way as my Sopwith Camel, I was mortified and have not built another kit since.
Keep up the good work and guard it close...
Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
Awesome hardware, BarryW. Impressive. When my son was small he did a lot of airfix stuff and when he got bored with it I did some! Absorbing work - like the needlework and painting I do now. It's good to have something that can properly absorb the attention.
PS - I would be fascinated to see the progress on your project, BarryW
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Thanks for your comments folks.....
Had to share this with you. Skiving a bit in the office thanks to a man-cold can't concentrate on doing reports and research so been looking through specialist weather and effects paints.
Found a colour described as ...... Dead Flesh.....
Thats right...
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
I too make models - however my preference is 1:35 WW2 military soft skins and British WW2 tanks - I also have a soft spot for 1:24 scale fire fighting equipment and 1:72 WW2 MTBs - odd combination but then ....
Like Barry has just done, I need to finish organising my work area - then I can crack on with the stack of kits I have.
Of course I still have the house to finish and the garden to maintain blah blah blah
I also need to get myself over to Cross's in Folkestone to pick up some more Vallejo paints
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
We will have to compare notes sometime Ross....
I was looking at some superb Dragon 1:35 tanks the other day while searching for a Matilda... Never heard of the make before, I was impressed but no luck finding what I wanted. The Tamiya Matilda is such an old molding now.
British tanks WW2 are not very well served (or soft skins come to that) compared to the German and Americans. Shermans, Lees and Stuarts in Brit livery hardly count as British.
I would love to find a decent 1:35 Comet but they are as rare as rocking horse do do.
Have you used photo-etch Ross, if so any tips?
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
All for this! I always feel sorry for people that don't have interests.
Although my Airfix days are gone, I am still a proud airbrush owner.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
The dearth of British AFVs has been lessened somewhat in recent years
In terms of injection moulded kits - Tamiya's Comet/Centaur are certainly worth a look if you can find them, as are AFV Clubs MK III, Mk IV & AVRE Churchills, Tamiya have released a new tooling of the Matilda III/IV. Also worth looking out for are Bronco Models including their A13's & Comet and finally Mini Art make a very good series of Valentines. (most can be found on Hannants web site or on e-bay)
For other vehicles Mini Art make a good set of Dingos, Bronco's Humber ACs get good reviews, they also make a decent Staghound as do Italeri and Tamiya.
Softskins are harder and you tend to have to go down the Accurate Armour, CMK, Wespe, Resicast, Hobby Fan resin kit route.
Regarding photo etch I have used a little, mostly just engine grills - the trick is to use a good metal hard edge to fold against and the smallest sensible amounts of cyano
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
I am afraid I never really got into Airfix ending up with more glue on my hands than on the models. I did put a model of HMS Victory, that my dad assembled for me, in a bath and set fire to it! At the height of the blaze it was impossible to see the light on the ceiling due to all the smoke and bits of plastic floating in the air.
Fortunately my parents were out and I was able to clean up before they got back!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
I daresay you told your dad a different version of how the HMS Victory sank in the bath!
Imagine a cautious neighbour had dialed 999, it would have hit the national headlines:
The Fire Brigade sent in, HMS Victory took a broad-side while sailing in the bath!
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
Well done Barry, great looking work bench and array of tools you have got there. I wish that I could do something like that in my retirement but I am afraid arthritic fingers don't allow it. It took me almost an hour to rewire a plug the other day, I kept dropping the screwdriver and the fiddling little screws. I shall have to keep to gardening I think.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
Mark Robson-
Re your setting fire to HMS Victrory -
I liked Alexander D's comments that 'Imagine if a cautious neighbour had dialled 999' !! (We never saw any smoke)
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