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Treehugger
I found some new metal file tools:
plazajapan.com/4902944113845/ (square)
plazajapan.com/4902944113821/ (flat)
plazajapan.com/4902944113838/ (round)

Another round file: Super fine.
plazajapan.com/4943209382286/

Sort of looks like this is higher quality, or, finer grit compared to some cheap ones I've been buying.
This tool also looks like it would fit into smaller openings.
20 February, 08:18
Treehugger
Oh, wow, finally some more civilian scale model kits. 🙂
Ideally, I would like to see more of the digger machines seen in Europe, and not the Asian ones.
66008
Tadano Rough Terrain Crane GR-130NL/N Crevo Mini G4
Hasegawa 1:35
66008 (WM08) 2024 New tool
20 February, 08:04

February 19, 2024

Treehugger
I have invested into a proper office chair, though I guess I can't have it all. So it is an all-too-expensive chair, but it is ergonomic and is suitable for a standing desk, so taller than usual. Downside is that, it wasn't designed to be a comfy chair. I have yet to try out the chair, but I like finally getting something else other than the squeaky low cost chairs I've been using for all these years. Funnily enough, I also have a designer chair already, a replica of a Corbusier chaiser lounge 4 or somesuch. Relaxing, but definitely not a comfy chair. I now found a way to use this other chair to watch youtube and will keep it next to the office chair by my computer. 🙂
1 19 February, 13:38
Urban Gardini
As long as it's ergonomic and suits your body it'll be comfortable for you, just like firm car seats is better than soft ones for a longer drive. I've got a top of the line office chair that I got for free from a company that was about to chuck several in the bin due to extensive wear on the cover fabric on the seats. Perfectly good to sit in and I got one for my lady as well at the same time.
19 February, 13:43

February 11, 2024

Treehugger
Still waiting for this to be released. :
05167
German Submarine Type IX C/40 (U190)
Revell 1:144
05167 2023 New tool
1 11 February, 12:05

February 2, 2024

Treehugger
Q: Is it possible to get an ultra matte surface with Vallejo Matte varnish, or must one look for other brands?
2 February, 19:19

January 31, 2024

Treehugger
In order to try preserve my sheets of 'bare metal foil', I finally got around to fill an industry big plastic container for chocolate, filled it mostly with bubble wrap plastic,and then I cut the unopened sheets of foil into, and stacked the foil. Hopefully this airtight container will help preserved the metal foil that has this adhesive on it. I've noticed that the adhesive on the foil seem to have gone harder to deal with I think (unsure), the bare metal foil were previously just lying in a drawer.
31 January, 10:43

January 30, 2024

Treehugger
wants this item
MD 035546
2U175 Topol-M detail set
Microdesign 1:35
MD 035546 2024 New tool
30 January, 05:31

January 26, 2024

Treehugger
added a new photoalbum.
Revell's (ICM's) Henschel 33 D German WW2 Truck
25 images
View album, image #25
1:35
Masking tape came off the 5 lights and the one mirror. I used superglue to glue on the doors and the cargo space. Had to...
1:35 Henschel Typ 33 D 1 (Revell 03098)
All comments (13) » 20 5 January, 15:15
James C
Looking good 👍
25 January, 15:55
Treehugger
Thank you. I think I might have to scratch at the pigment stuff before going over the vehicle airbrushing on sand. Haven't done this before. No reason to think the pigment will come off with thinner I think (and I thinner might create splotches of "clean" areas looking weird), so I'll gently try scratch off any excessive stuff. I am not entirely happy, but the idea was that the truck was caked down with sand, and I guess I got carried away when putting pigment on the wheels.

Another small thing, chrome pen doesn't flow well on flat surfaces it seems, best used in cavities and on round shapes, but not on flat areas, as the paint does seem to create an uneven non-mirror surface because of the thickness of the accumulated paint from the pen if one isn't careful. I can try use metal foil for two tiny parts and use the circle cutter (ca 2mm diameter circles at front of vehicle).
25 January, 15:57

January 22, 2024

Treehugger
owns this item
35651
M-978 exterior Italeri 298
Eduard 1:35
35651 2004 New tool
22 January, 19:35
Treehugger
Found a new product: 'MIG Ammo' chrome tape.. I guess a competitor to the Bare Metal Foil product. I wonder if this might look nice for canopy work on the exterior, if overlapping strands of chrome tape, and how thick it all is.

Youtube Video
 
1 22 January, 09:24

January 15, 2024

Treehugger
added a new photoalbum.
MyAlbum
22 images
View album, image #22
1:700
My attempt at getting to a "haze gray": Using Vallejo Air: 3-4 drops of flow enhancer 40 drops of USAF Light Gray 10 dr...
1:700 USS Nimitz CVN-68 (Eduard 17029)1:700 USS Nimitz CVN-68 (Trumpeter 05714)1:700 USN Radar Set (Post WWII) (Five Star Model FS700139)1+
All comments (21) » 30 21 March 2023, 11:21
CaptGPF
Stalking this thread - really love the careful work you put into it so far!
15 January, 16:02
Treehugger
Thank you. It IS fun working with projects slowly, when everything one do, is at least something one can build upon.
I lost my mojo over a tiny thing re. the propeller shaft, trivial stuff, but it is a little tedious, yet trivial, I'll certainly do it a little later.

Adding the photo etch is rewarding. Not perfect, but still ok I think.

Project was initially very annoying, as the two large hull pieces did not glue together well, and cracked up after I had airbrushed on the primer and made everything smooth, that happened at least two times.

Might be the last time I try to fiddle with nameplates of this sort, just dumb design, poor molding and super inconvenient to make it look nice. All they had to do, was add a nameplate in photo etch, and with raised lettering. Then I can just sand the metal off and leave a shiny finish on all the letters. This doesn't work with plastic, too soft and prone to error when I tried, the molding too shallow and the plastic letters too soft being plastic.
15 January, 16:26
Treehugger
Tip: If you use Vallejo's Airbrush Cleaner bottle, that can be quite messy in my experience. I have so much more fun and control using a smaller bottle.

[img1]
 
15 January, 12:13
Treehugger
Tamiya's 1:35 doesn't come with clear parts for the headlights, so I thought I'd try scratch build them. First problem is removing the plastic. I also had to add plastic at the backside, 'sprue goo', otherwise there wouldnt' be enough plastic to create the cavity.

After the longest time, I learned, heh, to put the near spherical grinder bit onto an XACTO handle. The grinder is spherical, except for the tip, where it is flat unfortunately, though one can just tilt the bit 90 deg and you get to grind with a nice spherical shape.

[img1]
 
14 January, 17:25
Treehugger
Voila. This was quick and a lot of fun. Not quite sure how to best glue on this dry fitted custom clear part. I made some scratches on the backside with a blade, and inserted a chrome rod into the center of the cavity.

[img1]
 
15 January, 10:45

January 12, 2024

Treehugger
Oh, wow, look at this. A sanding tool (Adhesive discs) that can "vertically" sand flat the cavity inside a round pit in the plastic.
hobbyisthaven.com/pr..riant=46930002444577

As one can imagine, no need to put these on an electrical device, just stick it onto a stick or something for manual sanding power.
Hm, the round sanding discs only come in two diameters it seems, 5 mm and 10 mm, so nothing smaller.

Not familiar with this website myself, just something I found just now.
12 January, 09:36

January 10, 2024

Treehugger
Italeri's HEMTT tanker vehicle kit, the tank shape cleaned up. Edges sanding sharp with a metal file, and added putty to better round off the plastic.

Getting better at this, really helps having metal files and lots of Infini sanding sticks. 800 grit seems to bite into the Vallejo putty just about right, also works sanding wet with the dried Vallejo putty.

Tank details cleaned up and sharpened, as the tank shape has some rounded detailing on the main shapes.

[img1]
 
10 January, 17:15

March 19, 2024


19 March 2024, 09:50 -

January 6, 2024

Treehugger
Q: What is this product good for? What does 'flat finish' mean here? Painted surface? Plastic?
GT105
GTool Series
Mr.Melamine Foam Sheet for Flat Finish
Mr. Hobby
GT105 2017 New tool
5 October 2020, 10:42
Martin Oostrom
It looks like some sort of sanding sponge, to dull the paintwork mr-hobby.com/en/itemDetail.php?iId=2539
5 October 2020, 14:14
Curatorm
The link is dead, this one seem to work : mr-hobby.com/en/product4/category_14/2539.html

" this is a thin melamine foam sheet for flat finish that makes the best use of a model's original color and finishes naturally.
The special compressing system makes the foam sheet 4 times durabler than normal ones.
Two types are available. ;The sheet type for file, sponge, and water resisting paper/The separeted type with a stick."

After years of polishing paint, now it's time to dull it ^_^
6 January, 09:21

January 5, 2024

Treehugger
added a new project.
5 January, 15:14

January 4, 2024

Treehugger
In this tutorial, Genesis Models show how you can paint the air intakes easily, leaving a smooth and a very nice finish. Might require two sessions, leaving some time for the first layer to dry. It is VERY important to tape the end well, it isn't necessary to use more than one layer of masking tape, BUT, it is important that the one layer of tape, is entirely flush with the plastic to aovid paint leaking out. The tape is removed afterwards, before letting the paint dry, and then one has to dry drip the remaining paint out the back side where the masking tape was applied.

Trying this out for myself a few times, I just learned a trick to any remove air bubbles (do not try pop any air bubbles with a brush). Just blow air with your mouth, one powerful gust of air will pop the airbubbles, large and small. 🙂 Note, the color used here, is the 17ml Vallejo Air bottle, not a Vallejo primer paint bottle, presumably the primer would/might perhaps have been harder if not impossible to work with.

Youtube Video
 
4 January, 15:43
Treehugger
Q: If a German WW2 truck was painted desert yellow'ish on the outside, what paint would be inside the cabin? Gray, or desert yellow'ish?

Hm, I guess, there might possibly be a difference, between trucks painted at the factory (then maybe painted desert yellow'ish all over), and maybe and I don't know if they did this, German WW2 trucks were painted desert yellow'ish on location but then only on the outside.
4 January, 13:52

December 28, 2023

Treehugger
Dustproffing one's Ikea Delolf glass cabinet really works, using anti draft tape. No trace of dust inside the cabinet on the glass palates not even after a couple of years with no cleaning the inside of the cabinet.

Turns out the neighboring cabinet, a two door solution, with no tape, was filled with dust in some respect. Because of the other cabinet having two glass doors, that other cabinet I think, will never be dust proof, or I must tape the glass door as well, which would look weird.
28 December 2023, 17:10
Treehugger
Looking at the box art, not much that hints hints it might be norwegian airforce. I remember reading that norwegian pilots flying the Spitfire, was not allowed by British regulations to decorate their own planes with norwegian coloring. Afaik the norwegian spitfire pilots few planes with RAF markings on them I think.
SH72250
N-3PB "No.330 (Norwegian) Squadron"
Special Hobby 1:72
SH72250 2015 New tool
1 28 December 2023, 05:44

December 27, 2023

Treehugger
I am pleasantly surprised by how nice Vallejo primer paint goes on plastic. Especially this one bottle with a darker gray. Only exception are larger surface areas, then the surface finish obvisuly looks like it was made with brush, but smaller parts look nice and smooth, an ok alternative for a quick paint job for areas that doesn't need to be airbrushed to look ok.
27 December 2023, 12:28
Sam S
Agree, and a big bonus is the larger 200ml bottles. Still have to get me the darker gray, currently holding the light gray and black versions.
27 December 2023, 13:00
Treehugger
I think as long as the paint goes on wet-in-wet on a smaller part, the result seems really smooth, assuming ofc, one had shaken the primer paint bottle well in advance.

I don't know why, but I have a large (largest) bottle of Vallejo light gray primer, that is so fluid, it seems like a terrible bottle of paint, and I have an agitator in the bottle as well, and so I don't know what is wrong with it. I haven't added anything to the big (largest) bottle of light gray primer, but I did move some of the content over to a smaller bottle, but I am sure I mixed the big bottle before pouring some of the paint over into a smaller bottle. That light pray primer paint seems so weird airbrushing with it as well. I should maybe just toss it.
27 December 2023, 14:13
Sam S
Shaking really well is a must before using. The only issue in my opinion is that the paint dries quite fast at the nozle, you have to remember to wipe it from time to time. It's convinient to be able to use the paint without using any thinner.

Would assume that your light gray is a bad batch or it has gone too thick when you have removed paint from it.
27 December 2023, 14:41

December 23, 2023

Treehugger
Re. Tamiya's 1:35 Japan Ground Self Defense Force Type 16. I don't recall having seen anything like this, in this scale:
Youtube Video
 
23 December 2023, 19:37
Treehugger
Tip to Evergreen styrene owners:
I just realized, having multiple packs of the same dimensions for the styrene rods and such, I might as well collect the content of all packs with same type and dimension, and then move them all over into the same one bag, which should clear up a lot of mess in my drawers I think. 🙂
23 December 2023, 11:51
Treehugger
I finally found a nice way to sand off the stubs off very long and very thing pieces of plastic. Not only is it necessary to cut these fragile parts off, using a photo etch saw, I used to try sand the resulting stubs with a metal file of sorts but with mixed results.

And so, what really seems like a nice tool for cleaning up the stubs, on these fragile parts, are these DSPIAE thin metal tools that one can attach self-adhesive sanding paper on. With #400 grit sanding paper on these thin flexing sanding tools, the risk of snapping a fragile part in two is greatly reduced. 😄

Having said this, a better option, might be to cut off the thin plastic rod, and replace with a styrene rod.
23 December 2023, 11:37

December 22, 2023

Treehugger
Q: Might there be a preferred way to create natural looking tanks sagging down by its own weight, but when using vinyl tank tracks?

I suspect heat might be involved, but to my annoyance I couldn't find any tutorial for it online. I could ofc try using superglue and glue the track onto the roller wheels, but I don't want to have to do that.
22 December 2023, 09:47
Viking93
Superglue doesn´t work every time so this guy (scale model club 2) has another solution: Youtube Video he drills out holes and sticks some wire through it to hold the tracks down. The only problem is to hide them.
 
22 December 2023, 10:41
Treehugger
owns this item
35361
Japan Ground Self Defense Force
Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle
Tamiya 1:35
35361 2018 New tool
22 December 2023, 06:19
Treehugger
owns this item
35359
U.S. Medium Tank
M4A3E8 Sherman "Easy Eight" Korean war
Tamiya 1:35
35359 2018 New parts
22 December 2023, 06:19

December 20, 2023

Treehugger
Q: Does anyone know if the small wheel at the rear on a Spitfire plane is controlled by the pilot, or just turn by itself as the plane is moving?
20 December 2023, 05:47

December 19, 2023

Treehugger
I got this recently, and I can't recommend it, as the steel (iirc) edges in lots of places are unevel as if not smoothed out. The main long edge is smooth, but on mine I can feel the rough edge of metal burr along other edges (the many smaller curved sides) on this big metal shape on top of the large bottom plate. Might not matter much, but it doesn't look like great quality to be honest thinking of the burr I can feel with my finger tip in places.

The reason I got this, is for the rare piece of photo etch that would require bending along a great length. I also have a smaller one from before from DSPIAE in aluminium.
PIR-300
Piranha 300 300 mm long photo-etched part bending tool.
RP Toolz
PIR-300 2015 New tool
19 December 2023, 15:07

December 11, 2023

Treehugger
If one can ignore the obnoxious music: Seems like there is a 1:72 kit model of this Oshkosh MMRS recovery vehicle, but none in 1:35. Would be nice to have this in 1:35 I think.
Youtube Video
 
11 December 2023, 09:22

December 7, 2023

Treehugger
Caution: Build guide seem to indicate how to glue on the pairs of tyres, photo of real truck show this to be correct, however it is possible to glue on the inner second tyre the opposite way, removing the spacing, which apparenlty would be wrong. I see photos online of people having glued on the inner tyre, the wrong way facing outwards, which removes the gap between the two tyres and that should be there.
03098
Henschel Typ 33 D 1
Revell 1:35
03098 (80-3098) 2012 New decals
7 December 2023, 13:20

December 6, 2023

Treehugger
owns this item
A03087
Junkers Ju 87B-1 Stuka
Airfix 1:72
A03087 2015 New tool
6 December 2023, 13:38
Treehugger
owns this item
35239
Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18t (Sd.Kfz.9) Famo
Tamiya 1:35
35239 1999 New tool
6 December 2023, 13:01
Treehugger
Abit expensive, bought at a discount. Would go nice along for towing a flak 88mm model I have.
6 December 2023, 13:37
Treehugger
owns this item
PIR-300
Piranha 300 300 mm long photo-etched part bending tool.
RP Toolz
PIR-300 2015 New tool
6 December 2023, 13:06
Treehugger
I already have such a tool, a smaller one, but I found this at a nice discount (local store going out of business in norway), and I know that some odd kits have too long photo etch parts that shouldn't be cut in half. So I got this one to keep around.
6 December 2023, 13:35
Treehugger
owns this item
35377
Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad (Mid-production)
Tamiya 1:35
35377 2021 New tool
6 December 2023, 13:04
Treehugger
owns this item
61033
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb
Tamiya 1:48
61033 1994 New parts
6 December 2023, 13:02

December 5, 2023

Treehugger
Hrm, I was surprised by how expensive this kit is. Though it has movable front steering, and looks like maybe working tracks.
35239
Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18t (Sd.Kfz.9) Famo
Tamiya 1:35
35239 1999 New tool
5 December 2023, 13:47

November 29, 2023

Treehugger
owns this item
61098
Lockheed Martin
F-16CJ [Block 50] Fighting Falcon
Tamiya 1:48
61098 2007 New tool
29 November 2023, 15:27

November 28, 2023

Treehugger
Scale Model Workshop recrntly put up a new video:
Youtube Video
 
28 November 2023, 14:02
Treehugger
Hrm, I quickly deleted a recent comment of mine.
I thought at first that I saw someone having made a platform model of the 'Byford Dolpin' in a series of photos from a scale modeling show, however on a closer look, the nametag said 'Bredford Dolphin', not the same one. The Byford Dolphin platform was the location of a terrible diving bell accident above sea level many years ago.
28 November 2023, 10:23

November 20, 2023

Treehugger
Re. the A-1H Skyraider plane, who according to Tamiya build manual can carry two 1000 lbs bombs, instead of two outer fuel tanks:

Q: Might it be plausible, that you could keep the two outer fuel tanks, and instead have a single 1000 lbs bomb at the center, instead of the third center fuel tank?

Douglas A-1H Skyraider (Tamiya 61058, 1:48)

61058
 
25 October 2023, 20:24
Treehugger
I found an answer. I found a photo of a Skyraider loaded up with bombs, and a 1000 lbs bomb on the center pylon. (Not shown in the Tamiya guide.) Then two fuel tanks on each side.
Ref: USS Constellation (CVA-64) (30 Oct 64)

skyraider.org/skyass..lliottj/elliottj.htm
20 November 2023, 18:07

November 15, 2023

Treehugger
Revell.. Please make a 1:144 scale T-Class British WW2 submarine kit. Thank you in advance.
15 November 2023, 15:14

November 7, 2023

Treehugger
Had great fun airbrushing aluminium barrels for the very first time.
The aftermarket flak barrels for the Takom's twin flat kit. Perfect result. 🙂 The alu barrels were cleaned with an alcohol cleaning wipe first.
So one airbrush on a very thin layer at first then come back and add more, always thin layers of paint so it doesn't get a chance to get runny or ending up with orange skin. Cleaning the needle tip frequently to avoid eventual paint splatter.
Airbrushed one half of the barrels with the first round of paint, then a few minutes later, finishing the other half, gently keeping them standing upright drying someplace for the next half hour.

I think a reason why I have more fun airbrushing on a darker primer color, is that the darker color is a lot more noticable on the plastic/metal, as opposed to the Vallejo gray primer.
6 November 2023, 13:46
bughunter
I hope the paints will adhere to it. Aluminium is very special here, as it always has an oxide layer on the surface. In the painting of real aircraft an etch primer is used.
For models there are special primers for this like Gunze "Mr. Metal Primer". It is a clear coat and dries to a very thin layer. Tamiya has something comparable.
6 November 2023, 14:31
Treehugger
I think it will be ok, the Vallejo prime is like a plastic as I understand it, so it dries to being a rubbery surface. Ofc, I'll, heh keep an eye on it.

As for brass photo etch, I've had very mixed results. Seems like cleaning with alcohol is important if there's finger grease on the PE, otherwise the Vallejo primer paint seem to flake off when sanding edges. Not entirely sure how to get the best result with airbrushing PE, so I try to all cleanup of PE beforehand.
6 November 2023, 15:10
Treehugger
Ah, I see now the day after, paint did chip in a few places around the barrel (I think now I must have bumped the metal part into things a few time when holding it and putting it verical to let it dry), not just around the edges. After adding some more paint, I should very carefully put on a gloss coat and hope the stuff sticks.
7 November 2023, 13:25
Antony Merigot
I would recommend you using AK Xtreme Metal Primer, allows you to spray the whole model with any photo etch parts or other aftermarket products.
7 November 2023, 13:33

November 6, 2023

Treehugger
wants this item
12629
Boeing E-3G AEW&C Sentry/AWACS
Academy 1:144
12629 2023 Changed ???
6 November 2023, 21:05

November 4, 2023

Treehugger
If you ever buy some Eduard photo etch like for a ship, you can go to their website and download a pdf for the instructions, then one can easily print that out on A4 paper, and I think that is a nice solution. Maybe play around with a yellow marker.

My cheap laserprinter must be 20 years old or something I think, cheap and still running ok, on its second toner cassette.
4 November 2023, 13:17

November 2, 2023

Treehugger
This is the flimsiest carrier elevator structure I've ever seen, how is this even possible? The two supports sort of "dangle" in the air on the outside of the hull. USN Essex carrier. Hm, maybe there is some hidden wiring system from the top there someplace, that might make sense to me.
[img1]
 
2 November 2023, 07:57

October 29, 2023

Treehugger
I keep seeing impressive 3d printed stuff, I wonder if there is some kind of industry standard for printing 3d parts for scale modeling.

Edit: Reason for wondering, is that maybe some stuff is noticeably less good looking.
If I had the bestest 3d printer, I would model the stuff myself and churn out parts as I needed them. 🙂
1 29 October 2023, 13:42

October 27, 2023

Treehugger
4 27 October 2023, 22:01
Treehugger
I thought it was small with Z scale model trains (electric train set) when I saw that in a local hobby store the other day, but on youtube they tell about how there is T-gauge, which is electric 1:450 train sets. 😄 These things surely being a market for 3d printed stuff, if one has the metal/plastic carriage already.
27 October 2023, 10:19

October 26, 2023

Treehugger
This product from Trumpeter, seems like a scam product.
They could not bother to add all the six wheels for each of the two big cranes, only 8 big wheels in total, should be 12. Totally missing.
Kit build guide does not represent the kit parts correctly.
Trumpeter couldn't be bothered to pay someone to design this kit, but they want money for this.
06645
USN Carrier Deck Equipment
Trumpeter 1:350
06645 2020
26 October 2023, 11:04

October 25, 2023

Treehugger
owns this item
87014
USS Los Angeles SSN-688
HobbyBoss 1:700
87014 2007 New tool
25 October 2023, 15:54
Treehugger
owns this item
61058
Douglas A-1H Skyraider U.S. Navy
Tamiya 1:48
61058 1998 New tool
25 October 2023, 15:50
Treehugger
owns this item
05618
USS Intrepid CV-11
Trumpeter 1:350
05618 2020 New box
25 October 2023, 15:49

October 24, 2023

Treehugger
Q: Hydraulic actuator arms in WW2.. Are they shiny, or are they painted?

I thought that, the actuator arm had to be shiny if being hydraulic, to best maintain the balance of pressure inside that makes the actuator arm either move, or stay in place.

Alternatively, there could be some pneumatic system perhaps? (Air not oil based).
24 October 2023, 12:27
Urban Gardini
Any visible piston has to be shiny for the function but the rest of the hydraulic sytem can be painted. Oh I've lost count of how many pistons I've turned while working at Wipro (Hydrauto) and Alimak back in the day...
24 October 2023, 12:47
Treehugger
I think I just invented the self standing clipper. 🙂
[img1]
 
1 24 October 2023, 09:17

October 20, 2023

Treehugger
I just noticed in a video on youtube, that the bags that are seen between the cannon barrel and the turret structure on a battleship, is like thin cloth flapping around in the wind. Presumably similar on all battleships, but ofc I could be wrong.

I was thinking, this piece of thin cloth (I guess up till now I had thought it was thick cloth) might be something one could easily recreate and glue on, instead of being limited to plastic parts that prevents the gun barrels from being elevated up and down.
20 October 2023, 08:54

October 19, 2023

Treehugger
I'll just leave this one here. 🙂
Youtube Video
 
19 October 2023, 14:21
Treehugger
owns this item
VTM35002
Mk-56 3" Gun Director (4 Pcs.)
Veteran Models 1:350
VTM35002
19 October 2023, 05:23

October 17, 2023

Treehugger
added a new photoalbum.
Revell's Type VIIc in 1:144 scale
5 images
View album, image #5
1:144
If one looks at drawings of the Type VIIc submarine online, one will see there is supposed to be stuff hidden inside the...
1:144 German Submarine Deutsches U-Boot Type VII C (Revell 05038)1:144 Set for Type VIIc 1:144, for Revell 05038 & 05675 (RC Subs SKU-090)
All comments (13) » 15 5 August 2021, 19:38
Treehugger
I see what you mean, I had that in mind, but thought it was too laborious and not ideal. Alternatively, cut a hole, but leave a thin strand of plastic as a frame, that is carved out, leaving space for PE part to be added.

Though, I got an idea that I will explore (came to think of it today right now). I may just create a hole in the plastic, then glue bits of small styrene onto the photo etch, then.. glue the PE into the hole, with Tamiya Extra Thin, gluing the small bits of styrene onto the hull. This would require shaping the PE in advance sufficiently, and annealing the PE so I can make a subtle flex without the PE bouncing back that easily.
17 October 2023, 12:51
Bart Goesaert
Very curious about this method
17 October 2023, 13:07
Treehugger
wants this item
05167
German Submarine Type IX C/40 (U190)
Revell 1:144
05167 2023 New tool
17 October 2023, 09:07

October 16, 2023

Treehugger
Hm, this kit is half the price of the Vietnam era variant, but ofc, that other kit is other moulds stemming from Gallery Models.
05610
U.S. Aircraft Carrier
USS Hancock CV-19 (1944)
Trumpeter 1:350
05610 2006 New parts
16 October 2023, 10:03
Treehugger
Wow, I just played around with some soldering thread, together with two pieces of left-over photo etch, and what a strong bond, very surprising. I only used a torch lighter to melt the solder. The soldering thread is non-lead and contains some kind of flux component built into the soft soldering metal. Presumably, if I am careful later, not softening the metal parts, I could try melt tiny bits of soldering thread, and have it liquify and fill in seams between two photo etch edges. Really unsure how the use of a torch lighter might annheal the fragile photo etch. It shouldn't ruin the PE, but if annhealed, it will make the photo etch much softer to the touch.
16 October 2023, 09:13
Treehugger
There is ofc this trend of 3d printed parts these days, but I wish there was some kind of standard of how these things were presented, because a 3d rendering of a 3d printed model, isn't really showing the product as it looks to a customer. :|

This in turn makes me wonder why Shapeways have transluscent material for their 3d prints, in addition to all the other materials they can print with ofc. The one and only time I ordered 3d printed parts, the parts where white'ish and transluscent iirc, making it hard to see what you are looking at. On scalemates there are ofc multiple products that links to other people with 3d printed products, solds in boxes like any other plastic part.
16 October 2023, 05:10

October 15, 2023

Treehugger
Q: I guess there might perhaps be a metal barrel included, but I might as well ask: Anybody know what kind of flak system was on it, other than it being 88mm?
DW35024
8,8 cm Flak on a 9t VOMAG
Das Werk 1:35
DW35024 (DW-35024) 2024 New tool
All comments (11) » 4 30 August 2023, 18:52
Glue Sniffer
IIRC there was an excellemt build article online that addressed some issues
15 October 2023, 08:50
Treehugger
A reviewer had a helpful set of photos showing how he added some extra detailing, like wiring and other fixes. I have some copper wire I can use, and also some solder wire I can glue on, but the sodler wider is very soft and a little thick.
15 October 2023, 09:25
Treehugger
Looking at some CV-11 Intrepid carrier photos, the little I can find online, apparently this guy played hide and seek:
[img1]
 
15 October 2023, 07:10

October 14, 2023

Treehugger
Q: How many planes on the USN Intrepid carrier CV-11 during Vietnam war?
Anybody know?
Can't seem to find any info. Probably more planes than what is in the box, only 4x A-4 Skyhawks and 4x EA-1F Skyraider (ECM) and some other stuff.
14 October 2023, 17:04
Martin Oostrom
According to this site it was 80+
warontherocks.com/20..-air-wing-looks-dim/
14 October 2023, 18:29
Martin Oostrom
Here might be a better answer: navysite.de/cvn/cvw.htm
14 October 2023, 18:33
Treehugger
Thank you for the feedback! I'll take a look.

I found some 1:350 models btw, packs of 5 pcs:
SCM Search: 1:350 skyraider
14 October 2023, 19:19
Treehugger
1:16 German WW2 Das Werk Puma vehicle kit revealed:

Youtube Video
 
14 October 2023, 19:17
Treehugger
Is this a re-boxing?
If a new mold (unknown?), then surely the Minicraft build manual is irrelevant.

I guess this is a re-boxing of a Minicraft kit then.
12586
US Navy PBM5A Mariner
Academy 1:72
12586 2023 New box
27 September 2023, 09:27
jaydecker
As of early this year, all Minicraft's toolings were sold to Academy as the company closed down. Thus, the molds are from Minicraft, and Academy now produces the kits.
14 October 2023, 17:15
Treehugger
wants this item
3D 350 175
A-1 H Skyraider folded wings (5 planes)
L'Arsenal 1:350
3D 350 175 2023 New tool
14 October 2023, 16:41
Treehugger
wants this item
3D 350 175
A-1 H Skyraider folded wings (5 planes)
L'Arsenal 1:350
3D 350 175 2023 New tool
14 October 2023, 16:41
Treehugger
Uaah. "Had" to order some photo etch from Hannants, as they were the only one that had it in stock. :| Luckily, I managed to get two sheets of PE off Eduard's website at a nice price, else it would be expensive off just Hannants.co.uk. So.. four sheets of PE for a 1:350 Intrepid carrier model, then the fifth sheet is just some photo etch of vehicles, which doesn't look that appealing, bending round wheels into a volume and such. The 1:350 Trumpeter Intrepid CV-11 do come with some photo etch, but those kit PE railings looks kind of funny to me.

I wonder if there is any aftermarket 1:350 kits for the Skyraider planes and such.
14 October 2023, 15:53
Treehugger
Buyer beware: Obviously, this is a ship kit, that is waterline ONLY! No full ship hull. 🙁
06743
USS Intrepid CVS-11
Trumpeter 1:700
06743 2022 New tool
2 14 October 2023, 10:37

October 9, 2023

Treehugger
Q: How dark or light should German Panzergray be for WW2 stuff?

The Vallejo primer 73.603 Dunkelgrau / German Panzer Gray, seems rather dark.
9 October 2023, 18:03
Treehugger
Apparently someone made a big scale Enterprise-D kit (Star Trek), subscription based?:
Youtube Video
 
9 October 2023, 12:39

September 28, 2023

Treehugger
Oooh, this looks like such a fun kit. I have it in 1:72 scale. 😄
DW35024
8,8 cm Flak on a 9t VOMAG
Das Werk 1:35
DW35024 (DW-35024) 2024 New tool
10 August 2023, 10:42
Glue Sniffer
I have the Hobbymodelbau Schmidt vacuform
28 September 2023, 05:40

September 27, 2023

Treehugger
wants this item
12586
US Navy PBM5A Mariner
Academy 1:72
12586 2023 New box
27 September 2023, 09:26

September 23, 2023

Treehugger
The build guide is weird in places. One has to look very carefully to notice that this part is supposed to be glued on, on the inside of two larger parts:
I made the mistake of simply gluing two big parts together. One has to be careful, when fixing this, to avoid have the part being lost inside the big part (so hold the big part upside down while gluing on the smaller part).

[img1] (image upload)
 
2023
WWII German
12.8cm Flak 40 Zwilling
Takom 1:35
2023 2015 New tool
23 September 2023, 12:38

September 17, 2023

Treehugger
So the kit comes with a large base, and also a smaller part: I took the smaller part, removed some plastic, and build a stand for it using sheet/strip styrene. Unsure how realistic this custom base is, but I was inspired by what other's have done in a similar fashion.

Best to keep the gray plastic part unglued and separated from the white styrene until after you have airbrushed all the inside areas. Then one can glue on the gray part, such that each pair of bolt ends up on the "outside" of the white styrene parts all around. I did NOT use a circle cutter (else I would have ruined the blade I think), just snipped off plastic all around the big white part, and sanded round using a metal file.

The gray plastic base, had its outer ring removed, so that it now looks like two base plates (top&bottom) are connecting, held together with bolts. I used a saw and did NOT cut styrene with a blade, because using a blade to cut styrene into parts looks too ugly/uneven.

[img1] (image upload)
 
2023
WWII German
12.8cm Flak 40 Zwilling
Takom 1:35
2023 2015 New tool
17 September 2023, 11:41

September 12, 2023

Treehugger
I want to add that the barrel opening is rifled. 🙂 The barrel opening is about 10mm or so deep with a rifling pattern, before hitting plain aluminium. So best make sure to paint some matte black at the deep end inside the barrels, so it doesn't stay shiny there. The Eduard photo etch has parts for adding rifling, but this whole metal barrels is much nicer not having to fiddle with the photo etch inside the barrel openings for the plastic parts.

Btw, the Takom kit comes with 1 rubber cap (and 1 spare cap), that slows down the rotation of the barrels, which I guess won't cause any issue with the metal barrels adding weight, though they might be balanced already on their own the way they fit onto the whole thing, haven't gotten that far yet. Anyway the plastic cap will probably guarantee a prevention of any sagging of the two metal barrels I think.
35L188
German
12.8cm L/61 barrels for FlaK 40 Zwilling Anti-Aircraft Gun fit to Takom
Aber 1:35
35L188 (35 L-188) 2016 New tool
1 12 September 2023, 14:02
Treehugger
aerocraftmodels.com/..kitty-hawk-208-p.asp

I wonder, like their UH-1N, KH sort of rushed it, and got their lengths confused from reading a side-view drawing. The difference in length for canopy seems imo suspiciously like the difference in length, like the difference between the one and two seater model. The two seater model have a gap between the first movable canopy and the start of the air intake, unlike the one seater where the air intake is right up against the backside of the one movable canopy.
ACM-32059
Dassault Mirage 2000C corrected windscreen (Kitty Hawk)
Aerocraft Models 1:32
ACM-32059 2023 New tool
1 12 September 2023, 13:37

September 7, 2023

Treehugger
Is it me, or did the webpage graphics scale up a little?
Maybe someone bought a 4k monitor and thought "oh shit the webpage looks so small now". 🙂
1 10 August 2023, 10:43
Simon Smith
mine just "zoomed in " too.
10 August 2023, 10:50
bughunter
The uploaded pics should be 2160 pixels wide now to avoid the dark border. The UI is prepared for bigger screens. See here:
SCM Newsfeed
7 September 2023, 17:30
Treehugger
This review has info on adding missing details: archive.armorama.com/review/12115/

Best be careful when gluing things together, because the moulds are weird. Not just flash here and there, but misalinged moulding in places. Not entirely terrible, but an unexected annoyance in some places like the breech block.

Btw, the aftermarket metal barrels fits the plastic nicely. No idea if some counter weight is ideally needed or not, haven't gotten that far yet.

Tip, for adding styrene bolts, without fiddling to much, best just glue on a piece of rod (then let the plastic harden), then snip it, and very gently sand flat so it looks like a bolt. Having said that, there are aftermarket bolt with hex shape in resin that would be nice, if you can get the precise size needed, not too small, nor, too large.
2023
WWII German
12.8cm Flak 40 Zwilling
Takom 1:35
2023 2015 New tool
7 September 2023, 16:45

September 6, 2023

Treehugger
1:35 scale? That is something else.

Still no 1:35 UH-1D kit from Kitty Hawk?
03871
Bell OH-58 Kiowa
Revell 1:35
03871 2019 New box
1 24 November 2019, 13:34
Rafael Gonzalez
Never again since Kitty Hawk went busted.
6 September 2023, 17:52
Treehugger
wants this item
ZM80123R
Ka-52
Zimi Model 1:48
ZM80123R 2024* New box
6 September 2023, 13:33
Treehugger
and Andrii B are now mates.
6 September 2023, 06:07

August 10, 2023

Treehugger
wants this item
DW35024
8,8 cm Flak on a 9t VOMAG
Das Werk 1:35
DW35024 (DW-35024) 2024 New tool
10 August 2023, 10:45

July 16, 2023

Treehugger
Finally some kind of new production of the MGS variant in 1:35 scale.
AF35370
Stryker M1128 MGS “2010“upgraded Version
AFV Club 1:35
AF35370 2023 New parts
16 July 2023, 15:18

May 9, 2023

Treehugger
I found this nice plastic tray that works nicely for storying work-in-progress kits. 🙂 An all round nice shape. I already bought one in the store and will get some more ones. Too short/small for larger kits though.

jula.no/catalog/hjem..veringsbrett-009466/
9 May 2023, 19:46

May 3, 2023

Treehugger
This is the worst Trumpeter ship kit ever, re. the bottom part. This is bizarre, how bad the mold is, the bottom part (red) not being wide enough to match the top part (gray).

The fix was to use a power tool and cut a slit along the center of the bottom part, then jam some strip styrene inside and widen the red plastic. Not perfect, but a big improvement.

Knowing how weird the seamline is, I used a lot of cyanoacrylate glue here instead of Tamiya Extra Thin Cement.

[img1] (image upload)
 


1:700 Sacramento
19 April 2023, 07:42
Treehugger
Fixed. Little by little. Not too difficult either. Really a good idea to split the bottom open with a powertool, and without splitting the whole model into parts. Mostly ok here, just a thing or two at the bottom that might need some putty I think.

The side details was cut off and replaced with styrene to get a smooth surface on the sides.

It is important to scrape the putty flat so one doesn't have to spend an eternity sanding away excess putty, keeping the excess putty to a minimum.

[img1]
 
3 May 2023, 10:50

May 2, 2023

Treehugger
Q: Anybody know where to buy photo etch lettering? Like individual letters for the English alphabet in photo etch.

Reason being, to recreate a nameplate with photo etch, glued onto a plastic stand. I tried using a chrome pen on plastic, but this turned out to be very troublesome. If only the nameplate had been brass, then I would be ok, easy to work with, sadly the nameplate is all plastic.
2 May 2023, 13:26
John Hughes
accurate-armour.com/..s-diorama-photo-etch

Lots of useful items here!
2 May 2023, 13:30
Treehugger
Thanks for the feedback. I can only see some small ones there at 2mm height.
I found some in 4mm, which might work, though ideally I would like to see some 5-6 mm high lettering in all caps.
scalelink.co.uk/acat..nents_for__OO__.html
2 May 2023, 20:13

April 29, 2023

Treehugger
Q: Is it possible to create a piano "laqcuer" gloss finish using Vallejo Acrylic Gloss varnish?
I imagine, it would have to somehow go on wet-in-wet. Anybody know?
29 April 2023, 20:52

April 28, 2023

Treehugger
owns this item
7133
H.M.S. Sheffield Type 42 Destroyer Batch 1
Cyber Hobby 1:700
7133 2012 New decals
28 April 2023, 20:01

April 20, 2023

Treehugger
owns this item
7135
U.S.S. Long Beach CGN-9 1980
Cyber Hobby 1:700
7135 2013 New parts
20 April 2023, 14:06
Treehugger
owns this item
05785
AOE Fast Combat Support Ship
USS Sacramento AOE-1
Trumpeter 1:700
05785 2010 New tool
20 April 2023, 14:02

April 18, 2023

Treehugger
Phttrrt. The solid bottom hull (below water line) is at least 1mm too narrow, and a mismatch to the top side of the hull, also a solid hull piece. I don't even know how to fix this.

Hrm, maybe I could saw the bottom part in four pieces and add 1mm strip styrene along the center from bow to stern.
Or.. maybe I could create two slits in the bottom part, or just one slit at the center, then insert some styrene to widen the hull. That way I don't have to work with a messy 4 part bottom hull.
05785
AOE Fast Combat Support Ship
USS Sacramento AOE-1
Trumpeter 1:700
05785 2010 New tool
18 April 2023, 16:36

April 15, 2023

Treehugger
To be picky, but I think this is worth mentioning. Like with a Panda Hobby's kit, they have track links that are not realistic, the track links are molded with each track so fixed in place and don't rotate freely. This fixed joint is noticeable wherever the track joints lies over the sprockets on the two motorized wheels at the front.
82453
Chinese
ZBD 04 IFV
HobbyBoss 1:35
82453 2009 New tool
15 April 2023, 09:10

April 12, 2023

Treehugger
I just realized that I must have spilled some drops of cyanoacrylate on my wood floor paneling and failed to scrape it off. So then in my infinite wisdom, I remembered that I do in fact own a bottle of cyanoacrylate debonder. So that dried superglue could eventually be wiped off the floor.
12 April 2023, 21:04

April 11, 2023

Treehugger
owns this item
A.MIG-2031
Ultra Glue For Etch, Clear Parts and More
Ammo by Mig Jimenez
A.MIG-2031
11 April 2023, 10:20

wnolder.php?lang=en

2023-04-11 10:20:50

2016-12-08 20:43:11

28845

/ajax/wnolder.php?lang=en&sd=2023-04-11 10:20:50&md=2016-12-08 20:43:11&filter=&w=28845

todo

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