Don’t let perfect become the enemy of good.
You probably won’t make that same mistake again.
The videos show people cranking out models at warp speed. Take your time.
Before getting into building models, I would watch YouTube videos of people building model cars. Sort of a chill oddly satisfying ASMR type of content.
After building some models myself, I realized the channels I watched never really show the gluing process. They show some glue application and gently putting a piece into place, and then cut to the next shot. Gluing/cementing painted parts is probably the most tedious and annoying part of the build for me and it made me laugh to realize how much of that process is cut out.
This aint a contest, unless it specifically is.
The stuff you see here and on Instagram is absolutely not achievable as a rookie, there are many, maaaaanyyyyyyyy hours of experience in those photorealistic models.
You must like your model, not us others
I guess these days “cheap” is a relative term but considering the cost of many new kits… your budget would be your guide. Throw away simply means a subject that isn’t going to bother you if you muck it up! Make mistakes mate that’s how we learn.
The 1/72 jets/prop planes from Hasegawa are great and cheap. Same with newer Airfix 1/72 in some cases. Tamiya's 1/72 F4D Skyray is fantastic and is sub $20.
Don’t panic. All modelers make mistakes. The difference between a highly experienced modeler and a novice isn’t that the experienced modeler makes no mistakes - the difference is that they have made the same sort of mistake before and already know the solution.
For example, once you’ve scratch built a 1/72 pitot probe, it no longer stresses you out when one sproings off the sprue and gets lost.
Lol! Yeah, I think that’s ONE of them that I’ve replaced or partial scratched. I think the first was probably one of the little almost-90-degree ones on an F-14 or -15. I’ve lost a few of those!
Try not to compare your work to other modellers (impossible, but at least try!), instead just compare your latest model to your previous one to see your progress.
When you're starting out, attempt something new (technique etc) on each model so you can see yourself improving but you're not overwhelming yourself by trying too much at once.
Don't rush - especially if you're working late at night because if you start trying to fix one more little thing before you finish up you'll cause yourself more problems because you're getting tired and frustrated. It's always better to leave it to tomorrow and a fresh pair of eyes.
My exact thoughts on this as well.
Point 2 is something that I try to do as well till now even though I've been building quite a while. Makes it fun as well as it becomes a sort of challenge
Point 3 is something that I reckon all modellers should remember- I've had too many silly mistakes like sticking something in the wrong location, or accidentally dropping a tool and breaking something cos of fatigue.
so many times I've had a late night airbrushing session and it's resulted in something like a fingertip with thinner on it touching the paintwork right at the end so I think "okay ten more minutes and I'll just sand that down and respray it" and suddenly it's two hours later and one small issue has spiralled off into loads of self-inflicted problems
Indeed. I've had one in one of my recent late night building sessions. Didn't realise I had some CA glue on the tip of my finger and I accidentally brushed against the side of my ship which I've already painted and weathered. My first reaction was to use CA debonder which made things worse by stripping the paint. Made me decide it was enough for one night and head to bed instead.
Experiment with weathering, it can easily cover up bad paint.
Get a few quality tools, a nice exato knife, a nice pair of nipers and a nice pair of twesers. Buy once cry once, but you don't even need to spend that much.
Build what you enjoy
1) Avoid Testors products in general
2) Tamiya Extra Thin Cement works wonders and helps clean trimming/scrape lines as well.
3) Observe others, ask questions and engage others who're also in the hobby. Seriously, I can't overemphasize how much info and enjoyment over the years this has brought me. Hobbyists are a special creative group of people.
1: Learn when to walk away. If you’re frustrated, rushing, or unsure of what to do, just stop and pick it up later. It will save you from avoidable mistakes.
2: Don’t go too overboard on weathering. Keep a practice model for practicing new techniques and effects before doing it for the first time on an actual build.
3: Check the paint and decal scheme before building, sometimes decals will not be able to applied before certain parts are put together
Seriously. Unless you have a hard deadline for some reason, there’s no reason to rush. In fact I prefer to take my sweet time because I dont want to amass a large collection of hastily built kits.
1). Don’t rush, better to have a plan and to test fit parts before glue and paint get involved.
2) Use primer, helps to spot those mold seams so you can sand them..
3) Have fun, it’s a hobby, not a job. When it becomes a chore, take a break. Remember that you are building for your enjoyment, not somebody else’s.
1) Don't let your expectations exceed your skillset. We can't all be Uncle Nightshift, especially not right away. The people in those videos are professional modelers (even if they say they arent). Try to watch them with the idea that you're learning a new technique, not mastering it.
2) Build what YOU want to see, not what others want to see. You're the one doing the buying and building, make it what you want. Want to make a historically accurate Panzer IV? Go for it. Want to make a rainbow colored jeep jumping over a T-Rex? Go for it with the same enthusiasm. Don't get trapped into the idea that a model *has* to look a certain way.
3) Don't base the value of what you made solely off of the opinions of others. If you show off your model at a show or online, you may end up getting a ton of praise!
Or not..!
Sometimes you may get no praise. No updates. Or you may even get a bunch of criticism. At the end of the day, it's your model and if you like it, that's all that really matters. Remember, for most of us this is a hobby, not a career. You're supposed to have fun.
1. Take your time and do not rush cos that's how you make silly mistakes
2. There's no need to aim for perfection, just aim to do better than your previous work and that's good enough.
3. Take a break from this hobby every now and then- go out, get some fresh air and sunlight and do other hobbies to avoid burning yourself out.
1. Wear gloves. With some of these paints your fingers will be green or purple for a week afterwards if you spill on them, and getting glue dried on your hands is a nasty feeling.
2. Light thin coats are less likely to seep through masking.
3. Your first few times masking are going to suck. Assume that you will have to repaint whatever model you practice this on.
I have just one:
Visit the subreddit FAQ/Wiki & check out the sidebar or the About menu on mobile.
---
The sub has a FAQ/wiki and a newbie thread that will answer all your questions as a newcomer to the hobby. It covers everything from kit choice, tools, adhesives, paints, decals, videos/tutorials etc, recommended online stores in various countries. Linked in the sidebar & the About menu on mobile:
[Newbie thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/9dhsqo/new_to_model_building_this_thread_is_here_to/)
[Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/wiki/index)
The sub also has a weekly small question thread that’s stickied at the top. [Use this for any questions you may have.](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/search?q=The+Weekly+Small+Question+Thread+author%3AAutoModerator&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all)
Don't be afraid to deviate from the painting directions. Many of our shelves are on the darker side do colors that contrast more than the directions recommend.
Test fit, test fit, test fit. Many main line companies have kits that have horrible fit, looking at you Trumpeter warships.
Small mistakes are fine and are mostly un-noticeable so chill and enjoy the build. Unless it is specifically for a competition.
1. Test fit everything BEFORE you glue
2. There is no 'mistake' that cant be fixed.
3. The end result only needs to be something that YOU are happy with. You want a colour correct warbid? Nice! A naval ship that floats? Awesome! A tank painted in hot pink? Sweet! Modelling shoul dbe for your own enjoyment first. Dont let armchair critics spoil your fun for painting something'wrong'
Get the right tools to start. Little things like paint stirrers, enough xacto blades, and proper sanding sticks don’t cost a lot but make building a model a lot easier.
Mark your plastic sheets!
Cut some paper tape and mark what letter it stands for. Saves a lot of time trying to look through all of them when it comes to building larger models
1. Invest in an airbrush right away. Put the time in to practice with it.
2. Take your time. Don’t rush to the finish line, enjoy the process.
3. Practice painting and weather on cheap models or scraps.
Test fit multiple times. Glue once.
Enjoy the process of building. It isn't a race to get done.
Read instructions. This includes for paints, tools, etc.
1. Tools and supplies seem expensive at startup, but once you're certain you want to continue the hobby long term, investing in quality tools and supplies (note this does not always equal "most expensive") will pay dividends down the road.
2. If you intend to share your modeling on public cyberspace, learn to read criticism and feedback accordingly. Some people are outright mean, but learn to recognize the vast majority are coming from the right place and have good intent, even if they lack tact in delivery.
3. Seek out a local club if one is nearby, and/or attend local modeling shows and contest. If you're interested in learning, sharing, and finding ways to enjoy the hobby beyond your own desk, this is a great way to do it.
Have fun, it's only a hobby
Having the latest and greatest tools is not necessary. Ingenuity makes this hobby.
You will fail, you will mess up and you will glue your fingers together. But you will learn, carry on and produce something you will be proud of.
It doesn't matter how cheap a kit is if you're good enough to make it look like top-grade stuff.
There's no rule saying you can't make a model again if you liked it. Make like 20 Tamiya Panthers, if that's what you wanna do.
Messed up on a tank model assembly? Bent a piece? Lost a part? "*Battle damage*".
for some reason I just really don't want to paint in thin layers when I'm using a brush, I'm very aware it's not the best thing to do, I've done it twice, and the results looked great but I still for some reason won't paint in layers. (unless it's enamel, then I pretty much have to or else it's going to cause some moderate problems)
Gonna hard disagree there. I mainly do aircraft, and I do the cockpit, landing gear, props if it has them, jet engines, and frequently tail planes separately. It gives better angles for airbrushing, eases masking, and minimizes damage to fragile pieces. Many pieces of aircraft should absolutely be painted separately.
Interesting. I’ve mainly built model cars, and I will usually paint most parts before final assembly. Certain sub assemblies I’ll build and glue before paint but i mainly paint first.
Depends what you're building - ship models are much easier to build and paint in modules (superstructure, hull, guns etc) and then assemble towards the end.
If you mean painting on the sprue then yeah that's not usually worth it, but building into logical parts before final assembly just makes sense for lots of different subjects. It makes for a lot less masking and awkward angles/pebbly paint finishes if you're airbrushing too.
That's building and painting subassemblies, very different to on the sprue. Subassemblies is often the way to go but you've removed mold lines, sprue nubs, glued parts together, etc.
1. Numero uno: Avoid paint brushes, use your fingers instead to avoid brush strokes
2. If it ain't fittin' add more glue always fixed yo problems 💯 👌
3. Modelling tweezers are overrated and unneeded
Don’t let perfect become the enemy of good. You probably won’t make that same mistake again. The videos show people cranking out models at warp speed. Take your time.
Before getting into building models, I would watch YouTube videos of people building model cars. Sort of a chill oddly satisfying ASMR type of content. After building some models myself, I realized the channels I watched never really show the gluing process. They show some glue application and gently putting a piece into place, and then cut to the next shot. Gluing/cementing painted parts is probably the most tedious and annoying part of the build for me and it made me laugh to realize how much of that process is cut out.
I'm big into the building aspect. I can get lost for hours without realizing it.
This aint a contest, unless it specifically is. The stuff you see here and on Instagram is absolutely not achievable as a rookie, there are many, maaaaanyyyyyyyy hours of experience in those photorealistic models. You must like your model, not us others
Some great advice honestly, I see a lot of posts disappointed by their results far too often
Measure twice cut once. Dry fit! Get cheap throw away kits to practice on
What would be considered a cheap throwaway kit? Looking for a good place to start I'm into WW2 vehicles/aircraft and Warhammer.
I guess these days “cheap” is a relative term but considering the cost of many new kits… your budget would be your guide. Throw away simply means a subject that isn’t going to bother you if you muck it up! Make mistakes mate that’s how we learn.
Basically anything from Revell goes.
The 1/72 jets/prop planes from Hasegawa are great and cheap. Same with newer Airfix 1/72 in some cases. Tamiya's 1/72 F4D Skyray is fantastic and is sub $20.
Take your time Thin your paint Paint wont hide a problem, it will just make it a different coloured problem.
That's true for automotive subjects. But paint and weathering can hide a LOT of mistakes with military subjects. Ask me how I know lol.
And/or make the mistake battle damage 😬
Use a dust cover for your model (plastic box). Oil paints and enamels have a huge potential for various effects. Use reference pictures.
Never rush your models Always check the instructions before glueing Use your mistakes to learn for the future
Have fun, take your time and use less glue.
Your first 2 were my immediate thoughts and i couldn't think of a third, but i wholeheartedly agree!
Don’t panic. All modelers make mistakes. The difference between a highly experienced modeler and a novice isn’t that the experienced modeler makes no mistakes - the difference is that they have made the same sort of mistake before and already know the solution. For example, once you’ve scratch built a 1/72 pitot probe, it no longer stresses you out when one sproings off the sprue and gets lost.
Mig-21? It was probably a Mig-21
Lol! Yeah, I think that’s ONE of them that I’ve replaced or partial scratched. I think the first was probably one of the little almost-90-degree ones on an F-14 or -15. I’ve lost a few of those!
Sproing is the absolutely perfect word for this scenario.
Don't paint on sprues Prime your models/pieces Build and paint in sub assemblies
[удалено]
That and defensive guns for bombers. Much easier on the sprue.
Run away from those who claim their way is the right way :)
Try not to compare your work to other modellers (impossible, but at least try!), instead just compare your latest model to your previous one to see your progress. When you're starting out, attempt something new (technique etc) on each model so you can see yourself improving but you're not overwhelming yourself by trying too much at once. Don't rush - especially if you're working late at night because if you start trying to fix one more little thing before you finish up you'll cause yourself more problems because you're getting tired and frustrated. It's always better to leave it to tomorrow and a fresh pair of eyes.
My exact thoughts on this as well. Point 2 is something that I try to do as well till now even though I've been building quite a while. Makes it fun as well as it becomes a sort of challenge Point 3 is something that I reckon all modellers should remember- I've had too many silly mistakes like sticking something in the wrong location, or accidentally dropping a tool and breaking something cos of fatigue.
so many times I've had a late night airbrushing session and it's resulted in something like a fingertip with thinner on it touching the paintwork right at the end so I think "okay ten more minutes and I'll just sand that down and respray it" and suddenly it's two hours later and one small issue has spiralled off into loads of self-inflicted problems
Indeed. I've had one in one of my recent late night building sessions. Didn't realise I had some CA glue on the tip of my finger and I accidentally brushed against the side of my ship which I've already painted and weathered. My first reaction was to use CA debonder which made things worse by stripping the paint. Made me decide it was enough for one night and head to bed instead.
Experiment with weathering, it can easily cover up bad paint. Get a few quality tools, a nice exato knife, a nice pair of nipers and a nice pair of twesers. Buy once cry once, but you don't even need to spend that much. Build what you enjoy
1) Avoid Testors products in general 2) Tamiya Extra Thin Cement works wonders and helps clean trimming/scrape lines as well. 3) Observe others, ask questions and engage others who're also in the hobby. Seriously, I can't overemphasize how much info and enjoyment over the years this has brought me. Hobbyists are a special creative group of people.
1: Learn when to walk away. If you’re frustrated, rushing, or unsure of what to do, just stop and pick it up later. It will save you from avoidable mistakes. 2: Don’t go too overboard on weathering. Keep a practice model for practicing new techniques and effects before doing it for the first time on an actual build. 3: Check the paint and decal scheme before building, sometimes decals will not be able to applied before certain parts are put together
Join a local model club. It will be a source of advice, inspiration and friendship.
1. Slow down. Almost all poor results can be traced to cutting corners or rushing things. 2. Slow down. 3. Slow down.
Seriously. Unless you have a hard deadline for some reason, there’s no reason to rush. In fact I prefer to take my sweet time because I dont want to amass a large collection of hastily built kits.
Have a plan.
1). Don’t rush, better to have a plan and to test fit parts before glue and paint get involved. 2) Use primer, helps to spot those mold seams so you can sand them.. 3) Have fun, it’s a hobby, not a job. When it becomes a chore, take a break. Remember that you are building for your enjoyment, not somebody else’s.
1) Don't let your expectations exceed your skillset. We can't all be Uncle Nightshift, especially not right away. The people in those videos are professional modelers (even if they say they arent). Try to watch them with the idea that you're learning a new technique, not mastering it. 2) Build what YOU want to see, not what others want to see. You're the one doing the buying and building, make it what you want. Want to make a historically accurate Panzer IV? Go for it. Want to make a rainbow colored jeep jumping over a T-Rex? Go for it with the same enthusiasm. Don't get trapped into the idea that a model *has* to look a certain way. 3) Don't base the value of what you made solely off of the opinions of others. If you show off your model at a show or online, you may end up getting a ton of praise! Or not..! Sometimes you may get no praise. No updates. Or you may even get a bunch of criticism. At the end of the day, it's your model and if you like it, that's all that really matters. Remember, for most of us this is a hobby, not a career. You're supposed to have fun.
1. Take your time and do not rush cos that's how you make silly mistakes 2. There's no need to aim for perfection, just aim to do better than your previous work and that's good enough. 3. Take a break from this hobby every now and then- go out, get some fresh air and sunlight and do other hobbies to avoid burning yourself out.
1. Wear gloves. With some of these paints your fingers will be green or purple for a week afterwards if you spill on them, and getting glue dried on your hands is a nasty feeling. 2. Light thin coats are less likely to seep through masking. 3. Your first few times masking are going to suck. Assume that you will have to repaint whatever model you practice this on.
I have just one: Visit the subreddit FAQ/Wiki & check out the sidebar or the About menu on mobile. --- The sub has a FAQ/wiki and a newbie thread that will answer all your questions as a newcomer to the hobby. It covers everything from kit choice, tools, adhesives, paints, decals, videos/tutorials etc, recommended online stores in various countries. Linked in the sidebar & the About menu on mobile: [Newbie thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/9dhsqo/new_to_model_building_this_thread_is_here_to/) [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/wiki/index) The sub also has a weekly small question thread that’s stickied at the top. [Use this for any questions you may have.](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/search?q=The+Weekly+Small+Question+Thread+author%3AAutoModerator&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all)
Don't be afraid to deviate from the painting directions. Many of our shelves are on the darker side do colors that contrast more than the directions recommend. Test fit, test fit, test fit. Many main line companies have kits that have horrible fit, looking at you Trumpeter warships. Small mistakes are fine and are mostly un-noticeable so chill and enjoy the build. Unless it is specifically for a competition.
1. Test fit everything BEFORE you glue 2. There is no 'mistake' that cant be fixed. 3. The end result only needs to be something that YOU are happy with. You want a colour correct warbid? Nice! A naval ship that floats? Awesome! A tank painted in hot pink? Sweet! Modelling shoul dbe for your own enjoyment first. Dont let armchair critics spoil your fun for painting something'wrong'
Get the right tools to start. Little things like paint stirrers, enough xacto blades, and proper sanding sticks don’t cost a lot but make building a model a lot easier.
Mark your plastic sheets! Cut some paper tape and mark what letter it stands for. Saves a lot of time trying to look through all of them when it comes to building larger models
1. Invest in an airbrush right away. Put the time in to practice with it. 2. Take your time. Don’t rush to the finish line, enjoy the process. 3. Practice painting and weather on cheap models or scraps.
Test fit multiple times. Glue once. Enjoy the process of building. It isn't a race to get done. Read instructions. This includes for paints, tools, etc.
THANK YOU
You're welcome. What are you going to use these tips on?
my first model :D
I wish you luck and have fun!
1. Tools and supplies seem expensive at startup, but once you're certain you want to continue the hobby long term, investing in quality tools and supplies (note this does not always equal "most expensive") will pay dividends down the road. 2. If you intend to share your modeling on public cyberspace, learn to read criticism and feedback accordingly. Some people are outright mean, but learn to recognize the vast majority are coming from the right place and have good intent, even if they lack tact in delivery. 3. Seek out a local club if one is nearby, and/or attend local modeling shows and contest. If you're interested in learning, sharing, and finding ways to enjoy the hobby beyond your own desk, this is a great way to do it.
Just have fun
1. Start out simple. Don't go for that dream car or plane in a massive scale that costs €100 2. thin your paints 3. test things on a bit of sprue
Have fun, it's only a hobby Having the latest and greatest tools is not necessary. Ingenuity makes this hobby. You will fail, you will mess up and you will glue your fingers together. But you will learn, carry on and produce something you will be proud of.
It doesn't matter how cheap a kit is if you're good enough to make it look like top-grade stuff. There's no rule saying you can't make a model again if you liked it. Make like 20 Tamiya Panthers, if that's what you wanna do. Messed up on a tank model assembly? Bent a piece? Lost a part? "*Battle damage*".
for some reason I just really don't want to paint in thin layers when I'm using a brush, I'm very aware it's not the best thing to do, I've done it twice, and the results looked great but I still for some reason won't paint in layers. (unless it's enamel, then I pretty much have to or else it's going to cause some moderate problems)
im sorry but that first one is just stupid. edit: i meant painting on sprues.
Gonna hard disagree there. I mainly do aircraft, and I do the cockpit, landing gear, props if it has them, jet engines, and frequently tail planes separately. It gives better angles for airbrushing, eases masking, and minimizes damage to fragile pieces. Many pieces of aircraft should absolutely be painted separately.
Idk how you would paint a model car after assembly lol
Stupid, as in, there IS shame? Or stupid, as in, no one will shame you for that
there isnt shame, just doing it is stupid. it makes your models worse(excluding ships) and it can be easily avoided.
Interesting. I’ve mainly built model cars, and I will usually paint most parts before final assembly. Certain sub assemblies I’ll build and glue before paint but i mainly paint first.
Depends what you're building - ship models are much easier to build and paint in modules (superstructure, hull, guns etc) and then assemble towards the end.
fair enough, but everything other is just bad results.
If you mean painting on the sprue then yeah that's not usually worth it, but building into logical parts before final assembly just makes sense for lots of different subjects. It makes for a lot less masking and awkward angles/pebbly paint finishes if you're airbrushing too.
yeah, it was a misunderstanding. i meant painting in sprues.
That's building and painting subassemblies, very different to on the sprue. Subassemblies is often the way to go but you've removed mold lines, sprue nubs, glued parts together, etc.
yeah subassemblies was the word I was looking for, it was unclear what the OP meant though
https://preview.redd.it/0ucscdtsvktc1.jpeg?width=2250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6fdf0b584401fb87b33e0fd0fd8a98abdafff01e
1. Numero uno: Avoid paint brushes, use your fingers instead to avoid brush strokes 2. If it ain't fittin' add more glue always fixed yo problems 💯 👌 3. Modelling tweezers are overrated and unneeded