ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED

jamstraz

jamstraz

Active Member
I have literally never built a model on my own (THANKS DAD!! (read profile)), much less modded one. I have been inspired by several Romulan Bird of Prey modifications to the AMT kit and want to make one of my own desperately that is painted and lit. Am I biting off more than I can chew? I have zero tools, zero materials, just the model. Looking for hints, tips and reassurance.
 
Last edited:
Take your time, don't rush things. Also, go to YouTube and watch whatever tutorials look helpful, I don't have any personal recommendations since I don't watch modeling videos, but I'm sure that someone here will chime in with recommendations.
 
Modelling is about learning techniques. Nothing is really unachievable if you are willing to put in the time practicing the skills for the task

You might try getting your feet wet with a kit you don't care much about.

Find the cheapest kit that catches your eye in a place like Hobby Lobby or Michaels for example

Starting points...

You need a way to trim the pieces from the sprue cleanly. Investing in sprue cutters and an xacto knife is pretty much a requirement.

You may also need something to fill seams and gaps especially in older kits. I would recommend a product called "Perfect Plastic Putty"

You probably could also use some small hobby files and very fine grit sandpaper as well so you can clean up some flashing and other stuff

As far as painting, you can stick with good old rattle cans if you can find the right colors.

Although if you find yourself wanting to do more, investing in an airbrush will open up a whole new world of possibilities though as you can mix your own colors if you can't find that certain color through spray paints and you can also control the paint much better as well as do finer effects

For weathering look into videos using various techniques like pastels, oil paints, washes etc...

Those are all techniques that are easy to learn and you get better with practice
 
Riceball's right: take your time and don't rush it. Also, don't expect your first attempt to be exactly how you imagine it to be. Detailing and modifications take practice to get it to look right.
However, with zero tools or supplies, you maybe hardpressed to do the mods you want. It also depends on what mods you want to do as well. If its surface detail, you'll need strip styrene, a sharp knife, preferably a razor blade and glue. Don't use super glue for adhering plastic bits as its overkill and messy. Normal styrene glue such as Tamiya or Revell will be fine and its slower setting time allows for moving the part around until you get it where you want.
Pointed tweezers are a good investment too.
As for lighting, there are literally hundreds of tutorials on the net. Watch a few and you'll be good to have a go. You don't even need a soldering iron. A wire wrapping tool would be fine.
Dont be ashamed to copy other people's work. Once you get the idea, you will start to develop your own style and create your own mods.
The most important thing to remember is this: just have fun with it.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with later down the track
 
Riceball said:
Take your time, don't rush things. Also, go to YouTube and watch whatever tutorials look helpful, I don't have any personal recommendations since I don't watch modeling videos, but I'm sure that someone here will chime in with recommendations.
Click to expand...
I have watched Dr Faust's videos of his modding of the Bird of Prey several times as well as a few on essential tools...just really worried I'm going to botch this.
 
I can't tell you how many times in my builds I've wanted to do something that required cutting up parts, building from scratch, etc. I was afraid I'd ruin something, mess it up and be screwed. But everytime, with patience and a thought out plan, they've all turned out as well if not better than I planned. Believe me, you'll surprise yourself when you put your mind to it and commit.
 
I will add a couple of more things....(actually it's more elaborating on what others have said). Take your time. One of the fun things about building is putting it together. We get that excitement when things start looking like what's on the box cover (minus painting) and taking shape, and it is easy to just slap everything together. When you paint it, you see errors. Mismatched joints, places where filler should have been put in or just things that make a potentially nice model into a mediocre one.

Also, there is the quality of the model manufacturer. Tamiya, is one of the best, and longest manufacturers out there. Very little filling is needed on most of their joints and panel lines are always recessed. Detail is important. Many manufacturers have raised panel lines. For a child, or a beginner modeller these are fine, but if you start out with a quality model, and take your time, you will be rewarded for your patience.

Get a half decent airbrush. They're not hard use, and the biggest issue is taking them apart and cleaning them afterwards. Painting by brush will still be needed for smaller parts, but for the large areas, you definitely will see brush strokes and generally the paint goes on thicker which obscures details.
Aspire for greatness. You will be surprised at what you can do, if you try. Treat every joint on a model as a challenge to fill and ensure the details remain sharp.

In short, do your best. You will notice over the years, once your display cabinet fills up, on how the quality of your builds improve.

TazMan2000
 
Not really looking to fill cabinets...maybe a shelf or two. The Bird of Prey is going to go in my office if I don't muck it all up
 
Seeing this...stirs up memories. Going into Max's Toy World (long out of business), the smell of Testors paint...and my dad breaking the pieces and painting them before I could even put them together. Asking when I could help as it was my model mom got me for Christmas. Being told he should handle putting things together...holding the skull for all it was worth because it was the only piece I put together....ugh...it's 1990 all over again.
 

Attachments

  • s-l1600.jpg
    s-l1600.jpg
    436.4 KB · Views: 137
Ah...thought it was some model term for like cannibalizing a broken model for parts or something....I'm really a neophyte and been up well over 18 hours.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
1/1000 TREK adversaries
2
Replies
20
Views
1,627
publiusr
P
Neon Nautilus
Interest Home Vacuum Forming device from Neon Nautilus - Make more stuff!
Replies
3
Views
799
ventuoguy
ventuoguy
rms77
AMT Klingon Bird of Prey refurb with Green Strawberry aftermarket parts
2
Replies
31
Views
5,612
rms77
rms77
Avanaut
A Revell Mandalorian N-1 Starfighter Custom
2
Replies
36
Views
3,913
Avanaut
Avanaut
Boxcar Bret
Let's Build an Escape Pod!
2
Replies
38
Views
3,664
bwayne64
bwayne64
Back
Top