How to get started in building models?

Hello ryespy

Most of us started young, usually by watching or learning from a sibling or parent. As far as I know there are no classes to take. You buy a kit you want to try and just follow the instructions. The kits box top will generally give you a list of tools you will need.

All of us got into the hobby because of either the love of the subject (WWII, Modern, Tanks, Aircraft, Space, Etc.), or like in my case, the love of the hobby. Watching something you build come to fruition and striving to get better at it, which takes a long time.

Most of us started with very minimal tools (hobby knife, glue, paint brushes and basic paint kit, and maybe some tweezers). As time goes and you want to improve, one may invest in an airbrush, air compressor,  improved brushes, Etc. Airbrush technique, like the rest of the hobby, is mostly trial and error. There is an airbrush forum where you can ask of find answers to question or techniques to help, but in the end you just have to try it for yourself. This can be accomplished using a scrap piece of plastic or some other material so you don't ruin your current work.

As far as other resources, we look toward the internet mostly, or books we have in our libraries. Other forums  around the world my also have a conversation going regarding a subject you are working on. There is quite a bit of knowledge on this site, and almost any question you may ask will be answered or you may be directed to a link with the answer.

As far as Group Builds, as long as the rules are followed (which are designed by the Host), anyone can join in.

Steve

I think Steve has pretty much summed it up. Like any hobby, model building is something you just pick up and then learn as you go along. Some might start young by just buying a kit and slapping some paint on. Other may start older and dive in buying all the goodies and tools.

many of us older builders would have started long before the age of the internet. In fact I think some of our members may have started by carving model animals out of stone

So usually we just had to teach ourselves if there was no one around to help, maybe picking up a mag here or there to get some tips. Now, people can go online and get some tips and ideas. But there is not a one size fits all method to starting in the hobby.

I agree with both above posts. There are no classes for model building. In today's world there are far and few kids that are even remotely curious about this hobby. I think they think it's an old people hobby. There are a very small percentage of kids that will follow the footsteps into this hobby from watching an older sibling, parent or even a grandparent.

Back in my youth during the 70's, you can walk into any department / corner mom and pop store and find model kits. Kids became interested and started building them.

Group builds are not limited to just experienced modellers.  Everyone participates and are treated as equal.

keep in mind, there are quite a few of us who did model kits back in their youth have retruned to this hobby many years later due to college, marriage/family, military commitments or whatever reason it may be. I returned to this hobby a 1 1/2 years ago after being away from this hobby after 20 plus years.

One forgets how relaxing and fun this hobby can be. I do models for: 1 - to decompress from the stress of work and 2 - I missed the hobby.

Just do it.  That's the only way in my opinion.  I always make plan after plan.  I always get myself well-prepared before doing something.  Hence, I had read a ton of books, articles & magazines before I got back to this hobby after a 25 year hiatus and started airbrushing 3 years ago.  Well, I learned 99% of my airbrushing & modeling techniques from my mistakes.  

Bish

many of us older builders would have started long before the age of the internet. In fact I think some of our members may have started by carving model animals out of stone

panzerpilot

Bish

many of us older builders would have started long before the age of the internet. In fact I think some of our members may have started by carving model animals out of stone

Those Bronze tools were the worst, weren't they?

 

Bronze, you were spoilt. Try flint Panel lines are a real pain.

 Bronze, you were spoilt. Try flint Panel lines are a real pain.

I still haven't found a way to completely beat the carpet monster.  

Rip the carpets out.....  LOL!

I haven't decided yet which is worse, the carpet monster or the "hardwood crunch". I even tried gluing all the parts together to keep them from getting lost,,,,,,,,you guessed it, before I got them all in one clump, one of them bounced off the hardwood floor and got lost in the carpet in the next room. (please respect TankerBuilder's feelings, I am sure discovering fire with his flint tools on his tenth model was very traumatic)

As for the classes asked about in the original post,,,,,there is a "sort of" class at some model shows,,,,,,it is called the Make And Take program.  If done by people that really want to help out, there is more than just a "free kit given to the kids to build", the leader of the M T group gives lots of feedback to the kids, and is there to answer any questions.

One thing that helps a lot with new builders are those paperback books for beginners,,,,,Kalmbach sells them, as does Evergreen. Once you learn about cutting parts off instead of breaking them off, glueing, filling with putty, sanding, painting, things like that,,,,,,,,,each of us does almost everything differently. There are two or more choices for methods and products for each step of the way, it is rare to have two people do everything the same.

Rex

welcome to the forums

TarnShip

I haven't decided yet which is worse, the carpet monster or the "hardwood crunch".

Worse than either... "Tweezer ping" - Your part is launched into oblivion accompanied by that most annoying and terrifying of sounds.

I had a class in grade school that was a craft class.  We could select any craft we wanted, and either use some craft materials from the school, or bring our own stuff.  I asked about model airplanes, and the instructor said fine.  I brought a kit and built it- this was an old stick and tissue kit.  This was late forties, before plastic hit our area.  I guess I was lucky. I had been building models for several years, so got a good grade :-)

Ryespy, in order to build models, one must first go through state certification.  Generally they're offered in the fall and go for 10 to 12 sessions after which you have to pass the "right to build" exam.  Then, of course, there's the talent contest and the swimwear competition which we generally all end up failing.

JUST KIDDING!!!!  As most everyone stated above, many of us got started at a young age.  I think it generally started with some form of inspiration...some sort of "spark" to start it all.  In my case, I started building back around '77 when I was 7 years old.  I could NOT get enough of the old TV show, "The Blacksheep Squadron".  Couple that with the fact that, back then, whenever my parents and I went to the stores, I'd make a bee line for the toy section.  Back then, model kits were everywhere!!!  Sears, the drug store, grocery stores' toy sections, Toys-R-Us...basically everywhere parents took their kids.  I'd snake my way up and down the aisles filled with Star Wars characters, Stretch Armstrongs, Steve Austin action figures with the "telescope" eye feature and I'd end up in the model section.  To a 7 year old kid, those boxes with the action-packed artwork of diving aircraft with guns-a-blazin' and bombs-a-droppin' were just too good to resist.  And there on the shelf was the big Revell 1/32 scale Corsair complete with Robert Conrad right there on the box.  Things just snowballed from there.

Back at that age, I was big into Legos, Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs.  What kid didn't like building stuff and snapping things together?  When you throw all those variables into one big pot, it was just natural for me to get into model building.  I could snap it together, apply the big stickers (extra bonus!) and be up and flying in just a few moments.  I was hooked.  There were so many Snap-Tite airplanes, tanks, cars and dinosaurs available that the stories in my head practically wrote themselves.

That's what did it for me.

Eric

PS.  You asked how does one learn to use an airbrush or any of the other tools and techniques utilized.  The answer is three simple words.  Trial and error.  Lots of it (especially on the "error" side).  No one can "perfect" a technique.  One might become used to and proficient at a particular technique of doing things but mistakes are still made.  If you check on this or any other model building forum, you'll find people much like myself who have been building for the past 37 years who STILL goof up, botch up a paint job, glue their fingers together, lose things, break things, you name it.

There's an old saying that states how it's the journey, not the destination.  That definitely holds true in this hobby.  Modeling isn't a goal to be achieved.  It's a constant and evolving journey.

Oh how I lost count losing small tiny parts to tweezers. When that happens, out comes the flashlight and onto the floor looking for the part. Tiny clear parts are the worst to lose and find. :)

echolmberg

PS.  You asked how does one learn to use an airbrush or any of the other tools and techniques utilized.  The answer is three simple words.  Trial and error.  Lots of it (especially on the "error" side).  No one can "perfect" a technique.  One might become used to and proficient at a particular technique of doing things but mistakes are still made.  If you check on this or any other model building forum, you'll find people much like myself who have been building for the past 37 years who STILL goof up, botch up a paint job, glue their fingers together, lose things, break things, you name it.

There's an old saying that states how it's the journey, not the destination.  That definitely holds true in this hobby.  Modeling isn't a goal to be achieved.  It's a constant and evolving journey.

I shudder every time I read one of those posts "I just bought a blah blah   airbrush, and started painting my (hundred dollar kit).  The paint job is a mess!"

Not only should one practice, practice, practice when learning to airbrush before using it on an actual model, one must try out a new airbrush, or even new brands of paint, on scrap before committing to an actual kit.

Look up the Journal Article "Tattoos are like Potato Chips" by Thomas Vale and run a data base search on "A Stage Model of Differential Association."  What you'll be most interested in is the Affiliation portion of this three stage process.  I did my Honors Thesis over Native American Artifact collectors and I'm finding a lot of cross over.  If you'll P.M. me your email address I'll email you a copy of my Thesis.  It may be one more source for you to use.  If nothing else, it will give you some additional sources.  Raymond