what are the greatest modeling "innovations" of the last 10 years? Returning to the hobby...

I'd have to say accuracy and engineering. The last couple of decades have given us some highly accurate kits that are also well engineered. While the high parts count is often a drag, they build into very accurate prototypes.

Some companies strive for high parts counts, but still have assembly issues.

For aircraft and vehicle modeling (not so much ships and armor), my hands-down vote is for tha ability to make good-quality decals at home with a computer/printer. It's opened the door for more 'dream' projects for me than I can count. Also great for custom detail like gauges, data plates and all sorts of material textures.

And it's getting easier all the time!

Rob Gronovius

I'd have to say accuracy and engineering. The last couple of decades have given us some highly accurate kits that are also well engineered. While the high parts count is often a drag, they build into very accurate prototypes.

Some companies strive for high parts counts, but still have assembly issues.

Thanks - is Tamiya still at the top quality wise?  I started working on a trumpeter kit of the Me-262 A-2a that I purchased 10 years ago, and the fit just isn't that good.  It's a nice 1/32 kit but I also started working on the 1/32 Tamiya kit of the F-15E (also about 10 years old) and noticed the fit was much better.  I also started building the 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G-6 (also a 10 year old kit) and the fitment and parts count seemed pretty good, probably in between Tamiya and the Trumpeter.  I'm sticking at 1/32 for now as the larger scale is easier on my old eyes and coordination :-)

What are some of the better companies these days in terms of parts count and quality fit?

gregbale

For aircraft and vehicle modeling (not so much ships and armor), my hands-down vote is for tha ability to make good-quality decals at home with a computer/printer. It's opened the door for more 'dream' projects for me than I can count. Also great for custom detail like gauges, data plates and all sorts of material textures.

And it's getting easier all the time!

If you don't mind me asking what is the setup you use to do this decal printing?  It's all new to me.  What's the cost?  Thanks

jcfay

If you don't mind me asking what is the setup you use to do this decal printing? It's all new to me. What's the cost? Thanks

No special setup or software for me. I manipulate images (usually from online) and do text in good old-fashioned MS Paint...then paste images into a standard document format (I use Open Office) to 'drag' the image to the correct size for printing. I print with an old garden-variety HP inkjet printer.

The only 'special' equipment is the blank decal paper itself, the variety made specifically for inkjet printers. I usually use the 'Bare Metal Foil' brand...which is about $6.00 for a pack of (3) 8.5x11 sheets, in white or clear. That's a fair number of projects' worth.

Last is the clear sealer needed to seal the inkjet inks. I use Testors' special Decal Bonder...but others use stuff like clear Krylon or Gloss-Cote with apparent success.

Once the clear-coat is dry, you just cut and 'water-slide' like a regular decal. Big caution is to trim carefully, since it's all part of one big sheet rather than individual bits of backing.

There are a number of posts that go into more detail if you're interested. You can use the search function to find them at your leisure.

Cheers...and 'welcome back!'

jcfay

 

 

Rob Gronovius

I'd have to say accuracy and engineering. The last couple of decades have given us some highly accurate kits that are also well engineered. While the high parts count is often a drag, they build into very accurate prototypes.

Some companies strive for high parts counts, but still have assembly issues.

 

 

 

Thanks - is Tamiya still at the top quality wise?  I started working on a trumpeter kit of the Me-262 A-2a that I purchased 10 years ago, and the fit just isn't that good.  It's a nice 1/32 kit but I also started working on the 1/32 Tamiya kit of the F-15E (also about 10 years old) and noticed the fit was much better.  I also started building the 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G-6 (also a 10 year old kit) and the fitment and parts count seemed pretty good, probably in between Tamiya and the Trumpeter.  I'm sticking at 1/32 for now as the larger scale is easier on my old eyes and coordination :-)

What are some of the better companies these days in terms of parts count and quality fit?

 

There are other more highly detailed kits that are very high end, but are much harder to build.

Put some Tamiya extra fine in a squirt gun, aim for the Tamiya box and you'll get a good model from it.

Weathering techniques and Tamiya Extra Thin glue

modelcrazy

Weathering techniques and Tamiya Extra Thin glue

yeah the tamiya extra thin glue has always been fantastic.  love the smell of that stuff too... :-)  I know a bit about weathering techniques, but since I've really only done aircraft (versus really heavily weathered armor, for instance) I never got too, too into it.  I'll preshade panel lines, dry brush, and provide some paint chips and other simple stuff like simple washes.  But I'm sure there's a lot of other awesome techniques out there.

Rob Gronovius

Their quality is still top notch in terms of "buildability". Very accurate, fairly straight forward builds that produce nice models. Problem is that they also have some old 70s era kits in their line at the same prices as some of the newer releases.

There are other more highly detailed kits that are very high end, but are much harder to build.

Put some Tamiya extra fine in a squirt gun, aim for the Tamiya box and you'll get a good model from it.

Thanks, good to know.  I always remember people complaining about the 1/32 tomcat kit, if I recall correctly, cause the quality of that kit wasn't as good.  I wish there was an easy way to know if the kit was super old or relatively new...  Just curious, what other "very high end" type kits are you talking about?  I've stuck to 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft my entire modeling career which was brief anyway, so haven't really dabbled in armor or other stuff much.  But I'm certainly enjoying being back in the hobby.

I've got Trumpter's F4F-3 and -4 Wildcats in 1/32, and Revell of Germany's FW-190 in 1/32.  The Trumpeters are nicely detailed, and fit is nice. For the price point the FW-190 is a jewel, and the engine is almost a nice kit in its self.

I hate to be so basic, but, the internet. Literally (I wish I could say literally with a British accent!), everything at your finger tips with a key stroke.

hogfanfs

I hate to be so basic, but, the internet. Literally (I wish I could say literally with a British accent!), everything at your finger tips with a key stroke.

 

I figured somebody would beat me to it. Sticking my tongue out at you, Bruce.

Me too. Modelling as a kid, I didn't know any other kids who built models. I had the Bob, the owner of Bob's Hobby shop in Mishawaka to talk to, and magazines. It was quite the loner activity.

Being able to learn techniques as Bruce said, and also having folks to build with, albiet virtually, is a really big deal to me.

I probably would have moved on by now because that is my habit with hobbies if not for the great folk here.

Greg

I figured somebody would beat me to it. Sticking my tongue out at you, Bruce.

Me too. Modelling as a kid, I didn't know any other kids who built models. I had the Bob, the owner of Bob's Hobby shop in Mishawaka to talk to, and magazines. It was quite the loner activity.

Being able to learn techniques as Bruce said, and also having folks to build with, albiet virtually, is a really big deal to me.

I probably would have moved on by now because that is my habit with hobbies if not for the great folk here.

I stopped modeling about 2008, and there were a few online resources then, but not much.  I imagine today it's just huge.  There was little to nothing on youtube then as well, and I'm eager to jump there to watch videos of techniques, etc.  I've forgotten a decent amount and so I could use some instructional videos.  Thanks

jcfay

Thanks, good to know.  I always remember people complaining about the 1/32 tomcat kit, if I recall correctly, cause the quality of that kit wasn't as good.  I wish there was an easy way to know if the kit was super old or relatively new...  Just curious, what other "very high end" type kits are you talking about?  I've stuck to 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft my entire modeling career which was brief anyway, so haven't really dabbled in armor or other stuff much.  But I'm certainly enjoying being back in the hobby.

There have been several high end companies that pop up and create uber kits of the Abrams, Bradley and several other WW2 German subjects and then go dormant once again. Orochi, Meng (quite prolific), Rye Field Models, have created beautiful kits with parts counts in the thousands, some with multimedia parts like metal tracks and metal barrels along with multiple frets of photoetch.

As far as internet sources, back in the early to mid 2000s, it was a race to get a review of the latest kit onto the various websites. Many of the reviews weren't worth the time it took to post them, others were very well done. Today, the reviews come a little more slowly, but the good ones are more prevalent.

Most modeling websites have slowed greatly in the past decade. Many that still exist have only a post or two every week instead of countless per day. This site used to have so many that if you missed a day, it would take hours to catch up. Today, you can check weekly and not miss a thing.

Rob Gronovius

Most modeling websites have slowed greatly in the past decade. Many that still exist have only a post or two every week instead of countless per day. This site used to have so many that if you missed a day, it would take hours to catch up. Today, you can check weekly and not miss a thing.

I do remember a thriving community 10 years ago, that's sad that it's quieted down a bit.  Any idea why?  Are fewer people in the hobby these days?  I hope not.  The internet is such a fantastic resource (and forums are at the top of that list, IMO), at least it can be.

Too many places to post now. It's easier to stick with one or two. Plus there's alot of people who get offended on the internet and then take the virtual bat and ball and go home. Recently, as in the past month or so, someone on the armor forum here got upset and deleted all their posts http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/t/180282.aspx

And then Facebook made its appearance within the past ten years. Modelers could post on modeling Facebook groups. No need to host them at photo bucket or any other image hosting site. There are so many FB modeling pages I get added to by FB friends that I have to leave groups or unfollow.

I'm surprised 3D printing has not been listed yet. 

I've used 3D parts on several kits in the last 4-5 years.

Shapeways and Thingverse are good places to start.

The fact that you can buy a quality printer for under $500 has helped.

Canopy masks!

mach71

I'm surprised 3D printing has not been listed yet. 

I've used 3D parts on several kits in the last 4-5 years.

Shapeways and Thingverse are good places to start.

The fact that you can buy a quality printer for under $500 has helped.

what sort of parts have you printed?  I know nothing about the tech, but I'm curious.  when have you used 3D printing for modeling and how?  thanks

jcfay

 

 

Rob Gronovius

Most modeling websites have slowed greatly in the past decade. Many that still exist have only a post or two every week instead of countless per day. This site used to have so many that if you missed a day, it would take hours to catch up. Today, you can check weekly and not miss a thing.

 

 

 

I do remember a thriving community 10 years ago, that's sad that it's quieted down a bit.  Any idea why?  Are fewer people in the hobby these days?  I hope not.  The internet is such a fantastic resource (and forums are at the top of that list, IMO), at least it can be.

 

Well for starters, FSM managed to screw it up again with these upgrades and caused quite a stir with folks being locked out for a week or so....

Within the last 10 years, it would have to be 3-D printing. The process has opened up new possibilities to make things which could not be done otherwise.  It is still a maturing technology, so there are wonders yet to come.

LIDAR scanning is another one.  There is no better way to collect rough data, provided the subject exists, and is not bent or otherwise altered from its original form.  Human eyes (and talent) are still needed to refine the shapes and details, but the technology provides a greatly improved first step.  Scanning and printing people makes for eerily lifelike figures, and is scalable due to the digital nature of the process.

One subtle improvement that has been quietly making progress is surface detail representation.  Eduard’s lapped aft fuselage skinning on their F6F Hellcats is an example.  Airfix’s oil canning around their Meteor gun bays is another.  The return of raised rivets.  Stitching on WW I aircraft.  All of which are making our models look more authentic.

And Tamiya armor is finally on board with clear headlights and crew optics.  ‘Bout time!

Since 2008, I would have to agree that the biggest innovation to hit this hobby is 3-D printing. Pretty much everything else, has been an incremental improvement of stuff around 10 years ago. When you consider that multi media kits have been around for decades, only now they are more mainstream, and molding detail quality varies by kit and company, it’s all mostly fine tuning of existing stuff.

jcfay,

I've printed landing gear and moon buggy for the Space 1999 eagle.

A stungun from Space 1999

I've also printed a set of Star Trek Phaser ones and a medical hypo.

An EVA pod from 2001.

A few small space ships.

It's a good source for details that are hard to find.

mach71 - "Space 1999" - that brings back some memories.  Thanks all for the info on 3D printing.  

What manufacturers have entered or exited the model kit game in the last 10 years?  I built what used to be a decent 1/32 F-16 if I recall correctly and I've got an F-18 at 1/32 with some Eduard PE and some resin bits in the closet, but can't find much from Academy out there these days - did they go bust?  

Sounds like Eduard is really putting out some next level stuff?  Anyone else with favorite kit manufacturers nowadays?  I do air only at this point but'd be curious about armor too.

I can tell you one thing that has DEFINITELY changed and it's my eyes and coordination....  Oy vey.  I think practice will bring back some of my skills but my eyes, well that's another story ;-)

I hear yah on the eyes!

Meng is producing some nice aircraft kits.

they are a Chinese company.

JC, Academy is still around and putting out new stuff. More in the armor world lately, but they are doing just fine I think.