Returning to Models

Well then

Him?

I think there are a couple good model stores in Calgary, always a good place to go browse around and meet some folks you can pick their brains for direction.

Armor modeiling is a good place to start as they don't need to be pristine like a model car or a commercial jet needs to. Weathering is also fun and it's easier to hide mistakes made when painting . Tamiya kits are very good quality and usually well instructed.

Italeri also are very good kits.

Tanks are pretty good subject to start with, usually there isn't a lot of filling and sanding to be done which is nice for starting in this hobby.

Getting an airbrush and compressor is a good idea and entry level kits are fairly inexpensive. If you are not sure about the hobby you can pick up a cheap badger kit which uses a can of compressed air and a simple single action gun. Hand brushing kits without lots of experience and talent will leave you disapointed with the finish.

sir, good day! its been a long a time since i stop this hooby when our house was devastated by typhoon last 2011. all of my finished models were distroyed, but, there are some of my unfinished models or still in the box that are not  distroyed. my problem is all of my decals and instruction manual were lost/damage. because of this i have no reference to build these again. Can you help me guys to find what website where i can find/download those manuals? most of my models are 1/48 aircarft. thanks and God bless to all!

Hello Tom,

I will give you my two-three months feedback..."I too came back" after about 30 years.   I will try and hit all the questions I had once I found this site....in other words what has changed in 30 years?

1) GLUE....super glue is great, use it wisely....the other glue I use is Tamiya brush in a bottle glue..and there is a clear glue made by testors...for clear stuff.   Anyway, the super glue and all of the derivatives are really well done and make assembly easier and you can glue and move on with the subassembly.

2) PAINT    I tried Vallejo and Tamiya....for whatever reason, the Tamiya seemed better for me.   There are a ton of weathering dusts and paints and oils and techniques that are really enjoyable to experiment with....way more than 30 years ago   The TAmiya has lots of colors and works well with brush and air brush

3) AIRBRUSH  I bought a Grex and I am happy with it, there are lots of options....and you can do without for the first few builds...to me is is not so much that one needs practice with the airbrush, as much as one needs to make all the stupid mistakes of a beginner before one become handy with the darn thing.   But, as you get handy, you can not live without it....A Grex with the small compressor is very good...some $$ here

4) TOOLS...lots more cool stuff available..this is the fun part

5) WHERE TO BUY....I like the Eduard site, Sprue Brothers, and Squadron and Scalehobbist...there are many and the forums will lead you to many...I liver in Vermont, so shipping stuff in is about all I can do....The Sprue Brothers stuff arrives fast

6) WHAT TO BUILD...I like WWI planes so that is what I build, I started with 1/48 scale as that seemed about right and I think it is (in terms of my eyes and display space)....most parts I can see......if you drop in on the floor, the model did not need the part anyway.....I am going to build a few 1/48 and then look into the larger more $$ 1/32 planes  anyway, if you look hard enough, you will find images of what you want to build

7) RESEARCH  I like to look at the techniques that others use, for specific items, I do not yet get into that detail...but I love to look at how foiks build a cockpit....then we close the darn thing up and you can not see it !      But I also do not want to know everything, I want to experiment on my own too.           Great magazine are avail.....I like this one, FSM and  from militaryillustratedmodeller.com  these guys have vehicle and airplane version of the magazine..and Both FSM and this one have great images and building techniques....note the Klear floor was treatment of cockpit canopies--makes you wonder who thought that one up?  And all kinds of very cool applications..I know there are ton more magazine....and have the fun is looking at the ads in the magazines.

8) MODEL-WHATS NEW  This is fantastic...there are resin parts and photo-etch (PE)  parts and all kinds of stuff you can get to make a give kit more fun and way better looking a gazillion more detail parts...  look in the ship forum here for what a guy did with the Cutty Sark, tremendous.   ..that is one of the reasons I started with Eduard, you can buy the kit with all the add ons...PE stuff is tricky and get a bender if you get into these things.....some PE I just leave on the tree for I could not see it once I cut it off anyway.....

Do not for get your wallet and have a blast.

Good Luck

Hey Tom...welcome back.  I got started back building this year after a 40 year lay-off, actually my boss got me back into it and hooked me up with a couple starter kits. 1/72 scale armor mostly, Lots have changed since I was a kid. We had Auto-world back then and there wasn't all that much available....now with photo-etch, resin and all the kinds of paint, putties and tools it made my head swim. Some of the new kits are so awesome pick one and have fun   Good Luck,   Dave

Look in the gallery and see if anything gets your attention. Built that first.

Tom, welcome back. I too am starting back after a fairly long layoff. To get yer chops back, go find a few of the kits that had you going the first time around. Don't be afraid to try some of the techniques and tips from FSM. Remember, if you're not having fun, it's not where you want to be.

I was where you are about 6 months ago. I subscribed to the digital version of FineScaleModeler and bought the DVD FSM offers with 25 years of the magazine. You can search the DVD and find articles on virtually any modeling subject you are interested in.

I have had excellent luck with scalehobbyist.com for buying models and supplies. For tools not available at scalehobbyist I have found micromark.com to be a good source.

Roger

In the headings at the top and bottom of pages of this FSM forum, you'll see the heading "Discussion Forums."   Click on that, and you will see a list of all the forums.  Look at each title and the explanatory paragraph.  Do not neglect those in the last heading, the Tools, Techniqes, and Reference Materials. Some of the best forums are in that domain.  The Painting and Airbrushing  forum is a real gem.

Apart from what the other guys have said, first thing you need to do is decide what scale you want to build and what subjects your interested in. Most of the modelling companies have good and bad kits, so its difficult to suggest any without knowing what you want to build. Another factor would be how much cash you want to part with. I could suggest some of the newer Hasegawa kits, but they are pricey.

Welome. The mag is a good starter. Google "building ..(whatever you are wanting to build" and ask a lot of questions. Each class of modeling, car, ship, armor, mil a/c, civ a/c  - all have their own discussion areas and all have great people willing to help.

Welcome to the forum

How about FSM Magazine,and you have discovered this forum,but you really need to be more specific,also ask questions in the particular section of our forum you are interested in