Books and Ideas

Subscribe to FSM and continue to participate in this forum. Look for web sites that have kit reviews - like www.squadron.com Build a relationship with a reputable hobby shop. They are a great source of "coaching". Get some reference materials for the models you want to build and go for it.

Don't try to build a master piece the first time out. Experiment with air brushing, weathering, etc. Be prepared to "junk it" and start over. You will be surprised how many mistakes filler, super glue and rubbing alcohol can erase.....I was!

Welcome back - I returned after fifty (50) years!

Jim

Hi Thundrbolt2 and welcome back to the hobby All that i can add to the above is read some of the mags available, practice on a couple of kits that you are not that botherd about screwing up on, see what works for you as far as techniques are concerned and remember that advice is not "rules" find your own way of doing things, if you find a new way of doing something that has not been posted here then let us all know, it may be new to us too. happy kitbashing...Gregers

Hi thunderBolt, books on modeling subjects are helpulful but get a kit on the bench and start building it, i found that building kits is the only way to develope skills - you will find that your ability will still be were you left it, tho maturity will help no end - this hobby is now an adult one if we're honest, very few youngsters have the patience - i got serious after reading nostalgia related model books but have since sourced aircraft books for reference and have a good libary now - there are lots of other modeling area's to enjoy, including shows, www - reveiw sites as mentioned but no substitute for a kit, glue and paint ..........welcome back

All sound advise. If you can, check around and try to find Detail & Scale. These series of books go into great detail on related aircraft and give a review of model kits, in all scales. Other than that, build to please yourself and don't try to put out a contest winner the first time. Take your time and most of all enjoy what you are doing.

Welcome back to the hobby. You will find a lot of new friends here, so check in often.

thunderBolt2
I am back again after a long absence.Try all suggestions posted plus try this one:
aircraftresourcecenter.com and click on tools'n'tips. they have about 40 some categories just full of how to's.Also for great kit reviews and how to's click on the Gallery section.
Iwas building 1/48th WW2 aircraft when Monogram was king and with $20.00 you could get enough kits and supplies to last nearly all summer long. Of course then a cockpit was just a hole in the fuselage with a canopy glued over it but you could fold the wings and retract the landing gear .Wow!
Get Fine Scale Modeler mag. Let me know what you think about the ARC site
Teise

Agreat book, if you can find it, for some interesting paint schemes (and it pretty much covers from WWI to modern day) is at Barnes & Noble called "Flying Colors".

Welcome.

I too can highly recommend ARC. There are a few other sites out there that are also fun/helpful so if you'd like some recommendations feel free to send me an email. I find that my biggest inspiration comes out of these forums. FSM is a big one and I really enjoy reading the build-ups, reviews, and finished results. The pictures are awesome and this new world of digital photos just make it that much more interesting.

One caution though. Be careful how much time you spend on FSM because you may find your hobby sliding more towards 'FSM surfing' rather than 'model building'...

All is well!!

Murray