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Newb With Some Questions

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 9:15 PM
It may be a good idea to buy some how-to books on modelling. Kalmbach, which is the publisher of Fine Scale Modeler, has a whole line of books, many of which are good for learning modellers.
Check out this website. http://www.squadron.com They might have some good how-to books as well.

Dave
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 14, 2005 6:13 AM
For a newb you seem to be on the right track. Just a little point here, does your jeep's wing mirror always snap? I HATE IT when it does that! Flimsy American vehicles! Otherwise, Swanny is right, start experimenting with dry brushing. Think what kind of a life in service your vehicle has had; it's taken some bumps and scratches, so show these. Weathering, gun/exhaust blasts and the like will all take your models from out of the factory and into the front line.

Enjoy yourself,

Seb
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 7:07 PM
Not bad at all. Dry brushing is where you take your paint brush, dip it into a color for highlighting or weathering then wipe the brush on a piece of paper until nearly dry of paint. Now brush it across the raised details on your model. Using something like steel or silver you could show the effect of wear on rivet heads or bolt heads or on exposed corners. This would be one of the first things to do on your armor pieces. Consider that the front hard corner on a jeep or tank would probably take some minor abrasion very early in life and the paint would get chipped off, dry brushing would show this effect. It's also useful inside a cockpit of an aircraft. Washes are useful to help create depth with recessed areas. Flat finishes like Polly Scale clear flat will dull down the end result and seal other effects like your dry brush and decals. Pastel chalks ground and applied with a brush or cotton swab are great for helping with exhaust staining or gun blasts. All this stuff and more is covered on my site under the tools and tips page and in various construction features. Really, your models are looking very good for technical aspects, just need to add some artistic interpretation now.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 5:57 PM
I think your models look good i like the king tiger alot
  • Member since
    November 2005
Newb With Some Questions
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 30, 2004 7:26 PM
Hey all! I've been modelling for many years now, but only recently have been getting into it seriously, and have realized that I've got a long ways to go after reading a few issues of FSM. I have constructed a few armour, vehicle, and aircraft kits recently, with a few more in line. Anyways, I am looking to advance my skills, and I was just wondering what advanced skills I'd need to work on. For instance, I've heard alot about dry brushing, but can't say I'm familiar with what exactly it means.

I'm about to start on working on a Tamiya 1/35 scale 75mm PaK41 AT Gun, so if anyone could give me some good starter tips for this one to 'practice' on, I'd love it! I'm thinking about pairing it up with a SdKfz 251/1 I have in a diorama (either parked next to it in a battle position, or having it being towed) or with a Sherman I have (in an 'ambush' diorama). So, if anyone could recommend any readings or books on building dioramas, I'd love that too.

Here are a couple pics of some recently completed models. Any criticisms are wanted!!!

http://web.utk.edu/~nfortner/images/models/Huey%20Gunship.jpg(UH-1 Huey Gunship, Revell Monogram Kit)
http://web.utk.edu/~nfortner/images/models/Img_0940.jpg(Pz VI King Tiger, Tamiya Kit)
http://web.utk.edu/~nfortner/images/models/M41%203.jpg(M41 Walker "Bulldog", Tamiya Kit)
http://web.utk.edu/~nfortner/images/models/Willys%20MB%203.jpg(Willys MB Jeep, Tamiya Kit)
http://web.utk.edu/~nfortner/images/models/Willys%20MB.jpgAnother view of same Jeep
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