I want to get started with modeling...

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I'd say, start with an easy kit to learn skills and build your confidence.

Pretty much what Steve and TLAM said. What do you like?

Originally Posted by captgeo

start easy or you will get scared off,

+1

Start cheap, even if it is an old Airfix one for now - do it, take your time over it - paint what needs painting when it need painting, you can't do it all when it's finished!

Once you have finished then walk away, go out, grab a drink. When you come back to it have a good look, see where there are mistakes - too much glue? Too much paint or not enough? Fingerprints? Decal not straight? Wobbly undercarriage or snapped stanchion? - Make a list. Next time you make a model pay more attention to whatever areas went wrong*

I'd also recommend doing the same kit again for a better comparison.

*No offence intended, but things will go wrong no matter how careful - It took me a couple of years before I got just one spot-on first time.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

You could start here:
http://www.wilhelmina.com/

oh wait....

Many years ago, when I was working for Utah's only hobby distributor, I told a friend I worked for Douglas Models. He immediately said "Cool! Can you get me a date?"

"Umm..."

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Once you have finished then walk away, go out, grab a drink. When you come back to it have a good look, see where there are mistakes - too much glue? Too much paint or not enough? Fingerprints? Decal not straight? Wobbly undercarriage or snapped stanchion? - Make a list. Next time you make a model pay more attention to whatever areas went wrong*.

Also take your time.

When I worked at Douglas I picked up a favorite old modelbuilders' saying: "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

One of our regular customers was a New Zealander import who built some beautiful stuff. One day he came into the shop with his latest build, a beautiful Monogram 1/48 T-33 trainer. I was admiring it when I noticed something he had missed. "Umm, Willis? Did you know you have the stars upside down?" I've never seen a face so red. He practically ran out of the store. It only took him one night, and he came in the next day with everything perfect, including a complete refinish of the clear coat.

There are different ways to build. For my B-17 prototype that sits in the Hill AFB museum I paid great attention to detail, especially in the markings. On the other hand, while I worked at Douglas I was given several of Revell's and Monograms big bomber kits - 1/48 B-17-F an -G, B-24-D and -J, B-29 and the 1/72 B-52 and B-36 - just to build stuff to hang from the ceiling. I didn't do any fine finishing or much sanding; just put them together and paint them. One of the funny things that happened was the B-17F. On a model that big I took a shortcut, and rather than use the airbrush for the underside I just used a spray can and called it good. We didn't have any WW2 underside gray in stock, so used a can of Light Gull Gray. One day a customer came in, said he had been a B-17 gunner during the war and that was the first model he'd ever seen with the gray exactly he right color.

The lesson is, never trust your memory. When you can, use photographs.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The lesson is, never trust your memory. When you can, buy diecast.

Fixed that for Jim.

[Sailor Steve]

LOL

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Fixed that for Jim.

I was going to post that. If you want to skip the fun part, go the Buna route.

[Red October1984]

Anybody know good a good site to find a relatively cheap sub?

I'm looking for one to put up on my shelf....I want to build one.

I'll go for one of these:

• Typhoon
• Los Angeles
• Any of the US Fleet Boats but preferably a Gato or Balao
• German U-boats
• Virginia
• Akula
• Kilo

Any other links to other boats would be appreciated but I'm just hunting for a good deal. I'd prefer one of the boats I listed...but if there's a nice T-Class or Type 212A or something like that...go ahead and tell me about it and i'll look at it. I'm looking on Amazon and I took a peek at Revell's web store. I'd like some recommendations.

[Cybermat47]

^^^^

Try Revell 1/350 WWII U-boats.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Cybermat47

^^^^

Try Revell 1/350 WWII U-boats.

I saw those...

I didn't know what to think about those. I'd really actually prefer an American Boat at this point. A WW2 one or a newer one. The only exception being the Seawolf. I don't like the Seawolf.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Anybody know good a good site to find a relatively cheap sub?

Well what is cheap here?

Spruebrothers is a good site.

These are in the $20 range
1:350 688(i):
http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/hbs83531.htm

1:350 Akula II mod:
http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/bncn5020.htm

1:350 Kilo Imp
http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/bncn5011.htm

These are in the $10 range

1:700 688:
http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/hbs87014.htm

1:700 Akula:
http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/hbs87005.htm

Kinda of depends on what scale you want to work with. I like 1:700 scale for modern ships (sub and surface). The 1:144 scale is nice for diesel boats like the Revell U-Boat kits. The 1:700 is nice for just starting out stuff, the 1st kits I built when I took up the hobby again were the 1:700 Kilo and Akula.

I would say the 1:700 is a nice desk model size
the 1:350, and 1:144 is more of a shelf item
the 1:72 is something you live in.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Well what is cheap here?

Well...0-30$ I'd say.

I would say the 1:700 is a nice desk model size
the 1:350, and 1:144 is more of a shelf item
the 1:72 is something you live in.

Okay so it looks like somewhere around 1:350 and 1:144 is what I need. 1:700 would be good too. I'll look at those links and see what I think.