i have 2 airfix type models and i want to build them and do a good job ect and i want to know tips and suck to get a good looking model at the end of it
one is about half done and is well basically crap
its sat on a shelf undone for long enough and i want them built
as you can see by the folowing pics of the f16
there is gaps bad glueing and the glue turned yellow from age
the tornado hasnt been started yet because i want to get it donr properly and not turn out bad
Iain,nothing that cannot be tidied up on that model,firstly go easy with the adhesive,use just enough for the job as polystyrene cement literally attacks the plastic surfaces,instead of using tube adhesive get yourself a bottle of liquid poly,all you need to do with this liquid is join the parts dry,then run some of the liquid down the joint,capillery reaction takes the adhesive right into the joint,hold fast with masking tape while things dry and then gently scrape the joint with a craft knife,finish off by rubbing the joint with wet & dry paper,this will get you an invisible joint when painted up.
Dont worry about your first efforts,it takes a lot of modelling to get excellent results,remember go easy on that glue !
A tip as well about sticking the canopy onto the model,never use any polystyrene cement for this,use ordinary PVA white glue applied around the edges with a toothpick,this type of glue does not attack plastic but holds the canopy in place adequately.When you visit your model shop next get a tube of model filler,the best is made by Squadron,apply some to those insightly joins,rub the filler down when dry and give the model a coat of enamel or acrylic paint.That model believe me can be easily made presentable again,just with a bit of care,best of luck ! we all had to start somewhere,that jet pipe looks impressive.
thats a old bottle thats all blocked up and dried in the nozzle
*** That is Revell Contacta,useful but not the liquid variety that I am referring to,it is very thin like water,you apply it with a brush,you can easily clean that blocked nozzle by carefully prodding with a strand of wire from an old cycle inner cable,or apply a bit of heat to the end of the tube from the tip of a candle flame,but be careful and do it somewhere outside for safety.
The name is 'Liquid Poly' sold by Humbrol,normally it has a small brush attached to the lid of the bottle,use with adequate ventilation.