23.11.13

SPRUE CUTTERS UNION #18 - Inspiration

Decisions, decisions...


Inspiration, this is a bit of a tough one to pinpoint. I have to admit the way my next subject meets the bench is varied. Sometimes I'll see a movie or TV show which leads me to a strong desire to build the ship in that sci-fi classic or WWII combat vehicle. Other times, I want to do a build to commemorate a special anniversary, like Lamborghini's 50th or Alfa's 100th, both which made me want to complete my Miura an Giulietta Sprint GTA by the end of the year (and both which are previous on-the-shelf builds). Aston Martin celebrated their centenary and I have a beautiful Tamiya DBS sitting in my stash. Other instances, I'm flipping through the pages of a model magazine and I see a build that catches my attention. Then as the year draws closer to an end, I'm inspired to get as many in-progress builds completed before the new year, hoping the number of completed builds is greater than the previous year. And of course there are new releases, which have the power to make me forget everything. As soon as the box arrives, I have glue and x-acto in-hand and I just can't help myself, further motivated at a chance to be the first to post it on an online build
forum.

Like I said, it's a tough call to pin down what inspires my next build, doesn't matter too much as long as I get to put glue to plastic. _pL

_____________________________________________________
Read what some other modelers have to say about this topic!
The Combat Workshop 
Yet Another Plastic Modeller
Miniature and Model Painting
Scale Model Workbench
Mattblackgod's World
Motorsport Modeller
_____________________________________________________

To know more about The Sprue Cutters Union click here

The Combat Workshop Sprue Cutters Union




17.11.13

SPRUE CUTTERS UNION #17 - Go Big or Go Home

ms.Enterprise D




To answer the question of Would I devote an entire years of precious model time and funds for one large project? The answer is YES! For years now there has been one subject that I've always wanted to go to town with. It's one of those 'retirement' projects, like fixing up that old car that's been sitting in the garage for years. In my mind the situate is the same, I would probably buy the kit and let it sit until time avails itself. Spending that in-between time to plan every step of the build, all the extra detail I would be adding, testing colors and lighting effects so that it would end up just right. No rushing, no need to get it done over a weekend (like that ever happens). More of a sip your coffee, have a doughnut and do some work on the project.

The subject in question is the Enterprise. That's right, a sci-fi starship. Not the Kirk movie version, which I admit to having three already,  but Capt.Picard's ship from ST:The Next Generation. She's a grand lady, her curves are timeless and I could spend all day looking at her. To what level of detail would I go to? For me, the ship looked best in season 4, when the studio began to use the smaller but more detailed 4 foot model of the ship. One of the standout features was that the aztec paneling was not only painted but was raised, lending a chunky feel to the ship. This is a detail that I would definitely want to incorporate in the build. She would be fully lit up of course, with blinking formation lights, warp engines and such. I would also include the main shuttle bay and make a custom display stand. And by this I don't mean a metal rod in a plank of wood but something fitting for such a project. A company by the name of Sovereign Replicas made a 1:650 scale of it in clear resin but recently became Titan models and I'm not sure if they still produce the kit. I know that Custom Replicas uses a modified version of this kit for customer builds.

Since I don't have the funds to source the kit at the moment nor the space (at 1:650 she's 40-inches long) that's as far as it's gotten. Regardless, it's nice to daydream about it. _pL

_____________________________________________________
Read what some other modelers have to say about this topic!
The Combat Workshop 
Yet Another Plastic Modeller
Motorsport Modeller

Kermit's Bench
Lt. Smashs' Models
Digital Sprue - New to the Union
Miniature and Model Painting
Migrant's Wanderings
Scale Model Workbench
The Eternal Wargamer
Doogs' Models
Mattblackgod's World
Fill 'n Sand

_____________________________________________________

To know more about The Sprue Cutters Union click here
The Combat Workshop Sprue Cutters Union






3.11.13

SPRUE CUTTERS UNION #15 - What do you think makes an outstanding model?

Learned a lot on this build.

I've been at this hobby for quiet some time now and I'm happy with the level I'm at and that I enjoy building just about anything. And there are times when I see other builder's work and I just get blown away!

For me building scale models or like everything else I do, whether it's a piece in the wood shop or a graphic design layout on the computer, it's all about practicing my craft - and constantly pushing it, improving it. I know we all get stuck on mega builds: determining accuracy, adding every minute detail via photo-etch and scratch-building. But the more I visit forums and experience the build through the modeller's words and photos, the more I enjoy and appreciate this hobby. And sometimes I learn something new along the way or can offer some advice.

An outstanding model for me is the experience the builder has, trying something new or different during the build: maybe it's working with photo-etch for the first time, or building in a different scale, working with pigments or attempting their first diorama. Anyone can build a kit in a day but taking the time to learn new methods, adding to their skill-set and thus improving their craft - that takes dedication and a touch of bravery. As time goes on, the builder can carry out what they've learned on the next build, refine it and accomplish it more efficiently, making way for something new. Sometimes it does not work out and we get discouraged, but we eventually find ourselves back at the workbench. It took me forever to get a metallic finish on a car body right, a lot of experimentation, stripping and re-coating but eventually I got it right. And following other builds, reading about their experiences, is a great source of inspiration and keeps me going.  

So for me, the learning and experimenting aspect of the build is what I think makes for an outstanding model. The journey along the way rather than the destination, is what I appreciate the most about this hobby and those builders who put glue to plastic! _pL

_____________________________________________________
Read what some other modelers have to say about this topic!

The Combat Workshop 
Yet Another Plastic Modeller
The Eternal Wargamer
Motorsport Modeller
Mattblackgod's World
Miniature and Model Painting
Scale Model Soup
Scale Model Workbench

_____________________________________________________

 

3.9.13

Launch of theSCALEworkshop website!

mr.theSCALEworkshop website is live!

Oh, it has been awhile. At least I can say that past few months have been productive! The Subaru BRZ is close to completion, sadly the big E has been boxed until I have room for her but in her place I have been fortunate enough to be building Tamiya's new 1/32 Corsair kit and what a gem of a kit it is (you can check out my progress here>> forum.largescaleplanes.com).

Most importantly I have officially done a soft launch of a personal modelling website called thescaleworkshop.com. On show are the following: a (modest) gallery showcasing finished models, a much larger in-progress section, a reviews section and a contact page for anyone who wants to get in touch, whether to say hi or commission a build. It is a work in progress but please go ahead and take a look by clicking here!

_pL

3.3.13

A decade in the making

mr.Quality Finish a decade in the making




Is there one thing in this hobby that you are so apprehensive of attempting that it makes you put the project on the shelf for an unknown (meaning very long) amount of time while the momentum of the build evaporates? Or keeps you up at nite until you finally muster up the courage to face this obstacle, knowing that if you can pass this hurdle that the build's momentum will be restored and push you to the finish line? Anyone? I know I am not alone.

For me this hurdle comes in the form of TS-50, also known as Tamiya's Mica Blue. It is one of my favorite colors and represents everything that is Subaru racing, from the late Colin McRae to Richard Burns and their WRC rally cars. The last time I attempted this finish was on Tamiya's 2001 season Subaru WRC based on the rally in Monaco. This was over a decade ago and it did not go as smoothly as hoped. It took forever for the kit to arrive in Canada, almost a year after it's UK release. Which in the meantime the paint that I had bought from the Subaru dealership had dried up. But once I had this kit in hand, it quickly got primed and the Mica blue was decanted and airbrushed on... it was not the perfect finish but it could be worked on. Then everything had to be boxed up and put into storage while I spent a year abroad. In that time the heat/cold in the attic had caused the bag it was carefully wrapped in to leave marks on the body. I've opened that box many times over the years but never really attempted to use that beautiful blue... until now.

The victim this time was Tamiya's fantastic new kit of the Subaru BRZ and I could only build it using one color! Once again, I carefully cleaned up the body, primed and wet sanded and repeated this process until I had in my hands a perfect body shell 'in white'. I knew that if I was going to attempt another car shell, I was going to apply the paint while using a spray booth. So that was ordered and it arrived but alas there was no time to put it to use. A few months later some free time became available so I set everything up and went for it! Once again... it was not a perfect finish but the Mica blue was on (as you see in the photo above). I let the body sit and harden for a few weeks while in the meantime I rebuilt my 'plastic mojo' and made another attempt today...

...and I can happily say that I've finally achieved a quality finish on a Scoobi in the only color it ever needs to be in. It was well worth the wait! _pL

5.2.13

Progress on Polar Lights 1/350 Classic Enterprise

mr.Shuttlecraft


The Classic Enterprise is at the point where most of the sub assemblies are either waiting to be primed or ready for their color coat. It still takes some getting used to seeing this lady in such a grand scale. I've also been on the hunt for magnets and found an assortment of very strong rare-earth magnets at Lee Valley. Or so I thought. When I came home from my hunt I realized that the smallest magnet would not fit within mr.Shuttlecraft. So, the hunt continued and I came across one that seemed as though it was designed for the little shuttle... PERFECT! The goal is to use them to anchor the shuttle in place but be able to remove it for viewing whenever desired. With this resolved I can complete the shuttle bay and close up the secondary hull. _pL

22.1.13

Let the games begin!

ms.Classic Enterprise

So 2012 is now behind us and how did the 12 for 12 go? A quick recap on that: my initial plan at the beginning of 2012 was to complete a model a month. This goal did seem feasible as I was moving to a new city and planned on taking a month or two off, which meant I had a chance of getting a good head start. Well, so I thought.

All in all I did complete four models. Probably four more than I would have had I not set my goal. Some of them had been sitting on the shelf for over three years! So NO, I'm not too gutted about not reaching my quota. Towards the end of the year things did get busy, especially since I was making xMas presents for family and close friends. Definitely happy to be busy making something and super thrilled to have completed my first project out a woodshop in over seven years!

2013 is now upon us. So, what's the plan? Well, my goal this year is to tackle some larger projects. A few of them have been collecting dust, including a couple of large scale Polar Lights Refit Enterprises, a 1:72 scale U-Boat by Revell, a MIG-29M and a 1:12 Shelby Mustang GT500.

 But I've begun the year with a biggy and one of the most anticipated kits of 2012 (for sci-fi geeks that is): Polar Lights large 1:350 Classic Enterprise from the original TV show! I'm happy to say she is well on her way and I will post an update soon enough. _pL