Recommend a Good "Model Kit Building 101" Book or

redapplesonly · Post by **redapplesonly** » Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:06 pm

Hi everyone,

I've been model kit building for about twenty years, but kinda feel like my work has plateaued for a while now. It occurred to me that my skills have all been entirely self-taught by trial-and-error and you can only go so far with that. Plus, I read a lot of the posts in this forum and realize there's a lot of basic skills you wizards have that I don't. For example, I don't know how to fill a seam, or airbrush engine exhaust, or paint microdetails the size of pinpoints, or blend colors. And every time I go to glue a kit together, it ALWAYS comes out asymmetrical. I've built, like, twenty different editions of NCC-1701, and the saucer is always at an angle or one warp nacelle is higher than the other. How do you accomplish perfect gluing jobs?

You get the idea. I'm tired of working in the amateur circuit. Its time to up my game.

So I've been trolling the Internet looking for a good, comprehensive "Model Kit Building 101" course or book or website that takes you through all of these skills one-by-one. A lot of the resources I see are extremely rudimentary or super-advanced. There's got to be a resource that covers the middle of that gap but leans more toward the beginner's side of the spectrum.

Any recommendations?

(Also: You guys rock - I love this forum!)

Many thanks,
-Redapplesonly

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:06 pm

Welcome aboard!

I first read this back in 1990 or 1991:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Testors-Model-B ... SwHnFVylrN

Granted, it's going to recommend Testor's products, but it lays out the basic processes like construction, filling, basecoating, glosscoating, decaling and flatcoating.

Some of the finishing stuff needs a little finesse, such as using Future for the glosscoat instead of Glosscote lacquer (it yellows over time). But, you'll get the basic idea.

I hope this helps.

Kenny

gsb5w · Post by **gsb5w** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:41 pm

I never purchased any beginners books. I don't even know if they exist. However, I improved my skills rather quickly by joining my local model club. Guys in the club have been building for many years and are quite willing to share "secrets" to anyone willing to listen. Also going to model contests is another good way to pick up some knowledge.
Do some internet searches in your area for both.

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:27 pm

For me, the Sheperd Paine diorama sheets in Monogram models were a great kick in the pants to do better. There are some scattered around the web at:

http://www.sheperdpaine.com/monogram/index.htm

http://www.revell-monogram.com/communit ... index.html

And:
http://sheperdpaine.atspace.com/
Another old book that was a huge help to kid me was "How to go plastic modeling" by Chris Ellis. It is real stone knives and bear skins stuff. For example, need a new canopy? Carve a wood master, grease it up and paint on clear nail polish. Then pop off your canopy. A lot of pretty basic stuff on filling and finishing, and some neat conversions to get you motivated. Heck, I'll send you my copy if you want it.

Go Flight · Post by **Go Flight** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:04 pm

There's no reason to buy books anymore. You Tube has tons of videos both for free and to subscribe where you can get all the lessons you want.

Take a look at
International Scale Modeller,
Interstellar Modeler,
Genessis Models - this guy wants you to subscribe but give lots of free bee tidbits

Hamilkar Barkas,
Modeleurs Workshop,
PLASMO - plastic models
Sal MY
ScaleModelAircraft

Should get you started. Forget the reviews and hang out and watch the How Tos. HTH

Wug · Post by **Wug** » Sun Dec 20, 2015 6:12 pm

Mike Ashey wrote some good general modeling books for Kalmbach. The content ranges from the basics to advanced detailing. Now he gives them away for free on his website.

http://mikeashey.com/BOOK-INDEX-PAGE%20.htm

Bob Wick and Mark S. Gustavson give away their remarkable car modeling book. Even if you don't build cars you can learn a lot from it.

http://www.xmission.com/~msgsl/GSL/docs ... hicles.pdf

I find Youtube a mixed blessing at best. For every good modeling video there are hundreds that are complete wastes of time.

For videos I recommend Paul Budzik.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrdcVb ... _KQ/videos

Do you live near a modeling club or a model contest with a Make & Take? Receiving one-to-one instruction is the best way to learn.

I've never built an Enterprise, but I think some Trek modelers build alignment jigs to keep their models straight during construction.

Paul Newitt's StarFleet Assembly Manuals received glowing reviews. I've never seen them in person.

http://www.arapress.com/starfleet-assembly-manuals/
http://starshipmodeler.com/trek/jl_sfam.htm
http://www.culttvmanshop.com/StarFleet- ... p_261.html

You might try asking specific questions on the Star Trek section of this forum and request URLs for the best videos.

Mike