FineScale Modelerの January 2021 の目次

Painting. I love it now, but I didn’t always like painting models. When I was a kid, I was much more interested in building models (and then playing with them, but that’s another story). Part of my reticence about painting is I wasn’t good at it. I didn’t start using an airbrush until I was in my 20s, so it was hand-painted finishes for years. And many of these were pretty slapdash, with heavy coats of improperly mixed enamels. Masking was a skill I never mastered with hand-brushed paint. So, for a while painting seemed like a good way to spoil a well-built model. Envious of the finishes other modelers were achieving, I determined to get better, starting with spray cans and then airbrushes. With the latter, I leaped into…

SORRY, BUT IT’S TIME for another math and geometry session. I needed to mask the red stripes. This means the arcs for the roundels need to be replicated. To be able to accurately place them, I made them the actual width of 5/32 inch. I cut a piece of tape to the full width of the marking, 20/32 inch, and marked the centerline. I also made a small mark for the placement of the compass point. Next, I set the compass for the larger radius — the edge next to the blue stripe, so it was 30/32-inch — and cut the tape. Without moving the compass center point, I set the radius 5/32 shorter — the width of the red stripe — and cut the tape again. To be efficient,…

When I started modeling at age 11, a tin of Humbrol paint was quite right for the job, and I was happy. I believe that any modeler with that attitude is sane but, as I grew older, I became insanely invested in color accuracy. While we take color for granted, how we see it involves light, materials, and that unreliable machine that is the human brain. There are also anomalies: 10% of the population—and possibly 10% of modelers — are colorblind. We often use standards, such as RLM, Federal Standard 595b, and British Standard to determine shades, but the problem with relying on a standard is that it tells you how a color must look, not how the color will look in practice. That means it can be useful to…

In 2019, Polish manufacturer IBG Models produced an exceptionally beautiful model — a 1/35 scale Lancia 3Ro (No. 35052). This Italian truck was used for both civilian use and military service during World War II. The basic version of the 4x2 heavy truck transported troops and equipment of the Italian army, but it proved a versatile vehicle and found many other roles, including a weapons platform armed with a howitzer. I built the cargo truck version as a vehicle in North Africa in 1941. To give it a desert-worn look, I painted and weathered it with AK Interactive paints, unless otherwise noted.…

The Republic P-43 Lancer is an aviation “missing link” revealing the design evolution from the stubby Seversky P-35 to the gigantic P-47. While the U.S. Army Air Corps used it primarily for training, more than 100 were used in combat by the Chinese and a handful used for reconnaissance by the Royal Australian Air Force. Dora Wings’ new P-43 is the first 1/48 scale Lancer since Classic Airframes released the first kit in 1995. Unlike that short-run plastic kit that included resin details, this one features 137 crisply molded plastic parts with finely engraved panel lines. The engine cylinder detail is amazing! The ailerons, elevators, and rudder are separate. Cameras and lenses are on the sprues indicat a future release in Australian colors. A photo-etched metal (PE) fret supplies seat…

Model Car World or MCW, known for its extensive line of lacquers matched to factory car colors, has been expanding the paints it offers. First came a line of lacquers matched to military colors. Now, filling a gap left by the demise of the Testors Model Master brand, MCW has launched a line of enamels. I’m a car guy but use many military colors for interior and trim, so I was anxious to try these modern enamels. I received nine colors as well as reducer to slow drying, a jar of clear, and a jar of hardener. MCW’s instructions for these enamels range from adding between 1 part thinner to 2 parts color up to a 50:50 mix of clear with color. As always, your airbrush setup will determine how…

Modelers may recognize Lloyd Scott Jones as the man who designed kits for Revell, wrote aircraft reference books, or as the creator of Scale-Master Decals. This avid scale modeler, my beloved father, passed away peacefully on Sept. 27, 2020, surrounded by family, aircraft models, and many IPMS awards. He was 89 years old. Born in 1931 in Los Angeles, California, he grew up across the street from Lockheed. This is where his love of aircraft began. Here is a look back on the life of a man who lived and breathed airplanes with unparalleled passion. Designing his own models Lloyd was an accomplished photographer. From the early 1950s through 1963 he was the owner of Clint’s Camera, a family-owned hobby shop in Van Nuys, Calif. In his downtime, he would…

ICM’s terrific 1/32 scale Gloster Gladiator Mk.I includes a single pre-war “silver wings” marking option for the Royal Air Force’s No. 72 Squadron. The airframe depicted, K6140, was assigned to the Blue Flight leader and features blue wheel covers, fin, and horizontal stabilizers. The typical RAF wing and fuselage squadron markings are not supplied since the fighter apparently flew for a while without them. I found a picture that showed the markings applied at a later date and thought adding them would perk up an already colorful bird. So I decided to mask and paint the red-and-blue wing and fuselage stripes used by No. 72 Squadron. But fair warning, you will need to use simple math and geometry.…

New and returning hobbyists frequently post on social media wondering what they need to finish a model. Inevitably, answers provide long, diverse lists of supplies that always include an airbrush. For sure, an airbrush can make modeling easier, but it is possible to finish an appealing model using only spray paint and paintbrush techniques. Tamiya’s 1/35 scale M4A3 Sherman makes an easy canvas with simple construction. The open sponsons are the only major concern. I closed them up with long rectangles of styrene sheet. I didn’t need a perfect fit because the work would be largely unseen. With the hull assembled, everything else on the model practically fell into place, and it was time to paint. FINAL THOUGHTS EVERY STEP of his project was a joy. I found skipping the…

DOUGLAS CORP CHARLES TOWN, WEST VIRGINIA Douglas didn’t just finish Moebius’ 1/25 scale Batmobile with sleek metallic charcoal paint, he electrified it, too! First he painted it with a combination of Alclad II metal hues and Mission Models paints. Then, he attached LEDs from Evans Designs into the cockpit, headlights, and marker lights. The streets of Gotham are safe with this fierce vehicle on patrol. MARK LINKIEWICZ CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE Here is HobbyBoss’ 1/48 scale Saab J-32 Lansen (Lance). “I love the old-school lines of this fighter,” says Mark. “Sort of a hybrid of an F-86, F-80, and Me 262. Nice kit, too, with a minimum of foolishness and great surface detail.” He finished it with Model Master dark green and Tamiya light blue. “I dedicated it to my Swedish…

While most modelers use an airbrush for the majority of our painting, good old-fashioned paint brushes are still important Always buy the best brush you can afford. Where have we heard this before? It’s great advice, but will a good brush last? Well, with some care can they can last for a long time. Some of my brushes are over 10 years old, and I’m still using them on my builds. Just like with an airbrush, the secret is to clean your brush after each use. But before showing you how to clean a brush thoroughly let’s look at the structure of a brush. Anatomy of a brush For hobby work, the handle should be large enough around to feel comfortable in your hand and about 8 inches long. The…

The closing moments of the first season of Star Trek Discovery surprised fans with a look at a new version of the famous starship Enterprise. Nicknamed the “Discoprise” or, my favorite, “Pike-rprise” by fans, the new design draws inspiration from the original TV series as well as the prequel, Star Trek Enterprise. Spinning fans in the Bussard collectors and the basic shape of the secondary hull reflect the TOS Enterprise, while the rear of the warp nacelles is reminiscent of the pilot version of the ship. From Enterprise’s NX-1701 we get the blue inner warp engine panels, the metallic finish, and, typical of Trek ships since the first big-screen feature, the ship features the Aztec paint scheme. New to the ship are the “potato-peeler” warp engine pylons and the large…

AK Interactive has launched an extensive new line of 3rd generation acrylic paints, inks, and mediums. The new formula includes 236 different colors, many matched for military colors, although there is no mention of FS or other standards on the eye-dropper bottles. These acrylics are made in accordance with EU regulations banning harmful substances, so they are safe to brush or spray without worry. That also means they are almost scent-free. Waterproof when dry, these acrylics resist oils, enamels, washes, solvents, and other aggressive weathering techniques. The colors are suitable for both hand-painting and airbrushing, and AK says the paints are formulated for high build and no airbrush clogging when mixed properly. For airbrushing, I had to experiment with thinning and pressures to get consistently good results. I didn’t find…

AIRCRAFT 1/32 SCALE 1/48 SCALE 1/72 SCALE ARMOR ⅙ SCALE 5cm PaK 38 from Dragon, No. 75016, $84.99. 1/35 SCALE 1/72 SCALE FIGURES 1/35 SCALE Close combat US tank crew Special Edition, WWII Military Miniature Series from MiniArt, No. 35311, $TBA. 1/48 SCALE Luftwaffe WW2/CS post-war aircraft mechanic from Special Hobby, No. F48367, $13.60. 1/72 SCALE MiG-21 PF/PFM pilot in high altitude pressure suit (2 figures) from Special Hobby, No. F72366, $10.10. AUTOS 1/24 SCALE AIRCRAFT MASK 1/144 SCALE V-156/SB2U Vindicator mask for Special Hobby, Azur, Accurate Miniatures and Academy from Special Hobby, No. M48004, $5.20. AIRCRAFT DECALS 1/32 SCALE 1/144 SCALE AIRCRAFT DETAILS 1/48 SCALE DH.82 Tiger Moth cockpit entry hatches from Special Hobby, No. 8595593128054, $10.10. DH.82 Tiger Moth mainwheels and tailskid with wheel from Special Hobby, No.…

THE UPPER WING marking comprises a narrow red stripe surrounding a single wide blue stripe with curves at either end matching the roundels. First, I measured the diameter of the roundels as 40/32 inches. (I know … that’s 11/4 inches, but it is easier on the brain to keep the measurements with the same number on the bottom as I move forward.) To cut the end arcs with a scalpel blade in compass, I needed the radius — half the diameter — to measure the arcs. Based on pictures, I estimated the width of the stripe as about 20/32 inch, which I cut from a piece of tape. To make life easy, I made each red stripe 5/32 inch wide and the blue stripe 10/32. The stripe is offset from…

Modelers usually try for the most accurate representation of a given subject. We spend copious hours (not to mention dollars) finding just the right details. Most of the time, we use photos from books or online, but every so often, the actual subject ends up in our backyard. Such was the case with F-14A, Bureau Number (BuNo) 161615, which arrived at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, Kan., in October 2003. Being an hour away from the museum filled this Tomcat-obsessed modeler with joy! To top it off, Fightertown Decals released a sheet featuring that Tomcat. With permission from the museum, I was able to photograph every square inch of the airplane — now I had the ultimate reference! This project marked a milestone for me: The 100th 1/48 scale…

I had to do something different with the Academy SB2C-4 (No. 12409) — no tricolored camouflage, Atlantic gray and white, or overall dark sea blue schemes for me. So, when I discovered Wolfpak Decals’ sheet (No. 72-106) that included an Army Air Force A-25 Shrike target tug, the time was right to pull the kit off the shelf and begin assembly. Shrikes had non-folding wings and solid rather than perforated flaps, so many Academy parts stayed in the box. Also, the leading-edge slats were eliminated on the land-based bomber, so I glued the separate slats in place and filled the seams. In addition, I needed to open two windows unique to the Shrike directly behind the pilot’s cockpit. That area housed a rollover bar on the right side with a…

Two-tone paint finishes can be off-putting for some modelers, particularly if they have different sheens. However, they don’t need to be stressful, and a great way to get your feet wet is to start with something simple, like the classic scheme for the still-striking Plymouth AAR Cuda. Even after 50 years, an AAR Cuda turns heads, and Revell’s kit (No. 85-4416) of the storied Mopar machine does a good job representing it in 1/25 scale. If you’re looking for a model car to cut your painting teeth on, it’s perfect for the job with a simple two-tone body, plenty of details under the hood, and an interior that will look great when everything is closed up. What’s more, the model provides plenty of opportunity to use a variety of painting…

Oregon-based Splash Paints is a relative newcomer to the model paint business. If you are familiar with using MCW automotive lacquers, Gravity Colors, and Zero Paints, you should be able to get similar results with Splash Paints. The company offers airbrush-ready colors generally in 1-ounce jars. The website is easy to navigate and has links to instructions for use. I found the colors cover extremely well in smooth, thin layers. While you can order extra reducer from Splash, I’ve had perfect results adding a few drops of Mr. Color Thinner to help the paint flow smoothly through my Grex Tritium TG airbrush. In addition to numerous OEM factory colors, Splash offers a variety of primers, reducers, custom colors, and both traditional and 2K clears. I avoid 2K clears for health…

Lancia automobiles have been involved in motorsports since the beginning but probably most notably in the World Rally Championship. Starting with the Fulvia and on through the legendary Stratos, the 037, and, ultimately, the Delta S4, Lancia race cars have won numerous events and championships. As a follow-up to Beemax’s release in Martini markings (No. B24020), this NuNu’s 1/24 scale Lancia Delta S4 represents the 2nd-place Totip car from the 1986 San Remo rally. In addition to the new, beautifully printed decal sheet, the kit includes a set of night-stage rally lights, but it is otherwise identical to the previous release. The kit features a full front suspension, opening bonnet, and a complete engine, rear suspension, and removable rear deck lid. Molding is crisp with minimal flash and seam lines,…