Mike777

Hey guys, having built a few airliner model kits in years past without really knowing what I was doing, I think I'd like to pick it up again and maybe really get into kit building. But this time I want to do things the right way. When I built kits in the past, it was straight out of the box, exactly as the instruction said and without any other steps that you master model makers take; I knew nothing about filling gaps, sanding, priming, scratch-building antennas or anything else, airbrushing, decal setting solution, etc., etc. Well, I still know nothing about these things, haha, but I know I need to find out in order to eventually achieve professional results from a kit.

So what I'm looking for is a "how to" website of some sort, something that offers a crash-course in airliner modeling. I've already spent some time searching the net and have found some useful info, but I haven't really found what I'm looking for. Lots of military stuff out there, but I am looking for info about specifically airliner modeling. I need a site that covers EVERYTHING in detail from start to finish.

I plan to do my homework and gather as much useful info as possible before I ever even buy a kit. Like I said, I've already done some research, but I haven't really found a site that offers useful, in-depth info for a relative beginner to airliner modeling. So I'm hoping some of you gurus could help me out and offer up some useful links. Thanks!

V1UHOH

Practice practice practice!

Here are a few extremely helpful links. Alot of talent and experience to be found on both.

airlinermodelling : Airliner Modelling Digest AMD airlinermodelling model airliner

AirlinerCafe.com--the airliner modelling site. - Airliner modeling, airliner models, airliner kits, airliner decals.

Bill-ay

First id like to congrat you for getting back into aircraft modelling, its an extreamly fun hobby=} Try Airlinercafe.com, if theres any thing about aircraft modeling, its there. If you have any other questions feel free to ask us!
Billy

__________________
I all widebodied airbuses, except the bulbus A380


View my collection(if you really care, its only HE OG models).
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-4996.html


LONG LIVE THE DC-10/A300/A310/MD-80!!!




http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos....e=1&display=15

Mike777

V1UHOH,

Thanks for the links, I am already familiar with them and they are very helpful, you're right.

I guess I am looking for something more specific, a webpage or article dedicated to step-by-step guidlines of assembling a kit.

Mike777

Thanks Billy! Yeah, I'm excited to get back into it and just want to learn as much as I can right now so that hopefully I kinda know what I'm doing when I start building, though I know there is no substitute for good old trial and error, and practice, as V1UHOH said.

Since I don't really have the time to start building for a month or so anyway, I want to do what I can until then and gain some knowledge.

Bill-ay

If you have any local hobby shops around you, go to one and theyll help you and give you a bunch of tips, thats how I pretty much know everything(and the help of Zubart ). You could also go to amazon.com or a bookstore and find a good modeling book.

__________________
I all widebodied airbuses, except the bulbus A380


View my collection(if you really care, its only HE OG models).
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-4996.html


LONG LIVE THE DC-10/A300/A310/MD-80!!!




http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos....e=1&display=15

V1UHOH

Many ways to skin a cat, but here's my typical airliner build-
1. Dry fit parts!
2.For smaller scales like 1/200, I'll usually begin by backfilling cabin windows using Milliput as well as installing nose weight if needed. For larger scales, I'll leave the windows open and use Crystal Kleer to fill them in once decals are applied.
3. Assemble fuselage halves using plastic weld. My favorite is Ambroid Pro Weld. Holding the two halves about a millimeter apart I will apply the weld to the seam. Since it is a liquid, capillary action will carry it a few inches down the seam.
The two halves are then pressed together, creating a ridge of melted plastic along the seam.
4. Once the entire fuselage is complete and dry, simply sand the ridge away and the seam is gone. If a seam is still showing anywhere I will use some Mr. Surfacer or putty to fill the rest.
This also has the advantage of greatly increasing the strength of the model over tube glues, effectively creating one solid piece.
Be careful around panel lines. Aggressive sanding can sand them away, particularly if they are raised instead of recessed. Not too critical on smaler scales since they would be invisible from that distance anyway.
5. Next, the windows are sanded flush with the fuselage, then the entire fuselage is sanded smooth using increasingly higher grit wet/dry sanding sticks followed by a polishing stick. A wet sand is essential to carry the plastic away from the sanding stick and keep heat away. You can actually melt softer plastic usuing an aggresive dry sand.
6. A primer coat is then applied to prepare surface for painting, as well as spot any remaining surface imperfections.
7. Fuselage is then painted depending on scheme to be applied. I generally have more luck spraying the bare metal on the entire fuselage, allow it to cure then apply the colors, much like they do on the real thing.
8. I then do pretty much the same thing with the sub assemblies like wings, engines, etc using Cyanocrylate. Those come with differing dry times. For complicated assemblies it's not a bad idea to leave yourself a few minutes to properly position parts.
9. Decals.
10. Assemble the major parts
11. Final landing gear assembly.
12. Clear coat. My favorite is Future floor wax.
Just one of a thousand different ways, I'm sure everyone here has their own tricks and tips. The most important thing to remember is that if it looks good to you, then that's what matters!
My "must have" list for the workbench-
Milliput
Airbrush
Ambroid Pro Weld
Plenty of fresh X-acto blades
Miter box with saw
Plenty of wet/dry sanding sticks (Squadron is my favorite)
Scriber for panel lines
Various types of CA
Crystal Kleer
Elmer's glue (dries clear, good for etched details such as pitot tubes, antennae etc.)
Micro Sol and Micro Set for decals
Toothpicks
Various detail brushes for smaller details, decal solvents
Various colored model railroad weathering powders
Evergreen Styrene sheets of varying thicknesses
Hemostats and clamps for handling small parts
And much more!

B-16707

exhaustive list you got there v1uhoh! btw, is micro sol really needed?



i have to also post my favorite site for modeling
FichtenFoo » Michael Fichtenmayer
this guy is great and he has many tutorials online. not airliners but the techniques can be applied to any modeling job.

__________________
The Completed Customs The Airport

V1UHOH

Really depends on how willing a particular decal is to cooperate. Some don't need it at all, some need to be drenched to settle in around complex curves. If the decal is thin enough, using a blow dryer to apply heat can also help.

Be careful with decals containing mettalic flake such as the Jet Decal Thai Royal barge, or Continental gold tail sheets. The acetone in Micro Set will react with the metal flake and turn it green! Micro Sol on the other hand will not harm the decal.

Another "trial and error" lesson learned!

B-16707

mmm so if i were to buy a bottle of one or the other sol or set, which one should i get? how is this applied? directly on the model? or first on the decal on the paper? or decal on model?

__________________
The Completed Customs The Airport

Bill-ay

Id go with MicroSol, all the directions are on the bottle.

__________________
I all widebodied airbuses, except the bulbus A380


View my collection(if you really care, its only HE OG models).
http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-4996.html


LONG LIVE THE DC-10/A300/A310/MD-80!!!




http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos....e=1&display=15

Mike777

Thanks V1UHOH and kaitanium! Very useful stuff. That site you posted is pretty detailed kaitanium, if only it were specifically airliners... If anyone else has anything to offer, sites or whatever, keep em coming, I'm building a nice set of links here.

B-16707

yea, check out his airbrushing flash animated demo. everything you need to get started!

__________________
The Completed Customs The Airport