Okay...After looking at the pictures everyone posts on here, and then looking at my models, I have come to the conclusion that mine suck. So, tommorow I'm going to run up to the Hobby Store and buy a brand new model to "learn" how to weather/drybrush/extreme detail. I'm looking for a 1/48 WW2 Aircraft, but I want it to be highly detailed. I don't want to go spend $30+ and have the details be bad ya know. So if anyone can reccomend a kit to me that fits the description up above, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in Advance
Mitch

Hey Mitch! Tamiya kits are always good in details... I´ll reccomend you the P51 D or the new P47 or the FW 190 D-9
Also Pro-Modeller has a great P-38 ,you can check out in my gallery.
An advise: try to practice on a junkie model and check out the site for tips on this tecniques
Good Luck!

The secret to having a well done model is to be happy with your own work and not really try to compare it to others. My work is in no way equal to many others on this site, but I try to improve and try something new with each one. I can easily tell which was my first and in what order that I did them. If you do compare, then expect to be not happy with your own work. It's the same as cooking in that you and someone else can cook the same dish the same way and the other person's always tastes better. It's a good idea to try things on a cheap model, but don't expect perfection, you'll never get it. At least I know I'll never hit the abilities of many of the people here.

Try buying Academy 1/48 kits. They're a lot cheaper than Tamiya kits for the expense of details. These are good practice pieces.

If you really want to get the basics down and concentrate on the overall improvement and appearance of your kits, I would suggest the following:

1. Don't waste money on expensive kits. Goto the hobby shop or local craft store (Walmart, Kmart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc.) and try to pick up some of the older revell or testors kits. These kits don't have the detail of today's modern kits but they are usually of the correct shape and are inexpensive. Why go blow $30-$40 on one kit and ruin it while experimenting with painting techniques when you could buy four or five of the revell kits for the same amount of money and have plenty more to practice with.

2. Don't try and fix everything at once. Start out by fixing/improving your skills in a logical sequence such as: assembly (fixing gaps, seams, injector marks, etc.), painting and finally weathering. If you are very comfortable with assembly you may be able to jump right into experimentation with painting but the model you start painting on should be ready for painting. That means if you don't take the time to do the assembly correct, the paint job will have flaws. In short, get back to the basics and make sure you satisfy those first before moving onto more difficult things. Lastly, in my opinion, you should concentrate on detailing. Detailing takes a lot of patience and time to research and construct parts and material for the detailing process-especially if you're trying to detail/correct one of the older revell/testors kits that do have inaccuracies and usually suffer in the detail department. If you get the basics down pat then forking out the extra few bucks for a nicer Tamiya or Hawegawa kit will help in the detail department as those kits generally come with very good detail.

3. Read some of the great articles we have in the aircraft features section. Some of the articles/tips will help in improving on the basics.

4. I too am envious of some of the work I see here. Just remember that none of them were able to achieve those results overnight. It generally takes years of practice, and some failures along the way, to achieve the models they presently finish to such great detail and appearance. It just takes time to build up your experience to that level.

5. Finally, ask questions. We have a great bunch of aircraft modelers here on Armorama that are always eager to answer questions and share knowledge. Take advantage of them.

As the old saying goes, "Practice makes perfect." I've been building for neigh on to 35 years, and I still have a lot to learn to produce the quality of work that some of the guys do every time. Just like in school, you have to study, and do your homework. Don't give up the ship!

All correct. Don't bother buying something you can't detail that much. I remember I once saw a modeling competion wherein the less expensive kit won over the other one! It is not the kit that makes a modeler perfect but via the work and experience he has done so far. Just like in real life, all Generals go through the boots of a Private.

Thanks for the help everyone, I greatly appreciate it. I know you all said not to go buy an expensive Tamiya or Hasegawa kit, but I feel like I've got the basics down, I can put any model together and make it look okay, its just the details and painting that are missing. I've got a super Junky Monogram F4F here that I'm going to pratice weathering on, but the main problem is the cockpit consists of a seatback mounted on the bottom part of the wings.

Question though, I've heard many people say different things on how to weather. Some say they just use a paintbrush, others say they use a toothpick to chip away paint, and others say they use masking tape to tear peices of paint off for a realistic effect. Which one of these works the best? I'm going to do some more reading on it today so hopefully I can combine the reading with what I get from here and make the best choice on how to go about this.

Happy Modeling
Mitch

Couple things, as way of advice. Build fromn your heart...asking an open question like what should I build, sets you up for failure. The models I had the most trouble withand enjoyed the least working on were a couple aircraft that were "commisioned" by a museum from the club. The same way, going out and buying a P-38, no matter how good a kit, at someone else's recommendation when yuo hate P-38's is going to make you hate the hobby.
Second, when you ask questions, be as specific as possible. Think of a marksman trying to put his bullet at exactly 1 o'clock on the bull's eye rim rather than a shot gun trying to remove the whole target. For example, asking how to make seat belts is better than asking how to improve the look of the seat is better than how do I improve the look of the cockpit which is better than how do I super detail an airplane model. :-)

While what Tin_Can and others say re: using cheap kits for new finishing/building techniques and good kits only once they've been mastered makes sense, I know it doesn't work for me. When I buy a cheap kit, I tend to just throw it together, splash paint on, and rush through the thing. Which makes any kit, good or bad, come out poorly. The only way I can make myself exercise the patience to "do it right" is to make enough of an investment that I'd be annoyed to "drop the ball." Anyobody else have the same condition?

The only thing I can add to what has been said is to only get kits that YOU want to build. For me, if it is not something I want to build then I will never spend the time or effort to do a decent job. Another point is to not start the weathering until you have a clear picture in you mind of what you want the kit to look like. The picture (in your mind) will help guide your decisions on what techniques/materials you need to use.
capnjock

Like the others said, it takes practice and patience. I remember building my first aircraft about 12 years ago, the decals silvered, the seams showed under the paint and the landing gear was'nt as straight as it should have been. Over the years of building I learned along the way by keeping at it and doing some reading from modelling books and advice from others. I'm still learning to this day. If you find yourself getting frustrated while building, walk away from it and relax for a while, there's nothing worse than getting more and more frustrated while building, it gets harder to build and it will show in your work. The most important thing to remember is to have FUN and enjoy yourself, take your time, practice and read books on the subject or keep visiting this great site for advice and tips, I've seen some great models here and soon we might see some of yours. Wingman out.

I'm not necessarily frustrated with modeling in general, im frusterated mostly with my recent kit, a Tamiya 1/48th Ki-84...it's so horrible its disgusting. And I don't think its my fault either, maybe I overlooked some of the stuff and now that its 80% finished I can see all the flaws. The biggest and worst thing is that the propeller shaft is off center, by alot too, I didn't notice this until I had already glued the engine into the fuselage. So basicly I'll never finish or display this because its horrible. I've heard that this kit is from the 80's so I guess I'll just chalk it up to it's age. Well, I'm leaving for the Hobby shop, I'll post what I end up buying when I get back.

Mitch

I dont think that it is bad that you can see flaws. Im just about done with a JU-87 Stuka, the first model I have built in 8-9 years. I think it is the best I have built so far, yet I still can find flaws within it. But to me, this is good. If I looked at it and thought "perfect" I would be lying to myself. The fact that one can see mistakes in their work is good, many people cant do that. This also makes me want to build more..."next time I'm gonna...." or "next time I'll look our for this problem area". Everybodies models "suck" at first...dont compare a model you just built to somebodies whom has spent decades in the hobby, and the one most important thing to remember is......
HAVE FUN!!!!! #:-)

Sean

Solution 1: cut off the propellor shaft and glue the prop direcly to the fuselage. Most of us don't care if props turn anyway and if it's glued directly to the fuse. you eliminate the sometimes excessive gap that can happen when a shaft is in place.

Solution 2: If you havea piolt in place, cut off the sfat and make a circle of clear acetate with the same diameter as the prop. Replace the blades with the acetate to make it look like the bird is idling and ready to take flight.

:-) Mitch,
I don't believe for one minute that you models "suck" I just think your frustrated that your latest model didn't turn out as you would have wished. So it might be a good idea to get one that will go together well. Some of the kits out there have pretty good cockpits OOB, they just require a seat harness and painting. It is true that the finishing of a model can make or brake it. I believe that you have to find a method that works for you, it has taken me many years to find a method that works for me. It dosn't follow, though, that my methods will work for anyone else. That has been true for me and other methods that I have read about. Unless someone can actually show you what to do and how to do it you will almost always miss a trick. That is the beauty of this site, you can ask the question, but like Al says, be specific.
Looking forward to seeing your next model, I bet it will be great :-)
Mal

Thanks guys, and I'll try those solutions for the prop problem. Anyway, everyone was saying that I should get a cheaper kit to practice with, well I ended up getting the best of both worlds. My local Riders Hobby had clearenced a bunch of 1/48th Hasegawa AU-5 Corsairs, which is the French Navy version (probably why they didn't sell) but anyway, I got a $25-$30 (?) kit for 10 bucks, so now I've got something cheap and still what looks like a high quality kit.

Mitch

Hi Mitch

It sounds like you ended up with the best solution - a tasty kit at a great price!

I understand what you're saying... I too look at some of the other models here and say "Oh Wow!!" (not the words I use, but this is a family site! ) .

The main thing is... don't get frustrated... look at the models you admire as a source of inspiration. Concentrate on the particular things you like and try to pin down how they were done. If you really can't figure something out, don't be shy to ask.; send a PM to the builder - that's what I do, and I think you'll find that everyone is only too happy to offer whatever help they can.

Just remember... no-one lives in a vacuum; every modeller has has learned most of what they do from looking at other models... and the day we stop learning it's time to pack up!

Looking forward to an awesome Corsair!!

All the best

Rowan

:-) Well done on "stealing" the Corsair, go for it :-) Don't be afraid to ask if you need help, like Rowan said anyone will help here. Best of luck with your bent wing bird, I too am looking forward to seeing it complete
Mal