Archive for the ‘Plastic Model Kit How To's’ Category

How to Repair Clear Parts on Plastic Model Kits

Friday, January 29th, 2010

By Mace R. Abrams Editors Note: I first saw Mace's work through photographs but quickly realized that I seen it before - in big screen movies. Mace is a professional model builder/supervisor/rigger at Stageco and has honed his techniques in the high pressure field of motion picture development. ...

How To Build Vacuform Model Kits

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Many customers have written emails asking how to build vacuform kits. My skills in this area are lacking - which is a nice way of saying that I have ruined most of the vac kits that I have started. But I noticed several customers - like David Miller ...

How to build Resin Model Airplane Kits-Resin 101

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Article and Photographs by Ken Friend Editors Note: It is my pleasure to bring you another article on modeling by Ken. Since Ken would never brag on himself, I must point out that his work has been featured in in FSM (Fine Scale Modeler) and he has won numerous ...

More on Using or Restoring Old Decals

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Introduction How are decals made? How can old decals fail? Common problems and solutions Making new decals Introduction With fewer molds being run by fewer manufactures, many modelers are turning to the older kits to find desirable subject matter. The plastic usually ages well, but the decals can become troublesome. Most decals were not ...

Foiling Plastic and Resin Model Kits for Realism by Ken Friend

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

Background There have been several really good modeling articles written about using aluminum foil and hobby foil to generate the natural metal finish (NMF) of unpainted aircraft. The photographs of the finished product(s) show exquisite detail and realism that can’t be matched by any other method. While these articles focus ...

Save Those Old or Yellowing Plastic Model Decals

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

by Ken Friend Nothing is more discouraging than watching decals yellow with time after they have been applied to one of your favorite models. Well, maybe there is something more discouraging; spending your valuable allowance on an older model kit only to find the decals are almost useless from discoloration. ...