Little tips you have learnt the hard way!

[hermanchauw]

If u want a race car model, buy a racing version of that model. Now i am having a hard time modifying my testarossa. Almost all the parts under the skin has to be scratchbuilt. All those hard work on painting and detailing the engine was wasted.

[Fooesboy]

Great thread!

Here's a good one!

Don't leave the door open to your model room, expeceally if you have a white cat that LOVES to sleep in your spray booth.
Cat + Paint = Bath .........

And another one.........

Don't, no matter what! NEVER, REALY NEVER, I'M NOT KIDDING, tell your wife how much you spend on modeling!

[bigfrit]

Though i 'd add one;
don't smoke while making models:

when your parts are drying, don't hold your cigarette in your hand while checking your model out, leaves ugly marks and melted plastic....

ok, I knoiw, it's a really stupid tip, but I needed a smoke, to get rid of all the frustration gluing the windshied with superglue

:bandit:

[racer917]

Well Fooesboy, I may be dumb enought to wash small parts under running water only to see them go down the drain, or ruining a decal job by spraying way too much clear coat and blistering the decals and about 100 other dumb mistakes, but to tell the wife what I spend on my hobby.
I'm not looking for a divorce.
And Bigfrit, at least you only ended up with smoke marks and a little melted plastic. At least you didn't turn your airbrush or spray can into a blow torch.

[tc3house]

The window masks that come with tamiya models are good for masking spray paint but when you brush on the paint you dont get the same result

[tonioseven]

Originally posted by Fooesboy
Great thread!



Don't, no matter what! NEVER, REALY NEVER, I'M NOT KIDDING, tell your wife how much you spend on modeling!

Mine doesn't even bother to ask anymore

[primera man]

Originally posted by tonioseven
Mine doesn't even bother to ask anymore

...between my modelling and spending money on my 1:1 car the wife just skakes her head and just walks away also

[hermanchauw]

Don't build a civilian car in 1:35. There's NO aftermarket parts for it. And u would have trouble finding people who have parts that are useable.
My Hummer has to have scratchbuilt seats, dashboard and steering wheel as the military parts are not suitable for a civilian car.

[Street Sweeper]

Don't leave paint jars in the micro for more then 10seconds at a time...Last week i was trying to get a lid open so i decided to use Pman's tip, well i put it in the micro and left it for 2 minutes(on hi-power at that).......Needless to say it is not cool to have metallic blue paint boiling all over the inside of your microwave

[primera man]

Originally posted by Street Sweeper
Don't leave paint jars in the micro for more then 10seconds at a time...Last week i was trying to get a lid open so i decided to use Pman's tip, well i put it in the micro and left it for 2 minutes(on hi-power at that).......Needless to say it is not cool to have metallic blue paint boiling all over the inside of your microwave

[Geez]

Do not handle window pieces within 15 mins of gluing anything together. At the very least, wash your hands thoroughly before handling them. Doo-too-doo. Glue this body piece on. Argh, that was a pain in the ass. Ok, on to the window. Doo-too-doo. Test fit, put window down. WTF!!! Foggy window syndrome! Check thumbs, swear liberally.

[bah humbug]

DON'T USE TURPENTINE!!! TO STRIP PAINT!!!

It will just tear up you plast ic so fast your head will spin. :flash:

[Verminator]

Once you've applied the topwash of mirosol leave the room if not the country, don't tinker or be prepared to accept the consiquences as I had to recently when I put the brush through the hood decal on my Dodge Ram pickup. The upside was that after I had removed the damaged decal I tried using matt aluminium bare metal foil and it actually looks quite good, so I redid the whole truck in the same.

[supratuner]

I went to walmart one time looking for some thing to make mesh grills out of, after looking aroud for awhile i found some Mosquito mesh stuff for keeping Mosquitos out of your porch or patio, this stuff works great for making grills!
All you have to do is paint it , and also, one roll for $3.50 usa is enough for prolly around 10,000 model cars?

[Robotic420]

Hello I have some tips that I have not learned the hard way but are tips I have read somewhere but forgot where. To attach small things like mirrors to windsheilds or side mirrors I use two part epoxy glue. A small amount of it holds really good. It is also good pe parts. This one I had read somewhere for a good leather look on seats or a dash. First paint the part in a flat color you want then take your finger and rub the side of your nose or forehead then onto the part it goes. Of course do that when the part is dry. I know it sounds weird but it looks good. For small emblems on cars use some bare metal foil paint over it then scratch the paint of it. I used that method on my 409 belair looks good. Takes patients tho.