Tamiya 1/48 Sherman

[Fubar]

Hi all, well this is a new forum thats sprung up since my last visit (i been away for a while due to RL stuff) so thought i'd just share my latest model.

It's my first model since i was a kid but i'm pretty pleased with how its turned out, i even tried my hand at airbrushing.....



Next on my hit list is a Cromwell, and i've decided to give photo etch a try so wish me luck!

TTFN

[Compass Rose]

Super, Super nice Fubar!



Thanks for sharing!

[Antoni Chmielowski]

Great model Matt !

Its real nice to see you back here !.

[Fubar]

Thanks guys, its nice to be back and the new sites looking dead spiffy.....great work website master dude!

[Weasel]

Very nice, air brush makes all the difference eh. When I was building models in the mid 70s we only used brush, air was too expensive.

[Fubar]

Very nice, air brush makes all the difference eh. When I was building models in the mid 70s we only used brush, air was too expensive.

Yeah if you can afford one and have the space then an airbrush is a must if your serious about modelling.....but you get what you pay for so dont go cheap or its money wasted!

As for photo etch...well i can see its a real art form in itself....



Took me a week to do just this bit.

TTFN

[Compass Rose]

What do you mean by photo etch? Did you have to apply "add-ons" to the model or is all of that "extra detail" custom made?

[Fubar]

What do you mean by photo etch? Did you have to apply "add-ons" to the model or is all of that "extra detail" custom made?

Photo-etch is ultra high detail kits, made of brass i think, and they come in flat form which you then have to assemble using special forming tools.

http://www.thesmallshop.com/

They are usually kits from a small select number of manufacturers, the amount of detail can be quite awesome, but they can also be kit bashes too if you have the skill and the materials.

http://www.eduard.com/

Everything i've learnt these last few months has been on this modelling website, these guys are ultra helpful and i fully recommend anyone into modelling giving them a visit......its my favourite site by far.

http://www.scalemodeladdict.com/

Theres several threads on there of my current WIP's. :whis:

Happy modelling.

TTFN

[Walrus]

Lovely Sherman there bro!

Just to add to the PE discussion.

Photo Etch (metal etched parts for super detailing) is rarely a whole kit...more likely add ons for a kit. Sometimes you'll get a fret of brass with a kit, or you'll buy from a separate manufacturer. It can just be a few cockpit upgrades, some seat belts...or a huge revision to the kit itself.
The trick with it is that you can create much finer detail, which is then much more 'in scale' on the finished model. It's helpful to have some specialist tools for accurate folding of the sometimes very tiny parts.

There is a whole world of manufacturers, both big and small, making After Market (AM) parts in PE, also in Resin. Also you'll find pre-cut masks for canopy or camo styles (great if you are doing WW2 German aircraft!)...the list is endless and if you are not careful you can easily spend as much as you did on the model by adding extras.

The comment about airbrushes (Fubar) I agree with. Don't waste your money on cheap ones.
H&S are my preferred brand...German precision engineering, very modular between types, very easy to deconstruct and clean, full range of parts available.
I get mine from Paul at Little Cars.
http://www.little-cars.co.uk/

H&S
http://www.germanairbrush.com/

I am a member of a great UK based site, Flory Models, more angled to aircraft modelling, but everyone does a bit of everything. It's a paid site (35 UK pds a year I think) but I find it's great, pretty damn cheap really, and the fee keeps most of the idiots away :-)
The main guy is super helpful and there are untold hours of HD video tutorials and squillions of pics and 'how tos' and members builds and a massive forum with answers to all your modelling questions, WIP threads etc.
There is often a SIG / GB (group builds, special interest builds) on the go...just finished a wee MiG 15 for Russian Jets Through the Ages and am into a F14 Tomcat for a F14 group build at the moment.
Anyway, it's here..parts of the site are free...
http://www.florymodels.co.uk/

It's a great hobby for me. Not too expensive, I can do it when I have the free time, it's a creative outlet and oftne quite a challenge. I learn heaps about the subjets I am modelling and doing this hobby now in the Internet era is just amazing...the amount of product, info, help, pics, video, reference material, forums, sites etc is just staggering and just a internet connection away.

Bloody Hurrah!

[Fubar]

I just bought some resin AM parts for my Cromwell build and i have to say i'm impressed with the detail you get with it, althought i've had some probs with it such as small parts broken and lots of the rubber from the casting process left behind in the hessian tape camo on the turret....took me ages to get it all out using fine tweezers and an x-acto!!!



My airbrush is an Iwata gravity feed and so far im very pleased with it, the 'smart' compressor is nice and quiet but seems plenty powerful so far.....its even compatible with my old Badger AB too which is nice.

I've even started to mess with electronics and lighting models with fibre optic cables, i know this isnt a military model but once i'm finished with this little Sci-fi kit i'd like to light a modern fighter jet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnL7Ct8OSro

I've heard of Flory Models, think i've even seen some Youtube vids by them. Youtube has been a goldmine of info and it's now my first stop for help and tips.

One thing with the photo-etch i really must buy is some quality magnifiers as some of that stuff is sooooo small its almost impossible to see it when working on it!

TTFN