r/modelmakers 9h ago

Help -Technique Advice on repairing broken Danbury Mint Barad-Dur?

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1 Upvotes

Was immensely lucky to score this ultra rare model in a charity shop for £20, beyond thrilled with it, but I just want to fix it. To my knowledge there are six breaks, the only one which significantly concerns me is the lack of an eye at the top. I've never attempted any form of model restoration before, so I was hoping you might have some advice on how to fix it. I'm not looking to protect its resale value, just to make it look even nicer than it already does. Photos 8 and 9 are of a random mint copy i found on ebay. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


r/modelmakers 15h ago

Help - General Help me with Olive drab

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m creating a Normandy diorama. I’m including an M21 mortar half-track, a Jeep, an M4 and an M5, a beach bunker, Normandy-style houses, and infantry. I’m starting by building the half-track, and I need to buy paint for it and the other vehicles. I previously used Tamiya Olive Drab on an "Easy Eight" tank, but I found the result too dark. Does anyone know of a paint I could get—perhaps even pre-thinned, if possible?


r/modelmakers 14h ago

Help - General decals still not setting properly after layers of tamiya mark fit strong

0 Upvotes

so when building the tamiya 1/48 p47d "bubbletop" i cant get the decals to set properly, its a bit wrinkly (on the small scale), it doesent look painted on and i cant do anything because common markings sit on top on hte underside and i cant see the panel lines properly, i have tried to squeeze air out with a qtip and i dont even know if thats the issue


r/modelmakers 14h ago

Help - General Evan Designs?

0 Upvotes

Does anyone know what may be going on with Evan Designs? They are no longer taking phone calls, and when I used both email and the website contact form about custom orders I did not receive any response.

They have always done right by me, and I hope they haven't gone under.


r/modelmakers 11h ago

Help - Tools/Materials Are snap fit miniature kits actually catching up to traditional glued builds?

0 Upvotes

The trend toward modular noglue snap-together room kits is everywhere now lol but I still wonder about structural rigiditty long term. With traditional plastic cement or wood glue you can get seamless joints and permanent bonding, while friction tabs always risk loosening or visible seam gaps after a few season temperature changes.

Are modern precision-cut snap kits tight enough to hold their own? or does traditional adhesive still beat them hands down for clean display quality?


r/modelmakers 11h ago

Help - General Any way to save cracked windshield?

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7 Upvotes

Pretty upset a crack is revealed in the windshield of my Tamiia 1/48 Phantom….
Any ways to save or improve this?

EDIT: thank you all for the suggestions!
It looks like I will be buying that 1/48 goose to create a story around it LOL


r/modelmakers 5h ago

Critique Wanted hobby2000 yak 1 paint test

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7 Upvotes

r/modelmakers 6h ago

Completed Finally finished

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15 Upvotes

I just finished my second ever model and im really proud of it, even tho the are some mistakes! unfortunately i didnt succeded in getting a cloth texture but i still like it! I hope you like it as well!


r/modelmakers 23h ago

Critique Wanted Ukraine T-72av full interior

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108 Upvotes

Amusing hobby, really nice 1/35 full interior, made their t-80u and t-90a


r/modelmakers 6h ago

Help -Technique Tack Clothed My Model Before Clear Lacquer Now Have Lots Of Fluff Under Lacquer

0 Upvotes

Hi

All was going well until my final coat of clear lacquer, I was painting in quite a dim room and now that I shone a bright light on my work I can see quite a few bits of fluff under my lacquer, is there anything I can do about this ?

Thanks


r/modelmakers 23h ago

WIP More Academy M18 Hellcat interior work

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11 Upvotes

Shells didn’t turn out great but I’m not great at painting smaller details


r/modelmakers 4h ago

Help - Tools/Materials Truckers caps.

0 Upvotes

Where can 1:25 scale truckers caps be sourced?

Not having a lot of success. I'd like to include it on the dash of a ute / pickup model concept I'm working on.


r/modelmakers 57m ago

Present haul! What to build next

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Upvotes

Trying to decide what to build next can be as stressful as the build itself.

What would you guys build? Leaning towards the Mustang or Terminator cuz i want to do a metal finish and the HK has a full light kit...but the A-10 is calling me. Also the Vigilante would be awesome please help


r/modelmakers 3h ago

WIP F-14 progress

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29 Upvotes

Never attempted this level of pre shading before. I was a bit nervous doing it on an £80 kit.


r/modelmakers 2h ago

Present haul! This weekend's haul. It's entirely coincidental I happen to post this on a September 1st. (repost due to original post's images not displaying)

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10 Upvotes

A couple of months ago I happened to pick up a pair of First To Fight kits at a model convention, and I was rather taken by the brand's relative simplicity, range of subjects, and surprisingly low price for the amount of detail (compared to some brands).

So when I found out that a local model store had the brand in stock (it's relatively rare to find over here), I decided on a little "raid".

Depending on the age of the kit (the range started in 2013), earlier kits tend to be a bit to the simplified side, while some of the most recent kits have rather mind-blowing detail for the size and price. For instance their 2014 Wz. 34 armored car is fairly simple in concept, having no interior detail; their 2024 Panzer 38(t) by contrast has a number of photo-etched parts, while their 2021 Hotchkiss H35 even includes a turret interior.

With September 1st marking the anniversary (87th this year) of the German invasion of Poland and the start of the Second World War, I guess these will be some interesting models for me to build - and a welcome change from the umpteenth Tiger or Sherman build.


r/modelmakers 6h ago

Help - General First time airbrushing & painting

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14 Upvotes

Very excited to start building my first 1/24 scale model. It’s a Honda Civic Ferio (Hasegawa kit). Goal is to build an exact replica of my own car (2nd photo).Any tips/tricks or advice regarding airbrushing and painting? What kind of preparation I should do? I’ve never done it before and really don’t want to rush and mess it up. I want to take my time and do it properly. I’m thinking to airbrush the body + rims and then paint the rest with a brush. Thanks guys :)


r/modelmakers 4h ago

Completed Tamiya Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams Build Complete!

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76 Upvotes

Finally getting around to posting my recently completed Ukrainian Abrams. Painted in NATO tri-color camo with Tamiya paints. The ERA blocks are a resin kit. The drone armor is cut up soda can for the frame and plastic mesh that is left over in the kit from the turret storage basket.


r/modelmakers 10h ago

WIP Das Werk 1/16 Sd.Kfz 234/3 Puma

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45 Upvotes

This is now on the bench and in a state of construction. What can I say, the worst set of plans I have ever come across. There are two levels of build within them, Expert and Simple, in a nutshell experts is all moving parts and simple is glue and fix. The suspension and steering is quite complicated for expert. The instructions don't give any indication which parts require gluing or not. I spent hours doing the suspension as working and moving to find once the drive shafts and leaf springs are fitted its rigid. The whole steering is working and moving. Internally it is sparce of detail. Simple has non moving suspension and steering. I have added some mesh to the rear vents, you would see straight into the engine bay if not. Still WIP and plenty to do.


r/modelmakers 15h ago

WIP Takom T-28/T-95 Super Heavy Tank

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254 Upvotes

T-28/95: proof that one tank can have an unreasonable number of wheels…


r/modelmakers 23h ago

Completed First Painted Model: 1:700 Chokai

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64 Upvotes

I’ve built gunpla and unpainted ships and planes here and there for several years, but was always too scared to try painting. Finally bit the bullet and I think it came out quite nice.

Still waiting on the green paint to come in for the seaplane and some ez line for rigging, but she’s otherwise done!


r/modelmakers 21h ago

Critique Wanted Tamiya 1:48 M4 Early Production

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85 Upvotes

C Company, 756th Tank Battalion, Monte Cassino, Italy, Feb. 1944

My latest work, finished yesterday. I’ve grown a bit tired of plain OD painting. Two additional armor plates on the front hull (B17&B16) weren't actually necessary...please overlook that.

My ideal is to be more beautiful than reality, yet more realistic than a museum exhibit, and I feel I’ve moved just a little closer to that goal. Thank you.


r/modelmakers 9h ago

WIP Another interior never to be seen again

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94 Upvotes

r/modelmakers 10h ago

WIP 1/35 Spitfire mk.Vb. took me almost a month for this

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113 Upvotes

Hi everyone !

Been workin on this spitfire from Border for 4 weeks and finnally done with the fuselage, I heard a lot of things about this brand, that most of them kinda agree its not quite beginner friendly kit, and well, Im trying to up my game since Ive done a couple plane before this (tamiya mostly), and HOLY MACARONI there are lots of small parts in this kit. But all paid off by how gorgeous it is, the Merlin engine looks stunning, and Im not trying to be a rivet counter here, but they look awesome (some are positive rivets !)

Few note on this work, Its always a good thing to do a fit check multiple times, especially on the cockpit section, and compared to armor models, the aircraft is far more delicate and cant risk breaking those small parts

Also, since I can only get AK real color marker for RAF cockpit, I dont think painting with a marker on the interior is a good idea, or maybe its just skill issue on my part, its just very difficult to reach the small corner and edges on them

Anyway, sorry its way too long for a WIP post already, cant write them all here

Please, any tips and feedback are welcome !

Have a nice day everyone !


r/modelmakers 7h ago

Critique Wanted My first model

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174 Upvotes

Any tips on making the rust more realistic? Also how do I make the front lights look better

I kinda went overboard with the rust, my brush was too wet when stippling. The mud on the front of the tank too.

Originally I was going for a more urban warfare look but ended up in the eastern front. The scratches were me trying to remove the mud but decided it looked good as is.


r/modelmakers 3h ago

Completed Type 5 Ho Ri I, by Amusing Hobby, 1/35

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80 Upvotes

Nice model, but awful tracks. Supposed to assemble click by click, but they fell apart with any movement, so I glued them together.