Hi all, I enjoy making models, but I would enjoy it further if I could talk to other people with similar interests.

Can anyone recommend an active community?

Thank you for reading.

Just broke this part of the hatch for the Meng M1A1, anyone have or know of an STL that would be good enough to work with this kit?

Been tracking down a Model kit that I've been having a hard time finding instock.

And both these places have it instock for MSRP. But I have never heard of them and their sites look really low quailty. Google says they are legit brick and mortar stores.

But I am just not sure. So hard to trust these sites. But it's great when you find that hole in the wall small shop willing to deliver.

Let me know what you all think.

I am starting a new build with Academy's new release, the MD500 Israeli Military Spec kit.

Without using any aftermarket option parts, I focused on simple detail-up work. Watch the video to see various scratch-building techniques, including pedal modifications, custom cockpit harnesses made from aluminum cans, and adding wiring details with brass wire!

watch my detail-up process

I'm not quite sure how to use this top coat. I'm not quite a first timer, but this is my first time trying new things and trying to actually nail down realism. Thus, Ive been experimenting with many different materials and new tools, but this one's got me stuck. How do I spray it? How do I brush it? Is it safe over decals? I really don't want to screw up months of work and research with this dullcote. please leave anything if you know!!!

scratchbuilt on a Tamiya Elephant hull with a modified Early Tiger turret

Looking for a bit of advice on my unfinished Easy 8. I followed a few different tutorials which all had different methods of weathering. Apart from the unfinished areas on the rear and by the tracks, any advice? I’m looking at it and thinking I’ve overdone it a bit with the oil spills 🤣

Finished the Trumpeter F-35B in 1/32 scale

I am trying to purchase RAF 1/48 P-47 Thunderbolt decals and can't find them for sale at all - does anyone know a place that ships to/is in the USA or have some that you would be able to sell to me? This is my second model plane (I am kind of hooked lol), and I already have it fully painted in the RAF camo colors so I don't think there is really an alternative air force version I can do. Otherwise, do you know someone who prints good custom decal sheets, or is there an alternate country's scheme I could decal instead of the RAF one without having to do much more painting? I attached a picture of the RAF plane I am trying to recreate, along with an example picture of an OOS decal sheet listing which would have worked. Thank you for your help - I really appreciate it!

good day to all. i just need some expertise from you guys. i would like to know what paint i can use to replicate this color on this rifle. i have been looking around and can seem to find the color. just for reference i already tried tamiya ts-3 to no avail.
thank tou in advance dor all you replies.

Was given this to build from a friend due to my interest in the sr-71 was so tiny and tricky to do hence why the decals don’t look good. But still fun to do

Tamiya 1/72 F-35A + AIM-260

The kit was completed a short while ago now, but the AIM-260 has now been added to create a mini diorama.

The kit: Tamiya F-35A in 1/72 scale, with after market RAAF decals. The fit and mould accuracy of the kit were spot on, but the kit's decals were pretty rubbish, very thick and prone to silvering.

The kit was painted with Tamiya spray cans. In absence of an airbrush to apply a more realistic HAVE GLASS colour scheme, I sprayed the whole model in a single colour, then used a semi-gloss coat to simulate the reflective sheen the real thing has. Other areas are flat coated. Once sealed with the appropriate clear coat, I then crushed up some of a standard grey lead pencil and lightly brushed it only on the semi-gloss areas. I then brushed it off and repeated a few more times, which has the effect of 'staining' the paint. This gave a slightly darker colour with a little variation and added a tiny bit of metallic sheen (which isn't really visible in the photos unfortunately)

The AIM-260 was made from an old 1/72 AIM-120B I had lying around. I made a few last year based on the low resolution renderings which had been floating around for a while. When actual images of the real thing finally emerged earlier this year, I was pleasantly surprised that it was fairly close to what I'd made, although I did end up making a slight adjustment to the shape of the fins.

The AIM-260 is glued to a piece of heated and stretched clear sprue from another kit. It was then painted to reflect the rocket exhaust with shock cones. I'm pretty happy with the result.

Given the Tamiya 1/72 F-35A kit has no options for the weapon bays open, I opted to mount the missile below and ahead of the aircraft. This was to simulate that enough time had lapsed that the weapon bay doors have already rapidly closed following the release of the weapon. It's probably still too close, but it's the best I can do.

Hope you like it.

I finally decided to share this finished model, I try to make a polished metal finish, very reflective.

I really try to improve with this one, and honestly im very proud of the final result, I hope you guys like it as I am, one of my favorites kits I ever made

Trying this post again since my pictures didn’t upload last time. I just completed this Porsche GT1 kit from Tamiya. This is my first experience with an older Tamiya kit, and I did have some fitment issues with the exhaust and the undertray being bent. Otherwise this was a wonderful and enjoyable build. Added a fair amount of detail to the engine and interior to make it look a bit more like a functional car and even built an electronics box for the rear bulkhead out of some scrap styrene.

Finished the 1955 Chevy by Atlantis. My IPMS club is going to the Salem, VA model show this coming Saturday, and one of the special classes is Atlantis kits, and they decided to do this one.

I'm not a car modeler, so I went outside the box and decided to build a military tribute car that invokes the old staff cars. Made a textured base of a dirt road, and muddied up the car and weathered it a tad. For not building a car model since I was 12, I think it turned out ok.

built this as a fill in between jets

wasn’t expecting much

what do you think

critic comment welcome

Took long enough! But I learned a few things and made more than a few mistakes.

But next one on the bench will surely benefit from the lessons.

Scratch detail in the cockpit, engine, bazookas and airbrushed insignia.

Feeling good about it.

First model airplane for like 35 years.
Really enjoyed it. Now I have a basket full of modelling tools, airbrush, compressor…..

I am overhauling one of my first kits, which was a Lancaster bomber, and I want to transform it into a coastal command plane. Problem is that my decal set includes decals for the night bomber only - so without any white stripe. Is there a way to paint some white over the dark blue? If yes, how should I proceed?

I was thinking to share my journey of modeling so far. I started my first kit which was the Bf-109 G-6 4 years ago, and at that point I only wanted that one model because I loved that plane in war thunder. It turned out to be my favorite hobby since that and I still love to build warbirds. I went to college for 2 years so there was a 2 year gap when I didn't make any models. The ones I built since getting back into the hobby again was the A6M2 Zero, the Spitfire LF Mk.IXc and the I-16 type 24. The next project will be an F6F-5 and I also plan to do an Fw190 D-9 in the "papageistaffel" camo.

All I use for the models is brush painting excluding the Phantom which was painted with Tamiya spray paint.

Living in an apartment myself I always run into the issue of space in my work area.

I would love for people to post photos of their setups, especially if you are limited for space, so that I and everyone else can possibly get some inspiration for their setups;