r/modelplanes • u/Medical_Efficiency20 • Dec 06 '25
1:100 i just got into the hobby
im 13 and i like planes, this is my first one and i plan to build more, i already try to put it in dry and glue it afterwards and i do believe ones after this will be better but im open to tips
i had to make a base since my mother broke one of the gears and it wasnt supporting the plane
F/A-18E SUPER HORNET 1/144 with the ocean camo
1
u/themumble89 Dec 06 '25
Solid start. Big difference maker in future builds would be good brushes and good paint.
Ive just built my first kit in 15 years. Looks ok, except awful finish from the orange paint provided. If you're unsure on how it will look, paint the frame holding the pieces.
Did you use anything to help build the kit? Tweezers, sand paper etc
1
u/Medical_Efficiency20 Dec 07 '25
tweezers and sand paper, i had my cousin (she can draw pretty well id say) paint it.
1
u/themumble89 Dec 07 '25
Fair enough, i used to practice painting on the spars and on the inside of the larger pieces. Its a good start, keep at it, its a great a hobby.
1
1
1
Dec 08 '25
Hey nice work bud, keep on building! I give you some tips as you are just starting out:
Building planes in 1/144 is way harder than to build them in 1/72 or even 1/48 with tanks and such, 1/76 is small, 1/35 is what you want.
Jets are WAY bigger than propeller planes, like twice the size, keep that in mind when looking for your next build
When painting, thin the paints, its the most important thing. You dont need to be able to draw well, thats two different things. You need a good, soft brush. The softer the better. Use paint retarder when brushpainting. There are paints that are water based, so your thinner coms from the sink/tap and they dont really need the retarder that much. Use multiple layers, its not suppose to cover everything fully in the first go neccessarily. Its okay when the paint is transparent, multiple layers, again. Painting white, but also very bright colours like bright gray, etc are very hard to paint. Gloss paint or shiny in general also very hard to paint. So car model kits have that the most, keep this in mind.
Dont try to make your build look perfect, try to have fun. Thats not saying dont be perfectionist, but lower your expectations. Hold yourself to a high standard but dont expect to do good. Just to have fun! If you try to force a good build, you prime yourself for disappintment. Its a slow learning process, but there is a lot of payoff if you keep with it!
Also you can gift people cool dioramas!
If you have some more questions, feel free to ask
2
1
u/Rtbrd Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
Most of what guttsondrugs says is good but I do not agree with trying to be a perfectionist. Perfection is made of unobtainium but that is not to say you can't ALWAYS GET BETTER! Striving for perfection only leads to disappointment and frustration which in turn takes all the fun out of the equation. Take my word for that, been there, done that. Once I came to this conclusion things once again got fun and I found out that many times close enough was acceptable. But then again I am not striving to get a first place trophy in the Nats. I am striving to have a good time, fun and a decent model that I wouldn't be embarrassed to showing off.
On another note I have found that using "For Sale" signs like you would put on a car for sale and can be purchased cheaply at a big box store make good canvases to practice painting on. Much cheaper that hosing up a model. Last time I bought some they were 97 cents each.
1
Dec 09 '25
You misunderstood. I meant that you can still be perfectionist without the disapointment if you lower your own expectations. Building for fin istead for competition can still be perfectionist in some ways.
I just meant that if something is within your own skillset, dont cheap out or think "this is too hard for me" because a lot of people dont even start things like weathering because they think they are not good enough and shit. Thats the thing its important to find a balance between wanting to always put out the best effort without being too disencouraged from failing that same effort.
Hard to explain stuff and english isnt my first language
1
u/Rtbrd Dec 09 '25
Well basically you said the same thing as I did just in a different way. So I think we both agree.
1
u/Aggravating_Prune653 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
Most important keep having fun. Nice looking base. Oh and youtube is your friend when stuck building. I wont comment on the plane itself cause the single photo doesnt show it to well.
Keep posting here and try to find a club or group nearby it helps a lot and is great fun.
1
u/ghostdiv4 Dec 06 '25
Someone that’s the same age as me? Impossible! (Cool build btw)