Facebook Twitter RSS
MODELERSITE.COM > Editorials

The best of 2022

By Modeler Site | 11.21.2022 11:42

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the articles we were proud to have during 2022. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2019

By Modeler Site | 12.09.2019 11:11

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the articles we were proud to have during 2019. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2018

By Modeler Site | 12.11.2018 12:03

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the articles we were proud to have during 2018. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2017

By Modeler Site | 12.25.2017 11:39

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the articles we were proud to have during 2017. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2016

By Modeler Site | 12.11.2016 11:35

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the articles we were proud to have during 2016. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2015

By Modeler Site | 12.02.2015 12:27

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the best articles we were proud to have during 2015. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2014

By Modeler Site | 12.01.2014 10:52

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the best articles we were proud to have during 2014. Enjoy them and happy new year.


The best of 2013

By Modeler Site | 12.23.2013 11:12

Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the best articles we were proud to have during 2013. Enjoy them and happy new year.


Thirteen years online

By Mario Covalski | 04.01.2013 11:40

In April 2013 Modeler Site celebrate their 13th anniversary. Perhaps, this is not a special event for everybody, however, for those who, have been working very hard on this project for thirteen years to offer month after month high quality articles devoted to the construction of scale models… means an important accomplishment.


A new face…

By Modeler Site | 03.05.2013 11:06

After more than six years displaying the same layout on our English and Spanish menus, we’ve tried a major change by offering you a new design which we consider more proper for the visitor requirements who nowadays browses around the Internet. This new layout has been developed in a more comprehensive way, showing you more information, and trying to please more of you more of the time, so all your comments and suggestions will be welcome.


The modelling spirit

By Mario Covalski | 12.01.2010 11:27

In a world where prices seem so constantly to be rising it is source of considerable satisfaction to think just how much pleasure can be still obtained ridiculously cheaply by the modelmaker. A large proportion of all models that are made can be said to be the by-product of waste, being made almost entirely from unconsidered oddments that would otherwise have been thrown away.


How our hobby affects us

By Mario Covalski | 10.01.2009 11:25

When I was a child, probably motivated by some TV series; I often dreamed about a time tunnel where you could go back or forward in time. If this tunnel had existed and a person born in 1800, settled in one of our cities, living together in our environment, eating our food…and spending some time with our hobbies, he would have probably got seriously ill.


How much has Internet influenced modeling?

By Mario Covalski | 07.01.2009 11:22

In 1978 I discovered the 1/12 Tamiya Ferrari 312T, when I saw the box I stuck to the shop window wondering if it was a kit or a puzzle. Imagine my excitement when I viewed the box content, with sprues full of parts and details that seemed to be coming from a sci-fi novel, and though such an expense was not within my budget at that moment, I decided my purchase without hesitation. The following weeks, during my honeymoon with the kit, I built it using the best techniques I could: Testor spray cans and Humbrol with brush.


Are you a gifted person?

By Mario Covalski | 12.01.2008 11:04

I firmly believe that plastic modeling is an intellectual activity that requires certain artistic gifts, let’s say that at the time you are building a model, you’re an artist, and your work is precisely that…a work of art.


Go on buying... though… 

By Mario Covalski | 11.01.2008 11:01

During the last months, I started pondering, as I always use to, about how long life lasts, what we expect to do along it, how many projects do we intend to face that in general we don’t have much time to spend on. I would like to call your attention on a fact I believe use to happen to all modelers, our collection of boxes.


Have you thought about the reasons…?

By Mario Covalski | 10.01.2008 10:58

Have you thought about the reasons why you build scale models?. I’ve been asking this to myself since some time, and this month I wish to share with you my thinking.


Speaking about paints: Is the brand important?

By Mario Covalski | 09.01.2008 10:50

A conversation with a friend and close contributor, made me think about a subject rarely tackled in the notes published in our magazine, the brands of paints (or their manufacturers).


Just for fun!

By Mario Covalski | 08.01.2008 10:48

During the last weeks, I built some 1/12 motorcycles just for fun and to write some articles. It has been quite long now that I have been receiving e-mails asking when we would be publishing more articles on motorcycles. Unfortunately we do not receive enough articles from the people who build them; so, I decided to go to the mountain… given that the mountain would not come to me.


The best model of my life..

By Mario Covalski | 06.01.2008 10:45

It's quite possible that those who have been building models for years, know very well what I'm going to talk about. For newcomers, perhaps, it will be something curious and many of them will find out that they have been thinking about this, lately.


So little but so much….

By Mario Covalski | 04.01.2008 10:38

When I think about all I’ve been going through during the last years with regard to modeling, it brings back to my memory 1986, when at a magazines store, I saw for the first time, a popular modeling magazine which had started to be issued in those days.


Are we destined to become just collectors?

By Mario Covalski | 03.01.2008 10:35

Talking with some friends, modelers of course, we were discussing/chatting about the difficulties magazines and all web sites devoted to this activity, have today to get good articles. This is something that affects us obviously, so we started to reflect on this matter, the conclusion we reached was that nowadays, modelers don’t spend much of their time on building scale models.


The best models

By Mario Covalski | 02.01.2008 10:32

This editorial is specially devoted to newcomers to this activity; of course if you are an experienced modeler, perhaps you may agree or not with it, but it's quite clear that I'm not writing this thinking on advanced modelers. It's more than obvious and I will not list the possibilities modern technology offers nowadays to modelers, and if you've arrived to static modeling about 5 years ago, you'll find as usual the etched sets, resin detail parts, dozens of decal sheets for different versions of the same kit, etc.


To see or not to see...

By Mario Covalski | 01.01.2008 10:29

Until 1997, I had never worn eyeglasses, my vision was almost perfect and being a teenager, I was very proud of it. After my four-0 birthday, I had to face a common problem people over 40 suffer. It's called "presbyopia". The crystalline lens is less able to focus on close objects.


A hobby or a vocation?

By Mario Covalski | 12.01.2007 10:27

Looking through my old editorials, trying to decide which topic to deal with this month, the idea suddenly came to me. In fact, it was there since time ago, but as usual, human beings can’t see the wood though being inside.


What level of historical truthfulness do you want for your models?

By Mario Covalski | 11.01.2007 10:23

In the editorial of September 2007, I wrote about model detailing, focusing on how many details should be added to our models and my point of view on the topic. This time, I would like to call the attention of the patient readers of my editorials on another relevant issue within our hobby: the model's historical truthfulness or accuracy.


Just for beginners

By Mario Covalski | 10.01.2007 11:52

Every month, Modeler Site has an editorial note as part of its contents. Editorials are the way for us the publishers of MS to express our ideas and opinions about certain modeling subjects. At this point, I must say that literature and writing is not one of my strong points, but I've been reading magazines, books, and almost all kinds of publications dealing with my likes, since I was very young. I'm saying this because, for what I know, editorials, signed or "anonymous", are not compromised with any idea, except when there is a political intention.


How much detailing do you want for your models? Part II

By Mario Covalski | 09.01.2007 15:25

This month I would like to come back to a key subject in today's modeling, at least this is my feeling and it's what happens to me. How much detailing do we add to our models …. And what do we wish to achieve?


Decalogue of the good modeler

By Mario Covalski | 08.01.2007 15:17

Ever since the man gathered into social groups, a huge number of rules were established to indicate how to do things the right way. According to those rules, an individual is good, honest, healthy, happy…or not.


How much detailing do you want for your models?

By Mario Covalski | 07.01.2007 15:15

In the past editorial, I spoke about modelling as a creative process, explaining then, my way of thinking. Now I want to come back with a new reflection, about what superdetailing represents for me, and about the pressure it means to modelers.
I want to emphasize that I understand that it's not the same superdetail an aircraft model, car, armor...etc, and of course, scale is also an important fact, so I'll concentrate on cars subjects, that is what I best know about.


Modeling, art or science?

By Mario Covalski | 06.01.2007 15:11

I think that human beings are subjective by nature, and speaking in terms of tastes, everything we like, may not be objectively, the best or most proper. I could give hundreds of examples from cigarettes, clothes…and so on.


Advanced modeler Syndrome

By Mario Covalski | 05.01.2007 15:07

A couple of weeks ago, talking to a modeler, he told me that he was suffering from something that English- speaking modelers call AMS (advanced modeler syndrome); a kind of obsession that leads them to count even the rivets of each model to check if the number (and shape, of course) match to the real thing.


The cost of abundance

By Mario Covalski | 03.01.2007 15:03

Around the end of January, I was talking about modeling with a friend of mine, owner of a small business of resin kits. It was a pleasant chat about models, projects, etc, steering to the little time we have to spend on building models, when suddenly he asked me a question and both of us were stunned…”¿When did you last purchase a kit, arrive home and start building it?”


Why choosing a certain scale?

By Mario Covalski | 01.01.2007 12:12

For the last 20 years, I’ve read countless articles, editorials…etc about the scales, Which is the best one?, which is the best for us?; etc; most of the notes I read were technical ones, explaining how and the reason of each scale, pros and cons; etc.


A more valuable place than our showcase

By Mario Covalski | 11.01.2006 11:53

The collector got nearer the shop window, took a quick glance and gazed at something, the thing is, that after so many years of “hunting” the prey, he got used to finding among many items, the one that would awake his interest that day.


The short life of a model

By Mario Covalski | 10.01.2006 11:49

Is there anything more wonderful than a shrink- wrapped kit in box?. I sincerely believe that anybody who has built scale models some time in his/her life, will agree with me, that no, there is nothing more exciting and captivating. The thing is that the box content, has quite a special power on us, the power of dreams, probably, everything we wished to accomplish in modeling (and why not, in life)…and it remains there hidden, but with the hope that our libido will not be unsatisfied.


No matter the subject

By Mario Covalski | 08.01.2006 11:36

Have you been building scale models for a long time?, Did you use to work on the same subjects?, Were you bored on one occasion? Were there times when you’ve not built models even when you had the feeling to do so? If you have a positive answer to most of these questions, this Editorial is to you.


Returning to the sources

By Mario Covalski | 07.01.2006 10:57

In spite of the fact that many years passed since I built my first scale model, I still wonder which is the meaning of building them, even more, what modeling as a whole, means.


Internet today....

By Mario Covalski | 06.01.2006 10:54

I’ve been surfing the Web since about 12 years ago, and during the last 10 ones, I could see several sites devoted to plastic modeling turning up. At first, they were either simple text pages, or forums that no longer exist, and of course, by that time, all those online shops were already set up outside the Internet, and just out of curiosity or by making a lucky guess, they were set up as e-commerce shops.


Plastic versus diecast

By Mario Covalski | 04.01.2006 10:49

This month’s editorial is going to be focused on two subjects: our sixth anniversary and a short analysis of a phenomenon that has been increasing on and on, during the past years….the diecast models.


Modeling in the Internet

By Mario Covalski | 03.01.2006 10:45

Sometimes, I wonder if it’s really necessary to write a monthly editorial, I’m not discussing if this is usual or if matches within a magazine’s circle, even a virtual one. The editorial expresses the ideology of the one who leads the media, thus my editorials should express our ideology as a magazine about modeling, and, if you read our previous editorials, you’ll find out our thoughts with respect to plastic modeling and other activities around it.


Professional modelers

By Mario Covalski | 02.01.2006 10:41

The world of scale models, is, in certain aspects confusing and there are different points of view. Here, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This month, I want to refer to professional modelers, hoping that my opinion, may throw some light on the topic, especially for the newcomers… or at least, to start a serious discussion.


Modeling in the XXI century

By Mario Covalski | 01.01.2006 10:36

When you purchase a DVD player, you become the final consumer of that product, that’s your role. When speaking about modeling, things are quite different, the final consumer, plays at times, a different role, he himself develops the product (and this is the way some manufacturers started), the modeler is who builds the model and writes the techniques notes for others more inexperienced, etc. That’s to say the consumer is part of the whole machinery that sets modeling in motion and quite in an active way. I personally can’t imagine the activity in a different way.
 


Let’s capture the teenagers’ attention

By Mario Covalski | 12.01.2005 10:16

Everybody knows that modeling has turned into a specialized activity, and we’ve already tackled this topic in previous editorials. If you, my friend use to build aircrafts….don’t draw closer to the group of those devoted to armored vehicles…this is well known, it’s not a question that you’ll not be welcomed; in point of fact, in the clubs all disciplines coexist, but every group speak their own language using different codes, words, a great many own ways of communication.
 


Sharing our experiences

By Mario Covalski | 09.01.2005 10:13

Building a model means an arduous task, either for beginners or advanced modelers. Some will pour out hours and hours of work on detailing, painting…etc, for others, the matter will be just to find out and be able to use the respective techniques successfully.


The twilight zone

By Mario Covalski | 07.01.2005 10:09

Several years ago, someone connected with the plastic modeling industry made me a comment, saying that internet was a twilight zone…and although, in those days, I partly agreed with him, actually, I was not fully convinced about that reality as today, after having been Modeler Site’s editor for five years.


Perfection in modelling

By Mario Covalski | 05.01.2005 10:04

Who dares to state this is not the best mankind technological time ever known?. In my opinion, the scientific advances and the leading-edge technology along the last 35 years, are by far, more important than those ones reached during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. And the increase of this tendency has turned much more evident during these years of the 21st century.


Buying through the Internet

By Mario Covalski | 03.01.2005 10:00

Perhaps, one of the most exciting moments of every modeling project, is the purchasing time. Searching for the kit the modeler is eager to get, sometimes discontinued, he turns into an actual hunter, developing a special and good instinct to find that item he’s looking for and at low price. Some modelers, either owing to lack of time or any other reason, don’t go beyond this stage which turns into a hobby in itself.
 


A long view about Modeling

By Mario Covalski | 02.01.2005 09:55

Perhaps, some assiduous Modeler Site readers have been very surprised at reading our current cover article, and I think It’s a good opportunity to deal with a topic which had never been tackled in our editorials, the specialization in our hobby.


What kind of articles would you like to see in Modeler Site?

By Mario Covalski | 01.01.2005 12:00

Perhaps many readers know, and probably many others may not have heard that a couple of months ago we’ve started a Yahoo group to make a link of communications among you and Modeler Site’s editors. Owing to the problems posed by the spam, there’s no safe and/or legal mailing, they’re all under suspicion and luckily, Yahoo offers an effective media which is recognized as legal by most of the ISP around the world.
 


The different shades of one same thing ...

By Mario Covalski | 09.01.2004 10:46

This month’s cover note is about a Protar kit, the uncommon, difficult, and expensive (if you can get one) 1/12 scale McLaren MP4/ 2, and the note is by our good friend and collaborator Dan Parrat.
 


Will there be anybody in future to fulfill our dreams?

By Mario Covalski | 07.01.2004 12:38

I was thinking a few days ago, about the strange situations posed by modeling in our days. When I was very young, it was difficult to find a great variety of models; in those days, I used to build airplanes in 1/48 scale from Monogram, and 1/72 scale from Airfix. If I wanted something real luxurious I had to choose Nichimo, although they were more expensive and difficult to find.


What does the result mind?

By Mario Covalski | 06.01.2004 12:30

After a two months break without sitting down at my workbench as I was exceedingly busy writing a couple of articles, I turned my hand to my models, as I’ve been doing just without interruptions for the last 44 years.


Leaving our 4th year behind...

By Mario Covalski | 04.01.2004 12:22

Four years ago, late in summer during a hot southern March, the idea to bring to light and manage a virtual modeling magazine was born. Although the intention wasn’t innovating, it implied the creation of a web site in a magazine format, as a mean of communication among hobbyists, and the updates were actually new issues.


New generations…..new modelers

By Mario Covalski | 03.01.2004 12:17

Since several weeks ago, an idea has been striking my mind over and over: What did I do in behalf of modeling?. Well, I could adduce that Modeler Site is in fact, a contribution, with the articles we usually publish…and so forth. However, as it happens to any modeller, manufacturer or retailer, I’ve received much from this activity, and here, I’m considering all the time devoted to this hobby.


Third Anniversary

By Mario Covalski | 04.01.2003 11:24

I feel it is much more difficult to write an editorial than an article on a model. There are so many ideas I would like to share with you but there is such a little space… Since readers of an editorial expect a great idea to be developed in a nutshell, the writer should feel passionate and convinced about it in order to be crystal clear and effective.


The masters

By Mario Covalski | 12.01.2002 10:39

Dear Friends, this is the last editorial for 2002... Another year has quickly gone by while learning and sharing our know-how on our hobby. This month I would like to focus on a topic of my personal concern, both as an editor and as a member of the modelers' world: the "Masters".


Two years on line...

By Mario Covalski | 04.01.2002 20:31

To loving memory of my father Luis, who taught me the value of the honesty and the honor word. Thanks to help me, before... and even now.

If you are now reading this article, you have already seen our cover and know that Modeler Site is celebrating its second anniversary.
As the creator of Modeler Site, I have so many feelings I would like to share with you that this article would not be enough …. And besides, who wants to endure a long speech? Therefore, I will not extend the suffering of those people who decided to read this editorial.



Subscribe our Newsletter


LATEST NEWS


Editorials

Editorial

The best of 2018 Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the articles we were proud to have during 2018. Enjoy them and happy new year.




Showcases

By Modeler Site

Problems downloading files

By Mario Covalski

Building the RC Leopard 2A4 1/16 scale A couple of years ago, I discover  www.Ludwigs-Hobby-Seite.de, a web site where Christian Ludwig offers his kits mostly made of  plastic, cut with the CNC technology. So, I found a kit to convert a Heng Long 2A6 to the 2A4, that is to say a previous version.

By Mario Covalski

Converting the Trumpeter T-72 MBT to RC 1/16 scale To improve the Heng Long T-90 I read some books and gathered information/photos from the web. This little research made me know more about these compact Russian tanks T-72/T-90, and so it grew my interest in them. So I bought the 1/16 T-72 Trumpeter kit. This kit was designed not only for static but also for RC. The static version has some extra details and modifications, reminds me the, T-34 from WSN, a brand with which Trumpeter sold the T-34 RC. The philosophy of the T-72 is the same, I still believe that the T-34 gearbox with its motors, would fit in the hull. Perfectly.  

By Mario Covalski

Building and improving the Italeri / Protar Alfa Romeo 179 1980 1/12 scale In May 2001 I wrote a brief preview on the Protar's 1/12 Alfa Romeo 179. This wonderful Formula One was one of the few cars in modern F1 history which chassis and engine were the same brand. Is this model really difficult? This is the key question for this model, and the answer is NO. If it were a Tamiya model, that is to say the same matrix but injected with Tamiya plastic and having the quality control of this huge Japanese company, I would say that this is one of the most delicious models I have ever built. Unfortunately, it has some flaws, mainly due to its poor quality than to the work of the Protar craftsmen.

By Mario Covalski

Tamiya Caterhams, a step by step guide for novices 1/12 scale The first Catherham from Tamiya coming to my hands at the end of 1994, was the “Cycle Fender Special” (10202), since the “Super Seven BDR was out of stock, and it was impossible for me to get it from the stores I used to buy kits. From that moment on, my affair with which, I think is the best scale car kit ever produced, began. And here my comment: probably, you have seen better detailed kits, or even superb models limited editions.

By Rick & Jannine Bennett

Learning to paint figures step by step

By Mario Covalski

Building 1/12 F1 resin model kits: A step by step guide. MG models Ferrari F2002 and F2003- GA This article aims at offering an illustrated guide, with pictures, explaining step by step the tasks that should be done, how to and the reasons, it’s basically a visual guide, based on the construction of two MG models: the 2002 Ferrari and the 2003- GA.

By Jose Antonio Solbes

How to paint with lacquers

By Mario Covalski

Building the IDF M50 radio controled Sherman 1/16 scale Building the M50 in 1/16 scale is a project I have had in mind for many years, and after the M51s (from the article published in May 2012) I felt the need to continue with this one. In this article, I’ll share with the reader my experience in building the M50 RC 1/16 from a Tamiya M4 -105mm with HVSS suspension.

By Mario Covalski

Building the Pocher Lamborghini Huracan, step by step, painting guide and tips. 1/8 scale These are the new times of Pocher, hand in hand with Hornby, the brand that offer models which represent high technology subjects as Lamborghini cars and Ducati motorcycles. Manufactured by Ixo, the Chinese company, they are the fashion of the time, huge 1/8 scale cars with metal body and chassis, already painted (luckily!). They compete with Amalgam and other brands with less expectations but to fit any budget and if you have some experience as model builder, the result will be acceptable and even excellent. The aim of this tutorial is to share the step by step in the Lamborghini Huracán construction, the last Pocher issue explaining the work achieved so that it may be useful for less experienced modelers and collectors.

By Claudio Kalicinski

Scratchbuilding the Nieuport 6H, 1/48 scale I decided to scratchbuild this plane after seeing the scale drawings by Mike Fletcher in his web site: The Nieuport Pages. I sent an E-mail to him and he kindly sent me pictures and larger resolution scale drawings. Once I enlarged the plans to 1/48, I noticed how big the plane was....

By Ricardo Gonzalez

Building and customizing the Tamiya Ducati Panigale S 1/12 scale The Ducatti Panigale is to my liking one of the most spectacular motorcycles of the past decade. Thanks to Tamiya we can have a model of it, both were the reasons why I decided to build it trying to get the most detailed model I could , taking advantage of the fact that as it was a mass production model, it would be possible for me to get a lot of references. Not only I built and superdetailed the model, but also made a slightly and own customized version, a real Panigale, as I would like to have. The aim of this article, is to show with pictures and their comments the work accomplished as a guide and to give ideas of the details that can be added or showing in some cases how to do the different tasks.

By Mario Covalski

Improving the Dragon Kubelwagen 1/6 scale # 75003 Action figure collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Figures made out of different plastic materials based on TV sci-fi series, sci-fi movies (for instance GI Joe action figures) and facts from real life such as the representation of different war scenarios. Soldier figures are commonly made in 1/6 scale, they’re represented with military uniforms made from genuine fabric and the weapons that real soldiers use to have, vehicles included.

By Gary Wickham

Advanced techniques: Building the P-51D Mustang "Lt Col John Myers" Petie 3rd Dragon 1/32 scale The infamous Dragon P-51D in 1/32. This model was started before Tamiya announced their kit, and I have to admit that during this build I did consider scrapping it more than once. In the end, I am very glad I did not. Despite the challenges and limitations of this kit, I am very happy (and proud) of the end result.

By Mario Covalski

Realistic wire wheels for 1/12 scale motorcycles One of the biggest challenges for a modeler who builds motorcycles in 1/12 scale, is to modify a wire wheel and make it look realistic; specially without having to buy an aftermarket kit. Anyway, there are no kits for this kind of modification (except for one of the Acu-stion for the Tamiya XV1600 kit), so it's not possible to get one. So any modeler attempting to do this task must rely in his/her ability in order, to get a good result.

By Denis R.S.Bomfim

Building rusted cars - VW 1966 - 1/24 scale It all started with a joke, I built a rusted Mustang GT 350 to make a gift to a friend who only builds Mustangs. It was at a modelers meeting when he received a homage and the joke consisted of letting him know the arduous remodeling and restoration work he would have with this rusted Mustang. I took advantage of my work and presented it in a contest that took place in Campinas city. Finally, the model was “best of the show” and they called me mad for giving a winning model. My answer was.... I will have to make another rusted model for me.

By Mario Covalski

Improving the Dragon Schwimmwagen - 1/6 scale #75013 Being a car fan, everything that has wheels attracts my attention, nevertheless, the Kubelwagen’s amphibious sibling, went unnoticed by me for quite a long time. After building the 1/6 Dragon Kubel, I was pretty excited with the Schwimmwagen, and the quality of the kit and improvements Dragon introduced a couple of years after the Kubel release, really surprised me. This article aims at offering my view about this kit construction, adding some improvements I considered necessary so as to make a worthy scale model.