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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.

Techniques | Other | 1/100 Scale | Online Articles | PDF tutorial | 2022 | March 2022

Building the Bandai Gundam MS-06 F ZAKU II 1/100 scale


By David Guardia

The gundam universe. Huge in characters, animation series, books, comics, etc. Based on an animated series, in which humans are at war and use robots for fighting, it contributes to modeling 90% of the models sold. With a great variety of scales, this one, 1/100, is possibly the most “manageable”. At just 14cm tall, these models make for quick projects.

COMMENTS

Techniques | Other | 1/48 Scale | Online Articles | PDF tutorial

Building the Bandai Star Wars AT-ST 1/48 scale


By David Guardia

The idea of assembling and painting this model was swirling around in my head since some time ago. It’s one of the vehicles of the saga I like best and besides, Bandai, the brand that introduced it on the market, is a very recognized one for manufacturing excellent models with “snap” perfect fit without the need of glue and highly detailed.

COMMENTS

Techniques | Other | 1/35 Scale | Gallery

Italeri MTB PT-109 #05613 1/35 scale


By Mario Covalski

Some year ago I built the large Italeri kit, an amazing piece. It's so big to be static and I converted to RC. I made some modifications to be able to remove a portion of the deck to maintenance and charge the battery. I painted grey as it was before to be fleet to the Pacific.

COMMENTS

Techniques | Other | 1/350 Scale | Online Articles

USN Yorktown CV-10. At last, a 1/350 WWII aircraft carrier, thanks Trumpeter!


By Giulio Marrucci

Basically is a good kit, but if you want “make the difference” you need the photo etched parts dedicated to the Essex Class, produced by the Golden Medallion, providing reels, stairs, radar antennas, all the aerial and a lot of many other details like undercarriage doors covers, landing gear struts etc...

COMMENTS


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Building the Bandai Gundam MS-06 F ZAKU II 1/100 scale

By David Guardia

The gundam universe. Huge in characters, animation series, books, comics, etc. Based on an animated series, in which humans are at war and use robots for fighting, it contributes to modeling 90% of the models sold. With a great variety of scales, this one, 1/100, is possibly the most “manageable”. At just 14cm tall, these models make for quick projects.


Building the Hasegawa Nissan Sunny 1979 in an stunning vignette 1/24 scale

By Andre Pantarotto

The Nissan Sunny is a very nice kit from Hasegawa and a pleasure to build, however being a work truck I felt it needed something more. To place in a vignette was the way I found for highlighting this beautiful model.

Editor note: with the PDF tutorial, DOC files are provided for you to print all the small kit boxes. More will be explained later in the text.


Building and customizing the Tamiya Kawasaki Ninja H2R #14131 1/12 scale

By Ricardo Gonzalez

I decided to build, superdetail and customize this Tamiya kit, due to this subject beautifulness. A stunning futuristic motorcycle where great part of the engine and other structures are exposed which allow modelers show all those details we spent many hours on without the frustration that later will be hidden under the fairing. Thus, it’s possible to present the built model showing all the work made without having to separate the body to appreciate all the details added during the construction.


The best of 2019

By Modeler Site

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.


Building the Bandai Star Wars AT-ST 1/48 scale

By David Guardia

The idea of assembling and painting this model was swirling around in my head since some time ago. It’s one of the vehicles of the saga I like best and besides, Bandai, the brand that introduced it on the market, is a very recognized one for manufacturing excellent models with “snap” perfect fit without the need of glue and highly detailed.


Building the ICM Opel Kapitän 1/35 scale – an Italian scene

By Federico Collada

I received the ICM Opel Kapitän kit as soon as it was released as part of a batch that the producer sent me for reviewing but unfortunately I couldn’t get started with it until 10 months later. When I finally got my hands on it I started to think of a scene.


Italeri MTB PT-109 #05613 1/35 scale

By Mario Covalski

Some year ago I built the large Italeri kit, an amazing piece. It's so big to be static and I converted to RC. I made some modifications to be able to remove a portion of the deck to maintenance and charge the battery. I painted grey as it was before to be fleet to the Pacific.


EVA-01 Test Type Building a simple diorama

By Nicolas Perez Fiorentini


USN Yorktown CV-10. At last, a 1/350 WWII aircraft carrier, thanks Trumpeter!

By Giulio Marrucci

Basically is a good kit, but if you want “make the difference” you need the photo etched parts dedicated to the Essex Class, produced by the Golden Medallion, providing reels, stairs, radar antennas, all the aerial and a lot of many other details like undercarriage doors covers, landing gear struts etc...


Miss England II by Replicast

By Peter Radcliffe


Panzer TW. 47 Kröte 1/20 scale

By Nicolas Perez Fiorentini

The models of this wonderful series were made by the Japanese firm NITTO, between 1984 and 1986. They were very detailed and came with several building options; they included photoetch, springs, metal antennas and several interchangeable parts.Step In 1986 the publication of SF3D came to an end due to some disagreements between the...


Featuring a Bandai Mobile Suit Gundam RX-78-2 - 1/100 scale

By Nicolas Perez Fiorentini

Since it was launched in 1979, it has been among the best comics and film productions of all times, and it has become a success in the modelling market as well, also appearing in series, films, collectibles, toys, scale models, etc. The first story of Gundam (1979) is the starting point for all the animated series (cartoons) and comics (manga), that have...


Mobile Suit RX-178, Gundam MK-II, building it A step by step guide, for beginners

By Nicolas Perez Fiorentini
In my former article, about the Gundam RX-78-2 from Bandai, published in March 2003, we had shortly analyzed the history and birth of this great Sci-Fi subject. Then, I also explained how to detail the RX-78 shield so as, to give to it a very worn look.Step This note aims at offering a very useful guide, specially for newcomers, explaining a step by step building of a Gundam, using a Mobile Suit RX-178 from Bandai to illustrate it.


Delorean BTTF 1 Aoshima 1/24

By Steve Desarzens

I’ve always been a huge fan of “Back To The Future” movies. When I discovered that a Japanese brand I didn’t know the name before had manufactured a kit of the famous Delorean, I had to buy it!. I built the kit following more or less the instructions sheet from Aoshima. The first stage was to place the system that allows the model to fold its wheels. Even if I built the Delorean of the first film, Aoshima has manufactured the kit in different versions according to the films. In the second movie, the Delorean can fold its wheels and turn into an hovercraft. The system is quite clever but once the wheels are stuck, they don’t put very flat on the ground. Therefore, I decided to glue the wheels definitely so as they won’t move when I handle the kit.


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