By Mario Covalski
If this is your first 1/12 kit (it would be better it were not), I advise you to take a decision right now: if you will build it following literally the instructions, if you will add the suggestions provided here, or if you will intend to superdetail the model, trying to copy to the utmost the details that can be seen in the offered pictures.
By Mario Covalski
Among the articles I had in mind to write about, there was one that headed my list, and without any doubt, It was about the Brabham BT44. By the end of my youth, I saw this beautiful, simple and successful car, running in Buenos Aires, driven by Carlos Reutemann, one of the most expert F1 drivers of the last 30 years. The purpose of this note is to show simple guidelines following the instruction manual steps, recommending some details that can be applied to improve even more the original Tamiya kit.
By Mario Covalski
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 Mario Covalski
By Hugh Rockwell
I purchased at HobbyLink Japan a set of Studio 27 Nurburgring decals and had planned to build the car in that silver livery but when I was looking through old Excellence magazines for reference, I found an article on a 904 which was privately campaigned by Ben Pon in 1964-65. His cars were finished in a bright orange in honor of his home country, the Netherlands. I decided that would be a good livery for the 910....
By Mario Covalski
Three years ago I bought Chevron's conversion trilogy for the Ferrari 312T to T2 '77, the Tyrrell '76 to '77, and the M23 '74 to '76.
Within a year, I built the two first kits and let the McLaren for the "proper" moment (inspiration, motivation, etc.).
A few months ago I had the opportunity to convince a Japanese modeler, Mr. Kenji Yagi, to translate a few pages of the instruction manual for me. This translation is available with the PDF version of this tutorial.
By Mario Covalski
My objective when I built the PM4/2 was to have a depiction of that car, with the quality aspect of Tamiya's McLaren MP4/6 kit, due to the similarity of both cars, and the building materials. The purpose of this note would not be to tell you how I built the model, because this kit has been discontinued more than ten years ago, so it is quite difficult to get one. I don't think it is reasonable to write a thorough note on specific details; so I will concentrate in general detailing that can be applied to other models with similar characteristics... and quality.
By Alessandro Prini
Perfectly engineered, the Corolla is an ideal base to go deep into a plastic surgery. The first step concerns the removal of hood, trunk and driver door. A round blade installed on a motor rotary tool, has been used to cut the mentioned parts.....
By Patricio Delfosse
Sometimes a simple trick allows us to get a finishing that otherwise it would take us many hours of work. This is an easy technique that you can take on with excellent chances of success. Try it!
It's based on the use of salt as mask, and it allows you to give the appearance of the chipped paint over any flat surface of a vehicle. The idea is to let the base color ( which can be of any other color, priming or naked metal), show through the last coat applied.
By Mario Covalski
In 1976 Kawasaki launched the model Z750, a smaller sister to the Z900, adapted to the requirements of the Japanese market.
To my knowledge, the Z900 was an improved copy of the Honda CB750Four and, as it was common to Japanese manufacturers, each new model included several versions in order to cover the requirements of the Japanese police. This model was inspired in a small picture from the '70 decades. the picture was showing a Z750 model, perhaps a 1978 version, for the police, with the color and characteristics of the Japanese Police.
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site
MENG’s French AMX30B MBT model kit which has been released in IPMS Scale ModelWorld 2012 will come to market soon. Casted turret shape is realistically reproduced on the model; the gun and 20mm autocannon can elevate independently; hatch on commander cupola can rotate 360 degree; realistic running gear parts on the chassis are movable; elastic torsion bar structure combined with movable hydraulic shock absorbers can realize the shock absorption action like the real vehicle; workable track links are easy to assemble. Two painting options are provided.
By Patricio Delfosse
By Mario Covalski
It has been several months now that I wanted to write an article on 1/12 scale motorcycles for beginners, explaining the basic concepts that are taken for granted in the articles on superdetailing. I built my first 1/12 motorcycle fourteen years ago and if you believe that having worked with 1/12 Formula 1 cars will guarantee success… you are wrong.
By William Chan
F310B was a 1997 Ferrari F1 contender. It was very close to take away world championship from Jacque Villeneuve that year until the final nasty collision caused by Michael Schumacher. As a result, Schumacher was the one got thrown off the track and Villeneuve went on the win the driver championship. Later Schumacher was disqualified that year too. Very memorable year especially when Schumacher was fighting all points back and it made thing exciting.
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...
By Thomas Halvarsson
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
"How the hell am I going to handle this monster? ….There is no other crew except me …!!" This was the first impression of the Feldwebel Rudi Riedl, in his first encounter with a Mistel composite. Riedl was a blind-flying instructor of the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school ), located in Stolp-Reitz, a German pilot school specialized in training its members on attacking special targets....
By Modeler Site
By Mario Covalski
Sometimes, something particular comes about to those lucky modelers who have been doing scale modeling for many years… to compare between two models built by the same author, but ...20 years back. (My dear friends, believe me, I wish I could be 20 years younger, and not writing this editorial :-).
By Modeler Site
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
During the Second World War, the German aircraft designers put forth many aircraft projects ideas, which ranged from the practical to the bizarre. In my opinion, the case of the Me 262 Lorin is one of these last. Despite of its fantastic space ship look, the idea of mounting the ramjets above the wings of the aircraft was found impractical, because of high fuel ...
By Modeler Site
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
The Fw 190 TL ( Turbo-Lader Strahltriebwerk - Turbocharger jet engine ) was one of the earliest Focke Wulf projects. This design comprised a simple centrifugal engine of Focke Wulf´s own design, fitted in late 1942 to a standard 190 fighter, instead of the BMW 801 piston engine. The new engine comprised a two stage centrifugal...
By Mike Parr
By Modeler Site
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
Does this fantasy spaceship look vaguely familiar to you?..look again……Yes!! It's a Me 262!!.. Even since I read the book "Me 262" ( edited by MBI Publications) several years ago, I've been interested in all Me 262 projects. One of the most interesting was the W1...
By Modeler Site
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
Como ha ocurrido con otros proyectos alemanes , conocidos como Luftwaffe 1946, el Focke Wulf Fw 190 también fue objeto de estudios y desarrollos a fin de estudiar la configuración de "alas de halcón". Este tipo de ala era un diseño realmente novedoso para la época, ya que presentaba una pequeña...
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site
By Mario Covalski
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
Building this odd-looking model in 1:48 scale is really exciting and complex at the same time. Exciting, because we will have a very unusual model on our shelf. Complex, because it's necessary a general planning before starting to build this huge model. We shouldn't forget that this one is a combination of a land...
By Modeler Site
By Patricio Delfosse
Hey, webmaster! Something's wrong with the scale! This model should be a 1/72... Is it possible for a 1/35 armored vehicle to measure only 9 cm. long? Well… yes! And in the case of this model it must be added that the space is very well distributed. The model is simple and with minimum efforts and a tidy painting we can add an attractive and rare piece. After seeing many Panzers and Shermans, visitors will surely be attracted to this small armored vehicle that looks closer to a bug than a military vehicle. "What is this?" they will ask. And here is the answer.
By Patricio Delfosse
In January 1945, 20 T26E3 experimental heavy tanks that were developed to go against German's Panthers and Tigers, were shipped to Antwerp in Belgium for testing in the battle field. After arrival, they were issued to the 3rd and 9th Armored Divisions. In March 1945, the T26E3 was standardized as the Heavy Tank M26, and named "General Pershing", while tank crews called it "Pershing".
By Mario Covalski
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.
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site
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...
By Modeler Site
By Modeler Site
By Rick & Jannine Bennett
By Victor Reis
The Pocher Kits, all in 1/8 scale, are beautiful and with full of details, specially the Classic Series, with a number of pieces up to almost 3000. They also have many defects and can drive you crazy, but when finished they can be a true art piece. The doors open with a key, the headlights work, the seats are in fabric, etc., but if you play with them they will not work for a long time This kits are very fragile, so it's better to let them quiet, look only.
By Russ Sharp
By William Chan
By Fabian Vera
By Mario Covalski
By Pablo Scordo
By Paul Adams
By Giovanni Galvan
By Crescenzo Consolato
By Javier Alba
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
Several months ago I was talking with Mario, the editor, and he asked me if I'd be interested in building, a Focke Wulf Ta 183 in 1/48 scale, to be published in Modeler Site. So I've always wanted to build a Huckebein, I said " of course…yes!!!" The kit was sent...
By Patricio Delfosse
It's long time since manufacturers have been making attempts to offer us a good T-55. The first one was from Esci which seemed to be a good kit. But as time goes on, modelers demands have been increasing, and that kit was only used as base guide for corrections and superdetailing purposes. At least, it was an improvement considering the earliest attempts Tamiya intended by the end of the 60´s.
By Orlando Rueda
By Fabian Vera
By Patricio Delfosse
By Pablo Calcaterra
By Mike Parr
By Fabian Vera
By Mike Parr
By Fabian Vera
By Paul Adams
By Giovanni Galvan
By Steve Desarzens
By Giovanni Galvan
By Pablo Calcaterra
By Crescenzo Consolato
By Kelly Zak
By Christof Bircher
I do not exactly remember why I bought the Tamiya 1/18 kit of the Lola a few years ago. At that time, I was not too much into model building yet. But I guess I was just intrigued by this red powerful CanAm racer from which as far as I know no other model (whatever scale) is available.
By Fabian Vera
By Fabian Vera
By Fabian Vera
By Miles Lumbard
By Fabian Vera
By Jan Visser
By Mario Covalski
Looking at racing motorcycles, under the point of view of the real machines, I'm not an expert, that means, I'm not thoroughly informed about world championships, and I'm not a fun of these mechanical wonders as well.....just I feel pleasure when constructing these kits, straight from the box. However, I know that the 211 is a real new, because of its engine, and races won (which I guess this model follows getting with the 2003 version).
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.
By Kelly Zak
By Thomas Halvarsson
By Fabian Vera
By Dan Parrat
By Paul Koo
By Roman Kepinski
By Dan Parrat
By Paolo Benacci
By Tony Allen
By Mario Covalski
By Marcelo Scaminaci Russo
During the Second World War, the German aeronautic industry developed a great number of prototypes and experimental planes; sometimes, they did not materialized due to all kinds of indecisions and interferences. Some of this German projects were very advanced, taking into account the technological point of view...
By Claudio Fernandez
By Patricio Delfosse
By Kelly Zak
By Nicolas Perez Fiorentini
By Giovanni Galvan
By Stephane Simard
By Giovanni Galvan
By Nicolas Perez Fiorentini
By Kelly Zak
By Dan Parrat
By Kelly Zak
By Patricio Delfosse
The kit represents a 1943 version of the T-70 with its turret armor thicker than the 1942 version and broader link tracks too.
Even though I bought the kit knowing that it would not have Tamiya or Dragon's quality, I never thought I would encounter so many failures. The details are almost inexistent and very little beyond the basic hull's shape and the undercarriage is usable. The turret is the worst part of the kit. The shape simply does not coincide at all with the 1943 T-70....
By Kelly Zak
By Tony Allen
By Jens Martin
By Paolo Benacci
By Patricio Delfosse
By Mario Covalski
By Giovanni Galvan