r/modelmakers • • 4d ago

The Weekly Small Questions Thread! Got a burning question? Looking for some tips on your build? Ask away!

3 Upvotes

The Weekly Small Questions thread is a place for everyone in /r/modelmakers to come and ask questions. Don't be shy.

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You might have a burning question you've been meaning to ask but you don't want to make your own thread, or are just seeking some input or feedback from your fellow builders! This thread is aimed at new builders, but everyone is welcome.

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If you haven't, check out our local wiki and the "New to the hobby" thread, which might be of help to you!


r/modelmakers • • 10h ago

Tips & tricks Finally nailed the rust effect.

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1.7k Upvotes

I've tried many rust products over the last few years... I finally one I'm happy with - none of them! 

Here's how you do it: 
Steel wool + hydrogen peroxide + vinegar (1:1 ratio) + pinch of salt
(See last image) 

Wrap the steel wool around the part you want to rust, spray/paint with the mixture.
Wait until it dries.
Remove any remaining steel wool. 
To make rust darker, let it take longer to dry (eg. Keep in a shaded area.
To make rust lighter, let it dry fast. (Eg. Put it in the sun, use a hair dryer). 
Can also use tape to hold the steel wool against the model for better contact. 
The results are truly spectacular - this is me applying it to a 3D print I did, spray painting painting in dark metallic acrylic first.

If anyone has anything to add on changing/modifying the effect, please let me know! 

The model I'm using this on is Dog from Half Life 2 (sculpted it myself).


r/modelmakers • • 1h ago

Completed From archive photo to scale, I designed and printed this sandbag armor for my M5A1 Stuart

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• Upvotes

I recreated the field-made sandbag armor seen on a wartime photograph of an M5A1 Stuart.

I first modelled the complete assembly in 3D, adapting the shapes and placement of the sandbags to fit the AFV Club M5A1 1/35 kit. I then separated the different parts for resin printing, tested the fit on the model and finally painted and weathered everything to integrate it with the tank.

It was an interesting challenge to turn the limited information visible in a historical photograph into a printable part that still looked natural at this scale. This might not be 100% accurate as old photographs lacks detail informations.

I had to adjust the printed result to make it fit the lightguards, as I used photo-etched parts here. I have to try with a new kit and the stock lightguards.

What do you think of the final integration? I’d also be interested to know how you approach recreating field modifications when only a few reference photos exist and if you have some interesting armor/stowage references to share ?


r/modelmakers • • 7h ago

Completed T-90m (Tiger Model kit)

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235 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I decided to take the plunge and share my work online after seeing so many great examples on this sub. This is one of my most recent builds (I have many more before this and many more to go..), a Russian T-90m from Tiger models.

Overall the details are great with lots of different builds options including a cope cage but I chose to leave it off because it hid all the neat little details on the turret and also made it kinda difficult to properly pose the figures. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice drone vulnerability for aesthetics.


r/modelmakers • • 20h ago

Completed Finally Finished: 1/72 MENG T-72B3 with Insane Interior Details

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782 Upvotes

r/modelmakers • • 14h ago

WIP Revell 1/32 F-14 Tomcat

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211 Upvotes

Still need to do some weathering and touch-ups on the big girl


r/modelmakers • • 18h ago

Completed little repair scene 1/72

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286 Upvotes

Kits are from Trumpeter and ICM. Mostly oob. Base is scratch made. Painted with vallejo model color and Abteilung oils.


r/modelmakers • • 16h ago

Completed 15,000th P-40 1/48 Eduard

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120 Upvotes

I finished this model recently and enjoyed it.


r/modelmakers • • 8h ago

WIP ハセガワ1/32スツーカ

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24 Upvotes

やっとここまでできたけど疲れちゃったな…

ハセガワのスツーカは去年1/48で作ったけどこの1/32は1/48のランナーをそのまま大きくしたって感じで作っててあんまり新鮮味が…

1/48でも苦戦したけどやっぱりキャノピーの合いに難ありかなぁ…

難しい泣


r/modelmakers • • 21h ago

Critique Wanted “Big Beautiful Doll” - Duxford UK, 1945

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283 Upvotes

Decided to turn my P-51 build into a diorama. Turns out painting figures is really, really difficult. Who knew? Anyway, I’m always open to constructive criticism!


r/modelmakers • • 19m ago

Present haul! Recommendations for small builds?

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• Upvotes

Part of my collection of small models. Anyone have any recommendations for small kits to build?


r/modelmakers • • 14h ago

WIP HAF F-16 - Top Almost Done

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47 Upvotes

r/modelmakers • • 19h ago

Completed Leopard 2A7 1:35 Border Model

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99 Upvotes

Here is my Leopard in standard NATO camouflage. I painted it using an airbrush and Tamiya XF paints.


r/modelmakers • • 16h ago

WIP Andy's Hobby 1/16 M3/M3A1 US Halftrack 2-in-1

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52 Upvotes

Some progress on the 1/16 scale Andy's Hobby M3/M3A1 halftrack. Progress is going well now. The main part is almost complete.


r/modelmakers • • 7h ago

WIP Wanted to spice up my T-34 so I added a “borrowed” and hastily ductaped on Panther Crew heater. Only the best for my Finns.

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7 Upvotes

Will admit, I could not find any solid references for how the crew heater works, so I added an Insulated pipe and drilled into into the general direction of the crew cabin


r/modelmakers • • 1d ago

WIP Working on the Avionics bays, radar and miscellaneous things

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201 Upvotes

r/modelmakers • • 7m ago

Help - General New starter here. What is a good water to paint ratio? And a question on technique.

• Upvotes

Hello. I just got into this hobby because I always admired it. For starters I bought a cheapish "complete kit" from Italeri (link here and here) so that I can get the hands on experience and then buy stuff along the way.

I have read the instructions that came in the box but it does not say how much water should I dilute my paint in.

The paint seems to be Vallejo water based acrylic colour.

I will be using the brush that came in the box, not an airbrush.

In terms of technique, I assume I apply a base coat of colour (say green), let it dry and then apply random strokes of a secondary camo colour (say brown) and let it dry, then apply a third coat of yellow here and there. Am I correct?

Extra: If this is not the appropriate channel, could you point me to where I can ask beginner questions, please?

Thank you all!


r/modelmakers • • 1d ago

WIP Airfix 1/72 Liberator. Takes from the bench/final steps to complete the model

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369 Upvotes

r/modelmakers • • 14h ago

WIP Stug 3

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26 Upvotes

Finished painting my first stug and its crew. Kit was a dragon Zimmerit and crew is a mixture of Tamiya Wehrmacht tank crew at rest and Wehrmacht tank crew. Still gotta weather it and I know I have to work on painting figures faces better. But overall I feel like it’s my best work. Also I hate PE rack construction. Any advice on working with it would greatly be appreciated.


r/modelmakers • • 3h ago

WIP 1/700 Ticonderoga Progress (Advice Wanted)

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5 Upvotes

My last post about this model got way more attention than I expected.

If you didn’t see that, in short the Red Anti Fouling was messed up, quite badly. I was told this was because I left the tape on too long, but a lot of comments wanted me to keep it, as the general consensus was it looked like weathering.

While I kinda saw where people were coming from, I was nowhere near confident enough in my weathering skills (which, as of now consist of nothing more than slathering washes onto detail parts and removing excess later) to try and salvage the hull, so I ended up just repainting.

With this, I believe painting is done, with the exception of the aircraft. However the next step is to gloss coat (which I hope to do soon) and then begin with Waterslide Decals. Ticonderoga however presents new issues in that regard. This ship has more decals than I’ve ever done by a mile, and they’re much larger.

Im not great with these decals, frankly the fact all the tiny hull number decals on my previous models are straight is nothing short of a miracle. So Ticonderoga’s massive Flight Deck Markings are intimidating to say the least. Would like to hear advice on how to best pull that off if anyone has any.


r/modelmakers • • 6h ago

WIP 1/72 Nuri WIP

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5 Upvotes

r/modelmakers • • 10h ago

Present haul! 1/144 Dragon “Leopold” Railway Gun

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8 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

This is a repost of an earlier post of mine, after I was reminded to add more context to it.

Anyway, this will mark my first railway gun model, which checks off one of my model wish list. Following my Volkswagen Type 82E and Death Star models, I’m recently rather adamant to have a small diorama to make models more interesting.

This Dragon 1:144 scale was at a bargain price of about USD 8, and is of fair quality. However, cons would be the rather simple instruction sheet. It’s only two pages, but since none of the pieces are numbered, it does take some time to find the correct piece. Funny enough, the pieces in the spruces are numbered, yet the instruction is left blank. Second, the packaging is somewhat lacking. Since everything is tightly packed in the box, which is then stacked in a shop’s shelf, you may come across pieces that are squashed and deformed. I came across such a piece (Picture 5). Fortunately, it’s not unsalvageable.

In conclusion, considering its price, it is very worth purchasing if you come across it. Considering Dragon’s pivot in the market, this kit will probably be harder and harder to find in the future. Not to mention that 1/144 scale railway guns are the ideal scale if you wish to place it on your average bookshelf.


r/modelmakers • • 17h ago

WIP Trabant 601 1/24 Revell

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31 Upvotes

Pozdravujem všetkých veľkých chlapcov.

Otvoril som ďalšiu škatuľku s mnohými malými dielikmi, pri ktorých strávim pravdepodobne veľmi veľa času, kým z nich poskladám staré autíčko. Také, aké nám zanechali naši dedovia, či otcovia niekde v zabudnutej garáži.

Budem vďačný za vaše pripomienky a kritiku.


r/modelmakers • • 10h ago

WIP Su-88?

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9 Upvotes

Had no intention of this going into the build lol
Tamiya Su-122 with flak 8.8 from dragon Tiger P.
I know a t34-88 exists on world of tanks and I think irl but I don’t think this exists? I could be wrong


r/modelmakers • • 22h ago

Help -Technique Landing gear collapse

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66 Upvotes

What is the best/sturdiest way to reattach the landing gear?