These Model Maker Pilgrimage series of articles are all about looking forward to being able to get out freely and enjoying things again. The first article was about Museums that I want to visit. The second article was about the historic places I'd like to travel to. This one is going to be about the... Continue Reading →
The last physical shows I went to were in September 2019 and October 2019. Those shows happened back when the world made a lot more sense. Back when we freely breathed in each other's faces. Back when we gleefully touched every surface before eating. Back when our skin didn't crawl at the sight of more... Continue Reading →
As a younger model maker I could never figure out how they highlighted the panel lines on airplane models. I tried a thin black pilot pen with horrific results. I then tried a mechanical pencil with a bit more success. I never thought of a wash back then. After coming back to the hobby in... Continue Reading →
In the previous Pilgrimage article I explained this series of articles are all about looking forward to being able to get out freely and enjoying things again. The first article was about Museums that I want to visit. This one is going to be a bit different because it will involve travel and being able... Continue Reading →
I originally thought of this article prior to 2020 with the idea of talking about places that I have visited that may be of interest to other model makers. I was thinking along the lines of some images of historic places, museums or hobby related events and my related stories. However, given the times we... Continue Reading →
Let me tell you a little about myself: Born in the 70s and grew up in the 80s. A decade that started with feathered hair and ABBA, quickly morphed into synthesizers, cocaine, big hair, wedge shaped sports cars, pastels and silk suits. The 80s also featured a Cold War with a clearly divided world and... Continue Reading →
Whether we are pre-shading panel lines, post shading, black basing, dot filtering, mottling or marbling, the goal is to find a way to weather or distress the paint finish and otherwise to bring some interest to the surface of the model. When I first got back into the hobby (circa 2007) the finishing technique that... Continue Reading →
We model builders are usually enthusiasts and history buffs. At least, that has been my experience. This interest is usually fed by books, magazines, museums, history podcasts and even travel to historic places. But what is an enthusiast if he or she cannot own, hold and display something? Be it models, memorabilia, reproduction items or... Continue Reading →
It's the winter and it's Covid and it's lockdowns. Weekends that should normally be spent with swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, museum visits and snow removal have been reduced to walks in the snow, the creation of complicated snow bunkers, patiently waiting on Amazon deliveries, listening to podcasts and reading. So you can imagine that any... Continue Reading →
I've uploaded a video with a demonstration of how I make my own paint masks for Japanese aircraft. With the right tools (ie good tape and sharp blades) masks can be made very easily and with complete control. The result are markings that perfectly conform to every surface, panel line and rivet without the need... Continue Reading →
