Hokonui Hobby Room

02/01/2025

Weathering.... It's a timeless debate amongst modellers. Too much, not enough, too toy-like, not to scale, wrong colours, wrong location, bla bla bla....
I watched a YouTube video the other night about what this guy reckons was 'bad weathering' or over weathered and what was good/acceptable, like he was an expert on everything? He did add that the video was just 'his opinion' but who cares what his opinion is really?
If you were new to modelling, watching videos like this is bu****it and just puts you off being creative. If I were to build a spitfire based on the image attached, people out there would mostly likely say it's not realistic and 'over weathered' if I didn't include the image as reference. Why does it make it any less credible without the photo?
Maybe the modeller just decided they wanted their build to look like this without a ref photo?
I guarantee someone out there would say that spitfires didn't last long enough to get this dirty and weathered lol.
In a nutshell, build YOUR model how YOU want it built and screw what everyone else thinks.
Some out there will like your work and some won't but above all else, if you're happy or know what you did wrong to correct next time, that's all that really counts in this hobby...

Rant over 😉

Happy modelling (and weathering) all - Paul

01/01/2025

We have colour going on the Bronco finally

01/01/2025

2025 build plans....
So here it is, my 'rough' plan for 2025.
I want to add some more variety to my tally for this year so I am finally going to do some civilian stuff in the form of a motorbike (because I used to own this bike) and a race car (because it's one of my favourites).
I have three to finish, Bronco, Tiger tank winter Dio and Tempest. All three will get done this year. Bronco first with the Tank Dio closely following.
Tempest will slot in somewhere along the way.
First fresh build in 2025 will be the P40N in the kiwi scheme.
No order to the rest, I'll decide as I go.
There will also be other small out of the box builds added along the way...
I'm also most likely going to start laying out my German train diorama this year but it'll be a big project stretching into 2026...
Wanted to do as many scales as I could this year too, again for variety...
Hopefully some interesting builds in there for you all to follow along with. Most will have aftermarket additions too.

Happy new year to you all and of course, happy modelling too - Paul

31/12/2024

Well this looks a bit special and very different...

30/12/2024

That's a wrap, part two....
So its New Year's Eve here in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and I did it, started this little 1/48 Hasegawa Spitfire Mk.VII/VIII Pointed wing the day before Christmas Eve (23rd) and finished it yesterday (30th), so a quick 7 day build to end the year and add an 8th completed kit to my year (See previous post for the years run down).

Overall the kit is 'good' for an older kit, tooled in 2000. The actual kit I built was released in 2013 with new decals.

I opted to build the medium, sky grey over PRU Blue high altitude flying version, flown by Pierre Closertmann, a French pilot flying for the the RAF's 602 squadron. He had an illustrious career in WWII and he's worth looking up...

A few modifications are needed for this variant, such as reducing the length of the ailerons and sealing up the pilot access door to name a few. Most of these modification are mentioned in the instructions. More detail can be seen from my various posts on the build.

Overall fit and finish is good as expected from Hasegawa. Not modern day Tamiya of course but good all the same. Little to no filler was needed but some of the seams needed a bit of fettling to make invisible.

Decals are thick and you need industrial strength softener for these. I always go to AMMO by Mig Jimenez Ultra Decal Fix 1 and 2 for these type of decals as it performs flawlessly. Micro Set and Sol wouldn't stand a chance here, even Tamiya Mark Fit Strong might struggle... the lower wing roundals have to conform over some lumps and bumps and it takes a few applications to get them there.

Cockpit lacks a bit of detail in some places yet has good detail in other parts, which is weird. I had to make some basic harnesses from thin tape just to have something there, nothing is provided, decal or PE. I thought I may have had some spare PE belts hanging around but couldn't find them. The tape looks ok through the closed canopy though.

The one thing that really let this kit down above all else is the canopy glass. Its not molded very well, lacks detail and crispness and because of this masking was a mission. I am not happy with my canopy and would love to redo it at some stage. I only PVA glued the glass on, so I can easily remove it, should I feel inclined to do so in the future...

For a quick 7 day out of the box build though I'm fairly happy with the end result to sit alongside my other Spits in the cabinet.

As always painted 99% with Acrylicos Vallejo paints apart from the exhaust staining where I used TAMIYA（タミヤ） acrylic.

Onto 2025 now and all that it brings...

My 2025 plans will be posted tomorrow on New Years Day, so stay tuned for that if you're keen to find out the kit list from my stash I plan to attempt next year...

Hope you all have a great New Year's and try not to drink too much so you're all fully compos mentis for building kits on your New Year day off work :)

Happy Modelling All - Paul

30/12/2024

True to my word, I won't be buying any new kits in 2025, apart from ones I've already pre ordered (Airfix Lysander and a few armour kits).
My last purchases of 24 I snuck in just in time..

2025 is all about stash reduction at Hokonui Hobby Room and not being stuck with so many kits that I can't possibly finish before I die...

That Sea Fire will be added to my quick out of the box build pile.

What's to come build wise in 2025? Full list coming shortly 😁

30/12/2024

Done...
That's now 8 complete for the year of 2024.
Glad I added this build last week as it was just what I needed going into a new year. Completed in 7 days.
Full review and finished photos of the kit tomorrow, New Year's Eve, stay tuned...
Happy modelling all - Paul

29/12/2024

Seems so simple, yet I hate painting faces... 2025, I need to up my game!

29/12/2024

I just might finish this new year's eve...
If I left it a clean new spit, it would be finished by tomorrow.
Just waiting on the clear to cure overnight, then a flory wash, flat coat to seal and some subtle weathering...
Watch this space...

28/12/2024

Upper surface mottling and colour. This is how I generally proceed for those asking. In this case, I used the upper surface colour to lay down some base mottling. I slowly build this up in thin coats until the entire plane is covered. Towards the end, I'll give it mist coats all over to blend in and even out the overall finish. You can carry on doing this until the level of effect is achieved, which will be different for everyone based on a particular reference photo or effect you're after.
I then quickly mask off a few panels with post it notes and gave them a few extra 'solid coats' to represent cleaner or new panels and add some visual interest.
Finally a satin coat to seal before decals go on later today.
This method I enjoy doing and it works for me.
What techniques do you all use?

28/12/2024

Production line of small parts being painted

27/12/2024

Some nice new additions to the ICM plastic model kits line up for 2025

📣 Dear friends, the ICM Catalogue for 2025 is already available on our website in PDF format! Welcome to the review!
🔗 https://icm.com.ua/icm-catalogue-2025

📣 Друзі, Каталог ICM на 2025 рік вже доступний на нашому сайті у форматі PDF! Ласкаво просимо до перегляду!
🔗 https://icm.com.ua/ua/katalog-icm-2025/

27/12/2024

Well this looks interesting

27/12/2024

That's the underside done. Decals to follow soon. Going to be tight getting this finished by Tuesday to class it as a 2024 build but I'm not rushing it, so if it's after NYD so be it 😁

27/12/2024

Where the 'magic' (aka mess) happens...
Happy modelling all - Paul

27/12/2024

2025 plans are afoot and my plan will be revealed very soon but I wanted to ask you all, what would you like to see on my bench in 2025?
I'm keen to do new stuff and of course keep in some quick builds to keep motivation high.
I'm considering keeping topics broad and deciding on the actual kit at the time. I know I want to do a Falklands build for example, just not sure which. I also want to do a motorbike and car next year but again, unsure which one as yet...

Ideas would be appreciated. Your comments might spark an idea I hadn't thought of yet

26/12/2024

Primer on and I'm fairly happy where this is at currently. Leave overnight and check tomorrow before I start painting.
Masking the canopy was the only issue. The glazing is very fine with little to zero step to run tape along. We'll see how it turns out once removed.
All the small parts are primed too so I can start painting those up now too.