Model Airplane Maker

13/07/2024

No matter how hard I try, those seams can sometimes hide on me. A little flat grey along the likely areas will reveal them. Hopefully I’ll get some black gloss on this zipper soon enough.

09/07/2024

Dealing with those dreaded Oopses!

Oops! Let me think of some creative oopses I have had over the years. There was the innovative use of silicone caulk as a liquid mask; there was leaving a model in a sink full of dish detergent for…

22/06/2024

My Kinetic CF-104 has a few gap issues. Nothing some evergreen and a scalpel can’t take care of!

30/05/2024

Pretty sure I will be there!

Send a message to learn more

03/05/2024

This is a 48th scale R-2800 3D print. What a gem of a little part to paint. This is far easier to work with than resin and gets me to a detail level beyond what I can do with scratch building. If you want to see how I painted it, there is a video here. How to Paint 3D Printed Aircraft Engines
https://youtu.be/mmnXRf3mR-w

03/05/2024

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get my hands on one of these 3D printed engines. I'm still very impressed with the detail and painting them was fun.

3D Printing has never been better and I believe we are only seeing the start of great things to come. I picked up this 48th-scale gem of an R-2800 at a rece...

13/04/2024

The Okinawa Corsair was finally finished a couple weeks ago. But I tell ya, it gave me a fight at the end. There were times when I almost gave up but I ultimately stripped the paint, repainted and tried some new weathering techniques. I was happy that I did! The video has been uploaded to my channel and I hope you enjoy:
https://youtu.be/QASzuhhD81Y

12/04/2024

I finally finished the Okinawa Corsair, but not without some disastrous oopses and some real thoughts about launching the model off the bench.

But I stuck with it. Carefully stripped it and brought it back. I'm glad I did.

Everything was progressing well with the Okinawa Corsair build until I experimented with a new paint and a new paint-scratching technique. And boy did I fai...

05/04/2024

and I have partnered to give away one working jet engine kit. All details and entry instructions can be found on my blog: https://modelairplanemaker.com/2024/04/05/jet-engine-kit-giveaway/. The entry period ends on April 12 2024.

05/04/2024

I've got some great news!! Stirlingkit and Model Airplane Maker are partnering to give away ONE Jet Aircraft Turbofan Engine Kit by random draw.

To enter the draw simply do the following between April 5 and 12, 2024:
1) Follow Stirlingkit on Facebook

2) Join the Model Airplane Makers Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/801991676803144

3) Like and comment on the Giveaway Post
https://www.facebook.com/groups/801991676803144/permalink/2188078281527803

The random draw winner will be announced on April 13, 2024.

Good Luck!

02/04/2024

The Little Intern built this model bakery on her holiday Monday. She found the instructions to be much easier to follow than on her other projects.

01/04/2024

Watching episode 1 of Masters of the Air tonight. I read the book some 5 years ago and I only remember snippets of it.

28/03/2024

Another great show put on by the HeritageCon crew. Hope to see everyone again next year!

The first spring show is HeritageCon - the scale model show at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton Ontario. The 2024 seemed bigger than ever w...

25/03/2024

HeritageCon haul! I’ve been looking for that Nighthawk for a while now and it was calling out to me within minutes of me stepping into the vendor area! I love Tony Bell’s 3d printed Corsair engines. The Plastic Model Mojo boys gifted me a 3 week supply of hot sauce and a heck of a lot of fun in the Dojo. Hope to see everyone next year!!

18/03/2024

Sunday is HeritageCon in sunny Hamilton Ontario. I can't wait to see all the scale model goodness as well as the usual suspects who hang out at the show! Show details here: https://www.warplane.com/events/upcoming/event-details.aspx?eventId=244

16/03/2024

I had a great time as a guest on the On The Bench podcast. Click here if you'd like a listen.

The original scale modeling podcast, On the Bench or OTB, still creates excellent content with its classic lineup. I started listening to these guys on the first leg of an 11-hour drive to a scale …

14/03/2024

Robert Distelcamp pointed this out to me today. I've seen this movie countless times and this scene is a key one. But take a look at the art on the wall to the left....

I don't know who owned that house but I know he was a modeler!

10/03/2024

I'm wondering what's ultimately behind the frustration with the IPMS contest rules.

Some time ago I wrote a bit about why we have contests at model shows. It was a self-reflective piece as well as a commentary on current events. I’ll admit: I was probably a little too honest…

07/03/2024

It isn't failure when you learn something from it!

David over at DB Scale Model Studio wrote up a nice piece that nicely sums up an issue that has plagued some modelers at one point or another: the fear of failure. David goes on to describe a serie…

20/02/2024

There, fixed it.

You’re welcome.

16/02/2024

I'm always saying that we need to take risks to get better. Most of the time things work out. But sometimes... ugh...disaster. In this case I used a new type of paint that I picked up years ago at a model show. I could get it to flow in the airbrush but it was finicky. Then I tried to spray the markings and well, when I took the masks off, chunks of paint went with it.

I've decided to strip it and have a nice canvas to build back from. I was hoping to use some windex to strip but, the paint laughed at it. So I used 2000 grit to sand everything down and I will go for simple green next. I want to preserve the cockpit and the engine so I will use the paper towel method.

All this to say - the risk taking didn't work out this time but it was not the end of the world. As I was working on the Corsair I noticed some bumps here and there that were starting to bug me. I will use a GSB that will work better.

08/02/2024

From a $3 wooden paint frame to an interesting model base. I really enjoyed stepping out of the comfort zone and trying some new things:

A nice model base frames and provides context for your model. A great start can be had for as little as three dollars and some inexpensive supplies! This wa...

25/01/2024

What a nice day for mail! I ordered some Corsair canopy details and micro tweezers from ANYZ and they threw in some stickers, a “no touch” sign, and the strangest tasting blue cheezies! Sure wish they made this stuff for 48 as well.

07/01/2024

The New Year means a new model wish list! As always, I was as reasonable as I could be. Check it out and let me know what you hope to see announced in 2024.

In this platinum age of scale models we are truly blessed. There seems to be amazing new releases weekly. Is it too much to ask for more?Of course not!So, ...

28/12/2023

Can this model maker learn new tricks? I tend to shy away from software but this was pretty easy to set up and use.

LONGER recently gave me a RAY5 5W laser engraver and cutting machine to try out. I'll be honest: I was completely new to laser engraving and cutting. But w...

21/12/2023

That is exactly what I would have wanted under the tree when I was little.

20/12/2023

The year end post. Find yourself a fireplace and something nice to sip. Lets talk about 2023...

At the beginning of 2023 I had a pretty clear idea of how the year was going to go. I had my resolutions. I had my spring and summer plans. I had by paddle plans and I had my hobby plans. Yup & #821…

16/12/2023

Happiness is: Knowing that small, white, teeny little part is gone forever... But going in for one more look that ends in success.

07/12/2023

I've been asking for a new tool 48th scale Corsair for years. Magic Factory 魔力工厂 answered my call. So I did a little comparing to see if the top dog is toppled. Let me know what you think:

I've been asking for a new 48th scale Corsair for years. Don't get me wrong, the Tamiya kit is excellent, but it has a few build issues and could use a refr...