GB1: Group Build Specific Questions and Tips

[FichtenFoo]

I figured that aside from each of us having our own in-progress thread for our GB project, we should have one central place for questions/answers regarding general building, painting, weathering and bases. That way instead of searching through 10+ threads for answers, most of the questions and answers can be here. Kinda like a GB1 FAQ.  :wink:

Example:

Q: How do I fill in the injector pin marks? (little circular depressions on the kit)

A: I use Mr. Surfacer 500 in the jar or Tamiya Putty thinned with Lacquer thinner and fill the hole so that there is a "drop" or "bubble" of liquid above the hole. Both will shrink as they dry so the extra leaves your hole mostly filled. Sand smooth when dry and reapply if there was too much shrinkage or the hole was not filled completely.

Now you can still ask questions in threads like "how did you do that?" and more, but kindly copy/paste the Q&A here for general reference.

This is also a good place if you have tips regarding these kits, weathering, building, etc...

Maschinen Krueger has some kit-specific tips at his site. (Great MaK reference source) I used a couple of his tips while building my Fliege.

Searching through http://www.armorama.com/ is another great resource for military modeling.

[FichtenFoo]

http://www.swannysmodels.com/Surfacer.html

All about Mr. Surfacer in the jar. Thanks to Fulcy!

[Mrex-sgundam]

I'm reordering supplies and I wanted to know is the S.A.F.S resin or plastic?

[FichtenFoo]

I'm reordering supplies and I wanted to know is the S.A.F.S resin or plastic?

Plastic. I did an in-box "review" of the Prowler which is basically the SAFS with extra sprues of parts to make it the Prowler. Click below:

http://fichtenfoo.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=17

[FichtenFoo]

Looking for 1/20 scale barbed wire or other accessories? This site has all kinds of 1:18 scale accessories that are pre-painted/weathered including actual cloth bedrolls and sand-filled sand bags, barbed wire, etc...

http://www.build-a-rama.com/catalog_1_18.shtml

I've never ordered from them, but found them when looking for 1/20 scale bricks for my Krote project.

[Gr8one]

What I have in mind for my project will require me to have two or three Fireball models. My question is that ok for this build? :shock:  :?

[Tazman3]

3 Fireballs!  Cool, I think that would be a great addition.  You do have plenty of time!  :wink:

I don't see it as a problem...as long as you stick to the original requirements, the number you build is not really an issue.

Later,
Taz

[FichtenFoo]

Exactly. Build as many as time permits!

[Gr8one]

Cool!! :)  I got plans for them!

[Stippy]

:o Wow! What an undertaking!  i`ll  see your fireballs and raise ya a safs, gustav, pka, and a skinhead 2!

[Mrex-sgundam]

You two sure are taking your six months to heart If my first one goes well I might make a gustav for my diorama as well.

[Gr8one]

:o Wow! What an undertaking!  i`ll  see your fireballs and raise ya a safs, gustav, pka, and a skinhead 2!

Dude I don't know you but I'm for real.  :?  I think the hard part is going to be the dio for me.

[Stippy]

Hey, Im just kidding dont get excited, I didnt mean to get you all riled up there,sorry
but I can build these in that amount of time! and I aint skeered!

[FichtenFoo]

Hey, I wanted to let you guys know that I tried out that barbed wire article today: click here.

The barbed wire looks fantastic when done. I got a small spool of the 32(34?) gauge wire at Michaels for 99 cents. There's 25 yards (25 feet) of wire in the spool. Looks like the exact same spool pictured in the article now that I look at it. Comes in a carded bag in the beading section. It's bead wire.

The only problem is that it took me about 1 hour to do 2 feet of barbed wire. One thing I did differently from the article was to twist the wire using my drill and an eye-hook. instead of a screwdriver and toothpick. This probably saved me 10 minutes of twisting.

I haven't painted it or anything yet. I'll wait till I actually go to use it to do that. Oh, and 2 feet of barbed wire in a loose coil is only about 4 inches long.

[tetsujin]

How about sources for 1:20-ish figures?

[FichtenFoo]

Yeah... those tend to be hard to come by. Check ebay for "sf3d" and you'll find some busts. Some busts are available from Rainbow 10.  Rene on the MaK list is currently sculpting some fantastic 1/20 women figures and they'll be available later this year if all goes well.

The source I found (aside from those that come with some of the kits) is also discontinued but still somewhat available. Those are the Tamiya 1/20 scale racing pit crew. Some online retailers still carry them but their numbers are dwindling. Ebay is also a occasional source for those.

[tetsujin]

The source I found (aside from those that come with some of the kits) is also discontinued but still somewhat available. Those are the Tamiya 1/20 scale racing pit crew. Some online retailers still carry them but their numbers are dwindling. Ebay is also a occasional source for those.

Availability seems pretty good for the pit crew set, and it could work for what I have in mind...  I don't suppose you know where I could find photos of the assembled figures, do you?  It's a little hard to figure out how they're set up from the sprue photos...  (I'm digging around now.)

(EDIT): Found Box photo of tire crew, also pit crew
And small photo of pit crew

[Doctor Seleski]

There were a few S.F.3.D figure sets (the 3-Pc. one) on eBay a couple of weeks ago.  They went for cheap too.  If I spot any more, I'll post them.

[FichtenFoo]

The source I found (aside from those that come with some of the kits) is also discontinued but still somewhat available. Those are the Tamiya 1/20 scale racing pit crew. Some online retailers still carry them but their numbers are dwindling. Ebay is also a occasional source for those.

Availability seems pretty good for the pit crew set, and it could work for what I have in mind...  I don't suppose you know where I could find photos of the assembled figures, do you?  It's a little hard to figure out how they're set up from the sprue photos...  (I'm digging around now.)

(EDIT): Found Box photo of tire crew, also pit crew
And small photo of pit crew

By the way... recognize these pit crew figs from anywhere? Remember that 1/20 scale Zaku bust that won the ora zaku comp or something. That's what the builder used for figs.

[tetsujin]

Any good tips or tutorials for sculpting joint covers?  I have a few ideas, of course, for how to install a wire armature through the parts (removable, hopefully, so I can work more comfortably) and for how to sculpt the joint covers on top - but being a bit short on time (if I continue to aim for the deadline) the benefit of people's experience in the technique would be welcome...

The Raptor kit is a lot of fun so far...  I sort of wish I were building it with the hatch closed, because I love how the hatch looks.