Modeling Techniques

As a long time modeler, I am sometimes asked: “how in the world did you do that” or “did you see Norm’s F-4, how did he do that?” I can’t begin to speak for other modelers as to technique. However I can pass on some or a few of the procedures that I employ. As to the final outcome, it’s all in the eyes of the beholder as to what you like, how it works for you. I’ve also graciously (again) copied the finishing system shared with me by Ted Holowchuk, which is outstanding.

“It Works For Me”

After receiving some positive feedback from our erstwhile Seattle Chapter Editor Robert Allen and remembering how difficult is to get us to put together articles for our Seattle Chapter Newsletter, I decided I would see if I could share a few more of the various “things” that actually work for me at my modeling desk. Like many of you, I freely copy and “borrow” whatever useful procedures, tools or methods I can in order to build my models. Are these the only way to do these things? No way! Modeling is sort of like digging coal: “It doesn’t make any difference how you do it, so long as you get two tons of coal out of the ground each day.” Admitting that allows me to see that I actually do some things a bit different from my fellow modelers and while my models don’t compare with the efforts of John, Ted, Jim or John, I am happy and am constantly on the look-out for any other useful techniques I can plagiarize or “borrow.” These notes are expected to be most irregular and may or may not be followed by more suggestions.