Thursday, December 27, 2018

Hope you're all having a wonderful festive season

Christmas pudding with custard and a cup of tea from my Tamiya mug. It doesn't get much better.





I hope you're all having a wonderful break, with lots of modelling time. I'm going to take a rare week or two off releasing videos, I'm taking a family holiday to the beach for a few weeks, and doing the whole Australian Summer thing.

Back in 2019!

Cheers,

Dave

Friday, December 21, 2018

Special Christmas video for 2018 - making a 1/35 scale gingerbread house

A few weeks back my daughter came home with a festive gingerbread house kit for Christmas. "Excellent", thinks I, "this will be fun. And it's for kids, so it should be easy." In hindsight: Bwahahahahahhahaha!


Source.


Thanks to all of you who have come with me on the ride this year. For me, it's been fun, it's been sometimes hair-raising, and it's always been immensely satisfying building and sharing my work with you all year.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, outstanding Festivus, and all that jazz!

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Making a scale model Christmas gingerbread house

Cheers,

Dave



Friday, December 14, 2018

New video: My fails, bloopers and stuff-ups of 2018

It's getting near the end of the year, so I thought I'd share with you the multitude of fails, stuff-ups and bloopers while I was filming in 2018.




A warning: it's chock full of explicit language, so if that offends you probably best to step away from the screen now...

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Scale model video fails, bloopers and stuff-ups for 2018

Cheers,

Dave



Sunday, December 9, 2018

New video: How to add a blue tone to Panzer grey

I've been busy working more on my Tamiya Krupp Protze - this week I've been trying to fix a problem in the paint on some side boards, and I've also been playing around with adding a blue tint to the German Grey colour.



How to add blue tone to Panzer grey on your scale model armor


In this video there are some wins, and some losses.

But I did work out a new way to add a blueish tone. It's not revolutionary, it's really just a tweaked half filter / half dot filter technique (I've covered these in a previous video). But it's definitely something I hadn't previously done, and it's rather satisfying!

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
How to add blue tone to Panzer Grey

Cheers,

Dave



Saturday, December 1, 2018

The winner of our SprayGunner competition is...



Congratulations Larry Mavrinac!

I'll get your SprayGunner giveaway package in the post to you this week.

A big thank you to everyone who entered. There will be more giveaways soon, I promise.

Cheers,

Dave


Friday, November 30, 2018

New project - a diorama based on the Tamiya Krupp Protze

I've pulled the trigger and started my next modelling project: a diorama based around the venerable Tamiya Krupp Protze light truck.


Although this box and the cargo and sitting figures are from a 2011 issue, the basic kit itself was first released in 1978. Nineteen-freaking-seventyeight. This kit is forty years old.


Tamiya Krupp Protze 1/35 scale light truck scale model


I first built the Krupp Protze around 1985-1986, when I was a teenager, and I remember doing an absolutely terrible job on it. The suspension is rather over-complicated (not sure if that is Tamiya's faithful reproduction of German over-engineering, or just poor design by Tamiya) and I royally stuffed it up. My final build was pretty much held together by great dried globs of Humbrol cement. I'll pull that monstrosity out from storage and show you it in an upcoming video.

This time around I'm a lot more methodical (and, ahem, about thirty years more experienced) and I'm proud to say I didn't stuff up the suspension. It's still tricky, if you don't pay attention it would still be very, very easy to put the wrong parts in or put the pieces in the wrong way around.

Anyway, it's a blast to build something I remember so well from thirty years ago - I'm excited about my new video, and I hope you guys will enjoy seeing it come to life over the coming weeks and months.


Tamiya Krupp Protze 1/35 scale light truck scale model
Rusting up that gorgeous sloping front bonnet.


Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
The next scale model project - Tamiya Krupp Protze diorama

Cheers,

Dave



Friday, November 23, 2018

COMPETITION - scale model tools giveaway!

It's been way too long since I did a giveaway - the last was over a year ago - so it's definitely time for one of you to pick up some scale model loot! The good folks at SprayGunner have provided some modelling tools for me to give away, and the competition is now open, from today until midnight on Friday 30th November 2018.




HOW TO ENTER



1. Just head to Facebook. Go to SprayGunner's Facebook page and hit "Follow" - link is here.

2. Then head to Dave's Model Workshop on Facebook and comment on my post about this competition to let me know you've entered - link is here.

Easy.


HOW IT WILL WORK


Once you've commented on my FB page, I will enter your name in a spreadsheet. On 1 December 2018 I will use a random number generator to choose a number, and that person on my spreadsheet will be the winner. I'll then post the goodies to you, wherever you are in the world. (Just in time for Christmas. I feel like Santa Claus.)



IF YOU DON'T HAVE FACEBOOK


I know not everyone is on board with Facebook. I totally, totally get that. Mark Zuckerburg's plan for world domination is officially Sometimes A Bad Thing.

If you don't have a Facebook account, sadly you can't enter this competition. Sorry. But I 100% promise you there will be another competition very, very soon which you will be able to enter purely through this, my website. I guarantee it.



My video explaining it all is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Competition - scale model tools giveaway!

Good luck!

Dave





Friday, November 16, 2018

New video: Final reveal of the 1/32 scale Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV

I started out my Wingut Wings experience asking: "Are they really worth it?" Having now completed the Fokker E.IV, the big question is: after building my first Wingnut Wings kit, would I buy and build another? The answer is in this video.


Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale model Fokker Eindecker

There's also some (pretty damn rudimentary!) video magic where a blueprint comes to life. I'm rather chuffed with the old-timey look I achieved with this entirely fabricated engineering plan - please don't contact me to tell me the German is incorrect and it actually refers to a plumbing blueprint or plans for a lederhosen-making machine or something! It is entirely made up, although the three-section view of the Fokker itself is correctly drawn.


Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale model Fokker Eindecker
A Fokker model in its natural environment.


I also finally corrected the anhedral problem with the wings. All in all, this was an eye-opening and game-changing build for me.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Final reveal of the completed 1/32 scale Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV

Cheers,

Dave





Friday, November 9, 2018

Two new retailers offering discounts to MOD Squad members

I released a video this week announcing two new retailers who have come on board offering 10% off to MOD Squad members. Both SJS Hobbies and SprayGunner are now part of our members-only-discounts program.





It's good to have them on board- check them out and see if there's anything there you need.

SJS Hobbies range can be found here.
SprayGunner's website is here.


New retailers for the 10% discount program.
New retailers for the 10% discount program.


I'm always looking to add extra value for your membership. So, as always, if there are any retailers you'd like to see become part of this program, please get in touch and I'll see what I can arrange.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Fixing drooping wings and new retailers for The MOD Squad

Cheers,

Dave



Tuesday, October 30, 2018

New video: How to rig a model airplane - easy rigging for scale WW1 aircraft

My latest video shows you the easy way to rig a scale model aircraft. Monoplane, biplane or triplane, this is the easiest solution I have found to instal rigging on WW1 and 1920s planes.


How to rig a model airplane - easy rigging for scale WW1 aircraft


Rigging can be daunting - I'll be honest, I was procrastinating over rigging my Wingnut Wings Fokker, because at first glance it just looks so complicated and difficult. But I promise, with the right materials and a little practice it becomes easier, you find a groove and it becomes a production line. Honest.

Originally I was stressing myself, trying to make overcomplicated turnbuckles and eyelets for my rigging and messing with my own mojo with how difficult it was all going to be. If you want to go down this route, all power to you. But I listened to a podcast with Richard Alexander, the General Manager of Wingnut Wings, and he shared his technique for rigging. It's now my preferred technique, it's a lot easier, and if it's good enough for the GM of WNW, then it's good enough for me.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
How to rig a model airplane - easy rigging for WW1 aircraft

Cheers,

Dave




Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Rigging the Wingnut Wings Fokker

I've been working on the rigging of the Fokker. A video is in the pipeline, I promise you, but for now all I can say is: it is fiddly, but worth it!!!!!


Dave






Saturday, October 20, 2018

Completed my midnight black Tamiya Hornet

As I may have mentioned, I have been building a Tamiya Hornet RC buggy as a way of procrastinating starting the rigging of the Wingnut Wings Fokker. I'm still waiting on a controller and receiver to arrive in the mail from a Chinese seller on ebay (six weeks and counting...) but apart from that the Hornet is complete.


I've decided to leave it midnight black, and not put all the bright stickers on it. I think it looks much more striking like this. I may revise that idea once it starts to get scratched up once driven, but for now those pristine glossy black panels are just too nice to cover up with gaudy graphics.



It also highlights just how beaten up my Sand Scorcher is now!





I'm particularly happy with how the driver figure turned out.




Cheers,

Dave

Thursday, October 18, 2018

New video: The 3 simplest ways to improve your scale modelling skills

I had a moment this week when I was sanding away at a poorly fitting join, and I thought just how much I don't enjoy sanding models. After a little more thought, I decided that sanding and cleaning my airbrush were my two least-favourite parts of the hobby. A little more thought again and I realised that the day I confronted these two least-favourite parts of building was actually a really powerful and simple way I improved my builds.




In light of this, my latest video discusses three really simple ways to improve your builds. These are low-hanging fruit - relatively obvious things, but nonetheless important ways to improve your modelling skills, and like the example above they are powerful and simple tools for improving your abilities, no matter if you are an absolute newbie or if you've been modelling for years.

I hope that the title of this video doesn't feel too "clickbait-y". I promise it's not meant to be!

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
The three simplest ways to improve your scale model builds

If you have any feedback, or if you have any other suggestions for simple ways to improve builds, please comment below.

Cheers,

Dave



Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Painting another 1/10 scale driver figure


I'm building my second RC buggy, the Tamiya Hornet. Why am I building that at the moment, I hear you ask, and breaking my own rule of not building two projects at once? Because I'm procrastinating over tackling all the fiddly, mind-numbingly intricate rigging and cutting out teeny tiny turnbuckles for the Wingnut Wings Fokker...


As part of the build, I've got another 1/10 scale driver figure to paint (previous Sand Scorcher driver is here). It's satisfying to paint these little guys, for two reasons:

  1. they're a lot larger than the 1/35 scale figures I usually paint
  2. it's weirdly satisfying to paint these well, even though it is usually barely visible inside the vehicle. I don't know why.


So I'm painting the Hornet driver's eyes, and dammit: one eye is perfect, and one eye looks like a randomly applied blob of paint. The eyes are always the hardest part of a face to paint, and I got it 50% spot on and 50% nope, not quite.

Tamiya Hornet driver figure
Hmmm, that eye on the right hand side of the photo is a bit sketchy...

Tamiya Hornet driver figure

Tamiya Hornet driver figure

Tamiya Hornet driver figure
Pictured: the good eye.

Tamiya Hornet driver figure


I'll see what I can do to fix this...

Cheers,

Dave


Friday, October 12, 2018

New 10% Discount retailer for The MOD Squad members - SJS Hobbies

Good news! I've got a new retailer on board for my members-only discounts programme, The MOD Squad! SJS Hobbies is an Australian ebay retailer who specialises in model kits, hobby supplies and model upgrades, and they have agreed to offer 10% off to all MOD Squad members.


Woo hoo!


If you haven't considered The MOD Squad yet, it's a good time to check it out. For a modest monthly contribution you receive 10% off normal prices at a growing range of scale model specialist retailers. Basically, if you spend more than $30 a month on modelling then you come out ahead, plus you get to support Dave's Model Workshop in the process. Win/win!

If you are already a member, then check out my Patreon page where you will find a special members-only post which contains a link to the ongoing 10% off prices at SJS Hobbies. I hope you find some good stuff there!

If there are any other retailers you'd like to see become part of the 10% off programme, please let me know and I'll approach them. I'm all about bringing some value to you guys, the more the better :)

Cheers,

Dave

Monday, October 8, 2018

The problem of recasting

I don't often post other people's videos on my blog, but when I find something important or extraordinary, I will happily make an exception. This is one of those cases. Adam Savage - one of the guys from Mythbusters - is a model nerd. Who knew, eh? And he has released a video this week about the problem of recasting, where an unscrupulous person will buy a limited release kit and use it to cast their own moulds and then sell their knock-off versions.





I discovered this video via an email I received from Industria Mechanika. If you haven't checked them out before, you should - I got into their aesthetic when I was scratchbuilding The Seahorse, they do great sci-fi and steampunk resin kits. And they are exactly one of the sort of small, short-run model producers who are impacted by recasting. They put in all the effort, pay the artists, produce the amazing kits, and pay their way in the industry.

When someone else comes along and directly copies their work and then starts flogging it off much cheaper on eBay or Etsy or Aliexpress, it may be tempting to grab yourself a bargain. I'll be honest - I've knowingly purchased a recasting before. I'm not proud of it, but I have.


Finding these dodgy bastards took literally sixty seconds.
Part of me didn't want to give exposure, but the main offenders need to be shown.


When Adam says in his video that there are problems with the recasting, that the quality is never as good, I have some doubts. I'm sure some are piss-poor, but I'm sure others are pretty much indistinguishable from the legitimate originals.

But the important difference is this: if you buy originals, you support the artists who produce the cool thing that you love and want. You keep them in business. This equals you keep them producing more cool stuff in the future. You win long term.

That dude who knocks it off and flogs it cheap? He's not designing anything cool for release next month or next year. Screw him. Plus, it's just a really shitty thing to do, being a parasite and copying the creativity of others.

If you've ever read this blog before you'll know I love saving money, and doing it on the cheap if it is at all possible. But in this case, it's a false economy. Support the people who actually do the work - your purchase keeps the small guys producing the cool stuff. If they go out of business then less cool stuff for you in the future.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Adam Savage on The Problem of Recasting

Cheers comrades,

Dave



Friday, October 5, 2018

New video: How to paint a realistic WW1 wooden propeller

The Wingnut Wings Fokker continues, and in my latest video I show you how I've painted the laminated wooden propeller. I've taken a little artistic license here - technically it should be something like seven layers thick, not three, but you get the idea. It looks good to me, and it looks like real wood.



How to paint realistic laminated wooden propellers for WW1 aircraft scale models


It's a very simple technique. Basically it involves a base layer of lightish acrylic paint, and then a further layer of darker raw umber acrylic.

The magic happens when you cover that with washes of burnt umber oil paint. This gives the wood its richness and tonal variation.


How to paint realistic laminated wooden propellers for WW1 aircraft scale models

How to paint realistic laminated wooden propellers for WW1 aircraft scale models


What I love about this technique is that it is incredibly forgiving. If you stuff something up, it is tremendously easy to wipe it away and have another go, and another go, until it looks good to you.

The video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
How to paint realistic wooden propellers for WW1 aircraft

Cheers,

Dave





Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Painting my wooden propeller

I can't keep it in - I'm pretty damn chuffed with how this is working out so far. Here's the current progress on painting the wood effect of my Fokker's propeller.



Painting a wood effect on scale model aircraft propellers


I'm rather happy with that.

My partner asked if the kit comes with an actual wooden propeller when she saw this.

Not bad for a bit of plastic, eh?

Painting a wood effect on scale model aircraft propellers

Painting a wood effect on scale model aircraft propellers


I'm currently filming a how-to video on how I achieved this, which I hoe to have out this weekend.

Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Dave

Friday, September 28, 2018

New video: Wingnut Wings are they really that good? PART 3 FINAL BUILD

The Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV Eindecker is almost complete. I still have to finish painting the propeller and then rig all the rigging, two topics which I will cover in separate "how to" videos, but as far as finishing everything that is included in the kit - it is 95% complete. As such, I feel ready to answer my question of "Wingnut Wings - are they really that good?"



1/32 scale Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV completed model


In this third and final video in the series, I discuss the final construction of the kit, the fit of the subassemblies, and the quality of the Cartograf decals. I could have masked and airbrushed most of the German cross markings, they are not that complicated, but I wanted to experience the entire Wingnut Wings kit and everything it offered.

In addition to the prop and rigging, I've still got some weathering and a final matte coat to go.

1/32 scale Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV completed model
But overall I'm tremendously happy with how it has turned out.


So what is my verdict?

Are Wingnut Wings scale model kits as good as everyone says?

Are they worth the hefty price tags?



You'll just have to watch the video to find out.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Wingnut Wings scale model kits - are they really that good? Part 3 FINAL

Cheers,

Dave


Thursday, September 20, 2018

What the Postie delivered: I think I have an addiction

This arrived in the post today. I think I have a problem.


Tamiya Racing Buggy buggy Champ 1/10 scale silver edition
Oooh, bonus parts included!

It's a 1/10 scale Tamiya Super Champ, the re-release of the original 1970s SRB Rough Rider.

I'll just add it to the RC Hornet that arrived a week or two ago.

Tamiya Racing Buggy buggy Champ 1/10 scale silver edition


So, ummm, just asking on behalf of a friend: when do you know you have a new addiction?

That damn Tamiya Sand Scorcher - it's a gateway drug.

Dave

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Painting the turned aluminium effect of the Fokker's cowling

I spent a couple of hours last night working on the Wingnut Wings Fokker, and in particular I worked on the turned aluminium cowling. I have two words to describe this process: time-consuming.


These period photos show the effect I'm trying to replicate. It's a squiggly, curvy snaking line of polished turned aluminium that covers the entire cowling and exposed aluminium surfaces at the front of the aircraft.

Source.
Source.

Source.


And here is my attempt at capturing this look so far:







I'm going to produce a video very soon showing how I achieved this effect, but all I will share right now is that it involves a lot of time, a good set of eyes, bright light and a lot of patience!

Cheers,

Dave

Saturday, September 15, 2018

New video: Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV - PART 2

My experiment with Wingnut Wings continues in this second video about the 1/32 Fokker E.IV, and I have to say, I like this little Fokker. In this video I build the engine and fuselage.





The detail continues to impress. The radial engine in particular is a miniature work of art - the detail is just phenomenal. Below you can see photos of the 160hp Oberursel U.III engine. There are some issues with seams, which I think are fairly unavoidable. I don't know, perhaps there would have been a smarter way to manufacture those pieces and avoid visible seams on the piston casings on the finished product, but I don't have any suggestions on exactly what that smarter solution would actually be.

1/32 scale Radial engine from Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV
This engine is 28mm from side to side. That's a helluva lot of detail packed into 28mm.
1/32 scale Radial engine from Wingnut Wings Fokker E.IV
Why yes, that is obviously a 160hp Oberursel E.III radial engine!
Pfft, who wouldn't recognise the ol' E.III from just a glance?


The fuselage is another story. I do spend a lot of time in this video dealing with seams on the fuselage (some issues are due to my own incompetence!) but I do present a solution in the video on how some of these issues could have been avoided.

That said, as I mention in the video: Who am I to tell Wingnut Wings how to manufacture their kits? I'm just some schlub.

Anyway, check it out. I'm really enjoying this build - it continues to be really eye-opening for me. Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
Wingnut Wings scale model kits - are they really that good? PART 2


Special thanks to HobbyLink Japan who provided the kit to me for review - if you like the look of the kit it is available here.

Cheers,

Dave