Search the Community

I am an old geezer and have modeled some when younger. Smooth was for how to get gals. For a model paint it on thick and you filled the surface, it worked but didn't look great. Then came my woodworking and cabinet building and that was where I learned to sand, sand, and sand some more. My granddaddy was a tool and die maker in the 1930's and his work had to be perfect. He worked metal so he used end mills, lathes and that kind of tools. He would get a piece done and before taking it out of the machine he had a thin pair of leather gloves that he put on and a little oil to help the suppleness of the leather and he felt around the piece. If it had z burr the glove would snag and hold and he knew more work and he could also feel the high and low spots. The same applied to the wood. When you think you are ready to finish you don't need the gloves but your hands will feel things your eye even in the best light can not see. That is why blind people always are touching. You can tell color with your hands just from how warm or cool something feels a lot of the time. When you are ready to paint your model wash it well and let it dry. Then put on a pair of gloves and rub over your pieces and if they still need work you can do it without ruining a paint job because of something your eyes missed. Hands seldom lie about your work.

I picked up this 1964 Thunderbolt on Saturday from Hobby Lobby. Read the box after I got home, skill level 5, should be ok. Next it said build time 7 hours, pretty near split my pants laughing at the 7 hours. I must assume they assembled the model without painting or any detailing. Takes me that long to go over the instructions & get things ready to start.