Anyone know of a good basic modelling tutorial?

[Aaronw]

We have a brand new modeler over at the Scale Firehouse who wants to take on the AMT American LaFrance pumper. He needs some help on everything from paint to glue. I was hoping there might be a good tutorial of the basics out there I could point him towards. That isn't an easy kit to start with, but I'd like to see it be a first and not a last build.

Thanks

[Jantrix]

Aaron that's a tough one. A first model and the outcome will certainly make or break a beginner modeler depending on their level of maturity and stick-to-it-ivness. I don't know of any beginner tutorial but that certainly sounds like a worthy endevour. Depending on the age of your friend, I'd perhaps recommend a simpler kit? Send him to Big Lots for some $5 car kits and let him cut his teeth on those before he digs into that LaFrance. Also as far as painting find out where he lives and warn him about the effects weather and humidity can have on paint. A lot of my lousy paint jobs from my teens I thought were a personal failure, but found out years later that painting in July in Florida with enamels is a waste of paint. I'd start him out on Testors liquid glue (easy to use but dry time stinks) and a gap filling CA. Good luck.

[monkeyclaw]

Aaron; The "standard" in tutorials for me has always been the old Phil Jensen book (YES BOOK) "building model tucks".... I have recommended it to new modelers many times ovr the years. Although the projects in the book now sem dated, the basic principals are well covered in a clear, methodical fashion. You would think there would be a lot more books out there covering the subject; but there just aren't. I am sure there others; and I don't men to overlook any other authors; and I hope this information helps.............matt

[cruz]

http://italianhorses.net/

THIS IS A LINK THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU, SHOWS A LOT OF THE BASICS OF MODEL BUILDING WITH STARTING AND ADVANCED TUTORIALS. I STILL THINK YOU SHOULD START WITH SOMETHING SIMPLE AND WORK YOURSELF UP FROM THERE!!!! THERE IS ALSO THE WORKBENCH THREAD ON THIS FORUM WHERE YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF THE GUYS POSTING THEIR WORK IN PROGRESS PROJECTS, CAN'T SEE ANY PLACE ELSE BETTER THAN WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW!!!

[Aaronw]

I'm not really sure of the posters demographics, but I think it is an adult who wants a fire truck model, so I'm not sure suggesting a simpler kit will work, but its worth a try.

Matt I'm sure that book is great, but its not easy to find or cheap. I was just after one on ebay and it sold for $130 (no I wasn't the high bid). Would be nice to see a reprint available.

Marcos, nice site. Most of that stuff is a bit advanced but the primer tutorial may work really well for the paint.

It is funny that I feel comfortable helping someone with a more difficult task like resin or photo etch parts but feel completely inadequate to explain the basics.

I guess "the basics" would be a good project.

[lilsquirt]

try this brians model cars.com they have a great tutitorial forum!

I dont go ther anymore prefering to geep my butt right here and at scale racing lobby

lilsquirt