/r/modelmakers
The subreddit dedicated to the hobby of plastic model kit building and painting.
Swap tips and techniques, show your latest builds/WIPs, post kit reviews and discuss the latest kits!
And much more!
/r/modelmakers rules -- Please read before posting.
The short form: Post something that you would like to discuss! If posting a photo, video or link, please include a relevant comment to start conversation. Blogspam isn't welcome here. If you post a box or haul picture, include pictures of the contents! We want to see sprue!
Hobby Shop Representatives Do you work for or otherwise represent a hobby shop or online retailer, and are you about to post a link to your store? If you've never posted before, contact the moderators first.
New to Model making?
Check the FAQ/Wiki for some useful tips and tricks!
Not sure how to make a photo album? We have a guide just for that!
CURRENT GROUPBUILDS
Leader: /u/Draggin_Ballz1990
Dates: 21st January 2023 - 22nd September 2023.
Leader: /u/Dakleton
Dates: 17th June 2023 - 17 June 2024
Leader: /u/Ozy_YOW
Dates: 1st January 2024 - 6th of June 2024
Who can run a Groupbuild? Anyone! See how!
The subreddit dedicated to the hobby of plastic model kit building and painting.
Swap tips and techniques, show your latest builds/WIPs, post kit reviews and discuss the latest kits!
And much more!
USEFUL TOOLS AND SITES
Scalemates! -- the most complete database of everything and anything about modelling
Sitting Ducks Link List -- a growing list of user-submitted model-related links
The Complete Future (...which answers the eternal question: "What's up with this floor wax people keep recommending?")(archive.org link)
APPS
iModelKit Free (iOS) paint color and scale conversion app
Our friends:
/r/modelcars - for your automotive needs.
/r/MaschinenKrieger - gritty future war machines.
/r/gunpla - if you love your Gundam models!
/r/warhammer - for you Warhammer nuts!
/r/minipainting - devoted to the art of painting miniatures
/r/72scale - Braille scale!
/r/1_700shipbuilders - very small ships
/r/dioramas - dioramas, vignettes, and tiny landscapes
/r/SciFiModels- Live long and prosper at this Sci Fi related sub!
/r/modeltrains - Rolling stock and landscapes and more.
/r/Scalemodel - Another scale model sub
/r/scalemodelling - Another one!
/r/plasticmodelling - Showing the best modelling pics from around the web
/r/resinkits - Our resin loving buddies
/r/TerrainBuilding - Terraform your tabletop
/r/Kitbash - mix and match for unique builds
/r/metalearth - Little foldy metal kits
/r/modelexchange - buy, sell, trade
/r/brushforhire - Model commissions and builders for hire.
REFERENCE IMAGES
A bank of images mainly for weathering reference and other such inspiration
PrimePortal Reference Albums - Armour, Aircraft, Ground Forces, Naval
/r/modelmakers
257,911 Subscribers
1:35 map case
16:03 UTC
Colours for desert spitfire
Hello im new to modelling and i wanted to make a desert spitfire are these colours from vallejo accurate (im a student so i cant really afford to make mistakes like getting the wrong paints) Thank you for your time!
15:46 UTC
Military model popularity
So I have recently got back to modelmaking, currently working on a TOS Enterprise by Revell, but I am just wondering - why is it that specifically military models, be it fighter planes, tanks, ATs are so widely popular while non-military are far less common? Not really looking to make military models in the future tbh and this is just something that crossed my mind.
11:54 UTC
NEWBIE! Best methods/products for cleaning brushes?
Hello everyone! I am very new to model building and so far I'm really enjoying it and would like to get more involved.
I just wondered if anyone had any advice on cleaning brushes please?
Would something as simple as white spirit do the job or is there something better that you pros would recommend?
11:29 UTC
The build is back on!
New decals arrived! #tamiya #spitfire
11:08 UTC
Colored aluminum foil for foiling techniques?
Hello!
I was wondering if this type of colored aluminum foil would work using the glue/burnish technique?
200 Count Pre-Cut Gold Aluminum Foil Sheets, 9” Gold Pop Up Foil Sheets for Restaurant, Disposable Foil Sheets for Food Wrapping, Gold Foil Sheets for Hair Highlighting, Stock Your Home https://a.co/d/iBK2cBw
Or maybe these that come in more colors but are pricier (per sq ft)… https://a.co/d/1LlpVqG
Any insight will be appreciated.
05:05 UTC
Help with gloss varnish rattle cans
Recently spent far too much money on a gloss varnish experiment to see if any of them yielded good results.
There’s some lacquers and acrylics. The rattle cans either flood the ever loving bejesus at a close range, or create a nasty “orange peel” effect at a distance. There’s doesn’t appear to be a sweet spot distance.
The only product that produces a serviceable look are the “Mr.” Products.
But this leads me to my question:
I was hoping to use these for protective layers between enamel weathering, but they are all so heavy handed that I feel I’m using them for the wrong purpose. Are these for “final coats” on projects meant to result in a shiny look? (so flooding details is okay), or, is anyone having luck with them as protective layers between panel lines/decals/weathering?
(Recently took a can opener to the Testors and pan to air brush. Grumble grumble)
03:57 UTC
How to remove brush stokes?
This is my second model kit and I'm realizing every time I paint on another coat of paint, it looks good wet, but after it dries, there's lines on the surfaces that I painted. I'm thinning my paint with a bit of water, making sure to make the coats thin and painting in short quick strokes in the same direction but I can't figure out how to make it dry more evenly.
02:15 UTC
Getting back to the hobby
I’m coming back to the hobby after nearly a year. I alleays used the Model Colours app before to keep track of models and paints, etc. But now a subscription is mandatory and I think the price is too high. Are there any good alternatives?
01:39 UTC
Injured P-51D in 48th from Hasegawa ready to be healed by putty and sanding
01:35 UTC
This AC-130 fit…
For some reason Italeri made this a large clear piece and not remotely fit. The amount of putty and sanding I’m having to do to make look even close is pretty egregious. Was going to set it aside but I think at this point I just need to power through. A fair amount of putty elsewhere but it was at least manageable.
23:51 UTC
Does anyone know where I can buy decals and lifeboat davits for a 1/700 Britannic?
23:20 UTC
Airbrush spitting out waterdroplets
Well, my airbrush (fengda 35€) is connected to a sparmax compressor with no airtank. As of lattely i get lot's of waterdroplets at the beginning of pulling the trigger and sometimes in the Middle of a spraying session. Will An airtank solved this problem? Or e.g. a dry air supply of some sort?
21:47 UTC
Any help as to what went wrong?
This is my first model and everything was going great until the clear coat. I started with Tamiya fine surface primer, then after a few days sprayed a couple coats of Createx pearlized airbrush color (5304). After another few days I used Tamiya Clear (TS-13) which I decanted and mixed with Mr Color Leveling Thinner 400. This was on the second coat when it started cracking and I'm not sure why. I'm an amateur, this was my first ever model so I know I have a lot to learn. The last pic is from the undercarriage and I didn't clear coat that, the paint was great before the clear coat. Can someone explain what I did wrong here please? Thanks everyone for such a great community!
20:00 UTC