Archives: How-To Articles
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Revell Hemi ‘Cuda highlights
In 2014, Tim Boyd gave Scale Auto readers tips for improving the (at the time) brand-new Revell 1/25 scale Hemi ‘Cuda 2’n 1 kit. Beyond advice for modeling Elastomeric bumpers, racing mirrors, and a vinyl top, Tim also provided a chart to help modelers match factory-correct colors to paints available to modelers. These colors give…
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Weathering with dot filters
We’ve all seen those subtly weathered models. The ones that truly look realistic thanks to the hints of dirt, dust, and wear in multiple light coats. How does a modeler achieve these fantastic results? The answer is dot filters. Is it complicated? While it may look intense, truthfully, it’s a very easy process consisting of only…
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Easy carbon scoring
Whether it’s the Millennium Falcon or an atmosphere-bound snow speeder, you know they’ve seen their share of battles by the numerous scorch marks and carbon scoring left behind by laser blasts. Reproducing those on your Star Wars spaceships is an essential skill, and FineScale Modeler Aaron Skinner shows you how to achieve just the right…
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Kitbash the ‘Cuda of your dreams
With the Revell Plymouth 1970 AAR ’Cuda and Hemi ’Cuda kits, modelers now have two state-of-the-art ’Cuda kits to work from when developing kitbashed model projects. The most obvious project would be to combine parts from the Hemi ’Cuda with the 340 V8 from the AAR kit to model what many consider to be the most…
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Make smoke plumes with rayon fiber
Are you building an action scene, complete with flames? Then you’ll need puffy plumes of thick smoke to amp up the drama and add movement. That’s exactly what Robert Pierson did in his diorama of Monogram’s 1/48 scale B-24J Liberator crashing into water (January 2017 FSM). Follow his method to create masses of billowing smoke…
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How to add non-skid texture with cooking flour
The rough surfaces seen on tanks and aircraft walkways is easily made with coarse flour from your pantry (also called stone-ground, whole-wheat, or whole-grain). It’s simple to apply and paint over and looks realistic to boot.
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How to paint wood grain on propellers
Painting the fine grain lines on Wooden Props can seem like a challenge, but really all you need to make it work are fine-tipped paint brushes, thin strips of tape, and more gloss than you might expect.
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Understanding model scale
Without belaboring the point and sifting through arcane reasons why, you’ll find that certain models are typically made in common scales: 1/35 scale for armor and military-related ground vehicles; 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scales for aircraft; 1/20, 1/24, and 1/25 scale for cars and trucks; 1/9 and 1/12 scales for motorcycles.
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Upgrade your workbench on the cheap
All modelers dream of having the perfect space in which to build. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to upgrade the space you’re working in now. By purchasing a few inexpensive, everyday items, you can make your workbench more functional and more comfortable to work at.
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How to quickly paint a 1/48 scale Chewbacca
If you’ve built Bandai’s 1/48 scale Star Wars AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport), you know the included Chewbacca figure is molded in brown plastic, but you can make it look more realistic by painting its fur shades of brown and touching the bandolier with metallics. I used Vallejo paints unless stated otherwise.