Archives: Tips
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Make your own glue stopper
I found that if you cut an eraser off a pencil and stick a pushpin through the center, it works as an excellent stopper, extending the life of the tip.
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Aircraft lights from pin tops
The curved tops of translucent pushpins can be cut to look like wingtip lights for 1/32 and 1/48 scale aircraft.
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Create a paint stand from a CD/DVD spindle
Starting from the top of a tall CD/DVD rod, drill a 13/64-inch hole straight down to a depth of about 11/4 inches, 1. If painting a car body, look underneath — they usually have a pin on the inside of the top that will fit snugly into the new hole, 2.
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Find paint colors quickly
Most kit instructions come with a table calling out paint colors. Before I start, I copy this page, cut out the table, and tape it to a convenient spot on my workbench.
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Make the size of models clear
For smaller builds, I place a No. 11 hobby blade in the frame. For larger models, I include a No. 11 hobby blade on its handle.
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Stained glass windows made easy
When modeling stained glass windows, I use the expanded metal mesh found in craft stores and hobby shops. It’s made for plaster-casting molds, but works well for windows.
