6 Tips and Ideas to Customize Your Model Kit

So you've built a few model kits and you're ready to up your game and do something unique and different to your piece?

First, go check out your local hobby shop and get some ideas on what you may want to do to upgrade your model. Do you want to custom design and make your own decals? Change the interior? Add something completely different?

Ask yourself if this is for you or to enter in a show and what level you are building at. Be realistic with your skill level and remember with each kit you do, you're going to get better!

Painting is the most common way to make your model stand out. If you're brush painting, make sure to keep your brush strokes going in one direction for a better look.

When customizing your colours be sure to write down how much of each colour you're mixing so you can get an exact match each time. Who knows, someone may want that colour combo and ask you for the mix ratio. Use eyedroppers or pipettes to help with this.

Weathering can really add that "something special" to your custom build. It can make your piece look beat up and rusted or look as if it's just been though the mud. It can be used to create blaster marks on a Sci-fi kit, engine exhaust stains or peeling paint on a car.

It's all in how you use your paint and brush. For example for blaster marks use paint and brush to 'dry brush' the look you want. For a dusty look you can use chalks. Just make sure that after you create the weathered look you desire, seal it with a clear coat of Matte, Semi-Gloss or Gloss. You don't want to ruin that hard work.

Decals are a fun way to customize for beginner to intermediate builders. The majority of kits already have a sheet of decals ideal to your model choice, with sometimes two or three variant choices; But what if you want something unique to your imagination?  Decal sets and paper are just what you're looking for.

Basically decals are layers of paint built up on plastic film with a paper backing.  The glue is usually activated by water.  Your printer may be up to the task of creating your decals.

When using decals make sure to cut as close to the pattern as possible (nail or craft scissors work best for this). Dip your decal in water for the instructions set amount of time and add it to your model. You can use Microset to help the decal settle onto the model more snugly.  There are many articles and YouTube videos on how to use and apply decals. Practice makes perfect in this case.  Even the most expert model builders can have trouble with decals. Just take your time with it.

Finally, consider adding your model onto a Diorama to add dimension and truly get the feeling across to those looking at your creation. They can be as simple or complex as you want them to be. Ask your experienced local hobby shop for tips and ideas.

With the help of your local hobby shop's knowledgeable staff, checking out a few YouTube videos, researching articles like this one and your own imagination, you can create a potential masterpiece from a humble box of plastic and photo-etched parts.

Make sure to read these great blog articles too and share them with a friend:

• 10 Tips For Buying A Model Kit
• Basic Tips For Model Building

• Model Tips for Beginners - Part 2
• Model Kit Building And Painting Tips And Tricks

Please make sure to comment below if you have a tip to share!  Like our blog to get updates on the newest additions. We post every Thursday, alternating Trains and Model/Toys.

Also, make sure to check out our Website, Facebook and YouTube Channel for inspiration, learning and fun!

Thanks for reading

Happy Hobbying

Tips for Painting and intalling a canopy on your model aircraft

Have you ever felt frustrated trying to put a conopy on your aircraft?  Did it cloud up or the paint wasn't looking great on the canopy accent?
     I know how you feel! When little mistakes happen it tends to kill any creative inkling you may have felt.
It's daunting enough creating your favourite aircraft – never mind putting together a piece you can be proud to show off.
     Here's some helpful tips to help create a model to be proud of; without fancy terms, and keeping it simple.

 When you've finished this post, you'll know exactly how to create a great canopy for your next model plane.
Please make sure to comment on this blog post with your thoughts and don't forget to sign up to our Newsletter to keep up on new product, contests, sales and more!

Let's have some fun!

-Two kinds of successful mask. Liquid and tape

     Before starting, make sure you have all your supplies together. Your mask tape, hobby knife with a sharp blade (#11 works best), proper cutting surface, good lighting, hobby paint for your project and Clear parts glue

MASKING THE CANOPY FOR PAINTING
1)  make sure that all the clear airplane model parts are clean, dry and free of any fingerprints or dust. And your hands are clean and dry.
2)  Start with the 6mm Tamiya masking tape. Tear off a 4' piece and starting at the rear flat edge, carefully run the tape along the bottom outline of the
canopy.  Gently press into place.

3)  Using the 6mm tape, mask alongside any raised parts (so you don't cover the part you want to paint)
4)  Bring the tape smoothly to the end of the edge and cut off excess.
Tip:  Make sure to cut past the end of your piece of canopy or you may cut into or scratch, your conaopy

5)  Either continue to mask areas you don't wish to paint with the 6mm or fill in with the wider tape such as the 18mm.
6)  Take your time when masking - it's a learning process.

Tip: If you choose to use liquid mask, just use a fine brush to paint on the liquid mask and let it set before you paint your model (follow the directions on the
bottle).  Peel off mask after you've let the paint dry, scoring the mask along the paint line for clean edges.

TIP: It's really important to take your time, use a very sharp hobby knife and cut a clean, precise section, free of tearing. Any raised details you intend to paint,
should be the only areas visible through the mask.

PAINTING YOUR CANOPY:
     Now it's time to paint the canopy of your model aircraft.
1)  Airbrush or handpaint your first coat using the interior cockpit colour and allow some time for it to dry.
2)  paint the fuselage colour over it and allow it to dry.  Or finish the canopy of the aircraft by applying your preferred paint colours
3) finish with a final coat to seal the paint (dull, gloss, etc.) over the canopy before you remove the mask.
 4)  After all paint has dried, use your hobby knife and carefully run it along the edge of your mask and gently lift off the mask with the tip of the blade and slowly peel off the mask.

Enjoy your work!

Tip: don't use dullcote or gloss cote directly on clear areas, if you wish that part to move on your model. Spray the model and clear part separately, then attach the clear part.  Don't spray any unmasked clear parts as dullcote can cause the part to fog, so keep the mask on and spray the painted areas.

Now you're ready to glue on your canopy

USING CANOPY GLUE (clear parts glue)
- This is a glue that dries clear and doesn't cloud your clear parts

  Now your canopy is ready to install. I like to use Testors Clear Parts Glue to glue it in place. This glue goes on white but then dries clear. It's best to put a small puddle on a scrap piece of cardboard and use a tooth pick to draw a fine line of glue around the perimeter of the Canopy.

Now place it in position and use folded piece of Kleenex or paper towel to hold it in place and avoid fingerprints. Once the glue has dried, apply the rest of the glue and guide it into position if needed.

 Tip: The Testors Clear Parts glue cleans up with water before it dries so you can wipe small smudges off with a damp cloth.



```Extra Tip:  using Future floor finish. This technique will make the clear plastic appear thinner and clearer. Surprisingly, it can also hide minor scratches and blemishes that are often unavoidable when working with clear model kit parts.
      Check out how:

Now it's your turn!  Please leave a comment on what you thought of this blog post.  We would also love to see your work or works in progress!  Please email us with your photos Today!

National Aviation History Month - Part 3 The Futuristic

National Aviation History Month -

What Does the Future Hold?

When you were a child what ideas of the future did you have?  Did you watch the Jetsons and think that by the time you were an adult we would have flying cars and moving sidewalks?

The Jetsons

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jetsons

What about your hobbies?  Were you building models of Lost In Space, Star Wars or Star Trek ships and robots? Did you fashion a space ship out of boxes? Tell stories to your friends about space adventures you would have? Or did you stay on the earth and fantasize about homes that would read your thoughts and turn on the lights automatically, cook your favourite meal in seconds, or shower and dress you in minutes?

Enterprise Model Kit

Annekin's Jedi Starfighter

A glimpse into the future of aviation

Fuel is getting ever more expensive. If we still want to be able to fly in the future, we'll need new and more efficient planes. Aviation pioneers are working on concepts on how the planes of the future might look like.

draft plane of the German Aerospace Center blends cabin with wings to create a "blended-wing body."

Green aviation

Aviation causes around 3 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide. For the EU commission, this is too much: it's calling for a reduction by 25 percent by 2050. Visionary new aviation projects could help realize this ambitious goal. The plane pictured here, built by Bauhaus-Luftfahrt, uses electricity to get off the ground.

What do you thing the future will hold for Aviation?

Let us know by commenting on this blog or on one of our other medias.  Thank you for reading our blog, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Chinook & Hobby West

Where The Fun Begins!

South:

5011 Macleod Tr. SW

Calgary, AB   T2G 0A9

PH- 403-243-1997

toll free- 877-525-5785

hobbywest@shaw.ca

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My Favorite Part of Aviation History - An Interview with Glenn K.

November is National Aviation History Month:

This is an interview with one of our staff members who's hobby is aviation history.  Glenn has many passions, although his want for knowledge (especially Aviation History) is massive and unquenchable. Come by and talk to him sometime.

Glenn K.

 Valerie:   Have you always been interested in Airplanes?  

Glenn: Not really.  I am more of a history buff and I became interested in aircraft after watching an old black and white documentary about the Avro Arrow on TV when I was a teenager.  I was intrigued with the history of the aircraft and over time, I read everything I could get my hands on about the Arrow.  In those days, not much was available.  In 1997 (I think), CBC produced a movie about the Avro Arrow starring Dan Aykroyd as Crawford Gordon.  Gordon was the President of A.V. Roe Canada, the aircraft manufacturer that produced the Arrow.  Although it is a movie, it does have a lot of history facts about the building of and the ultimate demise of the Arrow.  And, for the record, nooooo . . . an Arrow was not “spirited away” !!!!!!!!! 

Interesting Video Clip

 Valerie:  What was the first Aircraft you became enamored with and why? 
 Glenn: Well of course it is the CF-105 or more commonly known as the Avro Arrow.  The key reason why is because it was a totally Canadian built jet-fighter interceptor and was head and shoulders above anything else in the world.  It is unfortunate the Arrow program was terminated and all existing aircraft were cut up and sold as scrap.  Almost all of the drawings, plans and tooling were destroyed and no sales of the Iroquois engine were ever allowed, even though the French government wished to purchase at least 400 of the them.  One can only imagine what kind of an aircraft industry Canada would have developed, had the government not terminated the program.     

Versions of The Avro Arrow

  
Valerie:  Why is the Avro Arrow your passion when it comes to Aircraft?
 Glenn: It was the most advanced jet-fighter interceptor in the world at the time.  In the end, A.V. Roe not only designed, developed and built the Delta wing airframe but also developed and produced one of the most powerful jet engine of its time (26,000 pounds of thrust).  Eventually, A.V. Roe, Canada even took over the development of the firing system to be used in the Arrow. 
A very bold step for a single aircraft manufacturer to design and develop all three major components of an aircraft. 

A. V. Roe

 Valerie:  What two facts about the Avro Arrow do you find the most interesting?
 Glenn:  One of the most interesting facts about the Arrow is that it had “fly-by-wire” technology in 1958.  This technology was not used in military aircraft until 1971 and even then it was limited.  I’m not quite sure but I believe commercial aircraft (Airbus being the first) did not use this type of technology until the 1980’s!!  A second significant fact is the aircraft was not built as a prototype, that is, for testing purposes only.  Every single aircraft was designed to be built and put directly into service.  This was and still is something not normally done by aircraft manufacturers.
        Something not specific to the Arrow but significant nonetheless, was the “Brain Drain”.  When the program was terminated in 1959, many Avro workers were recruited to work for major British and US aircraft manufacturers as well as for NASA.  Some of NASA’s space  research and development technology, such as the Apollo lunar orbiter and the Canadarm, were developed with the help of key Canadian engineers and scientists that came from A.V. Roe Canada. 

  

Valerie:   Do you have a favourite pilot? Why do you find him/her interesting?  
Glenn:   I guess Max Ward comes to mind.  He was a Canadian pilot who originally flew bush planes in the north.  He was a pioneer in aviation and also an excellent pilot.  He went on to form his own commercial airline called Wardair Canada.  It began as a simple but quality charter airline (which I had the distinct pleasure of flying to Europe on in 1968).  Wardair grew to become an independent transatlantic airline, the 3<sup>rd</sup> largest in Canada behind Air Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP Air).  Wardair was eventually acquired by Canadian Pacific Airlines

Max Ward

Valerie:  Have you built any model airplanes? Which one? Do you have a photo? 

  Glenn:As a teenager, I built several aircraft, mostly military jets.  Interestingly, I built a Lancaster bomber, which ironically was manufactured during WWII under license to A.V. Roe Canada, in Malton Ontario.  Unfortunately, those models have long since disappeared however, I still have an old Avro Arrow kicking around.  Not in the best of shape but I probably built it more than 20 years ago.  I have attached a couple of photos for you – don’t laugh.

There are quite a few links for you to enjoy on this post.  We hope you will check them out to learn even more about some of Aviation Histories interesting events and people

Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow

The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft, designed and built by Avro Canada as the culmination of a design study that began in 1953. Wikipedia

First flight: March 25, 1958

Length: 24 m

Wingspan: 15 m

Designer: James C. Floyd

Manufacturer: Avro Canada

Engine types: Turbojet, Pratt & Whitney J75

We hope you enjoyed this blog, please leave a comment to let us know what you thought about this blog.

Chinook & Hobby West

Where The Fun Begins!

5011 Macleod Tr. SW

Calgary, AB   T2G 0A9

PH- 403-243-1997

toll free- 877-525-5785

hobbywest@shaw.ca

Don't Forget To Join Our Collectors Club! http://www.chinookandhobbywest.com/collectors-club.html

website: http://www.chinookandhobbywest.com/

blog:      http://chinookhobbytalk.blogspot.ca/

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Why I Love Aviation - An Interview With John H.

November is National Aviation Month:

This is an interview with a former staff member who's hobby is aviation.  John is now a pilot and loves getting air under his wings whenever he can.

John Hunter

 Valerie:   Have you always been interested in Airplanes?  

John:  I've always liked airplanes.  My dad travels a lot and I really liked to be at the airport and would watch airplanes take off and land.

 Valerie:  What was the first Aircraft you became enamored with and why? 

John:  My first aircraft that I loved was the Lancaster bomber.  There was an airshow some time ago that I went to that you could get inside and look around it was pretty cool.

Lancaster Bomber   (click photo for more info)

Valerie:   When did you know you wanted to become a pilot?

John:  In high school the high river pilot school came down and gave a presentation I pretty much decided then.

Valerie:  When did you take your first flying class?  What did that first flight feel like?

John:  My first flight was in the summer right after high school. It takes a minute for you to really grasp that your are actually flying.

Valerie:  What two facts about flying an aircraft do you find the most interesting? 

 John:  Just look up a video about aircraft spins that can really be 10 interesting and terrifying things.

 Valerie:  Do you have a favourite pilot? Why do you find him/her interesting?

  John:  Alan Shepard the first american in space.  I really found his story interesting because he wasn't chosen because of his background or piloting skill there were better choices out there.  He was picked because all those pilots really liked and respected him.

 Valerie:  Have you built any model airplanes? Which one? Do you have a photo?

   John: I have a few models airplanes my favorite being the SR-71 or the blackbird.

SR-71 Blackbird   

Valerie:   What plane do you fly?

 John:  The aircraft i do most my flying in is the Diamond DA20

Diamond DA20

The Diamond DA20 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation aircraft designed for flight training. In addition to its role as a civil and military training aircraft, it is also used for personal flying by pilot-owners. Wikipedia

Cruise speed: 256 km/h

Range: 1,013 km

Length: 7.16 m

Unit cost: 198,800–238,375 USD (2013)

Engine type: Aircraft engine

Manufacturer: Diamond Aircraft Industries

We hope you enjoyed this blog and we would like to know what you think.

Chinook & Hobby West

Where The Fun Begins!

5011 Macleod Tr. SW

Calgary, AB   T2G 0A9

PH- 403-243-1997

toll free- 877-525-5785

hobbywest@shaw.ca

Don't Forget To Join Our Collectors Club! http://www.chinookandhobbywest.com/collectors-club.html

website: http://www.chinookandhobbywest.com/

blog:      http://chinookhobbytalk.blogspot.ca/

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChinookAndHobbyWest

twitter:   https://twitter.com/HobbyandToy

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/valerie-gale/39/7a1/990