Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

Does anyone know a source of pretty fine mesh screen? About 4-7 cells across the engine openings of a Timeslip TOS Galactica specifically. Sure I'd prefer thin hexagonal screen. But close is ok. I've got some old Dr. Microtools mesh screen, but it's too fine. I can't find evidence that this company ...

What is the "brittle" area at the joint you all are referring to? Is it excess dried tube glue, or is it the fused join line? If the later, then when you sand that part down to create 2 new mating surfaces, you've just made the cross-section smaller. I guess on small fiddly bits like joy s...

Thanks. If Future takes Mig washes, I need to give them a try. I've not had a lot of luck rescribing in the past. Many resin kit lines are not as fine as the scribers as well. I'll definitely try MiG washes if you can apply over Future.

Still working my nerve up for oils. Not sure how to use the MiG pigments. Plus, I've become attached to Future and Tamiya flat base, so I'm not sure what those can take and what they can't. Plus, I'm still left needing to wipe away excess after the wash, so I'm not sure anything in shallow panel lin...

Nope, didn't try that. Of course, it loses its capillary action somewhat at that point and starts spreading out. I've had this before. I'm not good with shallow panel lines.

Tried the q tip. Tried lightly swiping with a damp sponge. SOL.

Thanks much. Well, some places the wash stays. On some shallow panel lines, it doesn't, despite several different tries to remove the slop. So it's uneven. And I can't say Payne's Gray on a 1/1000 ship gives a very scale appearance. Oh well, I'm not about to strip it and start over. Lesson learned.

Thanks. so if you apply decals first, I assume you need to overcoat them before applying the wash?

I'm trying Grumbacher Payne's Gray watercolor paste over a future clearcoat. Seems to be working ok, except the panel lines aren't deep and I'm having to redo some lines. Plus my mix is probably too watery and the pigment doesn't always wind up in the line. Main question is - once I finish wiping aw...

Thanks. I bought the American-made one. I'll see how it does. I've bid on Etch Mates before. They run into the high 40s before postage even if you win. This cost $33 w/ postage. I'll take my chances and report back.

Actually, on the bussards, leaving them sanded 'frosty' and painting clear behind them gives a nice seething plasma effect.

I saw these on ebay after losing an auction for the more expensive Mission Models bending tool. Does anyone have any experience with these or any informed opinion based on the product descriptions? Thanks. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tiger-model-Etch-Partner-Photo-Etched-Fixture-Tool-/250644763258?_trksid=p...

I think I've actually used enamel paint and mineral spirits over Future before but wasn't sure I should have been. Is there no wash that can be applied without a clear coat?

Thanks guys. 1. Terry, can I apply a Floquil or Model Master paint thinned with mineral spirits over a Floquil finished coated with Future? 2. Can I apply tempera paint thinned with just water/dish soap/alcohol over a bare Floquil finish? 3. Or do you really need to have a clear coat any time you wa...

Over a Floquil enamel base coat, I tried a Model Master Acryl wash thinned with Acryl thinner. The dried wash wouldn't come up. Base color was coming off. I just stripped it down and started over. I thought any water-based stuff wasn't supposed to harm enamel. What happened?

Once again, Aves or really any other water-based putty that can be shaped with your fingers and/or a sculpting tool, I'm sure, would work fine. I can imagine someone might suggest sleeving it with metal or plastic tubing or just putty wrapped with tape. Lots of options.

Not tried Pollyscale since it was PollyS but liked it at that time. I have the whole Franz Josef series in some stage of completion in the 4:1 JN Gray/White mix. No pics, but I'd be glad to take one in natural light tomorrow and email you if you want to send me your email. Honestly, it won't tell yo...

There's the Pollyscale mix for concrete: it says IJA light gray 505274 or pale blue gray 505326

We all have our favorites. The PL E was my first real use with Tamiya. I used it with Tamiya thinner and it went down beautifully. Of course, Newitt's book has several other mixes to match the same "concrete" shade. His model master mix is 1 part sac bomber green, 6 parts flat gull gray, 2...

Somewhere I read about a commercial spray can primer that came in "light fill, medium fill, and heavy fill." I thought it was Duplicolor but it was all the same stuff at an auto store near me. Is anyone familiar with such a product? The stuff I bought is Duplicolor scratch fillre primer. I...

What's your application? Is this a TOS Enterprise? Probably not and none of my business, but FWIW, Paul Newitt's book describes one paint combination as Tamiya XF-11 JN Green as one choice I found it totally...not right. However, JN Gray 4:1 with white comes out nice to my eye.

How useless was that?

Thanks. Guess I'll have to break down and try the overpriced professional stuff. In this case, it would have been a time saver. I'll check.

I'll give that a try. Thanks!

Um, "talcam powder trick"?

It was on only long enough to spray the model and probably 20 minutes to dry somewhat.

Everyone says blue painters tape is supposed to be less tacky than masking tape. It is...mostly. I've used it twice on a current project. Every time there are always little spots where it clings more and pulls off a smidge of paint right down to the base material. Doesn't anyone make a tape with the...

This model was supposedly stereolithographed using cornstarch and gypsum (plaster?). Weird, but it looks ok.
http://www.starshipmodeler.us/gallery14 ... rsbase.htm

Perfect. Thanks. I'm working with a 'natural metal' finish using Floquil enamels. I thought I'd polished it smooth if it wasn't smooth enough to begin with without a clear coat. Normally I use Future pretty much all the time. On the other hand, I suspect the panel lines are pretty rough. I'm serious...

Thanks. Can I find "transparent water colors" at the big box craft stores? Yes, I should read the sticky, but I was working toward a contest deadline and was too busy to do it right as always. No matter now. My Tamiya wash discolored the Floquil enamel somehow. So I get to spend the next w...

So oil, the kind that comes in a tube? thinned with turpentine can be used over bare Floquil enamel as a pin wash and dab up the excess with a rag, etc. moistened with turpentine?

Thanks, Tony. I had a black pen. It was too dark. I'm just picking out panel lines. I didn't know they had gray. I'll look for that, too.