Hasagawa Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC 'North Africa' 1/72 Scale Review

This is the first Hasagawa model kit I've built in a long time. I had forgotten the excellent quality of a bit higher-priced kit. The part fit and detailing are really excellent. The simulated fabric surfaces are really well done.

Adhesives and Assembly

The proper choice of adhesives and proper assembly techniques can save a lot of time having to fill and level seams. What follows are some suggestions for selecting adhesives and assembling styrene plastic model kit parts.

Part Preparation Best Practices

The first step to building any model is to remove the cast parts from the sprues and clean up any flash found on the parts. Here are some tips that will keep your parts from being mutilated during the process.

Masking Cavities

It can be difficult to mask cavities in the surface of a model like wheel wells or cockpits, but with these tips it can be done quickly, cheaply and easily.

Academy Consolidated PBY-5A 1/72 Scale 'Black Cat' Review

 I just keep rifling through the Academy 1/72 scale models. I like the price, quality and selection that is offered by this manufacturer. I have never before built a Catalina, so this was an interesting project. The kit builds into a very nice little scale model.

Panel Wash

Panel wash is a technique that uses thinned paint which is flowed into recessed surface detail to make the lines stand out. This is one of the final steps in finishing a model, and adds tremendously to the appearance.

Panel Fade

Panel fading is an airbrush weathering technique that can add significantly to the appearance of your model. Effectively, it is a painting process that simulates the fading of paint near the center of the painted metal panels that make up the skin of an aircraft or armored vehicle.