Three Tips To Remember When You Build Plastic Model Kits
Building plastic model kits of spacecraft, boats, and other vehicles can be an enjoyable hobby for people of all ages. If you're an adult who built model kits as a child, you may find that your building skills come back quickly upon picking up this hobby at this current stage of your life. If you don't have prior experience with model kits, however, you'll want to take a slow, steady approach to each kit that you buy so that you can be as proud as possible of the end result. There are a number of simple tips to keep in mind as you work on your kit, including the following.
Paint The Pieces On The Parts Trees
When you open your plastic model kit, you'll see that most of the individual pieces are securely attached to plastic frames. These frames are commonly known as parts trees, and while it may be tempting to remove the pieces right away, you should hold off doing so. In most cases, you'll want to paint the individual pieces before you glue them together, and it's easier to paint them while they're still attached to the parts trees. This way, you can paint each piece without having to handle it, as you'll be holding onto the parts tree instead of the part itself. When the paint dries, you can carefully cut the piece off its parts tree with a sharp knife.
Check The Fit Before Gluing
It's also important to check how well two pieces fit together before you glue them. While you might want to immediately put glue on one piece and connect it to another, checking the fit first will yield a better-finished product. In some cases, you may wish to trim one of the pieces slightly to produce a better fit, and doing so is easier when you don't have glue on its surface.
Handle Decals With Tweezers
A pair of tweezers will come in handy during a number of tasks when you're building a plastic model kit. While it might seem obvious that you should use tweezers to assemble the smaller parts, this tool can also be valuable when you're dealing with decals. Some decals are extremely tiny, which can make them difficult to handle with your fingers — especially if your fingers are big. When you grip a small decal with tweezers, you'll have a much easier time maneuvering it into position.
Look for a model kit for something you like, like a USS Enterprise model kit, to get started.