thepatriot76 wrote:
Hello all, first post but love this forum. I just ordered the Tamyia 1/350 (1991) Missouri and can't wait to start. There is a ton of information here so, thanks upfront for that. I will be experimenting with PE and the wood deck for the first time (Best place to get these?). I want to do as much detail as I can but not sure what PE to get and and how much I should tackle. I haven't built a model in over 30 years but just finished the Revell USS Constitution 1/194 and it came out great. so, I will continue going through this forum and searching but any advice and or tips would be greatly appreciated. Ie, which PE, wood deck, tools I may need etc.
Again, thanks in advance for the information I have found already in the forums. Looking forward to this build and those to come.
Thanks,
Hello and welcome to the forum. It's always nice to see another lost soul find his/her way back to the hobby.
Yes, there is a ton of information here - enough to be overwhelming. I'm not going to tell you what or how to do it, but what I've done is to create a folder on my desktop called "USS Missouri". In it, I made 2 sub-folders "Pictures" and "Tips". The next thing I did was to get a good screen capture program. Actually, I already have one I've used for years - SnagIt, from
www.techsmith.com. It's fairly expensive ($50), but I couldn't live without it. I'm sure there are other less expensive ones on the market that work just as well, though. Regardless, as you go through the various forums here and see things you thing are worth saving, capture them and put them in your Missouri folder. You can organize them any way you want, and it will turn out to be an invaluable reference as you build your model.
Now, about your ship itself. Personally, If you have the coins, I'd look seriously at getting a Pontos detail-up set for your ship. I'm not sure what, if any PE comes with your kit (I'm building the Trumpeter 1/200 Missouri) but on mine the PE that comes with it is minimal at least. Actually, I have the Pontos detail kit (it does come with a wooden deck), and also several sets of PE parts from Eduard as well. As complete as the Pontos set is, Eduard does have some parts that are not in the Pontos set.
As to where to get stuff? Well, I'm one of these guys they wants to keep my local hobby shop in business, so I get most of my supplies and parts from them. Not only does it keep them from closing their doors, they have a lot of tips and have helped me as well.
If they can't fill your needs, I've found some really great sources on line. Spru Brothers and Squadron are both really super places to shop on line for kits and detail sets. As for tools, MIcro-Mark has just about every small tool imaginable, albeit a bit on the expensive side. I've found that my local Menards or Home Depot carries a lot of small tools that work well in getting you set-up. Also, believe it or not, I've found really neat stuff when my wife drags me to Jo-Ann Fabrics.
I would get a middle-of-the-line air brush and, if you can spring it, a small compressor. My air brush is a Badger that was around $100 and I have a compressor that I got on Amazon for around $75. I'm very satisfied with both.
Two more items you will want to consider are a good light and a magnifier. I have a headband magnifier but I don't care for it. We have a craft outlet store here in Grand Rapids and I was able to pick up a $250 floor stand LED craft light with a 10X magnifier lens on a separate flexible arm for 75% off. I love it and as far as I'm concerned, it's well worth the $250 list price
I don't want to drag this on forever, but take your time, be patient, and have fun. Don't try to rush, you will only make mistakes and lose parts to the carpet monster. But, if you just finished the Revell Old Ironsides, you already know that. I built that kit, as well as their "Thermopylae" back when I was a kid and that rigging was a real beast!
Also, we'e here to help you. Questions, tips, whatever, feel free to ask. You might want to consider starting a build log here so that the questions and details you have as you go along will all be consolidated in one place. Plus, it gives us a chance to see how you're progressing.
Good luck!