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Hanson

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Posts posted by Hanson

  2. Scale Models Packard Phaeton

    in Cars, Trucks, & Motorcycles

    Posted

    I love this era of automobiles.  I have all of the old Entex/Minicraft/Bandai classic car models - 1/16 Packards, Mercedes, Duesenbergs, MG, Jaguar, Cadillac, Rolls Royce, etc.  They need work, but they sure can build up into a pretty model.

    When I was (much) younger, we were sitting around the dinner table and my Dad mentioned he had a '37 Packard sedan.  I was probably around 16-17 at the time, as I was able to drive.  i went down to our local hobby shop and ordered the Entex kit of the '37 Packard formal sedan.  At that time I think it was around $30-40, and I had to order it, and I put it on layaway as well as that was a lot of money for me!  

    Dad never paid much attention to what I was building, so i was able to covertly put the kit together.  Painted in a dark blue with a black leather top, I thought it came out pretty good by my 17-year-old standards.  I presented it to my Dad, and he looked at it and said, 'I never had a Packard, I had a Plymouth!.'  Needless to say I was not happy, but even my Mom jumped in and told him he had said he had a Packard!  Slip of the tongue, I guess.  

    I have another one in my stash now, that I hope will look much nicer than my earlier attempt.  My Dad's gone now, but I may still do it in that dark blue just because . . .

  3. Still trying to figure out the right colors for the Reliant

    in Space, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

    Posted

    It really depends upon whether you want to emulate the filming model or the appearance of the ship on screen.  The TOS entrprise went through several iterations between the pilot and the following three seasons, very different paint schemes.  There's a great set of videos on YouTube on the Smithsonian restoration of the filming model and the considerations they took to make it look right.  Toss in the movie versions and you have a lot of variety!  I really like the iridescent, sparkly white paint on the various movie's Federation ships.

    The nice thing is that there's almost as much 'reference' material on Star Trek as there is on our military subjects!  

    Now I have to go watch a couple episodes . . .  😁

  5. LED lighting in models

    in Tools, Tips & Techniques

    Posted

    Not a noob question at all; most folks are not really interested in lighting, or are a bit intimidated by it.  Like any other modeling process, it's really just time and patience.  With work, *almost* any model have added lighting.  I've seen it most frequently in ships and scifi subjects, and occasionally automotive.  It's rare to see it on aircraft (though I've seen it used for afterburner effects).  There are a few companies that offer lighting kits for popular models, or generic kits if you want to DIY.  Also seems like a lot of kit mfgs are coming out with add-on lighting kits, such as the Polar Light kits for the 1/350 Trek Enterprise and Klingon cruiser.  Tamiya had some very neat airplane kits that had components (though not lights) to motorize the prop along with a sound board to create a realistic engine sound at start-up.

    Obviously, you'll need a model that has somewhere to put the electronic components.  This could rule out a lot of resin kits as they're solid.  I suppose you *could* take the time to try and hollow out room for it, but seems a bit much.  For me, I focus on things like the USS Enterprise (Trek), or the RMS Titanic.  I do like the added 'punch' a good lighting job can give.  Lately I've been giving some thought to a USS Enterprise CV-6 (WWII aircraft carrier) with a detailed and lit hangar deck.

    Depending on the kit, lighting can be a challenge.  You have to make sure the assemblies are leak-proof, there are proper structures to support it, and even things that may not be readily apparent like scale effect.  For example, using modern bright-white LEDs in a Titanic model wouldn't look quite right, as the tone of the light in the early 1900's would have been more yellow - so use of a yellowish LED or filters could make a difference.  

    I believe a recent Fine Scale Modeler had an article on doing lighting as well.

  9. Juniors

    in About the IPMS/USA National Convention

    Posted · Edited by Hanson

    We partner with the local military museum to offer make 'n take programs, and get very good turnout. It means someone in the club has to take the lead, and we fortunately have a couple people that are willing to help out with it.

     

    So that might be something we can look at in areas with museums. It promotes the hobby as well as history. And I also noticed a LOT of dinosaurs on the tables at this year's nationals, so it doesn't have to be military stuff, it can be natural history, or maybe automobiles. :smiley14:

  12. USS Ward question

    in Ships

    Posted

    There's some info in Squadron's Flush Deck Destroyers in Action. One photo, but I think it's from the late 'teens in WWI camo.

     

    There are some photos here, also not great, but maybe helpful:

     

    http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/139.htm

     

    http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-w/dd139.htm

     

    Here's a pretty good line drawing: http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/ships/ships-us/53315/view/uss_dd-139_ward_(destroyer)/

     

    Which kit do you have? I recently found an older resin kit at a pretty good price, complete with a jap mini-sub. :-)

  14. Early USN Dreadnaught colors

    in Ships

    Posted

    I really wish somebody would come out with a good early US battleship in plastic. I like the new HMS Dreadnought, but an American ship would be great. I know there's plenty of stuff in 1/700 resin, but I'd like something in 1/350.

     

    I've got two projects to finish, and then I'm going to start on the USS Olympia. I'd love to see more 'old steel' navy kits, too.

  20. Model car builders

    in Cars, Trucks, & Motorcycles

    Posted

    I build (collect?) a bit of everything (I guess that makes me a 'generic' modeler), but I have built more cars than other subjects so far. The threads referenced above e.g. new categories are a great start, and I do wish I could implement them at Disney. But there's a process to be followed; meantime bring your models to Lake Buena Vista and lets fill the tables up with car models!

  23. New member

    in Welcome to the Forum!

    Posted

    If you don't have a local hobby store, there are plenty of online shops that provide great naval subjects. Squadron, of course, but lately I've been frequenting Free Time Hobbies as well (they specialize in ships, so I've been spending way too much lately!).

     

    Welcome!

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