Fighting Eighty-Four Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) Hi Everyone! My name is Michael from Ohio, and I am just starting to get back into this hobby. Waaaaaay back when I was a kid I used to build model airplanes, but they always ended up terrible. LOL Heck, I didn't even paint most of them, and the one I did looked like it was painted by Ray Charles. Anyway, I am currently building up my supplies, tools, and model stock before I attempt my first one. I will be doing 1/48 modern aircraft almost exclusively, especially Tomcats (which, being a child of the '80s in the US, is a common choice)! So far I have a couple kits to start with, and just bought a Paasche Talon AB and compressor. Still need to get some paints, washes, adhesive, and tools... but I should be ready to rock and roll within a month. Anyway, been looking through these forums and am thrilled and impressed with all the info and help here. Can't wait to get started and share my progress! Edited September 15, 2014 by Fighting Eighty-Four Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Welcome! I have learned everything I know so far from the fine folks here at ARC. I just started a Tomcat myself, and I look forward to seeing yours once you get going! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Hello Michael, How nice of you to choose ARC ...a friendly, helpful MADHOUSE full of Very knowledgeable gentlemen I think our very own Zactoman (Chris ) is located in Ohio... He produces Things for the WINGY Thingys WE attempt To build. Have fun perusing the varieties of sub forums.. ENJOY I think you will love it here . (I think you should transfer this thread to GD section ... The Folks go there more to check out threads.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 (An aside,when you post in TPC the post counts don't count if you know what I mean !) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Haha outstanding! Thank you both for the warm welcome. I wonder what part of Ohio Chris is from, I am from NE part of the OH. I will have to remember the post count thing, as I do indeed see that I am still at ZERO. LOL Hopefully I will soon have the ability to add worthwhile content elsewhere to this site. I was a longtime moderator and innovative member of a large national car enthusiast forum, so hopefully I can make that kind of contribution here some day. Until then I will look, listen and learn... and perhaps add my .02 here and there where warranted. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Welcome to ARC....it's good to have you join our group. The ARC homepage is always eager to show off your model when you get it finished. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 oh I have to apologize...Zactoman is from Preston, Idaho.. MY TERRIBLE BAD !!! Sorry Zactoman et al... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Michael, Welcome to ARC. I have to say that this is just about the best aircraft forum I've ever had the pleasure of joining. Just a great group of guys. If you post your builds and ask questions as you proceed through your builds, you'll get plenty of advice. Just keep in mind that not everyone does things the same way, so you'll have to make decisions as you go along and develop your own preferred methods. One piece of advice is to start your 1st few models with the goal to develop and hone the basic skills needed to build a rock solid OOB aircraft. Just about all the F-14 kits in 1/72 and 1/48 scales are rather complicated, and present challenges in getting them built well enough for painting. I would recommend starting off with a few simpler kits to learn the basics in construction. Then you can use them as a test bed for learning the basics of air brushing, and decaling. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thank you Joel for the well thought out reply and thorough advice. I think I will take your advice concerning starting with a Tomcat to heart, as I do not want my first attempt to be doomed from the start out of frustration due to fitment and other assembly issues. I have read good things about the Revell F-15E, which I did get pretty cheap. Would that make a better start, in your opinion? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Welcome Aboard ARC, Michael! Glad to have you here. -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) Thank you Joel for the well thought out reply and thorough advice. I think I will take your advice concerning starting with a Tomcat to heart, as I do not want my first attempt to be doomed from the start out of frustration due to fitment and other assembly issues. I have read good things about the Revell F-15E, which I did get pretty cheap. Would that make a better start, in your opinion? Michael, I've never seen the Revell kit, so I can't comment one way or the other. I would look for a few basic kits that have a min of parts. 2 piece fuselage, 2 piece wings, basic cockpit, things like that. That will make it easier to learn how to deal with poor fitting parts, seams, dry fitting, etc., so you can get to the painting stage. You really don't want to get bogged down in sub assemblies, or where difficult part fit becomes major obstacles. The painting process should be another learning experience where you're not pressuring yourself to get it good enough because the model is a favorite. I would even go so far as to buy the cheapest kit you can find to learn air brushing on. You're not even going to build it, just paint various parts learning the basic techniques including masking canopies. No pressure makes the learning experience fun and relaxing. There are plenty of basic inexpensive kits to learn on. You would be quite surprised at how well a finished display model you can produce from one of those kits. Joel Edited September 21, 2014 by Joel_W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 (edited) Thank you Joel for the well thought out reply and thorough advice. I think I will take your advice concerning starting with a Tomcat to heart, as I do not want my first attempt to be doomed from the start out of frustration due to fitment and other assembly issues. I have read good things about the Revell F-15E, which I did get pretty cheap. Would that make a better start, in your opinion? Michael let me add my late welcome to this ARC maniacal mad house of misguided plastic manglers....well all the others are modelers I'm the mangler, anyway either the Revell Strike Eagle or Tomcat is a good place to get your feet wet again and ease back into the hobby. By comparison the F-15E is somewhat better as it has engraved panel lines and is more detailed than the Tomcat, and it is a more modern in it's molding than the circa 80's Tomcat kit. Should you decide on the latter I've give you this to help with the Tomcat build Darren Roberts Revell Tomcat Build hints and Tips Good luck with which ever kit you do first, as you will find there are a lot of Tomcat fans here, and about as many Jolly Roger fans, and also you'll see a whole shed load of VF-84 birds Phantoms, Tomcats, and Super Bugs. If you haven't been told for JR decals this is about the best place to go FighterTown Decals, if you can find one of the VF-103 sheets from them grab it, as finding one is like pulling hen's teeth , also a now out of business company AfterBurner decals has a sheet for VF-84 which is excellent, and also very difficult to find, possibly E-Bay and I say that with trepidation. There are a few lesser knowns who have sheets available, but no where near the quality of FTD or AB decals...Furball decals are great as are others, but for JR decals the first two IMHO are the way to go, again if you can find them. Furball had a Hi-Viz Tomcat sheet, I checked and didn't see it on the 48th decal sheet page so it's probably sold out too, and once sold out normally they rarely to a reprint, unless demand is abnormally high. A good place to look in the classifieds forum here sometimes you get lucky and find something long since OOP (out of production) and at a good price; however before you purchase check the good and bad trader sections to see if the seller is in one of those;so you don't get ripped off or know the deal will be a good one. Ok have fun and I look forward to seeing your stuff in the display case. Edited October 4, 2014 by #1 Greywolf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fighting Eighty-Four Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) Thanks Clif for the very informative post and warm welcome! I have been searching very diligently for JR decals in 1/48 for the past month, and for the most part I have been unsuccessful. BUT, I did find (and bought!) the Furball Airwing All-Stars 2 decal set, and it has nice low-vis VF-84 markings. As far as hi-vis, I will keep looking diligently and hope (and perhaps pray) that FTD re-releases one of the older JR sets (victory in the storm would be epic *cough cough wink wink*) I now have everything I need to start, so I will do so very soon. I actually have a Hasegawa F-14 VF-103 kit I added to my small stash, but I am not gonna start that one until I have done a few models and my skill has grown a bit. I must admit, the lure of doing a Tomcat first is just too strong to ignore, so I think I will indeed start with the Monogram F-14. Even if it does not turn out great, I will remain undaunted, and the difficulties and issues that come up that I may have to deal with will only help to grow my skill for my next one. Once again, thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the great advice and help! Edited October 6, 2014 by Fighting Eighty-Four Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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