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... But, before I go on with the SEAVIEW discussion, a few words, before I explode:
As a professional Model Builder I
gravitate toward those techniques, tools, materials and consumables that serve my craft with the most efficiency; I make use of only those processes and things that have demonstrated the most utility to
me. This evaluation done through experiment: Try something, if it works retain it. If not - in the purest expression of Darwinism - I discard it.
In nearly all other matters in and about my life
I'm inflexible ... you may have noticed in my dogmatic, confident (even confrontational) writing style.
However, when it comes to the techniques and tools I select, I practice pure pragmatism: I
don't use a tool or apply a technique learned predicated on the type of vendor supplying an item or the profession of my Teacher, I always select what best serves the craft, regardless of the source.
I buy from Pattern supply houses, Dental supply outlets, Chemical houses, automotive refinishing supply stores, hobby/craft wholesale outlets, plastic supply/fabrication houses, and hardware stores.
Hobby shops are visited for the occasional magazine and bottle of glue, that's all.
I associate and exchange knowledge with other professional Model Builders (or amateurs of demonstrated ability
- a few Guild members are in that little group); Mason's; electronic technicians; Carpenter's; Instrument Maker's, Dental technician's and Doctor's; and an Engineer or two. That said, know this: most of
the goods sold in hobby shops, designed to support the activity of model building/kit-assembly, are (with few exceptions) unsuitable for fine Model Builders.
Some examples: 'Green Stuff'
putty/filler stands as an icon of what you, the masses, consider a fine product. Yet, that product is, in actuality, of little utility to 'real' Model Builders. That particular product is a slow working,
air-drying putty that exhibits poor adhesion qualities when applied to the many substrates employed by real Model Builders. Real Model builders will likely be found using a much more volatile and
versatile, formulation of a lacquer based air-dry filler bought at an automotive refinishing supply house somewhere in town.
It seems, on the surface of it anyway, so counter-productive for your
friendly, local hobby shop to sell inferior product. Why would they do that? Try this: Fear of litigation.
This nation of ours is being whittled away through degradation of a principle
cornerstone of self-reliance: personal responsibility.
Too many American's today have permitted litigation lawyers and government Representatives to assume the job of
'protector'. Way too many American's want to be 'safe'. So, as a result, litigation concerns drive what is produced and sold over the counter. That putty sold at your hobby shop is such a weak, ineffective paste of minimally volatile solvents and inert fillers specifically because of the manufacturers/sellers fear that misuse (inhalation, skin contact, consumption) by an irresponsible user - you, the customer - of a more useful formulation of that putty would likely result in a massive, class-action law suite against the manufacturer, distributor, retail outlet, and anyone else with deep pockets no matter how far removed from direct involvement in the litigation.
Hobby shop putties are crap because of you and that Lawyer friend of yours. Consequences!
Same situation with the paints offered by that ill-informed hobby shop salesman.
Those 'hobby' paints are fragile, have poor opacity, and each presents its own special handling demands when cutting and shooting from a spray-gun/brush or hand brushing. And not one of the 'hobby paints' has a primer system anywhere comparable to the industrial, automotive refinishing acrylic lacquer, 131s Fill 'N Sand gray primer I and other pro's use. By the way, 131s gray primer has been repackaged, at an outrageous mark-up, as a 'hobby' brushable filler.
Here's a tip for you serious model builders/kit-assemblers: Nothing covers like Dupont Lucite brand (lacquer) and Dupont Chroma brand (urethane) car paints. And the Chroma clear finish system ...
wow! You, the end user, have the ability with Chroma clear to adjust (or omit) the amount of flattening agent. You can achieve either a stunningly reflective gloss finish or a finish possessing the
dullest of flat finishes. Can you do that with your 'hobby' clear coat?
Well ... can you? Punk!
You wanna get better results from your work? Then, start looking around for other sources of
tools, consumables, and abrasives. I don't have any specific beef with hobby shops or mail order outlets (hell, I'm a mail order outlet!). I simply want you to explore the other sources of supply
out there - rip the blinders off and look around you!
Your work will be the better for it.
... OK, that's your spanking for this installment. Back to the SEAVIEW project:
You'll note
later that I present a technique for cutting out and using, as model parts, Electrician's tape. In practice a short length of tape is pulled from the roll and stuck to a scrap piece of thick plastic
sheet for cutting. To achieve circular pieces I use homemade cutting punches - made by beveling the ends of brass tube to sharp cutting heads. Or, you can use knife and straightedge to cut the tape to
straight-sided shapes. Substitute a French curve for the straightedge and you can cut in any shape you wish. It's then a simple matter to transfer the shaped tape part from the cutting board to the model
where the tapes adhesive alleviates the need for you to employ potentially messy adhesives.
And masks to cover circular or highly curved areas on the model can be made in much the same way, with
the above circle cutters. Depending on the masking requirement you would use either the inner disc or the outer circle element of the tape to mask off the model as you prepare for painting.
You'll
also find, when cut to very narrow widths, that Electrician's tape can be bent to very tight radius', a useful characteristic when looking around for a masking medium that has to negotiate tight curves
on the models surface.
OK, enough yakking ... on with the picture show:
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