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RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

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Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#51

Post by wiz21c »

gerdesj wrote: post #11
rightbyte wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I never mastered painting them. It was really hard to paint with these old oil based paints if you are as old as me or older. I struggled with that too. The water based one sold by e.g. Games Workshop I bought years later was way easier to work with.

Enamels vs acrylics. Brush vs airbrush vs air gun (not to mention sponge, cloth and even toothbrush). Your air brush can have one or two controls - one for the amount of compressed air and one for amount of paint. For models like airplanes and tanks, a single control is enough to get a flat smooth finish. Then you discover washes and other techniques and it goes on 8) I still have a scar in the side of my thumb where…

Enamel, Xacto,... Memories !!!

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#52

Post by wiz21c »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #7
mbrd wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is…

That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler. Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha. I just wish more kids…

Really nice job !!!

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#53

Post by imdsm »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#54

Post by Cthulhu_ »

mbrd wrote: post #5
JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is…

I bought my first Gundam model the other day (never seen them before in shops, but they can be bought online) and I was really impressed. I've built two Revell models before and some Warhammer stuff in the past. This model was cheaper than all of those (about €19), bigger, multicolour plastic, different materials, the result is fully poseable, different weapons and hands, fiddly stickers and decals, the works. And it's very cleverly designed, no glue needed.

I'd argue that if someone wants to get started with building models, Gundam is the way to go. Painting optional, no glue needed, etc. Plus, giant robots are cool.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#55

Post by Lio »

Ah I have fond memories of my Hornet and then later a 959.

There was always that thing that kids would do where you'd get the OK from your friend and then pick up their car to about 5cm and drop it to test the suspension. Then you'd all nod sagely as if something important had been decerned.

Silly but happy memories. RIP Mr Tamiya.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#56

Post by Lio »

imdsm wrote: post #53
JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

I've seen people flying RC plains at disused airfields in Suffolk. Even some RC jets.

I'd contact your local RC club and they'll help you get into it.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#58

Post by lebski88 »

imdsm wrote: post #53
JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

There's a model aircraft club near to where I live (UK). They have a runway and people use it most days. In the summer they have a two day festival where people come and camp and do model plane stuff. Presumably it's the Glastonbury of model aircraft. It's quite fun to watch them fly around for a couple of hours.

Anyway, my point is that if I didn't live just around the corner, I would never have known it existed. I'd imagine there are similar setups around the country. You do need quite a big space and a runway is presumably helpful, so it probably makes sense for them to be collectively run.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#59

Post by samlittlewood »

imdsm wrote: post #53
JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

Have a look at the BMFA - http://https://bmfa.club. They have a directory of clubs and pointers for learning.

You will need insurance and CAA flyer/operator IDs. This can be arranged through club, or directly via the BMFA above.

Some of the clubs can be rather .... err ... clubby - older members whose hobby has become running the club the way see fit, vs. flying planes.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#60

Post by hermitcrab »

imdsm wrote: post #53
JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

RC aircraft flying is very much alive and well in the UK:

https://bmfa.club/

There are also some model rocketry clubs. However model rocketry is a relatively small scene in the UK, compared to RC planes.

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