Plastic model making

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Injection molding frame (cast branch) of an older plastic model of the McDonnell Douglas F / A-18 in 1:72 scale

Plastic model making is an area of model making in which models are mainly made of plastic (mostly polystyrene ). These are usually non-powered standing models, where the interest is more on a high level of detail than on robustness or function, but which can also be played with to a limited extent. Kits made from prefabricated parts are mainly used here. Kits of this type have been commercially available since the early 1950s. The most common form is that of the injection molding kit. More rarely you can find kits made of deep-drawn forms (Vacu kits) and pure resin kits.

Subject areas

Detail view of a 1: 700 model of the Yamato at the Australian Model Expo 2008

Kits from many areas of technology are available on the market, e.g. B. automobiles , airplanes , ships , locomotives , science fiction models or buildings (especially for model railways in scales from 1:87 to 1: 160). Furthermore, figures of all kinds, animals (e.g. dinosaurs, but there are also models of mammals, birds and insects - the latter naturally not on a smaller scale, but in larger than life size) and anatomical models (skeleton, skull, internal organs) are offered . A large area is represented by military models of all kinds, in particular from the Second World War and in the 1:35 scale that is customary for vehicles and figures there. The largest selection of models and accessories (single link chains, supplementary parts sets with e.g. tools) are on this scale , Conversion kits, etc.) are available.

Target groups

The main target groups in the field of plastic model making are mainly divided into children / adolescents and adults. For many children and young people, the models are primarily a toy . The accuracy and authenticity of the models play a rather subordinate role for this group. The target group of adults, on the other hand, often invests a lot of time and effort in their hobby in order to create images of reality that are as true to the original as possible.

Construction sequence

A plastic model with a high level of detail is usually built in the following stages:

  • Gluing individual assemblies together, possibly carrying out modifications
  • Filling and sanding of the seams and joints created as a result of components that do not fit perfectly
  • Painting or varnishing of the assemblies (with a brush and / or airbrush )
  • Assembling the assemblies to form a complete model
  • Application of markings, license plates and lettering, mostly in the form of wet slide images (decals)
  • Finish: Use of various special painting techniques to highlight contours, achieve depth effects, wear, soiling and aging effects

Notwithstanding this, individual components may already be painted or varnished before the model is assembled, as this may change after the parts have been assembled. U. designed as difficult.

Level of difficulty

The easiest models to build are those whose parts have been injection-molded from the prototype in appropriately colored plastic or are partially already painted or printed and which only need to be put together without glue. Such models are particularly suitable for model building beginners.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are kits with several hundred parts. The so-called “short run” kits, which are only manufactured in small numbers and generally require more post-processing of the individual kit parts, are also complex to build.

Advanced model makers nowadays also use manufacturers who specialize in additional detailing. With products from these suppliers, parts that are insufficiently detailed or even defective in the original kit can be replaced or further detailed. Such accessory kits usually consist of resin and / or photo-etched parts . However, many model construction companies have meanwhile switched to adding etched parts to the kits, which can make purchasing unnecessary.

Also Nassschiebe- / decals are separately in numerous variations available. Equipped accordingly, these decals can also be produced by yourself using special paper and a printer. A thermal transfer or thermal sublimation printer may be used so that the color “white” can also be printed .

There is literature specifically aimed at model builders, in which the original objects are presented with detailed photos from different perspectives, or in which special features or errors in the available kits are pointed out. Depending on the manual dexterity, such additional details or even entire models can be made yourself - in this case one speaks of " scratch " model making.

"Kitbashing"

A variant of the plastic modeling is the "Kitbashing" (in which parts of different kits English kits are) combined. This can result in subtle variations or completely independent (fantasy) models that hardly resemble the overall appearance of the original kits. Models for trick shots in feature films were often created in this way. For example, countless parts from various aircraft, tanks, bridges and car kits were used for the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars .

presentation

Often, models are built into a true-to-scale landscape ( diorama ) for a clear presentation . Such models are presented publicly at exhibitions, and today they are often also on the Internet. Sometimes competitions take place at such exhibitions, in which, in particular, the authenticity of the original and the detailing are assessed.

Manufacturer

Well-known manufacturers of plastic kits are:

Web links

Commons : Plastic Model Buildings  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20100406192804/http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4255868.html?series=6
  2. http://www.starwars.com/news/from-world-war-to-star-wars-the-millennium-falcon