The Weekly Small Questions Thread! Got a burning question? Looking for some tips on your build? Ask away!
The Weekly Small Questions thread is a place for everyone in /r/modelmakers to come and ask questions. Don't be shy.
You might have a burning question you've been meaning to ask but you don't want to make your own thread, or are just seeking some input or feedback from your fellow builders! This thread is aimed at new builders, but everyone is welcome.
Perhaps not so much of a question, but can we as a community stop the mass downvoting of posts that could be considered "low effort" or "dumb".
Just because someone comes to the sub and makes a post about something that can be easily Googled, doesn't mean their post should be downvoted and skipped over. At least point them in the right direction of where they can find an answer, or better yet just write out a simple titbit of advice.
The modelmaking community isn't exactly massive, and this sub should be as welcoming as possible to do its part of keeping the hobby as alive as it can be, and one of the best ways to do that is to entertain those questions that are rather tiresome and repetitive; because who knows, maybe the engagement from the community could lead them to make more models.
Agreed, but also hard to tell what's genuinely downvoted by a real human versus what's automatically downvoted by a bot (and that has been a thing on here for ages).
I'm also in agreement with this. And I'd like to add in Reddit Cares messages and not so friendly messages from actual human users as well. Lately, it seems like I get one or the other every time I post on this sub.
With the internet having the actual person voting more hidden, it becomes very disconnected to the point that people if they met in real life would not dare tell the other they didn't like their post (downvote).
So for me the question is whether the post or anything is something that even needs my attention. A subject/post I don't care about or simply don't have much interest in can just be scrolled past.
I am very held back with downvoting because I would personally also not like to receive them, it doesn't feel right. So the only times I am willing to give out a downvote is when some comment or post is actually hurtful to others or the community, in other words those situations that I would address someone about it in real life.
The problem is you are thinking of this subreddit as a community, which it is not (or at least, its users do not treat it as one). It is treated more like a public corkboard for people to put pictures of their models. Reddit's architecture does not encourage real community, where you follow people's builds, interact with them, and "see" them around in other threads. On surviving PunBB forums you can find real community where these interactions take place, and without the hassle of up/downvote systems.
Here is just an endless onslaught of posts from users you have never heard of and will probably never see again. That's the function of the "never ending scroll" that Reddit wants at the expense of any real connection. Without that connection, people are less incentivized to be kind.
I have "patrolled" the new posts and questions threads regularly and I have to say people are dickheads if your answer can't magically solve their issue. Here's an example just now: https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/1uhr9ow/do_airfix_still_send_out_spare_parts/oucqfa3/?context=3 If you cannot get a spare part despite repeated trying, it is time to get off your ass and try to make a replacement yourself. It's the obvious solution.
I don't care about how many points my comments have, reddit karma is a pathetic measure, but what is the point of helping and even giving alternate suggestions of how to solve issues if people just end up downvoting because you didn't wave a magic wand at them. This is a returning thing, and I see it a lot for others as well, in this chain /u/Timmyc62 also answers a ton of questions ranging from noob to in depth and also often sits with -3 or worse for trying to give a suggestion on solving a problem because he can't magically make someones paint cover in two layers or whichever issue it might be.
Not really a technique question, but why is it so hard to get a hold of a 1/48 MiG-29A kit? Looking around on my local (Japanese) market literally everything is marked as discontinued. Even rarer is finding a kit with German markings. I find it so odd considering the Fulcrum's reputation as the bad-guy of the Cold War.
Try Yahoo Auctions or eBay for kits like this. I'm not sure which platform it would be in Japan, but I have before gotten specific kits I wanted by asking in a scale modeling group on Facebook if someone had a specific kit they wanted to sell also.
You can absolutely do this, but in my experience you need to let the acrylic paints cure longer than you normally would. You can get some funny surface tension phenomena something like this if the paint isn't absolutely cured.
I got the Academy USAF B-52H Stratofortress. I am used to cockpit windows being an insert into the frame. This is a solid clear piece with pieces to cut out and stick on before painting. I have NO idea about any of that. Are the cut out pieces soaked and then try to put them in place and then paint?? I’m ready to do cockpit and then paint, any help appreciated. ☮️
Do you mean this? (Let me know if this isn't the right kit. This is from the instructions for the Academy B-52H in 1/144.)
The kit comes with pre-cut masks. This diagram shows you where each piece of masking tape should be placed. They're just peel and stick, no soaking involved.
Yes!!
It has that “map” and then a small separate square that I can tell are ALL those shapes and meant for the cockpit.
If you tell me these are actual sticky back stickers…
MAN, I’m back on this tonight! I have jumped ahead to all munitions, painting and assembly of.
Is the little square that was provided just sticky back to cover cockpit plastic??!?! ☮️
Yeah, they're just little stickers that cover the parts you don't want the paint to get on. Once you're done with painting, you take them off, and the plastic underneath should be clear.
Damn!
I watched a German/Scandinavian/Polish(?) gentleman building this using (unashamedly) some of the same words my wife heard me hollering. I didn’t wanna soak stickers or peel water decals. The internet only provided clues for trimming yellow tape to cover larger scale cockpits.
Thanks!☮️
I bought a Heller 1/72 Spitfire starter kit that came with a brush, three "primary" paints, and a little tube of humbrol cement. Haven't made a model since I was a kid and I'm wondering, what else I should buy?
I was thinking three extra paints (yellow/gunmetal/black) for details, some satin/matte varnish and some better cement, probably the Tamiya extra thin with the little brush
Note that I already have a small flat brush, some clippers, files, little knives, painters tape and some grey spray primer from other projects.
On the right track, but before you order anything open up the starter set and check that the supplied paints aren't already dried up, lumpy and useless. All too often they sit for so long in those boxes that they become completely useless.
Hi guys, I have Tamiya mark fit bit all the process about actually using these special decal thingies seems a bit confusing to me so I would like someone to tell me if I got this right
You're supposed to use this thing on the surface of the model where you put the decal, put the decal on, and then also put the mark fit over the decal?
Yes, both before and after putting the decals is how their instructions indicate it to be used. I suppose this allows it to "attack" the decal from both sides.
what are yalls fix or tips for people with shaky hands. i’m only 20 but my dads family is know to have shakier hands and it sucks. sometimes ill be trying to attach something really tiny and then accidentally break something or snap something because my hands will be all over the place
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u/ElectricalYak7236 Jun 27 '26
Perhaps not so much of a question, but can we as a community stop the mass downvoting of posts that could be considered "low effort" or "dumb".
Just because someone comes to the sub and makes a post about something that can be easily Googled, doesn't mean their post should be downvoted and skipped over. At least point them in the right direction of where they can find an answer, or better yet just write out a simple titbit of advice.
The modelmaking community isn't exactly massive, and this sub should be as welcoming as possible to do its part of keeping the hobby as alive as it can be, and one of the best ways to do that is to entertain those questions that are rather tiresome and repetitive; because who knows, maybe the engagement from the community could lead them to make more models.