Aircraft Modelling

Scale aircraft models have benefited enormously from new manufacturing technologies in the last decade. The emerging economic powers of the Far East are having a major impact on the hobby too, with perhaps the most prolific mainstream model manufacturer now being a company from China. At the opposite end of the scale, the 'cottage industry' of the 1980s and 1990s has blossomed into a high-quality, low-production volume segment that delivers fascinating and esoteric aircraft subjects using innovative techniques and materials. We have seen the products of many small companies in Eastern Europe evolve into the equal or superior of Western mainstream model companies in terms of detail and production quality.After-market accessories and conversions have been similarly revolutionized, with photo-realistic detail printed onto miniscule metal parts, intricate resin casting, short-run decal capability and much more.The objective of Aircraft Modelling is to reveal the full potential of the hobby today. It will describe the kits, accessories, decals and references that are now available, how they differ from the hobby of the last decades, and how modellers can take advantage of recent innovations. It will lead the modeller through the process of selecting an appropriate modelling project whether a plastic kit straight from the box, or a super-detailed masterpiece. The workspace and tools will be outlined, along with a guide for selecting appropriate glues, putties, abrasive materials and more.A wide variety of paint types, thinners and application methods will be demonstrated in words and pictures. The veil of mystery will be lifted from such painting effects such as mottling, soft-edged camouflage demarcation, masking and weathering.With the fundamentals laid out, the book will then focus on some of the more challenging areas of aircraft model building by first examining detailed reference photos and then describing how to replicate these convincingly. Specific areas of the aircraft will include engines, wheel wells, cockpits, surface features, exhausts, effects of weathering, ground equipment and personnel.Finally, all of these elements will be brought together in a series of step-by-step modelling case studies, with a range of aircraft construction projects including the following: Building a WWI biplane - Eduard 1/48-scale Fokker D.VIIYellow wings - Classic Airframes 1/48-scale F4B-4WWII bomber - ProModeler 1/48-scale B-17G Flying FortressLarge-scale fighter - Trumpeter 1/24-scale Hawker Hurricane Mk.IFrom the sublime to the ridiculous - 1/144-scale Airfield DioramaWWII jet fighter - Revell 1/32-scale Heinkel He 162 VolksjagerCold War warrior - Trumpeter 1/32-scale F-105 ThunderchiefModern fighter - Academy 1/32-scale F/A-18A+ Horne