Do you have steady hands? Do you have patience and an eye for detail? Then you can build scale model cars!
Beginners will likely need some time to practice because there’s a lot to master. Glue and paint are difficult to handle at such a small scale. But, if you welcome a challenge, you’re halfway there!
Building scale model cars as a hobby is a great way to stimulate your brain and let your creativity flow. Learn how to build model cars by reading this guide.
What Supplies Do I Need?
You’ll need a well-ventilated room and a flat surface to work on. Sanding, spray painting, and working with smelly glue are toxic to your lungs. In addition, you’ll need an OSHA-approved respirator mask.
- Superglue
- White glue
- Superglue accelerator
- Superglue debonder
- Assorted sandpaper
- Sanding sticks
- Budget brushes
- Sprue cutter
- Hobby knife
- Filler putty
- Thinner
- Rubber bands
- Tweezers
- Masking tape
- Decal tweezers
- Clothespins
- Spray paint
- Model cement
- Paint set
- Scissors
- Toothpicks
- Respirator mask
If you want to paint like the experts, use an airbrush. However, spray-can paint will produce good paint finishes as well. Remember to wear your respirator mask to protect yourself against the fumes.
Start Easy
Buy a beginner modelling kit. The skill level will be marked on the box. If you’ve built other types of scale models before, start at a higher level of difficulty.
Sprue Trees
Sorted according to type, pieces will be connected to plastic “sprue trees” and should be detached. Before detaching, soak the entire thing in warm soapy water. Then rinse and air dry to ensure proper paint, glue, and decal adhesion.
The parts attached to the sprue trees need to be cut off. To do this, use a sprue cutter or hobby knife. To protect your table while building models, use a cutting mat, poster board, or an old magazine.
Trimming
Read through your instructions before assembling your model car. This will give you correct paint colors, construction tips, fitting notes, etc. Then, use your hobby knife to trim extra plastic from your pieces left from the sprue tree (if you’re painting the after detachment).
Painting
Do you plan to paint your kit? If so, consider painting some of the pieces and letting them dry while they’re still attached to the sprue tree. This makes them easier to handle while painting.
Before building model cars, buy a range of brush sizes. If you’re stuck in the house, you can have them shipped. Too much paint, and you’ll make a mess. If you do, use thinner on a rag, clean the area, and start over. Thinner cleans brushes too.
Joining
Joining with glue is an important aspect of any model car guide. Use only a small amount of glue on each part you need to join, or you’ll end up with a mess. Assemble your smallest parts last, such as LED headlights for model cars.
Enjoy Building Model Cars!
Building model cars is fun and will get into a creative flow state. Consider setting up a little workshop dedicated to building your model cars so you can escape when life gets hectic. We hope you enjoyed this guide!
Check out this blog post on healthy activities for your mind and body!