hobbies

Scratchbuilt: MV Agusta 750 S

Scratchbuilt: MV Agusta 750 S

Just one of twenty stunning scale models–most of them 1/6 motorcycles–from Spanish crasftman Pere Tarragó of Motoscala Tarragó. Sr. Tarragó takes great work-in-progress shots for his models, and this one is no exception.

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Skill Builder: Figure Sculpting Tutorials

Skill Builder: Figure Sculpting Tutorials

Julian Khor, a Senior Lead Designer at Ubisoft Singapore, has a series of inspiring videos (99 in all) on sculpting superheroes, action figures, and modeling the human form in general (virtual 3D modeling tuts, too). The above video is part one of a 35-part series on sculpting a Hulk-y “action figure.”

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Scratchbuilt: Q-14 Reconnaissance Robot

Scratchbuilt: Q-14 Reconnaissance Robot

This is an entry from Bay Stater John Neiner in Starship Modeler’s 2007 Yellow contest. It’s built from sheet styrene with a few borrowed details from various model kits. Lots more written how-to from John on the model detail page, and some great work-in-progress shots on the Neiner family blog.

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Scratchbuilt: Model Masters for Fantastic Plastic

Scratchbuilt: Model Masters for Fantastic Plastic

Scott Lowther’s models aren’t (generally) painted, because Scott Lowther’s models aren’t (generally) for display—they’re for casting molds to make kit-parts from. If you’ve ever been curious about this process, Scott’s site has a great selection of finished, in-process, and still-to-come master models he’s working—on contract or on “spec”—to turn into kits.

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Remembering Mike Dorffler, Cineroc Creator

Remembering Mike Dorffler, Cineroc Creator

A look back at the man, the Estes designer, who invented the Cineroc rocketry movie camera.

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Scratchbuilt: Vought F4U-D Corsair

Scratchbuilt: Vought F4U-D Corsair

Retired dentist Young C. Park built this 1/16 scale replica of the WWII-era fighter plane mostly from common aluminum roof flashing, like the kind you can buy in big rolls at most hardware stores. Dr. Park spent considerable time and energy developing special methods for working this material, including an annealing technique that’s a real gem of practical hands-on shop technique…

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Scratchbuilt: M65 Atomic Cannon

Scratchbuilt: M65 Atomic Cannon

Architect Paul Gaertner built this beautiful 1/72 scale replica of the so-called “Atomic Annie” US M65 nuclear-capable 280mm artillery piece, and its two specially-built tractors.

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