Hi all! I'm new here and am back into modelling. I put a message up elsewhere, but I can't remember where, so Here's my bio:
I'm 36 and I started to build models when I was about 10 or so. My first model was Darth Vader's Tie Fighter. I just glued it together: no paint. Then I did a few airplanes, this time with paint, but very little skill #:-). As I matured, my skill increased. My last effort at a plane, however, was an aborted attempt to put together a F18. I ended up attaching model rocket engines to it and let it loose into the woods. (Talk about frustrating but rewarding ) Anyway, I decided to stick to tanks and infantry. My models over the years have included a German PAK with crew, several Leopard Tanks, a marder or two, a Panther, a Tiger, a T 34/76 and I think I also did an M113. Then I got married ! I also stopped building models.
Flash forward to a week or two ago. It had been a month since I had quit smoking, and as a reward I bought the Tamiya kit "German Machine Gun Troops" (#35038 I think). I've refound some of my skills (SOME!!!!!) and am starting a dio. I'll post pics (good or bad) when finished. See you all soon!

Welcome von garvin(cold up there?)back to the hobby! have a good time here and don't get too addicted!

Okay, eh, my Canadian is a little rusty, eh, but I will try and speak your language to make you feel more welcome, eh.

Sorry I can't resist that with my Canadian friends. Welcome. I hope you enjoy your time with us and learn a little and grow as a modeler. My first tip is going to be to throw away that machine gun crew set and get anything else made by tamiya after kit number 35100. Tamiya's figures are universally recognized as being the worst figures still in production.
Anyway, that said, if you choose to continue, I wish you all the luck in the world and post often. If you like figures, check out the figure forum moderated by Anders Heintz, whose work I have seen first hand and who does excellent work, he can give you lots of tips for good figures. If you want to get some better figures, try getting any DML/Dragon figure kits, they are inexpensive and well done with lots of nice equipment.

If we can be of assistance, ask anyone, we are all more than willing to help. Rank is based on number of posts (see rank info link below).

Rob

PS watch out for those DSB guys

Welcome back to the game! You've found a great site....

And good luck with quitting smoking! I haven't quit yet, but manage to smoke just two cigs a day.....an much needed improvement. Now if I could just learn to put the whiskey down!

Welcome back to modeling. That seems to be the most common thread here. Don't let anybody talk you out of whatever kit catches your fancy. If nothing else any kit makes good practice. Isn't it great how people from all over the world can gather to talk about making Japanese kits of German equipment?

A warm elcome from this side of the planet, I think you´re a luck guy, cos you just found the best modeling site all over the net...
Anything you want, just shoot the question, ok?
cheers

From one Canucklehead to another, welcome to Armorama

Thanks to all for the warm welcome! The only problem about getting ANYTHING but Tamiya is the fact that the only hobby store for MILES in any direction has long since close The only place has a very limited selection and reasonably priced. IMHO these kits are "good enough", but I have seen some stinkers. The only problem is that the only paint they have is Testors! Anyway, I've already skimmed around this site and have learned MANY tips. Cheers!

Hi there and welcome to the site.
I live in a rural area so i too have availabilty problems. The nearest hobby shop is 25km away and it is the only one short of making the 2hr trip to Calgary (Which I havent done to just get model supplies.) My "local" hobby shop has good kit selection and they have the full line of Model Masters enamals, which i find work pretty good. But they dont really have many specialty tools because i guess there is just not the demand. Due to this fact i would suggest shopping for equipment in the hardware store. I have found good stuff there and I find its cheaper than the hobby shop can sell for! You don't need special "hobby" equipment to make good models and have alot of fun too.
I also get stuff from the internet sometimes but its hard to find good sites that deal in Canadian dollars (which i prefer to use :-) ) I have found a good one though, check out http://www.militaryhobbies.ca/index.cfm?CategoryID=0 They have really good service.

Happy hunting and ask lots of questions. Milk the forums for all their worth!

welcome back..you'll find it's just like riding a bike and you'll quit throwing models across the room in frustration yea right

welcome on the best site on the web. soon the canadians will be majoritars

Happy to welcome you on board. You're bumped in the best site on the net!!!

Welcome onboard vonGarvin. Hope you enjoy your time here. Remember there will always be difference of opinion on very small matters. Which paints to use, How good figures are etc. Litsen to what is suggested, but they are by no means law. The most important thing is that yu enjoy what you do, and model to your own means.
If you want to keep it on the cheap, you will find loads of excellent scratchbuilding tips and ideas for improvement. If you are willing to pay that bit more...... you only have ask what is the best on offer. But buying the most most expensive kits and tools wont make the best kits alone. You need skill, which can be developed over a short time and a little experience. I believe cheaper kits give a good start and at least if you are not happy with the results, you havent been robbed. Good luck with your models and we look forward to seeing your work!

welcome to armorama von garvin..i had a break when i got married too.it took a few years to show my wife modelling is the best indoor hobby.
you will see we are a great family here

Welcome vonGarvin. Here you'll find lots of answers to your questions. I personally found here a lot of help from these amazing guys.
Happy modelling!

My first ever diorama is almost done. Only a cam net to go. Anyway, did I mention that I found a really cool hobby shop! It had TONS of stuff! Anyway, here's a link to a page with cruddy webcam pics of the diorama. I'm going to borrow my friend's digital cam, but until then, enjoy! PS: the two trenches are ten scale metres apart. Cheers!

http://groups.msn.com/ModelDiorama/shoebox.msnw?albumlist=2

Welcome and congrats on the dio almost being done. Lets see Intro post on the 11th finished dio on the 12th. Man that's some ratio. You next dio should be done and out by what next week
Just kidding - I believe you have found the best site around for this hobby - over 2300 people ready and able to help out and provide inspiration, help, assistance, etc etc.

Glad to have you here.

Don't think I was laying down the law or anything, Just havin a little fun. We try to keep things as light as possible, so things don't turn out like other sites. That is probably the most important thing, have fun, that's what modelling is for.

Rob

Hi all. Just to avoid confusion, the diorama was started about two weeks ago. I found this site the other day when searching for help with dioramas. This was the first one that matched my parameters I put into Google! Lucky me, I hit the motherlode! Cheers, and am I EVER having fun. I just came home with a German 8cm mortar crew. I know, I know, Tamiya, but the close store only has Tamiya and I sometimes have little patience I'll keep you all posted re: my fits of rage and stuff. #:-) Cheers!

Welcome aboard! Enjoy this great site.

KentVH

Thanks for posting that website. You have saved my diorama!

aaaaahhhh you used the stiff crappy junky looking tamiya sand bags!! your dio looks great!! to fix those bags at least a little heat them up with a hair dryer or hot water or something of the sort and sag themm a bit should add a great deal of detail.no mean to be harsh just those tamiya things suck!! once again great dio


guy-who-likes-your-dio out

Welcome aboard this old tugboat! Make yourself at home!

~Chip #:-)

After I built that dio (again, my first ever and VERY basic.....just learning/re-learning how to even build a model without getting high on the glue!!! #:-) ), I realised that that sandbags are a bit too large to be truly 1/35. I will try to 'meld' them together more realistically on my next (which is currently in progress). Also, are their other sandbags out there I can get at 1/35 scale? Or what is a fairly good method to scratch build them? (without going insane, of course). Anyway, thanks for the comments, Cheers!

Just a taste so you don't have to fish for the site to see the references for the comments: