By Mario Covalski
Have you thought about the reasons why you build scale models?. I’ve been asking this to myself since some time, and this month I wish to share with you my thinking.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
A conversation with a friend and close contributor, made me think about a subject rarely tackled in the notes published in our magazine, the brands of paints (or their manufacturers).
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
During the last weeks, I built some 1/12 motorcycles just for fun and to write some articles. It has been quite long now that I have been receiving e-mails asking when we would be publishing more articles on motorcycles. Unfortunately we do not receive enough articles from the people who build them; so, I decided to go to the mountain… given that the mountain would not come to me.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
It's quite possible that those who have been building models for years, know very well what I'm going to talk about. For newcomers, perhaps, it will be something curious and many of them will find out that they have been thinking about this, lately.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
When I think about all I’ve been going through during the last years with regard to modeling, it brings back to my memory 1986, when at a magazines store, I saw for the first time, a popular modeling magazine which had started to be issued in those days.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Talking with some friends, modelers of course, we were discussing/chatting about the difficulties magazines and all web sites devoted to this activity, have today to get good articles. This is something that affects us obviously, so we started to reflect on this matter, the conclusion we reached was that nowadays, modelers don’t spend much of their time on building scale models.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
This editorial is specially devoted to newcomers to this activity; of course if you are an experienced modeler, perhaps you may agree or not with it, but it's quite clear that I'm not writing this thinking on advanced modelers. It's more than obvious and I will not list the possibilities modern technology offers nowadays to modelers, and if you've arrived to static modeling about 5 years ago, you'll find as usual the etched sets, resin detail parts, dozens of decal sheets for different versions of the same kit, etc.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Until 1997, I had never worn eyeglasses, my vision was almost perfect and being a teenager, I was very proud of it. After my four-0 birthday, I had to face a common problem people over 40 suffer. It's called "presbyopia". The crystalline lens is less able to focus on close objects.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Looking through my old editorials, trying to decide which topic to deal with this month, the idea suddenly came to me. In fact, it was there since time ago, but as usual, human beings can’t see the wood though being inside.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
In the editorial of September 2007, I wrote about model detailing, focusing on how many details should be added to our models and my point of view on the topic. This time, I would like to call the attention of the patient readers of my editorials on another relevant issue within our hobby: the model's historical truthfulness or accuracy.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Every month, Modeler Site has an editorial note as part of its contents. Editorials are the way for us the publishers of MS to express our ideas and opinions about certain modeling subjects. At this point, I must say that literature and writing is not one of my strong points, but I've been reading magazines, books, and almost all kinds of publications dealing with my likes, since I was very young. I'm saying this because, for what I know, editorials, signed or "anonymous", are not compromised with any idea, except when there is a political intention.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
This month I would like to come back to a key subject in today's modeling, at least this is my feeling and it's what happens to me. How much detailing do we add to our models …. And what do we wish to achieve?
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Ever since the man gathered into social groups, a huge number of rules were established to indicate how to do things the right way. According to those rules, an individual is good, honest, healthy, happy…or not.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
In the past editorial, I spoke about modelling as a creative process, explaining then, my way of thinking. Now I want to come back with a new reflection, about what superdetailing represents for me, and about the pressure it means to modelers.
I want to emphasize that I understand that it's not the same superdetail an aircraft model, car, armor...etc, and of course, scale is also an important fact, so I'll concentrate on cars subjects, that is what I best know about.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
I think that human beings are subjective by nature, and speaking in terms of tastes, everything we like, may not be objectively, the best or most proper. I could give hundreds of examples from cigarettes, clothes…and so on.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
A couple of weeks ago, talking to a modeler, he told me that he was suffering from something that English- speaking modelers call AMS (advanced modeler syndrome); a kind of obsession that leads them to count even the rivets of each model to check if the number (and shape, of course) match to the real thing.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Around the end of January, I was talking about modeling with a friend of mine, owner of a small business of resin kits. It was a pleasant chat about models, projects, etc, steering to the little time we have to spend on building models, when suddenly he asked me a question and both of us were stunned…”¿When did you last purchase a kit, arrive home and start building it?”
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
For the last 20 years, I’ve read countless articles, editorials…etc about the scales, Which is the best one?, which is the best for us?; etc; most of the notes I read were technical ones, explaining how and the reason of each scale, pros and cons; etc.
COMMENTS (1)
By Mario Covalski
The collector got nearer the shop window, took a quick glance and gazed at something, the thing is, that after so many years of “hunting” the prey, he got used to finding among many items, the one that would awake his interest that day.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Is there anything more wonderful than a shrink- wrapped kit in box?. I sincerely believe that anybody who has built scale models some time in his/her life, will agree with me, that no, there is nothing more exciting and captivating. The thing is that the box content, has quite a special power on us, the power of dreams, probably, everything we wished to accomplish in modeling (and why not, in life)…and it remains there hidden, but with the hope that our libido will not be unsatisfied.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Have you been building scale models for a long time?, Did you use to work on the same subjects?, Were you bored on one occasion? Were there times when you’ve not built models even when you had the feeling to do so? If you have a positive answer to most of these questions, this Editorial is to you.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
In spite of the fact that many years passed since I built my first scale model, I still wonder which is the meaning of building them, even more, what modeling as a whole, means.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
I’ve been surfing the Web since about 12 years ago, and during the last 10 ones, I could see several sites devoted to plastic modeling turning up. At first, they were either simple text pages, or forums that no longer exist, and of course, by that time, all those online shops were already set up outside the Internet, and just out of curiosity or by making a lucky guess, they were set up as e-commerce shops.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
This month’s editorial is going to be focused on two subjects: our sixth anniversary and a short analysis of a phenomenon that has been increasing on and on, during the past years….the diecast models.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Sometimes, I wonder if it’s really necessary to write a monthly editorial, I’m not discussing if this is usual or if matches within a magazine’s circle, even a virtual one. The editorial expresses the ideology of the one who leads the media, thus my editorials should express our ideology as a magazine about modeling, and, if you read our previous editorials, you’ll find out our thoughts with respect to plastic modeling and other activities around it.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
The world of scale models, is, in certain aspects confusing and there are different points of view. Here, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This month, I want to refer to professional modelers, hoping that my opinion, may throw some light on the topic, especially for the newcomers… or at least, to start a serious discussion.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
When you purchase a DVD player, you become the final consumer of that product, that’s your role. When speaking about modeling, things are quite different, the final consumer, plays at times, a different role, he himself develops the product (and this is the way some manufacturers started), the modeler is who builds the model and writes the techniques notes for others more inexperienced, etc. That’s to say the consumer is part of the whole machinery that sets modeling in motion and quite in an active way. I personally can’t imagine the activity in a different way.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Everybody knows that modeling has turned into a specialized activity, and we’ve already tackled this topic in previous editorials. If you, my friend use to build aircrafts….don’t draw closer to the group of those devoted to armored vehicles…this is well known, it’s not a question that you’ll not be welcomed; in point of fact, in the clubs all disciplines coexist, but every group speak their own language using different codes, words, a great many own ways of communication.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Building a model means an arduous task, either for beginners or advanced modelers. Some will pour out hours and hours of work on detailing, painting…etc, for others, the matter will be just to find out and be able to use the respective techniques successfully.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Several years ago, someone connected with the plastic modeling industry made me a comment, saying that internet was a twilight zone…and although, in those days, I partly agreed with him, actually, I was not fully convinced about that reality as today, after having been Modeler Site’s editor for five years.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Who dares to state this is not the best mankind technological time ever known?. In my opinion, the scientific advances and the leading-edge technology along the last 35 years, are by far, more important than those ones reached during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. And the increase of this tendency has turned much more evident during these years of the 21st century.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Perhaps, one of the most exciting moments of every modeling project, is the purchasing time. Searching for the kit the modeler is eager to get, sometimes discontinued, he turns into an actual hunter, developing a special and good instinct to find that item he’s looking for and at low price. Some modelers, either owing to lack of time or any other reason, don’t go beyond this stage which turns into a hobby in itself.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Perhaps, some assiduous Modeler Site readers have been very surprised at reading our current cover article, and I think It’s a good opportunity to deal with a topic which had never been tackled in our editorials, the specialization in our hobby.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Perhaps many readers know, and probably many others may not have heard that a couple of months ago we’ve started a Yahoo group to make a link of communications among you and Modeler Site’s editors. Owing to the problems posed by the spam, there’s no safe and/or legal mailing, they’re all under suspicion and luckily, Yahoo offers an effective media which is recognized as legal by most of the ISP around the world.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
This month’s cover note is about a Protar kit, the uncommon, difficult, and expensive (if you can get one) 1/12 scale McLaren MP4/ 2, and the note is by our good friend and collaborator Dan Parrat.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
I was thinking a few days ago, about the strange situations posed by modeling in our days. When I was very young, it was difficult to find a great variety of models; in those days, I used to build airplanes in 1/48 scale from Monogram, and 1/72 scale from Airfix. If I wanted something real luxurious I had to choose Nichimo, although they were more expensive and difficult to find.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
After a two months break without sitting down at my workbench as I was exceedingly busy writing a couple of articles, I turned my hand to my models, as I’ve been doing just without interruptions for the last 44 years.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Four years ago, late in summer during a hot southern March, the idea to bring to light and manage a virtual modeling magazine was born. Although the intention wasn’t innovating, it implied the creation of a web site in a magazine format, as a mean of communication among hobbyists, and the updates were actually new issues.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Since several weeks ago, an idea has been striking my mind over and over: What did I do in behalf of modeling?. Well, I could adduce that Modeler Site is in fact, a contribution, with the articles we usually publish…and so forth. However, as it happens to any modeller, manufacturer or retailer, I’ve received much from this activity, and here, I’m considering all the time devoted to this hobby.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
I feel it is much more difficult to write an editorial than an article on a model. There are so many ideas I would like to share with you but there is such a little space… Since readers of an editorial expect a great idea to be developed in a nutshell, the writer should feel passionate and convinced about it in order to be crystal clear and effective.
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
Dear Friends, this is the last editorial for 2002... Another year has quickly gone by while learning and sharing our know-how on our hobby. This month I would like to focus on a topic of my personal concern, both as an editor and as a member of the modelers' world: the "Masters".
COMMENTS
By Mario Covalski
To loving memory of my father Luis, who taught me the value of the honesty and the honor word. Thanks to help me, before... and even now.
If you are now reading this article, you have already seen our cover and know that Modeler Site is celebrating its second anniversary.
As the creator of Modeler Site, I have so many feelings I would like to share with you that this article would not be enough …. And besides, who wants to endure a long speech? Therefore, I will not extend the suffering of those people who decided to read this editorial.
COMMENTS
By Allon Kira
The U.S. Army, after berating the South Vietnamese for flouting battle doctrine, came out with their own ACAV version. This more or less standardized ACAV kit included shields and a circular turret for the .50-caliber M2 machine gun in the track commander (TC) position, two M60 machine guns with shields for the left and right rear positions, and "belly armor"—steel armor bolted from the front bottom extending 1/2 to 2/3 of the way towards the bottom rear of the M113. The two rear machine gunners could fire their weapons while standing inside the rectangular open cargo hatch. This transformed the M113 into a fighting vehicle, but the vehicle still suffered from its lightly armored configuration, having never been designed for such a role.
By Felice Ferriello
This tutorial is based on showcasing and explaining the main modifications to convert the Hasegawa Miura P400 SV kit into the Miura P400 Roadster, as well as the added details. I won't delve into the assembly of basic components since the purpose is to share with the reader the more complex tasks. The rest is well-known as the Hasegawa kit has been around for several years. This model is dedicated to my wife Lyska, who supported me with patience and love throughout the process.
By Lars Wahlström
I had already started my own research and looked for reference images and information. I also joined a Facebook group and got a lot of tips. The kit was released in the UK before in the EU, so many had already started their builds and discovered inaccuracies. The objective of this tutorial is to share with the reader the work done, not only to assemble the kit, but also to get the most out of it, adding details and missing parts, painting where necessary, etc., always guided by the references. to which I had access. Hoping it is useful to others.
By Allon Kira
This is an excellent kit from AVF. I built it almost out of the box, and concentrated on the painting. Being a tank that operated in the desert, the weathering is based on natural wear and tear from use and pigments to represent the sand.
By Mario Covalski
The aim of this tutorial is to share with the reader the modifications made on the 1/16 T-55 from the firm Hooben, to convert it into a T-54 first. then in a Tiran 4 of the IDF (Israeli defence forces) early. The model represents a Tiran 4 as it looked in the period between 1972 and 1974. Besides to help the reader, especially to those who has never built a Hooben T-55, to solve the problems I had to deal with, alert them to several problems that appears after some use, like it happened to me with the one built in 2011 (the old kit version).
By Modeler Site
Over the end of the year, we are offering a preview of the best tutorials we were proud to have during 2023. Enjoy them and happy new year.
By Geo Tziafas
A true masterpiece, an automotive treasure that, when it was first unveiled six decades ago in 1960 at the Geneva Motor Show, prompted Enzo Ferrari to declare it the most beautiful car in the world, takes the spotlight in the following article. With over 70,000 units of the E-Type produced, it graced the Coventry factory floor in three distinct phases: Series 1 (1961-1968), Series 2 (1969-1971), and Series 3 (1971-1974).
By Gary Wickham
Eduard has recently released a new tooled Hawker Tempest Mk.V family in 1:48 scale. I have the Mk.V Series 1 ProfiPACK (82121) kit as well as the Big SIN (64856) set which includes a full Brassin Cockpit, Exhausts, Wheels and Landing Flaps. I also have some of the Barracuda Studios correction sets including the spinner and radiator intake. I'll highlight all these goodies (and compare them to the kits parts) as I progress through the build
By Lars Wahlström
In 1977, as a Christmas gift from my brother, I got a model kit of a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray in 1/8 scale. The kit was made by Monogram, but the same kit was later also released by Revell. There were editions with the body in both red and blue plastic. I noticed quite immediately that the detail level was low, lower than many models in 1/25 scale. Not even the doors were operable and the chrome-plating quality was really poor. Comparing with the French Heller's super detailed 1/8 model kit of the Citroen B15, which I built earlier, the Corvette was toyish and a real disappointment for an experienced modeller. But I decided to take it on anyway.
By Michael Mass
Here is my Hobby Boss, IDF, APC Puma in 1/35 + Legend detailing sets. Quickwheels tracks, Karaya cables, Accurate Armor fiber antenna, Uzi decals, Anti slip from VMS, Verlinden flexible harnesses, Acrylic paints and varnishes from Vallejo and AK Interactive. I Added orange flags. Also, I installed the antennas for the 2nd Platoon Commander, and added the ammo boxes and wiring harness for the projector.
By Geo Tziafas
In the following tutorial I will share with the reader, many photos and explanations about the construction of the Alfa 33TT, I hope it will help and guide, for those who want to build this magnificent MFH kit, but this experience is valid for other similar kits of the same brand. This tutorial, very descriptive and with many good photos, can also serve as a general guide for other MFH kits in the same scale.
By Ricardo Gonzalez
When I saw this Tamiya kit, I felt like I could do something special by adding aftermarket detail sets and doing a bit of scratch-building. My goal in writing this tutorial is to share with the reader the work I've done, not only in assembling and super-detailing the model but also in showcasing a customization by changing the look proposed by Tamiya.
By Patrick Sedney
Once again, Tamiya delights us with the flawless engineering quality of their scale model, the Mercedes-AMG GT3, which was launched in 2017... or was it? In this tutorial, we will explore the pros and cons of this remarkable replica of the Mercedes-Benz vehicle, created in collaboration with their performance brand, AMG, for various FIA GT3 championships. Customizing it for the 2019 GT World Challenge America Crowdstrike team.
By Geo Tziafas
Starting a Hiro kit build is essentially starting a game of chess. Each move affects the next and the slightest mistake may cost in fitting or detailing issues. In addition, as in the famous board game, the more moves (test fits) you are ahead the better you can predict the way they will interact with each other and the less likely it is to be checkmated during the final assembly.
By Edwing E. Merlo Paredes
Basically this kit has been built straight out of the box, using almost all of the parts included in the kit, and small details such as generic photo-etched screw heads have been added. The objective of this tutorial is to share with the reader the steps that I followed to build this model.
By Edwing E. Merlo Paredes
I built the model straight out of the box, using all the parts included in the kit, and I have added some details in the engine that, although it is not exposed, but it was fun and the work has been reflected in the photos. I added some wires, and generic photo-etched screw heads. These photo-etched parts were also used to detail some other parts of the model. For the paint, a Lamborghini orange tone called Arancio Miura (Gravity Colors Ref. GC-1194) was chosen, and thus, make a different proposal to the red finish proposed by Hasegawa.
By Mario Covalski
With this photo array I share with the reader my experience with the model adding many missing details, not all, painting parts and applying plastic modeling techniques to improve the appearance of this expensive model. In addition, solving some problems that the kit has and showing tips and tricks to improve or facilitate its assembly.
By Mario Covalski
With this photo array (one picture says more than thousand words sometimes) I share with the reader my experience with the model (I put together two) adding many missing details, not all, painting parts and applying plastic modelling techniques to improve the appearance of this expensive model. Also solving some problems that the kit has and showing tips and tricks to improve or facilitate its assembly.
By Edwing E. Merlo Paredes
For this tutorial I built the model straight out of the box, and except for some generic decals with logos, I've used almost all of the parts provided in the box. The custom paint scheme was my idea, seeking a harmony of black areas, combined with a metallic dark gray base, alternated with fluorescent red/orange details, a very explosive mix of finishes that gives the model great dynamism. Below I share with the reader the steps I took to assemble the model of this 2015 Honda NSX, starting with the bodywork.
By Geo Tziafas
We use to publish large tutorials plenty of pictures and large texts, but when I saw these pictures I realized that this probably wouldn't need anything more, sometimes happens. Looking the pictures I understood all the process… besides not always contributors want to spend extra time writing, when already inverted thousand of hours building taking pictures…etc. I hope you enjoy the pictures as I did, thanks Geo!