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ere are some useful
terms for sculpting and modeling. Click on any term for its definition.
Acrylics
Airbrush
Amazing Figure Modeler
Armature
Artist's Inks
Base Coat
Breaklines
Build up
Cast
Cease and Desist
Celluclay
Cleanup
Cold Cast
Dremel Tool
Drybrushing
Epoxy
Epoxy putty
Flash
Garage Kit
The Garage Kit That Ate My Wallet
Girl Kit
Hollow cast
Injection Molding
IPMS
Klean Klay
Kick
LED
License
Maquette
Mask
Master
Modelmania 1, 2, 3 & 4
Mold Release
Mountains in Minutes
Offsets
Pinning
Pinhole
Polymer Clay
Pressure Casting
Primer
Prototype
Putty
Recast
Resin
Rotocast
RTV
Scale
Scratchbuilt
Sculpey
Sealer Coat
Slush Mold
Sprue
Stripper
Styrene
Super-deformed
Superglue
The Modeler's Resource
Vacuum Chamber
Vinyl
Void
Wash
Watercolors
Wayne "The Dane" Hansen
White Metal
Acrylics
Fast-drying, water-based model paints often used with vinyl and resin
kits. Acrylics are available both in jars (pre-thinned) and tube form
(thinning required). The recommended thinner for most acrylic paints is
a 50/50 mix of water and rubbing alcohol. Some people prefer storebought
thinner or automotive window-washer fluid. Clean brushes with warm water
and soap.
Airbrush
A painting device that combines thinned paint from a reservoir with a
stream of compressed air, creating a fine spray which allows for subtle
blending. Single action airbrushes allow you to control the air flow,
while double action airbrushes allow you to control both air flow and
paint flow (for more precision). Thinned paint for an airbrush should
generally be about the consistency of milk.
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Amazing
Figure Modeler
A quarterly magazine devoted to figure kits and the garage kit hobby in
general. A one-year subscription is $28.00. Amazing Publications & Communications,
P.O. Box 30855, Columbus, OH 43230.
Armature
The internal support structure for a master sculpture for a model kit.
It can be as simple as a wire "skeleton" inside the clay, or it can incorporate
other materials such as aluminum foil and epoxy putty. The armature supports
the clay to prevent sagging and cracking.
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Artist's
inks
These are shellac-based inks with extremely fine-ground pigmentation and
vivid colors. Windsor-Newton is a common brand. They make excellent washes
for painting kits. Since the inks are shellac-based, they dry glossy,
but can be coated with spray or bottled matte-finish, if necessary. Artist's
ink can be thinned with water, if desired. Do not let this stuff dry on
your brushes. Clean with warm soap and water immediately after use.
Base
coat
A coat of paint applied after priming, that usually incorporates the overall
color scheme of the model. For example, the base coat for a werewolf might
be brown, and the base coat for a sea monster might be green.
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Breaklines
Ridges that form on a resin kit along the line where the two halves of
the mold met but were not aligned perfectly. See also: Offsets.
Build-up
Slang for customizing a model by changing the pose, adding new details
and/or creating a detailed diorama-like base. Also generally used to describe
the assembly and painting process.
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Cast
A model kit part that was cast from a mold. In garage kits, molds are
usually made from RTV rubber and the casts are made in polyurethane resin.
Cease
and Desist
Also referred to as a "C & D," this is a legal notice from a copyright
holder ordering a model maker to cease and desist manufacturing an unlicensed
kit or face prosecution. See also: License.
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Celluclay
Also known as paperclay, this is a cellulose-based sculpting material
sometimes used for kit bases or actual sculptures.
Clean
up
The process of preparing a resin or vinyl kit for assembly and painting.
It can include cutting off sprues, trimming flash, puttying seams, filling
pinholes, filing, sanding and pinning parts.
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Cold-Cast
A process of casting kit parts by combining resin with porcelain powder
(cold-cast porcelain) or bronze powder (cold-cast bronze) and pouring
it into a mold.
Dremel
tool
A small drill-type tool that can be used for sanding, grinding, cutting
or drilling. It's shaped like a fat pencil, and thus can be used with
more precision than regular hand tools. Many modelers prefer the variable-speed
model, which offers even more control.
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Drybrushing
A painting technique to produce highlights on textured areas. To dry brush,
a clean brush is dipped into the highlight color, then brushed on a paper
towel until the paint is barely coming off the bristles. Then the brush
is scrubbed lightly across the textured surface. The paint will come off
only on the raised areas of the texture, creating the highlights. Drybrushing
is often used in tandem with washes to create a more realistic 3-D effect
in a paint job.
Epoxy
A two-part bonding agent sometimes used for gluing resin parts.
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Epoxy
putty
A two-part putty which can be kneaded together and used in a variety of
ways, from sculpting fine detail to filling seams to anchoring interior
parts. Epoxy putty hardens to a rock-hard state in several hours. Milliput
is a brand name many model shops carry, and can be thinned and smoothed
with water.
Flash
Paperlike residue which remains on a model after the casting process.
It's caused when casting material creeps into the space between the mold
halves, and must be removed when the model is being built.
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Garage
kit
Term loosely applied to amateur or semiprofessional model kits, usually
created in someone's spare time. Most garage kits are cast resin. Garage
kits can vary widely in quality, but many are superior works, equal in
quality, artistry and workmanship to those produced by professional kit
companies. Some garage kit sculptors are commissioned by pro kit companies
to create designs. Garage kits are frequently limited to a certain number
of copies, which adds to their appeal to collectors.
The
Garage Kit That Ate My Wallet
Illustrated books by Terry J. Webb that cover the garage kit industry,
including pro kit companies like Horizon, Kaiyodo, Dark Horse, etc. Each
book features hundreds of illustrations of model kits, and are of great
interest to the kit hobbyist. Titles are The Garage Kit That Ate My
Wallet, Son of the Garage Kit That Ate My Wallet and Revenge
of the Garage Kit That Ate My Wallet. The latter two volumes include
not only profiles of kit companies, but include articles on sculpting
and painting model kits. Revenge of the Garage Kit That Ate My Wallet
can be ordered by sending $20.00 plus $2 shipping and handling to: Webbhead
Enterprises, P.O. Box 30885, Columbus, OH 43230-0885. You can inquire
about availability and price on the earlier books, as well.
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Girl
kit
A popular genre among garage kit builders. Girl kits feature female characters,
often nude or seminude, and frequently in seductive or cheesecake poses.
Hollow-cast
See Roto-cast.
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Injection
molding
The most common method of making plastic models. Liquid polystyrene is
injected into metal molds and allowed to cool, forming the parts. Most
store-bought (i.e. non-specialty) models are made this way.
IPMS
The International Plastic Modeler's Society, a nationwide organization
for model builders. IPMS sponsors local, regional and national model competitions,
publishes informative newsletters, and organizes demonstrations of modeling
techniques. Most local hobby shops will have information about local chapters
of IPMS.
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Klean
Klay
A specially formulated, non-sulfured plastalina clay suited for use with
making RTV molds. Sulfured modeling clays can inhibit the curing of RTV.
Kick
Slang, most commonly used with various glues. "Kick" refers to when the
glue makes the transition to the hardened state. Many model shops sell
"kicker," (also called zip kicker) which is a product that can be sprayed
onto cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) to accelerate the hardening process.
Kickers also provide a stronger bond. The term is also used for epoxy
putty and resin.
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LED
Light Emitting Diode; a small, bright light that can be used for robot
eyes, spaceship interiors. Usually sold at electronics stores like Radio
Shack.
License
Legal license granted by copyright or trademark holder for the use of
a likeness or character in a model kit, usually in exchange for monetary
payment. As licenses can be expensive, many garage kits are unlicensed
reproductions of likenesses and characters from television, film, comics,
etc. A licensed kit is considered to be the official version of that kit,
even though other similar kits may exist. See also: Cease and Desist.
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Maquette
Sculpting term for a basic sculpted model used to determine the final
pose and detailing for a master sculpture. Maquettes are also used in
the conceptual design stage of movie preproduction.
Mask
A coating of flexible material applied to protect a painted surface while
paint of a different color is brushed or sprayed on nearby. The best masking
product for resin and vinyl kits is Mold Builder, a latex rubber compound
available at most art supply and crafts stores. You paint it on, let it
dry, then airbrush around or over it. Then, using a needle, you gently
work up an edge of the rubber mask and peel it off.
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Master
Molding terminology for the original sculpture created for the molding
and casting process. A master can be sculpted from many materials, the
most common being Super Sculpey, a polymer clay. Also called a prototype.
Modelmania
1, 2, 3 & 4
Professional quality videotapes produced by David Fisher and Orbit Graphics.
These videos cover a variety of techniques used in the assembly and painting
of vinyl and resin kits, and offer many useful tips. Tape 1 covers basic
techniques, Tape 2 covers more advanced effects, including airbrushing,
and tape 3 covers customization and dioramas. Tape 4 shoudld be released
in late summer or early fall of 1999. The tapes are $29.95 plus $4 shipping
and handling. Orbit Graphics, P.O. Box 2008, Madison, TN 37116-2008.
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Mold
release
Any of a number of compounds used to make removing a cast from the mold
easier. All resin and vinyl parts should be gently scrubbed with soap,
water and an old toothbrush to remove any mold release agents that may
be present prior to assembly and painting.
Mountains
in Minutes
This is a two-part liquid that, when mixed together, creates a foam that
expands to many sizes of its original volume. Sold in model railroad shops,
Mountains in Minutes is often used to fill vinyl kits for added stability.
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Offsets
Ledge-like flaws that form on a resin kit along the line where the two
halves of the mold met but were seriously misaligned. See also: Breaklines.
Pinning
A technique by which the glued joints of resin models are strengthened.
Metal pins (often cut from coat hanger wire or brass rod) are inserted
into holes drilled into either side of the joint. Pins are also used to
join the model to its base or stand for greater stability.
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Pinhole
A tiny hole in the surface of a resin or vinyl kit, caused by trapped
air bubbles during the casting process.
Polymer
clay
A polymer clay is a soft modeling clay that can be baked to a ceramic-like
hardness at a much lower temperature than terra-cotta or water clay. The
clay consists of a suspension of microscopic beads of polyvinyl chloride
in a petroleum-based fluid. When the clay is baked in your home over,
the liquid evaporates and the particles fuse together. The clay remains
workable almost indefinitely before baking, and holds detail quite well.
See also: Sculpey.
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Pressure
casting
A process by which air bubbles are reduced in resin casts. The molds are
placed in a pressure vessel, and the resin is poured. Then the air pressure
in the vessel is increased, forcing trapped air bubbles deep into the
resin as it hardens, thus reducing flaws in the finished piece.
Primer
A coat of paint, usually sprayed on, that serves as the foundation for
all coats of paint to follow. For resin and vinyl kits, a laquer-based
spray primer is recommended, as it provides good "tooth" or grip for subsequent
coats of paint. Primer should be applied in light puffs, and should be
allowed to dry for 24 hours before any further paint is applied. Total
coverage is not necessary; a light "dusting" of primer is adequate. A
popular brand of primer among garage kit enthusiasts is Floquil Figure
Primer.
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Prototype
See Master.
Putty
Any of a number of compounds used to fill gaps, pinholes or seams in a
model. Generally, the putty is squeezed out of a tube and applied to the
seam or hole, where it hardens. It can then be sanded smooth. An example
would be Squadron Putty or Testor's Contour Putty, sold in most model
shops. Squadron and Testor's can be thinned with a bit of acetone (nail
polish remover). See also: epoxy putty.
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Recast
Recasting is the controversial practice of making new molds of the parts
of an existing kit, and then casting and selling new kits from them, without
the authorization of the company that originally issued the kit. These
unauthorized new kits, called recasts, are frequently of inferior quality,
and are often smaller than the original kit. Recasts are often done of
limited edition models or of models which are no longer produced.
Resin
Polyester or polyurethane resin, a material used in making garage kits.
Resin consists of a two-part mixture which hardens in a short time. Most
garage kits are resin castings. Unlike hollow vinyl kits, most resin kits
are solid.
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Roto-cast
Also known as hollow-casting or spin-casting, this is a process of rotating
RTV molds with a resin slush inside, creating a hollow resin cast of the
model part.
RTV
Room-temperature vulcanizing, a term for rubber compounds that solidify
and stabilize at lower temperatures than most manufactured rubbers. RTV
rubber is a two-part silicone mixture that is commonly used to make molds
for resin garage kits.
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Scale
A measurement system for models. For figures kits, scale is expressed
as a ratio--i.e. 1:6 scale means 1 inch on the model is equal to 6 inches.
Thus, a 6-foot (72 inches) tall man would be 1 foot tall at 1:6 scale
(72 Ö 6 = 12). Likewise, a 6-foot tall man would be 14.4 inches tall at
1:5 scale (72 Ö 5 = 14.4). Some smaller figures (such as military, historical
and gaming figures) are measure in millimeters.
Scratchbuilt
A model, model part, or base built from scratch, as opposed to using pre-manufactured
kits, parts, etc.
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Sculpey
Sculpey is a polymer clay material used commonly by sculptors. This clay
stays soft during the modeling process, and can then be baked in a home
oven to a ceramic-like hardness. There are different types--most sculptors
prefer the waxy pink Super Sculpey to the white, doughlike Sculpey. Super
Sculpey can be mixed with other polymer clays such as Fimo or Promat to
vary its working consistency and final hardness. See also: Polymer clay.
Sealer
coat
A coating of clear laquer (gloss or matte) sprayed on a model to seal
the paint coat. A sealer coat can be applied during the painting of the
model, to protect thin layers of existing paint, and a final sealer coat
is sprayed on to protect the finish of the model. Two brands of laquer
spray used in sealer coats are Floquil Figure Flat and Testors Modelmaster
laquer overcoat.
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Slush
mold
Vinyl kits are produced by this method. Molten polyvinyl chloride is poured
into hollow metal molds, and the excess is emptied out, leaving a shell
of vinyl in the mold. When the vinyl cools, it is unmolded.
Sprue
The channel through which liquid casting material is poured during the
casting process. After the cast has hardened, some material will remain
in this channel, and must be removed before the model is built. Injection
molded models will come attached to a rectangular sprue, or "part tree,"
as it is sometimes called.
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Stripper
Any of a number of products designed to dissolve paint. Useful for stripping
paint off a model you want to repaint. A good brand is Bix Stripper, available
at hardware and department stores like Wal-Mart. Safe for most resin and
vinyl, but test on a scrap piece first, and follow all directions carefully.
Styrene
The polystyrene plastic that comprises most store-bought models. Styrene
is also sold in sheets, rods and tubes for scratchbuilding. Styrene parts
are usually glued with standard modeler's tube glue, but superior results
can be achieved with styrene cement, a clear liquid solvent that, when
painted onto a seam between two parts, slightly melts the styrene, creating
a strong bond.
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Super-deformed
A small caricature model kit that has odd proportions, typically a very
large head and very small body. Usually cast in resin.
Super
glue
A cyanoacrylate bonding agent commonly used to assemble resin and vinyl
model kits. The use of a "kicker" (see Kick) is recommended to speed setting
of cyanoacrylate and strengthen the bond.
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The
Modeler's Resource
A quarterly magazine devoted to the garage kit hobby. A one year subscription
is $18.00. 1141 Holly Avenue, Clovis, California, 93611-6210.
Vacuum
chamber
A metal chamber from which the air can be pumped out. Used in moldmaking
to reduce air bubbles in RTV molds.
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Vinyl
A flexible vinyl compound used in making model kits. Unlike solid resin
kits, vinyl kits are often hollow. Some modelers prefer to fill the legs
of their vinyl kits with plaster for stability, and others prefer to fill
the entire kit with expanding foam to prevent the vinyl from distorting
later.
Void
A serious flaw in a resin or vinyl cast, produced by a large air bubble
trapped against the surface of the mold as the resin hardened.
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Wash
Heavily thinned dark paint brushed on over a textured area, which runs
into cracks and crevices and dries to form shadows and shading. Washes
can be improved by adding a tiny bit of liquid dishwashing soap, which
prevents it from beading up. Washes are often used in tandem with drybrushing
to create a more realistic 3-D effect in a paint job.
Watercolors
Artist's tube watercolors. The pigments in these are very finely-ground,
even moreso than acrylic paints, and can be used for washes and special
effects. A watercolor wash can be applied, and after drying, areas can
be removed with a clean brush and water to create a spotted or patched
effect. Watercolors must be sealed with a a couple of light sealer coats
after application, or subsequent painting will cause the watercolors to
run.
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Wayne
"the Dane" Hansen
An idiosyncratic garage kit sculptor and build-up artist, Wayne Hansen's
company Dane Models has produced a number of homemade videotapes offering
instruction in sculpting with Super Sculpey and customizing model kits.
The tapes are long, seriously lacking in professional quality and can
be taxing to watch, but they do contain valuable advice and instruction.
For aspiring sculptors, the sculpting tapes are particularly useful, as
they focus on materials and techniques specific to garage kit sculpting,
and ultimately are cheaper than most art school or adult education sculpting
courses. Wayne
himself is a friendly, amusing guy, and is seriously interested in promoting
the hobby and helping new sculptors. Most tapes in his series are about
$30.00. For a list of titles, write to Wayne Hansen, 415 Julian Woods
Lane, Julian, PA 16844. Or you can visit his two web sites: www.waynethedane.bizland.com
(for product descriptions) and members.aol.com/modeldane/page2/index.htm
(for product pricing).
White
metal
A soft metal compound (sometimes lead-based) primarily used for making
miniature figurines for role-playing and similar games, and for military
and historical figures. Many garage kits will feature white metal parts,
as well.
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