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Models/Questions Answered by Expert Clifford Bossie
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Model building schools | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: Is there such a thing as a school for learning how to build all kinds of plastic or wood models. My ... A: Jack, There are no schools that I am aware per se. Some model clubs have tutorials, but one of the ... | |
| 50s vintage plastic model | 12/24/2010 |
| Q: i saw a segment on a roadshow ; ) where at the very end they were saying that it was worth so much ... A: Phillip, The value of the kit will be reduced considerably without the box. To me a kit is ... | |
| Model car/military model building groups? | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: Hey Cliff. I have done some simple searches online with little luck so far. Is it possible, if there ... A: Tony, What I suggest is to go through this list and find the closest one. I am not suere of your ... | |
| Model Military Weight Designation | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: What determines the weight of a military vehicle? For example a model tank or military vehicle ... A: That is an excellent question, but actually a tough one to answer. For tanks the classification as ... | |
| Photo-Etched Parts | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: What are photo-etched model kit parts? For example, I saw on a tank kit photo-etched tank tracks. I ... A: I went to the official website for Ace and found a photo of the PE tracks: ... | |
| Photo-Etched Parts | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: What are photo-etched model kit parts? For example, I saw on a tank kit photo-etched tank tracks. I ... A: Hey Kenneth, Photo etching is a technique used for etching metal and printed circuit boards. For ... | |
| Airbrushes | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: What type of airbrush would you recommend for painting plastic model kits? I have seen some with ... A: Airbrushes are kind of a person al choice, kind of like choosing a shirt or a motorcycle. I have ... | |
| Model Kit Manufacturers | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: When selecting a model kit, are there any model-kit companies/makers that you would avoid? If so, ... A: Kenneth, I can recommend ICM, Zvezda and Amodel. ICM and Zvezda have shared molds and some Zvezda ... | |
| Model Kit Manufacturers | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: When selecting a model kit, are there any model-kit companies/makers that you would avoid? If so, ... A: The one that leaps to mind is Starfix (not to be confused with Airfix). Some makers like Lindberg ... | |
| Tank Hulls | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I saw a description regarding a model tank that has a die-cast lower hull. I now understand that the ... A: Kenneth, Die casting refers to metal vs injection molding which is plastic. The metal is usually a ... | |
| Airfix valuation | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: 04655-6 in its original package and still in its principle componants and was wondering whether or ... A: That is really a tough question to answer, as hobby reference often show a certain "value" for an ... | |
| .. about double action airbrushes | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: .. hi i just got my airbrush and im gonna start aribrushing tommorrow for the first time ,, i pretty ... A: The problem with airbrushing is that it is more of an art than a science, something that just has to ... | |
| number of coats | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: and it says " start with an overall light coat, and slowly build up successive coats until they are ... A: It is kind of a subjective thing Chris. When working with flat colors I tend to let them dry fairly ... | |
| 1/72 scaled model aircraft decals | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: Where can I purchase decal kits for a pile of models I have. I need a set from an Academy for a 1/72 ... A: Bill, Sorry to take so long to respond, 12 hour days can be a killer. Anyway, I believe the best ... | |
| 1/18 scale decals | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I've recently acquired a 1/18 scale silver f-86 sabre without any decals or markings from Admiral ... A: Billal, You could try scanning the decals into your computer and using a photo edit program to ... | |
| waterslide decals | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I have begun trying to make waterslide decals on the computer and printing them on clear decal ... A: Don, The problem with most printers is that the ink is somewhat translucent and will allow darker ... | |
| airbrush or normal brush? | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: Clifford, I'll start to use photo etched parts for enhancing my ships models; but, looking at their ... A: Rodrigo, My biggest concern with using an airbrush on photoetch is that the airflow might simply ... | |
| Plastic Model Kit Companies | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in purchasing a model aircraft kit made by PM Models. Is this a good plastic model ... A: Ken, The PM Models are a mixed batch, with the Ta-183 being fairly decent, while many of the others ... | |
| Building a plastic model of airplane | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a Monogram A/B-26C Invader that I had the opportunity to fly in during the Korean conflict. ... A: Bill, Unfortunately I do not know of anybody that I could really commit to this build. However, ... | |
| paint finish | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I am building the USS Constitution wood boat model. The paint I was given has a flat finish. I ... A: Dan, Looking through my slides of the USS Constitution the paint used in the latest restoration has ... | |
| Heller QM2 | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: Just a few questions I have nothing to crazy. Is this a re make of the AirFix kit that was made ... A: Thomas, I believe that the kit is the same from both Heller and Airfix. It dates from the time ... | |
| 1/48 th Scale Heinkel He 111B | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I am desperate need for Germen decals for this project 19k338-1940, can anybody help? A: That is kind of out of my field. A quick search shows most decals are for He 111Hs. This could be ... | |
| clear coating & glueing | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: It appears I can't directly reply to your response to me, so I'm copying/pasting my original ... A: Rob, The glue gun might present a good answer. However, will the glue get hot enough to melt the ... | |
| clear coating & glueing | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: It appears I can't directly reply to your response to me, so I'm copying/pasting my original ... A: Rob, It sounds like moisture could be a problem. If for some reson it is very humid that could ... | |
| foil decals | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I have some Davey Allison #28 87 tbird decals the foil just went to pieces when hitting the ... A: Bernie, The best prevention I have found is Micro Superfilm. That product gives a clear coating ... | |
| decals | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm looking for some decals for an airplane I saw in my favorite movie " The Langoliers ". It's the ... A: Dan, Being a livry created for the movie I seriously doubt there are any decals. A quick online ... | |
| airbrushes | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: hopefully this will be a simple question to answer with out a page of answers, mainly to benefit ... A: Keith, My favorite has become a Paasche H, single action, siphon feed. It is simple and very ... | |
| Bismarck German Battelship | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I have KANGNAM Bismarck 1/400 Scale plastic model that my wife bought me for my birthday. And it ... A: Rod, The Kangman instructions are either Korean or Chinese. I can't remember which. As far as the ... | |
| Airbrushing Metal Flake Paint? | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I want to paint my Timaya Porsche model (my mid-life crisis model) candy apple red. This would ... A: Dan, I have successfully airbrushed Testors metallic colors, but have never tried Tamiya. Indeed ... | |
| Painting plastic model | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: Part of the problem is that the plastic is black. So I am not getting good coverage without laying ... A: Dan, Agreed, black plastic can be very difficult to paint. The technic I have found that works ... | |
| How to paint a split colour efffect on a boat hull | 4/5/2008 |
| Q: I wonder how one might go about painting a boat hull in 2 colours, say white above the water line ... A: Russell, The last ship I built (1/72nd scale CVE) was made of fiberglass, so sealing it was not an ... | |
| How to paint a split colour efffect on a boat hull | 4/1/2008 |
| Q: I wonder how one might go about painting a boat hull in 2 colours, say white above the water line ... A: Russel, Sorry it took several days for me to answer this question. My computer died and it took ... | |
| Model House | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: was wondering what materials would be best used as for walls and roofing. Also were would i go ... A: Sean, Probably the best material would be poster board (the thin cardboard used for school ... | |
| painting wooden boat hull | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I'm redoing an old creole queen paddlewheel, would like to know the best way to waterproof and what ... A: Frank, I really don't have enough information about the model (type of wood, age, etc.) but will ... | |
| 1/1/8th Scale F4U Corsair | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I have the same aircraft model that Kris asked about. I would like to airbrush the underside white, ... A: John, The best white in the Testors range is Flat White FS 37875. Testors stock number is B-1768. ... | |
| Paint Removal | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: Have you had any experience in removing paint from 10 litre plastic pals. Once the paint is removed ... A: Greg, I do not have a good answer. Depending on the amount of dried paint involved de-natured ... | |
| build or no build | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: i recently acquired a kenworth w-900 tractor model in 1/16 scale. it is in original plastic wrap ... A: I can only speak for myself, but every kit I ever bought I bought with the idea of building. That ... | |
| Plastic Model Kit Employment | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: I've been building kits for more than 37 years. I enjoy this hobby more than anyone could ever know. ... A: Michael, Most professional model builders have to build their business over time and in fact most ... | |
| Plastic Model Painting | 8/26/2007 |
| Q: I am a rookie model builder and so far I have had good luck. However I have spray painted the body ... A: David, The easiest (though messiest) way I have found to remove paint from plastic is to soak the ... | |
| A model of the USS Missouri | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a very old (probably ~1960) model of the USS Missouri, given to me by a family friend who ... A: Charles, From your description I do not believe that this is the old Sterling kit built up as I ... | |
| wooden uss missouri kit | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: could you tell me where i can find a wooden kit uss Missouri that i will build it by myself , i have ... A: Joe, Many years ago Sterling had a wooden kit of the USS Missiori in a fairly large scale. ... | |
| airbrushing?? | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: wanna start airbrushing my 1/24 scale models ---- mainly car bodies and play around with some ... A: Chad, While I have seen some hand painted models it is a skill I have never been able to develope. ... | |
| architectural models | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: I want to build a model of it but i want it to be somewhat big but somewhat small so i decided on ... A: Matt, I think you have a good plan and I hope it works out. I am not sure what scale architectural ... | |
| Order of multiple paint coats | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to get the smoothest finish possible - not necessarily the glossiest. In other words, I ... A: Tom, The best (smoothest) finish should be obtained by applying a good color coat first. After ... | |
| 1:18 scale WWII airplane decals | 2/16/2007 |
| Q: Cliff, I'm new to painting models and picked up one of the 21st Century XD 1:18 scale Corsair F4U ... A: Kris, Unfortunately there is a shortage of decals for the 1/18th scale kits. Badcataviation.com ... | |
| Do I need to prime? | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I have anotherIs it essential to prime smaller pieces like chairs or exhaust pipes where I intended ... A: Christian, I would not prime anything prior to assembly as that will negatively effect the adhesion ... | |
| House Model | 11/24/2006 |
| Q: I am looking for a answer to... "what materials I should use when making a model house I want to ... A: Nick, Three possibilities come to mind. One is the old standby balsa wood. Balsa is fairly cheap ... | |
| Do I need to prime? | 11/23/2006 |
| Q: I have recently taken interest in scale modelling and I just bought the Italeri's Crusader Mk. 1 ... A: Christian, You do not have to prime before painting, but I prefer to for several reasons. The ... | |
| milky flat finish | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: I keep getting a slight milkiness to the flat finish when airbrushing it on model planes. I have ... A: Scott, Sorry it has taken several days to get back to this, I have been out of town and away from a ... | |
| spray booth for airbrush | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: Do you know of an easay way to hook up an old CPU fan to the back of a boox that has venitlation ... A: Nick, I am not sure a CPU fan would provide enough airflow, plus the only way I can readily think ... | |
| hlr-52902 queen mary 2 | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: I am very interested in this model ship but have a few questions that I need answered before I ... A: Karen, According to several online sites this kit has 239 pieces and measures 22 5/8 inches ... | |
| Scale models of Cities and buildings | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: What is the most common material (i.e. wood, paper, cardboard, plaster, arcylic, etc..) used for ... A: Tom, This question kind of borders on my kack of expertise, but here goes. I believe that ... | |
| decals | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I am looking for the availability and prices for the following aircraft decals: 1. BF 109 F & G ... A: Bob, Probably the most complete decal options will be AeroMaster , or Eagle Strike Decals, produced ... | |
| model misprint | 2/16/2006 |
| Q: I have a kitech Enterprise CVN65 model, 30cm. The box has Enterprise spelled Enterpries, and it ... A: Will, Kitech is a manufacturer in Hong Kong. As with many of the Asian manufacturers English is a ... | |
| 51-5915 | 12/30/2005 |
| Q: I am going to Phoenix and Globe next month. I would like to find and take pictures of 51-5915. Can ... A: Ed, 51-5915 is located in San Carlos, AZ. I do not remember the exact location, I was hoping I ... | |
| I'd like to locate a wooden... | 11/1/2005 |
| Q: I'd like to locate a wooden boat kit of the U.S.S. Missouri - I doubt it exists. 36-48" would be ... A: Jim, Many years ago there was a wooden kit of the USS Missouri from Sterling Models. The kit was ... | |
| Aircraft kit collecting | 7/2/2005 |
| Q: I have built many plastic aircraft and ship kits ( and a few tank kits) mostly from WW2 period. ... A: Larry, A good question, one many modelers have. The best starting point might be Ebay.com, where ... | |
| model airplane engines | 4/21/2005 |
| Q: I'm lookig to purchase the following book: Model Airplane Engine Review 1930 - 1955 by Art Shur. ... A: Don, The only recommendations I can make are to try some of the online used book stores. Two that ... | |
| F-86D 51-5915 | 12/29/2004 |
| Q: I think you posted the picture of the old F-86D, 51-5915 on a pole. I worked on that bird ... A: Ed, 51-5915 is mounted on a pole in San Carlos, Arizona. Off hand I can't remember the building ... | |
| Ship Models | 11/24/2004 |
| Q: I'm looking for a kit for assembly of the French luxury liner NORMANDIE, built in the 1930s. She's ... A: Unfortunately the model companies have completely overlooked the NORMANDIE, as far as I know there ... | |
| Decals - model airplane | 3/18/2004 |
| Q: What is the best way to apply "water slide" decals to model airplanes without the decals ... A: Joel, Apologies, I just got back from vacation, so it took me a while to answer your question. The ... | |
| History of of the model kit molds used by companies "Adams", "Snap", and "Revell". | 2/15/2004 |
| Q: Are the molds for the kit of the Honest John missile with self-propelled launcher made by "Adams" ... A: Both Revell and Adams released a 1/40th kit of the Honest John. I'm not sure if they are the same ... | |
| Hasegawa F14/A - 1/72 | 5/9/2002 |
| Q: I have suddenly taken an interest in scale model building and don't have a clue where to start. I ... A: Mike, In regards to the panel lines on aircraft; most modern aircraft have very tight joints ... | |
| History of plastic model building | 2/2/2002 |
| Q: ! Im having this persuasive speech in my school and i chose to persuade my schoolmates to go into ... A: The history of plastic modelling originated shortly before WWII, albeit in very limited form. Mass ... | |
| Water decal | 6/25/2001 |
| Q: I would like to know how to make 'water decal' for plastic model car. Makealive Thanks A: Will answer this question in detail when I get home on Saturday. CB Sorry to take so long to get ... | |
| Egyptian boat model kits | 3/22/2001 |
| Q: I am looking for a model kit for making an ancient Egyptian boat called the Khufu, and so far I'm ... A: FS, I've looked through numerous catalogs, consulted a friend that runs a hobbyshop (and has a ... | |
Clifford Bossie
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Model aircraft and aviation History and photography, Naval history and ship models, maritime and ships in general, Scratch building of models, Some military history
Experience
I have built models for the better part of thirty five years, have taken photographs of U.S. military aircraft and ships for about twenty five years and am currently scratch building a 1/72 nd scale model of the USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80).
Organizations
Local IPMS
Publications
IPMS journal and local IPMS publication. Photos and drawing in Koku Fan, Deatil and Scale, et al.
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