Military miniaturism is a niche within the broader hobby of modeling focusing on military subjects. It is itself a rather broad subject, dealing with any scale model of military theme. It has an ever growing range of sub-hobbies, including scale figure modeling, armour modeling, model ship building, military aviation modeling, and historical wargaming.
Given the nature of military models, hobby practitioners for the most part lean toward realism in their creations. The way in which these creations are produced are nearly as wide as the hobby itself, ranging from building a model kit "from the box" to kitbashing to complete scratch building of a model. A wide range of kits are available on the market, [1] with built results ranging from hyper-detailed representations of a subject to crude playthings. Aircraft kits tend to contain a cockpit interior, with some kits opting to include a full engine as well. Armor kit often feature workable hatches for crew figures, and a few contain fully detailed interiors. Prices also range greatly, from below $20 to over $100. Most modern kits, of all scales, are made mainly from a hard plastic (typically styrene) through injection molding. [2] However, high end kits typically contain photoetch. Despite the general trend towards plastic, some kits are still made entirely from resin or white metal. There are even kits made entirely of photoetched metal on the market. Construction is typically carried out using plastic cement or cyanoacrylate [1] ("super glue") to attach parts. Plastic parts normally require removal from a sprue use side cutters or a hobby knife. Parts are typically cleaned of seam lines and other imperfections from the molding process before attachment. [2] Upon completion of a model, it is common practice to paint it (see "finishing").
The next important step is to decide where to build. You can create a scale model almost anywhere, but here are a few tips for choosing your model kit workshop: [3]
Bench size – Simply put, you'll need a table or bench big enough to hold the many parts that make up your model car or model plane.
Lighting – You can't build a scale model in a dark environment (or at least you shouldn't try it) Lighting is so important. Make sure you have a spacious and bright environment to get started with scale modeling.
Storage containers – as mentioned above, your model kits come with many items. Avoid losing important components by storing them in organized boxes or drawers.
Making the right seat – the model car is a long-term project. Do your body a favor and choose a chair that you can sit comfortably in.
After market kits are add ons to a main kit, meant to increase detail and correct incocities[ clarification needed ] in the original kit. [4] These kits come in many forms, but the most common materials used are white metal, resin and photoetched metal. Cast metal is typically used in replacement pats or to add small details, including main gun barrels and machine guns for armour models and wheel struts on aircraft. White metal has recently fallen out of favor on aftermarket kits in favor of resin. Resin pieces of models are typically produced either through molding or 3d printing. It is valued for its ability to hold crisp detail and be modified. [5] Tires for vehicles, heads for figures, and assorted other details are available in resin. Photoetch is perhaps the most prevalent form of aftermarket goods, appearing in most detail kits and some full models. It consists of thin sheets of brass or nickel that have been laser etched into a firm yet bendable and highly detailed part. [6] Given its versatility, photoetch is used in everything from seatbelts on aircraft to engine grilles on armored vehicles.
Painting scale models is common practice for modelers of all skill levels. [1] The goal is to reproduce the historical color scheme and markings to individualize and increase the realism of the model. Many painting techniques have evolved to serve scale modelers. These techniques use near limitless application processes, varying the consistency, type of paint, and application method. Three main tools are used to apply paint: brushes, spray cans, and airbrushes. Brushes are favored for detail work and general paintwork. Spray paints are used to base coat models or dioramas. Airbrushes are used in a multitude of rolls, filling the niche taken by the spray can as well as giving the modeler the ability to lay down easier soft-edged lines and highlights. Types of paint used are also varied. some modelers prefer acrylic paint, while other prefer enamel paint, and yet more prefer oil paint. However, most hobbyists use a combination of 2, or all three to paint their models. The process of painting a model commonly begins with a primer to help paint adhere to the surface of a model. From there, base colors are applied in either a monotone or a camouflage scheme, depending on the subject. Depth is than added using highlights, shadows, and washes (thinned paint that acts on capillary action). Vehicle markings, including numbers and roundels, are often reproduced with waterslide decals. [7]
Weathering is the act of distressing a model to give it a "used" look. [8] This skill is crucial in Military miniaturism, as it adds a level or realism necessary to replicate a combat worn object or person. Weathering comes in many forms, as it simply refers to anything that gives the model a look of use. This can come in the form of streaking, rust, mud, and staining among other things. Oil paints are popular for these tasks, due to their long working time. Oils are also often diluted to washes to add a filter or depth to a model. [9] Enamel streaking washes are also popular. Homemade weathering pigments (made from pastels, as well as marketed pigments, are used to create mud and rust effects. [10] Many textured paints are also available to add body to weathering effects.
Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps. Most acrylic paints are water-based, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted with water, or modified with acrylic gels, mediums, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor, a gouache, or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media and are meant for canvases.
Paint is a liquid pigment that, after applied to a solid material and allowed to dry, adds a film-like layer, in most cases to create an image, known as a painting. Paint can be made in many colors and types. Most paints are either oil-based or water-based, and each has distinct characteristics.
Ship models or model ships are scale models of ships. They can range in size from 1/6000 scale wargaming miniatures to large vessels capable of holding people.
A model car, or toy car, is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in this general category. Because many miniature vehicles were originally aimed at children as playthings, there is no precise difference between a model car and a toy car, yet the word 'model' implies either assembly required or the accurate rendering of an actual vehicle at smaller scale. The kit building hobby became popular through the 1950s, while the collecting of miniatures by adults started to gain momentum around 1970. Precision-detailed miniatures made specifically for adults are a significant part of the market since the mid-1980s.
An airbrush is a small, air-operated tool that atomizes and sprays various media, most often paint, but also ink, dye, and foundation. Spray painting developed from the airbrush and is considered to employ a type of airbrush.
A scale model is a physical model which is geometrically similar to an object. Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be larger than small prototypes such as anatomical structures or subatomic particles. Models built to the same scale as the prototype are called mockups.
A plastic model kit,, is a consumer-grade plastic scale model manufactured as a kit, primarily assembled by hobbyists, and intended primarily for display. A plastic model kit depicts various subjects, ranging from real life military and civilian vehicles to characters and machinery from original kit lines and pop fiction, especially from eastern pop culture. A kit varies in difficulty, ranging from a "snap-together" model that assembles straight from the box, to a kit that requires special tools, paints, and plastic cements.
Testor Corporation is an American manufacturer of tools and accessories for scale model kits. The business is based in Rockford, Illinois, and is part of RPM International. It was founded in 1929 and its products are made in the US and marketed to customers worldwide.
Model military vehicles range in size and complexity; from simplified small-scale models for wargaming, to large, super-detailed renditions of specific real-life vehicles.
A model figure is a scale model representing a human, monster or other creature. Human figures may be either a generic figure of a type, a historical personage, or a fictional character.
Figure painting, or miniature painting, is the hobby of painting miniature figures and/or model figures, either as a standalone activity or as a part of another activity that uses models, such as role-playing games, wargames, or military modeling.
Model robots are model figures with origins in the Japanese anime genre of mecha. The majority of model robots are produced by Bandai and are based on the Gundam anime metaseries. This has given rise to the hobby's common name in Japan, Gunpla. Though there are exceptions, the model robot genre is dominated by anime tie-ins, with anime series and movies frequently serving as merchandising platform.
A garage kit (ガレージキット) or resin kit is an assembly scale model kit most commonly cast in polyurethane resin.
1:144 scale is a scale used for some scale models such as micro/mini armor. 1:144 means that the dimensions of the model are 1/144 (0.00694) the dimensions of the original life-sized object; this equates to a scale of 1/2 inch per 6 feet of original dimension. For instance, an airplane 30 feet (9.14 m) in length would be a mere 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) long as a 1:144 scale model.
Model horses are scale replicas of real horses. They originated simultaneously – but independently – in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, followed later by Sweden (UK-influenced), Germany (US-influenced), and Australia. They encompass a wide variety of fanbase activities, from those who simply like to collect, to those who show their models at model horse shows. Unlike model cars or trains, model horse collectibles do not need to be assembled from kits, although they can be altered to the collector's liking.
Aluminum Model Toys (AMT) is a toy manufacturing brand founded in Troy, Michigan, in 1948 by West Gallogly Sr. AMT became known for manufacturing 1/25 scale plastic automobile dealer promotional model cars and friction motor models, and pioneered the annual 3-in-1 model kit buildable in stock, custom, or hot-rod versions. The company made a two-way deal in 1966 with Desilu Productions to produce a line of Star Trek models and to produce a 3/4 scale exterior and interior filming set of the Galileo shuttlecraft. It was also known for producing model trucks and movie and TV vehicles.
1:35 scale is the most popular scale for model military vehicles, with an extensive lineup of models and aftermarket parts available from a wide variety of manufacturers.
Resin casting is a method of plastic casting where a mold is filled with a liquid synthetic resin, which then hardens. It is primarily used for small-scale production like industrial prototypes and dentistry. It can be done by amateur hobbyists with little initial investment, and is used in the production of collectible toys, models and figures, as well as small-scale jewellery production.
1:700 scale is a widely popular scale mainly used by Japanese ship model kit manufacturers, such as Aoshima, Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi and Pit-Road.
Gundam Plastic models, Gundam Plamo, or Gunpla are model kits depicting the mecha machinery and characters of the fictional Gundam multiverse by Bandai.