Model Preparations, habits or rituals?

[WtShark]

I was just curious what many of you do when you first open a box and look over the sprues.
Some are best practices, while others (such as mine) are part of the process or dare I say, ritual of the build.

After opening the box, I check all the bags for loose parts, then open the bags and inspect the sprue/parts.
Once all sprues are out, I put them into a tub and "bathe" them in warm water and Simple Green. I've also used dish soap (Dawn) but the Simple Green seems to remove any leftover mold release better.
I'll scrub the sprue/parts thoroughly with a medium bristle toothbrush, and rinse them all, blotting dry with a paper towel. I will also blow them with air to help dry and remove water from the nooks and/or crannies.
Then it's onto the sprue tray, (ironically, when I returned to modeling and started building my tool set I was in Michael's and saw the tray, thinking to myself; "I'll never use that, what a waste of money", then the wife bought one for me as a gift and I've used it every single build), where I let them dry a day or two.

As a kid I never once washed a model, now as an adult (ish) I actually enjoy the process.

What about you?

 

[urumomo]

injection molding doesn't use a release agent -- unless you're a garbage company and your molds run too hot and instead of quitting you spray Pam cooking oil everywhere like a champ .

 

[WtShark]

injection molding doesn't use a release agent -- unless you're a garbage company and your molds run too hot and instead of quitting you spray Pam cooking oil everywhere like a champ .

Don't rain on my ritual bro-

 

[urumomo]

I ain't stopping you .
just saying

 

[Pantherman]

I was just curious what many of you do when you first open a box and look over the sprues.
Some are best practices, while others (such as mine) are part of the process or dare I say, ritual of the build.

After opening the box, I check all the bags for loose parts, then open the bags and inspect the sprue/parts.
Once all sprues are out, I put them into a tub and "bathe" them in warm water and Simple Green. I've also used dish soap (Dawn) but the Simple Green seems to remove any leftover mold release better.
I'll scrub the sprue/parts thoroughly with a medium bristle toothbrush, and rinse them all, blotting dry with a paper towel. I will also blow them with air to help dry and remove water from the nooks and/or crannies.
Then it's onto the sprue tray, (ironically, when I returned to modeling and started building my tool set I was in Michael's and saw the tray, thinking to myself; "I'll never use that, what a waste of money", then the wife bought one for me as a gift and I've used it every single build), where I let them dry a day or two.

As a kid I never once washed a model, now as an adult (ish) I actually enjoy the process.

What about you?
View attachment 177289View attachment 177290

I savour the new kit smell then dig out the instructions and spend way too much time going through them and organising my method of building which is not necessarily the way it shows.

I tend to keep everything in the bags until I need a part, then open it and check very carefully if anything left before recycling the bag.

Then it's straight into the build as I don't usually wash the sprues. Never had an issue with painting in 5 years and several builds complete. Pantherman

 

[WtShark]

I savour the new kit smell

Ah yes, there's nothing like that new kit smell...

 

[Pantherman]

I savour the new kit smell

Ah yes, there's nothing like that new kit smell...

Glad I'm not the only one.... Pantherman

 

[Ron2]

Don't rain on my ritual bro-

Bath time with styrene!

 

[Ron2]

I usually check the fuselage to see how big it's going to look and then start snipping parts. Occasionally I even look at the directions first! I started out washing the parts but basically didn't have the patience to let it dry so… haven't had any issues but I prime with solvet based and use lacquer paints. Although, last week I sprayed something and had some weird spots show up on a. Couple pieces. Idk is that fish eye? It doesn't happen enough that I care to do bath time.

 

[BarleyBop]

Bath time

Yup, into the ultrasonic tub.

While that's happening, I'll look up my kit on Scalemates and download the instructions so I can view(and magnify) them on my monitor.
After examining the parts on the sprue, I start thinking about modifications I'm likely to make, check the spares and the stash.
A quick check of the paint situation usually a good idea at this point too.

I also check my reference books and start a folder collection of pics from around the internet if I haven't already.

My buying habit frequently sees me buy something 'in case' or, specifically for a kit I have or one I think I'll purchase, then forget I have it 5 years later!

 

[Demolition]

I've washed one kit in my life, then realized they don't use release agent anymore and that was that. I don't have any rituals either. I try to plan better each kit, pick the colors, try to spray like color parts together, I'll do a bit of hunting on the forums and Scalemates to see what others have done. That's about it. I try not to over think things, it's a hobby not a job.

 

[Wig41]

I don't usually wash the parts but the last two kits didn't want to be covered with paint so I ended up washing them. Then I got a resin kit and that you have to wash first step. I like the idea of Simple Green with the warm water WtShark and will give it a try versus the Dawn. I also gather together my references and then start thinking about whether add ons will be necessary. In the last year I've started to take notes during the build. There's been too many of the "which gray was that sprayed with?" later in the build. I'm also taking pictures now of the journey.

 

[Jakko]

I open the box when it arrives (or when I come home with it, these days more usually the former) and look everything over, especially the instructions (I enjoy looking at kit instructions — I do that on Scalemates, too, occasionally even for kits I don't intend to ever build), but I don't open the plastic bags unless something really warrants a close look. Then the kit goes in the stash

Once the time comes that I'll actually start building it, I open the box, put the lid under the inner part, remove almost everything from the bags and put the sprues etc. in the now open box. The main exceptions are things like decals, etched parts and very small things that are separately bagged, for which I generally only open the bag when I actually need them. I then put the instructions on the right side of my work area and begin building the kit.

If you want to call this a ritual, be my guest, but I just call it "building a model kit"

 

[BarleyBop]

...I think many of us forgot to mention the true ritual part: cleaning the workspace, or at least the bench, sorting wayward tools and collecting the extras from the last build, and in my case, flattening the previous kit box for storage with its instructions.

 

[Ron2]

I don't usually wash the parts but the last two kits didn't want to be covered with paint so I ended up washing them. Then I got a resin kit and that you have to wash first step. I like the idea of Simple Green with the warm water WtShark and will give it a try versus the Dawn. I also gather together my references and then start thinking about whether add ons will be necessary. In the last year I've started to take notes during the build. There's been too many of the "which gray was that sprayed with?" later in the build. I'm also taking pictures now of the journey.

I keep telling myself I need to write down what paints I'm using- especially the greys! But keep failing to do so. Resin needs to be washed? I wasn't aware of this and haven't done so.

 

[Wig41]

Resin needs to be washed? I wasn't aware of this and haven't done so.

That's what I read and what I saw on a couple of YouTube videos. Do you have good results with glue and paint sticking?

 

[the Baron]

Resin needs to be washed? I wasn't aware of this and haven't done so.

That's what I read and what I saw on a couple of YouTube videos. Do you have good results with glue and paint sticking?

Yes, it may need to be. While release agents aren't used with injection molding, it may be used in the process to cast a resin model, especially when we look at garage model producers. Warm water with a degreaser is sufficient; I used to use dishwashing liquid, then switched to SuperClean (just a couple of drops). Might not be necessary, but it doesn't hurt.

 

[TimM63]

My only ritual is cleaning and organizing the bench after each build.

 

[Edbert]

especially when we look at garage model producers

I'm one of those now.

The process (printing not casting) involves a bath in Isopropyl immediately after removing from the build plate. I suspect the creator might have cut some corners and not done the bath or the cure properly or might have just rushed it. But...if they did it correctly you should not have to clean it just prime it.

 

[Col.Kilgore]

I always flip flop on which version I am going to build. Ex. P-51 that offers 6 different color/decal options (British P-51, US P-51, Metal P-51, OD Green P-51. etc etc etc.

 

[BarleyBop]

results

Especially with the older resin kits, before the big 3d printing advances... ResiCast, Accurate Armour, BlackDog and PlusModel kits and accessories collected over the last 10 years... washing is a must!

 

[Jakko]

cleaning the workspace

Whating the workspace?

 

[BarleyBop]

Whating

...you know, clearing out the empty beer bottles, candy wrappers and chip bags!

 

[RacerX]

First i make a circle of chicken bones on the floor and place the box in the middle, oh - wait uuh never mind, but really for me its how many pcs, i drop or how many times drop the same one tells me how good the build will be. 2 or more drops its gona be a good build.

 

[Demolition]

...I think many of us forgot to mention the true ritual part: cleaning the workspace, or at least the bench, sorting wayward tools and collecting the extras from the last build, and in my case, flattening the previous kit box for storage with its instructions.

I did leave one thing out that I do ritualistically, drop a part on the ground and frantically try to find it.

 

[BarleyBop]

drop a part on the ground

Hahaha.
Ancient proverb:
"If a piece doesn't drop on the ground —
how do you know you were actually building a model?"

 

[Demolition]

Hahaha.
Ancient proverb:
"If a piece doesn't drop on the ground —
how do you know you were actually building a model?"

now that's the funniest thing I've read in quite some time.

 

[Pantherman]

Hahaha.
Ancient proverb:
"If a piece doesn't drop on the ground —
how do you know you were actually building a model?"

The other one is - if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it..... it's a modeler taking out his frustration with an axe !!
Pantherman

 

[BOATMAN]

WELL GUYS ive never washed a model an mine turn out ok an yes i like to have a good look through the kit to see what i can make work with opening hatches an to fit in the lights
chrisb

 

[MJY65]

...I think many of us forgot to mention the true ritual part: cleaning the workspace, or at least the bench, sorting wayward tools and collecting the extras from the last build, and in my case, flattening the previous kit box for storage with its instructions.

I'd say that's the biggest part for me. Airbrushes get a complete tear down, supplies are checked and replenishments ordered, dust is wiped down in preparation for the new build. I usually take a few days between builds to just reset the space and get my head into the new project.