hmmm....just wondering.....is it even worth it to repair damaged models?

since i have a badly damaged 2y/o enterprise model it has tons of missing parts.....this repairing is really brainstorming me.....i always think...is it even worth it to repair my damaged model....

im gonna ask you guys if...should i get a new one or stick with my old one...

Hi Christian

My 2 cents worth:
Yes, it always worth repairing a model, especialy if it is an expensive one.
If you were talking about a US$5.00 worth model I would say, skip it, buy another one and use the previous experience to do it better.

Since this is not the case, I would try and recover it , if possible re-do all the visible areas, if you progressed in your technic since you have build it.

It's also fun!

One of my fellow modelers from my club, have been repairing/rebuilding old 1950's and 1960's ship models that he and his father have built with great success.
Some of them are now rare items like the first edition of the Revell Cut away Polaris sub, with only eight polaris missiles tubes

Skipper

its a $200 dollar Tamiya 1/350 scale enterprise and ill try to recover it but i dont know where to get some parts for it.....since it has a oblitirated mass/missing propellers/ruined parts...

but i must say it survived a 1 ft fall from my desk the hull is still intact..

and thanks for telling me its worth it repair....

and ermm is a damaged model is worth to have PE stuff? since when i first build it it has no PE stuff since im 13 when i built it.....im now 15 tho.

and another prob is...some of the missing parts is uber tiny

well, your budget might be your biggest fight...

I am in a similar situation...a partially built Enterprise that has had to make 2 moves and has many missing parts. However, I bought the necessary sprues direct from Tamiya USA...not sure if you have something available in the PI.

Also, I plan to add PE to my build as well, even though it is a kit that was not started out to have PE added. But that can get to be expensive.

care to give the URL where you bought some sprues in tamiya Usa?

my budget is very tight....

and hmmm got msn? so we could chat while we both rebuild our models

This is just my 2 cents, and certainly not everybody feels the same way, but the two times I've put lots of time and effort into a kit, and then it got damaged, it really soured me from putting any more work into it. It was kind of like chewing already chewed gum. Sure I'd hate to part with the money for a new kit, but if it was something I really wanted to build, and I had lost the inspiration to build the damaged one, I'd bite the bullet and go for it.

It really depends on your feelings for that model now.

Hi Christian and Jacques!

It's funny that you both have the same model in the same process
Perhaps you could do a paired build/repair job, in the same way Joe Passasseo (Grauwolf) and Miguel Palao (mpalao) are working on their 1/125 Revell U-boats!

This way you can exchange info, tips, and keep the moral

Hi Rodger,
Yes, the feeling of chewing chewed gum is bad, but when you are 12-16 years old and want it bad and your budget last one weekend... you do it!


Skipper

pair up? as in he visits me? ooohhh if Jacques wants to ill give my adress here in the Philippines.

and i feel sorry for my enterprise so i decided to rebuild it again.

my budget dont last a weekend since materials here are expensive i accept donations etc, tho

If you can it would be great, wouldn't it?
Now for real: I meant an online help progress/process.

Imagine, you are re-building the island, and Jacques is also re-building the island, and any difficultie, issue that you find you can help eachother, by posting your doubts / questions here.
You can even find some tips from other members (100% sure about this)

;)

Skipper

ahh...that would be cool if....he can give me his Instant Messenger ID or something

but the prob is...my island is 60% good condition...and the mast...its oblitirated,2 props badly damged and 1 missing..

Hi

If the buget is low and the part is unobtainable then I suggest you do like I did last year and start scratchbuilding the part/s that are lost/missing.

FYI my kit had gone out of production.

Its very time consuming but very rewarding. An age old modeller solution to an age old problem prior to AM and photo etch.

I know its a radical thought but it was offered to me at the time of my crisis and I pass it on to you.

Regards

Sean

scratch building? ermm i might need my parents help.

just wondering what kind of materials/tools/misc tools do i need? some missing parts are uber tiny tho

Christian, here is a link to the FAQ page on Tamiya's website. The fifth question on the left is about spare parts. It will direct you to another page where you can find the agent in your country that you should contact regarding spare parts. Hope this helps.

http://tamiya.com/english/customer/cs_top.htm

Tools

Glue,a craft knife, a basic file and some plastic even kit supplied sprue etc maybe ok depending on what you are achieving.

Just basic materials is all that is needed.

Yes some details will be very small.

If you can build a kit like that scratchbuilding is not to big a leap foward.

Regards

Sean

wow !! thats a fast reply

im trying to restore my model to its original 'built out of the box' look but with a better paint job.

Hi Christian

Never any messing around on my part.

Prompt and accurate advice everytime. LOL

Regards

Sean

LOL :-) ermm how can i chat to you beside armorama?

Hi

You can always send me a Personal Message.

Go into the Members section find my callsign/name and send me a Personal Message.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Sean

ok i decide to repair it.....but i need some referrences/pics/whatever of the enterprise..

Thanks in advance.

Hi

If you want reference material/photos but have no money I strongly urge you to consider the internet and the power of Google and start looking around.

You maybe surprised what you uncover.

Regards

Sean

From what I hear on your damages scratch building repairs should not be too difficult. You can use streched sprue to redo masts and prop shafts. Or you can even buy it at a hobby shop just look for different diameter round poly styrene pieces. A company hear in the states called Evergreen makes it. By getting the Gold medal models PE set you will get some reallly great goodies like hand rails, replacement parts for the netting around the deck and new radar parts. I'v got this kit, have'nt gotten around to building it yet

Hi Christian,

I have resuscitated a few old models. Here is a good example, my Fujimi Chikuma's. One is a year old, the other is 30. I scraped off the glue-squishes, filled in some sink holes, replaced broken masts and antennas, repainted...






Note, the one with the turrets in line is the oldie.

ZOMFG thats a nice rebuild !! i can rebuild it but....no funds/ crappy tools/no good paints = no go


i wish i could buy stuff from evergreen or some X-Acto stuff.