No matter where you have gotten it from, be it a holiday gift or an impulse buy, a model tank can be extremely fun to assemble. If you have decided to try assembling models as a hobby just remember that you are choosing to join in on a pastime that is enjoyed world wide. Model building is an excellent stress reliever and can be a great way to pass the time as well. One thing that will help you on your way is by knowing how to correctly assemble your model. One of the first things you should always do is to gather your tools. It is best if you keep them together in one spot to make this part easier.
There are not too many tools needed for building models. Of course you need a model, model cement, rubbing alcohol and some toothpicks. You should also try to gather a drop cloth of some sort as well as some small hobby clamps. These clamps are excellent for hold small parts together so that the cement can dry properly without allowing them to slip apart. The alcohol is handy for cleaning up any extra cement that happens to drip in unwanted spots or to get rid of excess cement. If you do have a drop cloth then it can help to cut down on the accidental spills and drips.
Take your instructions from the box and determine which parts are to be assembled first. You will then need to carefully cut these parts from the sprue which is the plastic frame that all the parts come attached to. There are times that you may find extra bits of plastic stuck to the parts. This is called flashing and is a by-product of the manufacturing technique. You can safely remove this after making sure that it is not actually a vital part of your model. Set aside the bits of sprue and flashing as you go. These can come in handy later on if you have to do any repair work to this model or any others.
Once you have all the parts you are about to assemble loose you can then do a dry fit. A dry fit means that you will place the parts together without gluing them to make sure that they will fit properly. After you know that they will fit together correctly you can then apply cement and connect the parts. This is where the toothpicks come in handy. By applying the cement with the toothpicks you can easily control the amount that you apply. You will not have to worry about a large amount leaking onto your parts and causing major problems.
Remember to apply your cement sparingly and allow proper drying time before moving on to the next step. If you do have hobby clamps then they may be used to help keep proper contact between the cemented surfaces until they are dry. If you do not have any then you might make your own using paper clamps or even paper clips. Most of all you should try to enjoy yourself. Model building can be fun and informative. You will be able to enjoy your model tanks for years to come.
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