Revell Model Airplanes

Looking for top Revell model airplanes? Revell makes great helicopters, historic and jet airplanes like Revell Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation, Spitfire Mk. I/II, F-14D Super Tomcat, Foker 100, or Antonov An-124 Ruslan.

Revell provides an excellent service and support. This also applies to model airplanes. Most Revell airplane models come in either 1/48 or 1/72 scale. Revell model airplanes require plastic cement and paint for assembly. They are not included with the kit.

Short Tips on Building Revell Model Airplanes

All Revell model airplanes are labeled with the skill level required. Each modeler should choose models according to his experience. If you would like to add fine details to your model aircraft you can study magazines or reference books where you will be able to find detailed airplane pictures or photographs.

Preparation

Read and follow instructions. Some mistakes are irreversible. Before you cut or bent make sure you are doing the right thing. With every Revel kits you get a list of paint colors. Don't use other paints if you are not sure what will be the final result. Use recommended thinner and cement. Before you start building the airplae you should wash the sprue in soapy water. This will remove a light oil film created by injection molding. To remove parts from the sprue you should use a sharp knife. Be carefull since it is very easy to damage parts.

Painting

Paint small parts while they are on the sprue. You can snip it to smaller pieces for easier handling. Each part you will paint should stay connected to the sprue at one point. Molded part numbers should remain intact. You can remove excess flashing with a sharp razor knife and fine sandpaper. After all parts on a sprue are painted put the sprue in a stable position until it is dry. Always paint all parts of the same color and then clean brushes and change color.

Assembly

Now you can remove parts from the sprue. try to fit the parts together and trim or sand if needed. Remove any paint from the glued joints for good bonding. You can either scrape away the paint or avid painting these areas. There are three popular types of cement: liquid cement, tube cement, and super glue. Choose according to your preferences. After the glue is dry you can paint glued joints and places where parts were attached to the sprue. Paint and glue sub-assemblies and wait until they are dry. Don't use more cement than it is needed for the job. Clear plastic can be easily damaged with excessive cement.

Before you glue the fuselage halves you should install cockpit. Make sure the fuselage fits together. This is a very important detail that will define the quality of the airplane. After everything fits perfectly you can apply cement and press halves together. You can help yourself by using clamps or elastics. Now you focus to the rest of the airplane. Don't forget to protect the cockpit before you start spraying the airplane. If you don't have an airbrush you can use spray cans. Camouflage colors can be painted with a brush. And finally you can assemble landing gear, canopy and the remaining details.

Details

This is a very important part where you will need a lot of practice and patience. To raise details you can use drybrushing technique. Remove almost all the color from the brush with paper towel and then lightly brush wanted areas. To add depth to recessed lines you can apply the washing technique. This means mixing a dark colour with nine parts of thinner and to let it flow over the entire model including recesses. There are many techniques, with every airplane model you will get some experience.

Decals

Applying decals is very easy. Before applying them to a flat finish you can spray the airplane with a clear gloss cote or floor wax and then let it dry. Cut out a few decals and soak them in warm water for ten to twenty seconds. They will slide off the paper. The surface where you will apply them should be wet. Slide each decal into position and gently dab the excess moisture with some soft paper towel. You can spray them with another flat or gloss clear coat to make them less fragile. Building Revell model airplanes is fun. Don't hurry, take your time! And remember, the next model will be better.