Building an AMT '69 Barracuda model, need some help
I promised I'd get back to you. My advice is to stash away the Barracuda and start with something easy, such as a quick-builder type kit. AMT had a nice bunch of pre-painted kits on the market that are hard to beat for the money. They have a REALLY nice `65 Coronet kit that would get the both of you into the swing of things. Everything is painted already (with amazing detail and crispness for the money) But if you must roll your own....
Mike gave good advice on using the glue SPARINGLY! Your not assembling the space shuttle. A dab will do. You don't need to run a bead of glue like your welding a tanker together. Scrape chrome & paint from surfaces that are to be joined. Me personally assemble chunks then paint, such as engine blocks...transmissions...etc. Makes for a cleaner build. I also recommend spraying bigger pieces and leaving the bottle paint for really small pieces and touch-up work. Plain old Krylon works great for models. Odds-n-Ends brand paint is good too with some nice colors availiable. Just make sure you wash the bigger parts to remove the mold release agents they use in the molds. Otherwise you run the risk of fish-eyes in the paint finish. If the plastic is molded in red or yellow I suggest thats the color you paint the car. It will bleed through unless you seal it, which is getting WAY ahead of your plans for a simple build.
As for glue, I'd keep away from the tube cement. It sucks.... I use tenax or Zap-Gap, which is basically Crazy Glue. The Tenax is good for tight seems, the Zap-Gap for loose seems. And NEVER use crazy glue on chrome or clear parts. They'll fog REAL bad. I use 2 part epoxy for these assemblies. While this sounds like alot of work, the results will encourage you instead of frustrate you.
Most important, have fun! Model building can be a great way to teach patience and motor-skills. Something that can't be taught with a video game.
I promised I'd get back to you. My advice is to stash away the Barracuda and start with something easy, such as a quick-builder type kit. AMT had a nice bunch of pre-painted kits on the market that are hard to beat for the money. They have a REALLY nice `65 Coronet kit that would get the both of you into the swing of things. Everything is painted already (with amazing detail and crispness for the money) But if you must roll your own....
Mike gave good advice on using the glue SPARINGLY! Your not assembling the space shuttle. A dab will do. You don't need to run a bead of glue like your welding a tanker together. Scrape chrome & paint from surfaces that are to be joined. Me personally assemble chunks then paint, such as engine blocks...transmissions...etc. Makes for a cleaner build. I also recommend spraying bigger pieces and leaving the bottle paint for really small pieces and touch-up work. Plain old Krylon works great for models. Odds-n-Ends brand paint is good too with some nice colors availiable. Just make sure you wash the bigger parts to remove the mold release agents they use in the molds. Otherwise you run the risk of fish-eyes in the paint finish. If the plastic is molded in red or yellow I suggest thats the color you paint the car. It will bleed through unless you seal it, which is getting WAY ahead of your plans for a simple build.
As for glue, I'd keep away from the tube cement. It sucks.... I use tenax or Zap-Gap, which is basically Crazy Glue. The Tenax is good for tight seems, the Zap-Gap for loose seems. And NEVER use crazy glue on chrome or clear parts. They'll fog REAL bad. I use 2 part epoxy for these assemblies. While this sounds like alot of work, the results will encourage you instead of frustrate you.
Most important, have fun! Model building can be a great way to teach patience and motor-skills. Something that can't be taught with a video game.
