FineScale Modeler – September 2019

66 FineScale Modeler September 2019

I

’m a longtime modeler, so when

Carroll County Public Schools in

Hillsville, Virginia, received a grant to

add an intercession program in the fall

and spring semesters, I got an idea. I want-

ed to teach my students to build models.

The intercession program is enrichment

classes where teachers pass along their per-

sonal knowledge on subjects they enjoy.

Modeling was my first choice.

I organized the classes into three-hour

sessions for three days. There were two ses-

sions a day and we would build an Academy

1/72 scale P-40B Warhawk.

I began with an in-box review of the kit.

We went over parts, instructions, and

decals, and I showed the students how plas-

tic models are made. Next, we learned to

remove parts from the sprue with sprue

cutters, clean the parts with hobby knives

and sanding sticks/sponges, and test-fitted

the pieces. Thankfully none of the students

cut themselves during our three days. For

painting, I added a little Tamiya thinner

(X-20A) to Tamiya cockpit green (XF-71).

I later realized that this is IJN interior

green. Oops! We used only Tamiya paints.

The students hand-painted the cockpit

and intake, then allowed them to dry before

gluing the parts together. By the end of the

first day, each builder had the majority of an

aircraft assembled. We placed our models in

shoeboxes overnight to dry.

On day two, I showed the students how

to mask the canopy using Tamiya 6mm

masking tape and their hobby knives. This

was their least favorite step, but they were

excited to hear that pre-cut masks are avail-

able. After masking we worked on spray

painting. I don’t spray paint much myself,

but felt it important to demonstrate. We

used Tamiya U.S. Air Force light gray

(AS-16). This served as a primer and as the

underside color to save time.

While the paint was drying, I intro-

duced the students to airbrushing. We used

Badger 155 Anthem siphon-feed and

Paasche Talon gravity-feed airbrushes. First

the students were allowed to get used to the

airbrush’s feel by doodling on newspaper.

Then we painted the propeller caps.

On the third day I brought in a few of

my builds to show the students, then they

finished theirs. I had planned to have the

students camouflage the top of their

P-40Bs with buff (XF-57) and dark green

(XF-61). But to save time they picked just

one, masking their model’s undersides and

airbrushing the top. While that was drying,

I showed them how to use clothespins to

hold small parts, such as landing gear, for

painting. We painted the main wheels and

landing gear with chrome silver (X-11) and

used flat black (XF-1) on the tires. Paint

dry we removed the masking tape and

added decals, finishing just before the bell

rang to end day three. Perfect!

My students worked tirelessly through-

out the three days, even asking to bring

their lunches in so they could continue

working in their free time. I believe a few

are interested in taking up the hobby. That

certainly was one of my hopes whe n start-

ing these classes and I plan to launch a

modeling club at school soon. FSM

Note: Special thanks to Megahobby.com for

helping organize the materials for the class and

to FloryModels.co.uk for a donation of sanding

sticks and sponges. Thanks to FineScale

Modeler for providing magazines and guides.

By Michael Farina

FINAL DETAILS

Modeling 101

Editor’s note: We hear a lot at club meetings about teaching today’s youngsters to build models.

Well, Michael Farina, a Virginia teacher, has taken the challenge seriously. Here’s his story.

Michael’s students spent three days building their Academy 1/72 scale P-40B Warhawks.

Students were introduced to airbrushing.

Meet Michael

Michael is band

director at Carroll

County High School.

His dad introduced

him to modeling

as a youngster and

he says, “it has

been in my blood

ever since.”