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Last Updated on June 18, 2023 by Alaina Bullock
Building model cars from scratch at home might just become our new favorite hobby. It can bring out the artist you never knew you had in you. If you love cars and don’t mind a hands-on hobby, read on to see some tips on how you can build your own model car.
Choose The Model and Scale
The very first step in building a model is to find the car you want to make, and for this you can use the internet or movies for inspiration. You could always go for the classics, like a Shelby Cobra. In fact, between 1962 and 1968, Carroll Shelby made 654 small-block Cobras and 350 big-block models himself.
After this, find the ideal size to model. If you want a smaller scale model car, it will be easier to display but may need some fine handling. A bigger scale will be beginner-friendly because the bigger parts will be easier to handle. You will also be able to add more details to your model if it is larger.
You also have to decide whether you want it to be a static display or a model with remote control capabilities.
Get the Right Tools and Supplies
The most essential tools include a craft or hobby knife, tweezers, paint brushes, sandpaper, glue, paint, a steel ruler, and modeling putty. Other supplies that will come in handy and which you probably have in the house at any given time include:
- Paper towels for wiping messes and cleaning up spills. Note that higher quality paper towels will not leave fibers behind when used.
- Cotton balls for cleaning up liquid in places hard to reach with a paper towel.
- Rubber bands for holding parts in place.
- Painter’s tape to help you paint neatly.
- Zip-lock bags to store parts well while you build.
With about 1.8 billion websites running at the same time each day around the globe, you are sure to find details of any car whose model you want to build. Do research before you start so you have everything you will need at hand.
Set up Your Work Space
Building a model car at home will be a lengthy project, so you should make sure you find a place to work that won’t be in people’s way to avoid disturbance.
You should also make sure you have:
- A working surface that is large enough to hold your model and the tools you will be using. The surface should also be flat and even to ensure accuracy.
- Good lighting, preferably desk lighting that is easy to adjust.
- A good, comfortable seat, because as mentioned, building a model is not a sgort commitment.
- Good storage for both parts and tools to enable you to get what you need easily when you want it.
When settling on a place to work, make sure you have a good fire protection system, especially if you will be using hot glue and similar tools. Fire protection systems must undergo regular visual inspections as well as functional testing according to the NFPA25 Code. This is to make sure they are up to date and are working as they should be. These inspections and testings are done in different intervals which are monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually, as well as once every five years or once per decade.
Building a car model at home will open endless possibilities for you. You can proudly display it in a transparent glass case and use it as a fancy piece of decoration. You could even gift it to your child and watch their awe at holding something you built for them, and who knows, you may inspire them to build one themselves!