IN THIS ISSUE……

LED Lighting in scale models

PLUS…

- We also bring you an update on the 390th Memorial Museum display project.

- Club News brings us all the coverage of past and upcoming events from the Sonoran Desert Model Builders.

- In Step by Step, we bring you part II of Pat Harrington’s 1/48 P-51 D build.

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Mold Lines is the official publication of the Sonoran Desert Model Builders Modeling club. We publish it on a monthly basis and it is your source for Club news, interviews, model reviews, photos or our member’s modeling work as well as articles on modeling techniques and other articles of interest to our

members.

WHO ARE THEY? The Sonoran Desert Model Builders is a chartered IPMS model club in Tucson, Arizona dedicated to advancing each other’s skills through tip sharing, encouragement and, most importantly, hands-on building. Our members enjoy a deep camaraderie and level of respect for each other as well as a passion for model building. We build it all... cars, airplanes, armor, ships, figures, sci-fi...

Our mission is simple… LET’S BUILD!

WHERE CAN I

FIND THEM?

We meet at the Patrick K. Hardesty Midtown Multi-Service Building from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.

1100 South Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ

MEETING DATES 2015

JANUARY ……………… 8 th

FEBRUARY ……………… 5 th

MARCH …………….. 12 th

APRIL ……………… 2 nd

MAY ……………… 7 th

JUNE ……………… 4 th

JULY ……………… 2 nd

AUGUST ……………… 6 th

SEPTEMBER ….………… 3 rd

OCTOBER ….….………. 1st

NOVEMBER ..…….…… 5 th

DECEMBER ……..…… 3 rd

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Editor’s Workbench

We will also take a look at a project that our club have been working on in conjunction with the 390th Memorial Museum and Pima Air & Space Museum. Over the years our club has built several displays for the museum but I am sure you will all agree this one is the most amazing yet. I am very impressed by the size and scope of the project and I am sure it will look amazing once it is completed. So sit back, pour yourself a drink of your choice and enjoy this, our fourth issue of Mold Lines. Until next month. Model on!!

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Hello fellow modelers and dear friends. March has been a great month for us at the Sonoran Desert Model Builders. Last meeting we had an in depth discussion about where in the zodiac some of our members had been born under. While most of us had combinations of several signs there were a few that fit a specific sign to a “T”. Who would’ve imagined that we even had somebody who was born under the Model Builder Sign? That is the equivalent of a Buddha in the Modeling World! It was lots of fun and this month we bring you what some of our members had to say about their signs and astral fortunes. This month we have several interesting articles. Annette will share a tutorial on how to light up your models. That is one thing I would sure like to learn how to do someday.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

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Last month we started the “Question of the Month” section and I am sure you all have meditated and discovered why you have issues with your models. Now, lets see what other club members discovered in their path to Styrene Enlightenment.

“I was either born in the year of the Carpet Monster or the Year of the Glue Sniffer...

Carpet Monster: Last year I lost a (Fairly Large!) part of a model, and didn't realize it until a week later. The Building Room was thoroughly searched (Twice!) and no sign it. The kit's WAY out of production. What's a good modeler to do?? Buy another kit on eBay, of course! SIX MONTHS LATER I find the missing part - In a box that had been open on the floor at the time. Now I have a kit that has one part built and painted.

Glue Sniffer: Reference my winning entry in the last contest...”

Annette Sostarich

“For every model I start out with, I have in my mind an exact picture of how I want it to look. Unfortunately, as I progress with the build, it gradually becomes apparent that I cannot achieve the look I want. So I end up compromising just to get the model finished and done, even as I contemplate my next project. Therefore, I believe that I was born under the sign of the Traveling Boulder. But since I do complete at least 50% of the stuff I start, and since accuracy is frequently compromised with my models, maybe I'm on the edge of the border with the Free Artist.”

Clara Triem

“I think I have been on a journey through the entire zodiac during my modeling years. I have been the Rivet Counter, The Mad Librarian and there were times when the Traveling Boulder would ambush me at every corner. I have finally settled on the Free Artist. Modeling is to have fun, not to stress over little things.”

Dave Diaz

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

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“At various times in my model-building life, I think I've exhibited the characteristic traits for most of the 12 signs at some time or another, with just a few exceptions: I've never been a Shelf-Queen, or a Traveling Boulder... and I've seldom been a Rivet-Counter. I was a Knight In Shining Armor in my modeling adolescence. I've been both a Librarian and a Collector. Glue-Sniffing Kit-Basher...? Not yet... So... by process of elimination...? I guess I'm a Model-Builder, but I hope to achieve a much larger output of finished projects than has been the case in years previous.”

Pat Harrington

Next Month’s Question is: What has been your biggest Modeling Blooper?

CLUB NEWS

• Monthly Club Meeting – The SDMB held their monthly meeting on March 12th, 2015 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. We had an outstanding turnout of club members and models, many of which will be displayed at our yearly library display. Check out Kris Kerry’s awesome aircraft.

• Make and Take at the Pima Air and Space Museum - This event is designed to introduce children to the hobby of model building and the math and historical research used to build accurate scale models. It was held on March 7, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.

RECENT EVENTS

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Chuck Wacker’s movie submarines and “Jaws” in work.

Models on display at the March Meeting.

Mmmmm….. So much Styrene

makes me hungry!!!!

Hush!!! You are Embarrassing

me

CLUB NEWS

RECENT EVENTS

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Kris Kerry brought some of his awesome 1/48th aircraft. Check out those canopies!

Junkers JU-88 Bomber

Polikarpov i-16

CLUB NEWS

RECENT EVENTS

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Clara Triem’s Ben-Hur Charriot

Dave Brown’s BanDai 1/12 Storm Trooper.

See more awesome

model photos from our

meeting at:

www.sdmb.yolasite.com

AAAAAGHH!!!! YOU ANIMAL!!

CLUB NEWS

• Make and Take at the Pima Air and Space Museum - This event is designed to introduce children to the hobby of model building and the math and historical research used to build accurate scale models. The event will take place April 4th, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Scale Model Display at the Downtown Public Library – Every year the SDMB club puts up a display at the Joel Valdez branch of the Pima County Library in downtown Tucson. The display is held throughout the month of May and features a specific theme. This year the theme is “Models in the Movies, TV and Books”. Visit the library and come enjoy modeling work from your favorite movies, TV shows and books.

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• SDMB Monthly Meeting – Our club’s meeting will be held on April 2nd , 2015 from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Patrick K. Hardesty Midtown Multi-Service Building.

Model by Derek Campbell

• Model-Mania Scale Model Swap Meet Mark your calendars! A Model Swap Meet sponsored by Model-Mania Tucson will be happening!!!!! Join us on Saturday April 18th, 2015 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Fraternal Order of Police, 3445 N. Dodge Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Contrary Mary

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The cockpit ready to be assembled.

This month we bring you a continuation of Pat Harrington’s P-51D build. Pat has been hard at work building some models for our May display at the downtown library but he still managed to get make some progress on Contrary Mary. Here is the latest update.

Tamiya’s 1/48 P-51 D Mustang by Pat Harrington Part II

Original form of the group emblem as approved 26 September 1942 The cockpit and fuselage assembled.

Original form of the group emblem as approved 26

September 1942

Contrary Mary

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The plastic machine guns on the wings were replaced with brass tubing.

To be Continued

Radiator scoop with cross member made of styrene strip as well as an actuator arm made from several different diameter brass tubing.

Tamiya’s 1/48 P-51 D Mustang by Pat Harrington Part II

Tips and Tricks

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Using light to improve the looks of scale models is a technique that has been used for decades by movie scale model builders to add realism to the studio models. This month Annette shows us how some basic concepts can dramatically improve the appearance of your model. LDEs vs. Tiny Lightbulbs LEDs are only a tiny bit more complex to use than light bulbs, the benefits are enormous: • LEDs use a fraction of the power that equivalent bulbs use. • Comparatively they generate almost no heat . • There is no need to dye them as They are available in gorgeous pure

colors as well as white.

April 2015

ANNETTE

SOSTARICH

LED Lighting in

Plastic Models

Tips and Tricks

• They can be easily dimmed . • They come in many more shapes and sizes than bulbs do. • They also come in flashing and flickering types, without using any

external components.

Step 1: Plan your work Before you even start building your model there are a few things you need to decide on. 1. Decide on a power source. The voltage of your power source will

dictate some of your LED wiring, specifically, what resistors to use. I usually use a six or nine volt supply, using either 4 or 6 AA batteries, respectively.

2. Decide where you'll put the power source. I don't put the batteries inside the model, because that means you need a hatch in the model to get to the batteries.

MODELING TIP A stand or base

is a more suitable place for the

batteries and switch

3. Decide whether the LED is going to be for area lighting, such as illuminating an interior (They'll need to be brighter for this), or spot lighting, meaning the LED is not intended to light something else.

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Tips and Tricks

Step 2: Gather your parts You will need • LEDs, of course! The number and size depends on your model. • Resistors, you can also buy the LEDs with the resistors pre-installed. • A battery holder. The minimum is 2 batteries (3 Volts), but you can use

any reasonable voltage, depending on how long you want the batteries to last and how much room you have for them.

• A switch. You probably want one that will stay on when you turn it on, such as a toggle, rocker, or slide switch.

• Wire. Regular 22 gauge hookup wire from Radio Shack will do fine.

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Assortment of LEDS and different types of switches

LEDs are Polarized. This means that, they care which way they are hooked up. The positive side of the LED has to be connected to the positive side of the battery, either through the resistor or the switch.

Tips and Tricks

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If you wire one up backwards, it probably won't be damaged, but it also won't work. Study the first picture to see how to identify positive and negative. For other LEDs, the negative lead will always be the one marked in some fashion, either with a flat side, a notch, a dot, or something.

Step 4: Start carving (The model, not the turkey!)

MODELING TIP Having two colors of wires will help you avoid wrong

wiring of LEDs

Now that you have all the LEDs they need to be connected in parallel. This means you gather all the positive leads together and twist together, then all the negative leads likewise. These then get attached to the battery and switch circuit. Positive to positive, negative to negative. Next, paint the entire interior of the model with a coat of black paint, preferably sprayed. If needed, once you have a good coat of black paint on, you can put silver

LED diagram showing Positive and Negative terminals

Tips and Tricks

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paint or foil in there to reflect the light and make it more even. Most of the plastic used for models passes light, and having light shine through the skin of the model will ruin the effect You will need to make sure the wiring can be routed to the LEDs without being pinched, pulled. A Dremel tool can help here. Test fit often to make sure you have clearance for the LEDs and wiring.

A black coat will prevent light shining though the plastic.

Prepare your chosen stand with the battery holder and switch, extending wires as necessary to get the power to your model. determine where you're going to exit the wires from the model. Choose an inconspicuous spot and drill a hole just large enough for the wires to exit.

Tips and Tricks

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Step 5: This is only a Test I cannot stress enough the heartbreak you will experience if you do all this, glue your model together, and it doesn't work! So, test early and often. You must test as you go, both for fit, function, and light leaks. If you have any malfunctions, fix them now, before you go any further. This is the best reason to solder all connections... Soldered connections are much more reliable! Once you are absolutely sure (Test once more, to be on the safe side) everything works, finish joining all the model parts together. Don't forget to mask off all your lights before painting!

I sure hope this was tested

beforehand.

Paint, detail, remove masking, and show it off!

SDMB Special Report

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“Coming Soon” Poster at the Pima Air And Space Museum

SDMB members working hard planning the project.

The Sonoran Desert Model Builders in conjunction with the 390th Memorial Museum and Pima Air & Space Museum proudly present 4 permanent exhibits that are in work or have been installed in the 390th Memorial Museum located within the Pima Air & Space Museum. The largest exhibit will depict Station 153: Parham Field Diorama.

Aluminum frame for the 390th display

So…. Lunch Break?

SDMB Special Report

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Two dimensional layout of the display

Previous display done by the SDMB

Two dimensional layout for the display

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SDMB Club Officers

HOW CAN I JOIN THE SDMB?

Test the water before you join!

Here's how: Drop by and say "hello" at one of our monthly meetings (see our Next Meeting page for date and location details). If you like what you see and hear then drop by again the next month

and be sure to bring your questions and we'll help you get started! The first two meetings are free so drop on by! After your second meeting we would appreciate you joining our club. Our club dues

pay for various things such as community programs and sponsorships of trophies in contests. We are happy to have visitors but even happier when you join our club of award winning modelers.

Visit our website at www.sdmb.yolasite.com You can also find us on Facebook.

SDMB is an affiliated club of the International Plastic Modeler’s Society

www.IPMSUSA.org

Dave Brown arizonadesertdave@gmail.com (PRESIDENT)

Damon Blair ec130crewchief@yahoo.com (VICE -PRESIDENT)

Clara Triem mylkwood1@gmail.com (TREASURER)

Derek Campbell 4nagato1@gmail.com (SECRETARY)

David Diaz EDITOR_SDMB@Yahoo.com (NEWSLETTER EDITOR)

Mike Bilcik mbilcik1@cox.net (CLUB IPMS POINT OF CONTACT)