Modelling Tutorials

This is a growing set of tutorials on various subjects, all hosted on YouTube, and available to watch free of charge. To get the best out of these videos, we strongly suggest you view them in Full High Definition mode and full screen. To change to High Definition mode, begin playing the video then click on the small icon that looks like a cog, then select 1080p at the top of the list. To put the replay into full screen mode, click on the icon that looks like four corners in the bottom right hand corner.

Once there are enough tutorials here, we will offer you the opportunity to purchase the video programs on either a DVD disc or a USB Drive stick so you canwatch them at your leisure instead of having to impact your download quota with YouTube. The programs will be very inexpensive, basically covering the costs of the media and postage.

Using ScaleCalc

This Tutorial explains the Hollywood Foundry Scale Calculator, a useful aid for builders working from prototypical dimensions that must be scaled to the modeller's desired scale.

Assembling The Diablo Truck

This tutorial shows how to assemble the Hollywood Foundry Diablo drive truck. It is around 24 minutes long.

Tutorial Papers on Modelling Subjects

The following guides are available for download in PDF form. Click on the link to read the guide directly, or right click and select one of the save options to save a copy on your computer. These guides require you to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. You can download a free copy of Acrobat here.

These guides may be a work in progress and are not necessarily complete. Some are added to as new information becomes available.

Metal Etching For Models

1/ Introduction to Metal Etching - 148 kB in size

Paper One in a trilogy of papers on metal etching. This paper is a good introduction to metal etching. It explains what etching is and how it works. A good primer for those who know nothing about the subject.

2/ Metal Etching Principles & Rules - 1,097 kB in size

Paper Two in the series on metal etching explains some of the more technical aspects of metal etching and the behaviour of metal under the etching process. Also explains some useful techniques that can be employed by the modeller.

3/ Etch Drawing Preparation - 1,066 kB in size

Paper Three in the series on metal etching deals with how to create drawings correctly in order to have metal components produced by an etching company. This is a more technical treatise on the subject and expects the reader to be conversant with CAD or drawing programs and to be conversant with the two previous papers.

It takes you through the creation of a drawing for a complete gearbox component, step by step, to the final component drawing ready to be sent to the etching company.

4/ Etch Drawing Preparation for Model Etch - 815 kB in size

Paper Four in the series on metal etching shows how to prepare your drawings to be etched by Model Etch in South Australia. Model Etch is operated by Tony Crennan, and because he is a one-man business, it is very helpful if you provide the material in a form that is ready-to-etch. This paper builds on the previous 'Etch Drawing Preparation' by explaining the format for presentation to Model Etch.

To assist you preparing the artwork, we have the Model Etch approved templates available for download. Click on the link for the drawing type you want, at the browser prompt choose save, then unzip the file once saved:

Model Etch Templates in AutoCad DWG drawing form (Zipped File) 38 kB in size

Model Etch Templates in generic DXF drawing form (Zipped File) 115 kB in size

Model Etch Templates in Adobe Illustrator AI drawing form (Zipped File) 128 kB in size

Soldering

6/ Soldering Tutorial - Part 1 - Choosing Your Iron - 122 kB in size

Part one of a tutorial in soldering for modellers contemplating assembling brass and whitemetal or pewter models. This part discusses the principles of soldering and then goes into detail about the types of soldering irons that are available and how to choose the best one for the job.

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