Kitbashing: Difference between revisions
→External links: Added a site that is very useful for 1/6 scale parts |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [http://www.sector70.com/ The Sector70 Lab - kitbashing resource and forum focusing on Transformers] |
* [http://www.sector70.com/ The Sector70 Lab - kitbashing resource and forum focusing on Transformers] |
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[http://shop.kitbash.co.uk www.kitbash.co.uk - Everything You Need To Customise Your 1/6 Scale Action Figures] |
* [http://shop.kitbash.co.uk/ www.kitbash.co.uk - Everything You Need To Customise Your 1/6 Scale Action Figures] |
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[[Category:Scale modeling]] |
[[Category:Scale modeling]] |
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[[Category:Special effects]] |
[[Category:Special effects]] |
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Revision as of 13:22, 23 March 2010
Kitbashing or model bashing is a practice whereby a new scale model is created by taking pieces out of commercial kits. These pieces may be added to a custom project or to another kit. For professional modelmakers, kitbashing is popular to create concept models for detailing movie special effects. Commercial model kits are a ready source of "detailing", providing any amounts of identical, mass-produced components that can be used to add fine detail to an existing model. Professionals often kitbash to build prototype parts which are then recreated with lightweight materials.[1]
For the hobbyist, kitbashing saves time that would be spent scratch building an entire model. Hobbyists may kitbash to create a model of a subject (real[2] or imaginary) for which there isn't a commercial kit.
Although it has a long history, kitbashing came to the attention of a wider public via the fine modelwork with the Thunderbirds TV series (1965), and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and (especially) Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). Many of the spaceship models created for these programs incorporated details from tank, speedboat and car kits. Another such example would be the "Tumbler" from Batman Begins. The Tumbler prototype was a kitbash, as can be seen in the special features disc of the movie.
Sometimes source kits are selected primarily due to kit quality, and sometimes because a kit closely resembles the desired model result. Kitbashing is common in sci-fi modeling.
It is not uncommon for parts to be cut and filed into shapes leaving gaps that are later filled with putty. Although a model with putty often looks unprofessional at an early stage, careful painting can completely hide defects. Textural details known as greebles may be added to enhance a model.
A popular venue for kitbashing is diecast emergency vehicles such as fire apparatuses. Kitbashers frequently utilize models from manufacturers such as Code 3 and Corgi. The kitbash in such cases can be as simple as painting or redecaling a model, or as complex as tearing the model down and adding scratch-built components, followed by custom decals.
The popularity of ready-to-run, pre-assembled models, even coupled with the increased availability of many unique prototypes using resin castings, seems not to have seriously impacted the art of kitbashing.[citation needed]
In model rocketry, kitbashing refers simply to using the pieces from a one kit to build a different model. This is typically used to create unusual and/or especially complex models.