Scale Modeling Glossary: 23 Terms Explained
The words that show up in scale modeling specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- Airbrush
- A small, air-powered spray tool used to apply thin, even coats of primer, paint, and clear coat.
- Read more about airbrush
- CA glue
- Cyanoacrylate super glue used for resin, metal, and photo-etched parts that plastic cement cannot bond.
- Read more about ca glueRelated: Best CA Glue for Scale Models: Super Glues for Resin, Metal, and PE
- Clear coat
- A transparent finishing layer, gloss or matte, sprayed over paint and decals to protect and unify the surface.
- Read more about clear coat
- Decal setting solution
- Liquids applied before and after a decal to soften it, help it conform, and hide the clear film edge.
- Read more about decal setting solutionRelated: Best Decal Setting Solutions: Softeners That Snuggle Decals Into Detail
- Diorama
- A small display scene built around one or more models, using groundwork, scenery, and props for context.
- Read more about diorama
- Extra thin cement
- A watery, fast-acting plastic cement drawn into a closed seam by capillary action rather than brushed on thickly.
- Read more about extra thin cementRelated: Best Tamiya-Style Cements: Extra Thin and Brush-Applied Solvent Glues
- Flash
- Thin excess plastic left along a part's edges from the moulding process, removed before assembly and paint.
- Read more about flashRelated: Best Hobby Knives for Model Building: Precision Blades
- Gate
- The small connection point where a part attaches to the sprue, trimmed away and cleaned up after cutting.
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- Masking
- Covering finished paint or clear parts with tape or liquid before spraying a different color nearby.
- Read more about maskingRelated: Best Masking Tape for Scale Models
- Panel line wash
- A thin, diluted paint that flows into recessed panel lines and rivets to add shadow and depth.
- Read more about panel line washRelated: Best Panel Line Washes: Accent Colors That Bring Detail to Life
- Photo-etch
- Thin, precisely etched metal sheets used for fine detail parts like seatbelts, grilles, and mesh screens.
- Read more about photo-etchRelated: Best Photo-Etch Tools: Bend and Fold PE Parts Cleanly
- Plastic cement
- A solvent-based glue that melts styrene plastic parts slightly so they fuse into a single strong bond.
- Read more about plastic cementRelated: Best Plastic Cement for Model Kits: Solvent Glues That Weld Styrene
- Primer
- A base coat sprayed or brushed on before color paint to help it grip the surface and reveal flaws.
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- Rigging
- The fine thread or wire lines added to wooden or plastic ship models to represent ropes and cables.
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- Scale ratio
- The ratio between a model's size and the real object it copies, such as 1:35 or 1:72, used to size kits and parts.
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- Scribing
- Engraving new panel lines or restoring ones lost to sanding, using a pointed scriber tool and a guide.
- Read more about scribingRelated: Best Scriber Tools: Rescribe Panel Lines with Precision
- Seam line
- The visible join where two halves of a part meet, usually filled and sanded smooth before painting.
- Read more about seam lineRelated: Best Modeling Putty: Fill Seams and Gaps Like a Pro
- Silvering
- Trapped air visible as a shiny patch under decal film, usually prevented by applying decals over a gloss surface.
- Read more about silvering
- Snap-fit kit
- A model kit engineered to click together without glue, using tight-tolerance pegs and sockets on each part.
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- Spray booth
- A ventilated enclosure with a fan and filter that pulls airbrush overspray and fumes away from the workspace.
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- Sprue
- The plastic frame that holds a kit's individual parts in place until they are cut free for assembly.
- Read more about sprueRelated: Best Sprue Cutters for Model Kits: Clean Cuts Every Time
- Weathering
- Adding dirt, rust, fading, and chipped paint to a finished model to suggest age, use, and realism.
- Read more about weatheringRelated: Best Weathering Sets for Models: Complete Kits for Realistic Wear
- Weathering pigment
- Fine, chalk-like powder used dry or mixed with a fixer to add dust, dirt, rust, and soot to a model.
- Read more about weathering pigment