Kitbashing

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. [http://www.space1999.org/features/ask_brianjohnson/2001-11a.html]

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 ( [http://www.samolet.co.uk/s37model.html real] 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 ' (1968) and (especially) ' (1977). Many of the spaceship models created for these programs incorporated details from tank, speedboat and car kits.

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. 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.Fact|date=July 2008

External links

* [http://www.tvcentury21.com/content/view/212/41/] Examples of kitbashing from several Gerry Anderson puppet shows, including B-58 Hustler and F-104 Starfighter models.
* [http://www.geocities.com/~special_effect/sw_millennium_falcon.html] [http://www.ketzer.com/MF_making7.html] Examples of kitbashed models from and inspired by "Star Wars".
* [http://www.filminamerica.com/Movies/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind/] The 1978 movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" appears to contain a kitbashing joke.
* [http://www.toysrgus.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=48892] A kitbashed concept toy.
* [http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/dollhouse_news/apr2007/Dollhose_Kit_Bashing.html] Dollhouse Kit Bashing overview covering tips and tools.
* [http://www.matdemoiser.com/index.php?id=43] Small sculptures and architectural maquettes created from kitbashed models.