Glossary
Below
is a list of words with definitions that are relevant to the modelling
and wargaming hobbies. If you think a word should be included in
the glossary, let me know what it is!
A
B C D | E
F G H | I
J K L | M
N O P | Q
R
S
T
| U
V W X Y Z
Q
Quick
Drying
To cause solvent-based paints, which dry by
oxidation of polymerization, to dry rapidly, oxidation or polymerization
agents are added to the oil-based paint.
R
RAL
German
Standard colours.
Ranged
Fire
A
wargaming term for a unit capable of attacking something not immediately
next to it.
Rare
Earth Magnets
Neodymium, iron and boron based magnets used
to hold interchangeable model parts in place. Despite their small
size, they are very powerful.
Razor
Saw
See
Choosing
advanced modelling tools.
Realism
A
wargaming term measuring the historical fidelity of a rules system
(or for a non-historical wargame, how 'real' the rules seem to be).
Reference
Material
Any
visual information used as an aid in creating a sculpture, converting
a model, painting an area, etc.
Rivet
Used
to permanently fix two or more sheets of metal together.
Release
Agent
A
chemical used to ensure kits come away cleanly from their mould.
Release agent can be left on a kit and its presence can be seen
by dripping water over it; the water forms into beads. It can be
removed by washing the kit in warm, soapy water.
Rendering
See
Colour Rendering.
Resin
A
component of paint. Resin binds all the solid material in the paint
together when the paint is dry.
Roster
See
Army List.
Router
A woodworking tool used to rout out (hollow
out) an area in the face of a piece of wood.
S
Sable
An
artist's brush made of sable hairs.
Sail
A
large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) which is used to propel
a sailing vessel.
Satin
A
mid-sheen paint, higher than matt but lower than gloss.
Satin
Varnish
A
solvent-based varnish used to give a protective and decorative mid-sheen
satin finish.
Scale
The
relative size to which a model is reproduced. The unit length of
a model corresponds to the equivalent length of the original. For
example, a model in 1/72 scale means that 1cm of the model equals
72cm of the original. Common indicators for scale include 1/72 and
1:72, but they all mean the same thing.
Scalpel
See
Choosing
basic modelling tools.
Scenario
The
information needed to play a battle with wargame miniatures.
Scenery
Scenery
and terrain are broad terms used to describe either anything that
accompanies a model in a diorama or anything on a wargame table
which is not a unit or element of conflict.
Scenic
Scenic
design. Of or relating to scenery.
Score
To mark a surface with lines or notches.
Scratch-build
A term that describes creating a model by
using model building stock in materials like plastic, metal, and
wood, as opposed to starting with a commercial kit.
Scribing
Tools
See
Choosing
advanced modelling tools.
Sculpting
To
shape, mold, or fashion especially with artistry or precision.
Settling
Where
paint pigment has sunk to the bottom of the tin - especially common
in low viscosity paint. Settling is generally not terminal, but
the pigment must be stirred back into the mix to ensure consistency
of colour and application.
Set
Square
An
object used with the aim of providing a straight edge at a particular
planar angle to a baseline.
Sequence
Of Play
In
most wargame rules systems, a turn consists of a number of steps
or phases which must be performed in an exact order.
Sheen
A
measure of how high the reflectance of a dry film is. Generally
measured at a reflectance angle of 60 degrees. Sheen and gloss are
terms that are often used interchangeably. Note that the sheen level
of paint can also affect its apparent colour.
Sieve
A
strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading
particles.
SIG
Abbreviation:
Special Interest Group. A group for modellers whose interests are
at least in part focused on a particular subject.
Silvering
An
effect that can occur when a decal is applied to a matt surface.
Tiny air bubbles are trapped under the decal surface by the rough
matt film, giving a frosted look which can mar the appearance of
the finished model. The solution is prevention rather than cure:
commonly the model is painted using gloss, decalled and then varnished
using a matt varnish.
Skin
An
undesirable effect where a layer of dried paint has formed on the
surface inside its pot. Skinning is caused by the pot not being
airtight, allowing air to enter, which then cures the paint at its
surface. The paint underneath remains unaffected as the skin acts
as a barrier to the air. Skinning can be prevented by ensuring a
tight fit when closing the lid after use or by inverting the pot
a few times after closing it to seal the rim with paint.
Skirmish
A
wargaming term describing an engagement between two parties.
Snap
Fast
Model components that lock together without
need for gluing.
Soft
Target
A
wargaming term describing a unit or vehicle that lacks armour or
other protection against small-arms and shrapnel.
Solder
Any
of various fusible alloys, usually tin and lead, used to join metallic
parts.
Soldering
Iron
See
Choosing
advanced modelling tools.
Solvent
Liquid
used in paint making, also called a 'vehicle' in chemical terminology.
The solvent can be water or a conventional organic solvent such
as white spirit, and it carries all the solid material to ensure
it gives a smooth application and finish. The solvent evaporates
during the drying process after application, leaving only the solid
material in the paint as the final film.
Speed
Painting
To paint a model quickly and without attention
to detail. Wargamers who are keen to play with a new army benefit
from the techniques involved.
Spotting
A
wargaming term describing the act of 'seeing' a previously unseen
unit.
Spray
Booth
A power-ventilated structure that encloses
or accommodates a spraying operation so that spray vapour and residue
can be controlled and extracted.
Sprue
Plastic
framework to which plastic components for kits are attached.
Sprue
Gate
That
part on a sprue where it joins the component. Often abbreviated
to 'gate'.
Starboard
The
right-hand side of a ship or aircraft as one faces forward.
Static Grass
See Flock.
Steel
An
alloy of iron and carbon. Mild steel contains less than 0.15% Carbon
and hard steel more than 0.3% Carbon.
Stern
The
rear part of a ship or boat.
Stoving
To
dry a paint at elevated temperature.
Stripping
The
removal of paint or finish from an object via chemical means.
Substrate
The
surface of a model. The word is generally used in the context of
painting.
Super-deformed
Often
abbreviated to SD. A caricature model kit that has odd proportions,
typically a very large head and very small body.
Super
Glue
More
correctly known as cyanoacrylate.
T
Tailsitter
An
aircraft where inadequate noseweight has been provided, causing
it to lean back and rest on its under-wing wheels and tail, rather
than under-wing and nose wheels.
Terrain
The
surface features of an area of land.
Thinner
A
product that lowers the viscosity of a substance, usually an enamel
or acrylic paint, to change its application properties. Thinner
is used notably for airbrushing a paint, to thin it down and enable
it to be atomised.
Thixotropy
A
property of paint whereby it has a gelled structure when undisturbed
but when stirred is quite mobile. This is caused by weak chemical
bonds that set up in the paint when it is static, but are easily
broken down when stirred. Products are usually made thixotropic
to aid application. Tomato sauce is an everyday example of a thixotropic
product.
Through
Dry
When
a paint film is dry throughout, not just on the surface. At this
stage the paint can be re-coated without problem. Note that the
curing process may still be occurring and the paint film will still
not necessarily have achieved its full hard dry level.
Tinting
Mixing
different colours or colourants to produce another.
Tool
See
Mould.
Touch
Dry
When
the surface of the paint or varnish is dry to the touch. This doesn't
necessarily mean the paint can be re-coated, as moisture may be
trapped underneath the film. It's useful to check if both dry and
re-coat times are quoted for the product being used.
Toxicity
Levels
of harmful ingredients in paint such as solvents and heavy metals
including lead and chrome.
Trackplan
The
track design used to establish a train's potential routes through
a model railroad layout.
Tweezers
See
Choosing
basic modelling tools. |
