Building Scale Models with a French Friend
Chat about kits, glue and paint with a friend who builds models, and buy your first kit in a French model shop.
In France scale models are called maquettes, and a kit comes with a notice (instruction leaflet) and parts still on their sprues. Specialist shops are getting rare, so many people buy online, but bigger towns still have a boutique de maquettisme or a hobby section in a toy shop. Friends use tu with each other; in the shop you say vous to the seller.
- 1
Tu construis quoi ?
What are you building? (to a friend)
- 2
C'est une maquette d'avion.
It's a scale model of a plane.
- 3
Ça t'a pris combien de temps ?
How long did it take you?
- 4
Tu peux me passer la colle ?
Can you pass me the glue?
- 5
Attention, la peinture est pas sèche.
Careful, the paint isn't dry.
Tip: Casual speech drops the first half of the negative.
- 6
J'ai besoin d'un pinceau fin.
I need a fine brush.
- 7
Cette pièce est minuscule !
This piece is tiny!
- 8
J'ai perdu une pièce.
I've lost a piece.
- 9
C'est à l'échelle 1/72.
It's 1/72 scale.
Tip: Say the scale as 'one seventy-second'.
- 10
Tu suis la notice ?
Do you follow the instructions?
- 11
Faut la poncer d'abord.
You have to sand it first.
- 12
Je débute, moi.
I'm just starting out.
- 13
Vous me conseillez quel kit pour débuter ?
Which kit would you recommend for a beginner?
Tip: Said to the shop assistant.
- 14
Vous avez cette peinture en vert mat ?
Do you have this paint in matt green?
- 15
C'est un travail de fourmi.
It's really fiddly, painstaking work.
- 16
T'as des doigts de fée !
You're so good with your hands!
- 17
Je vais la mettre sur l'étagère.
I'm going to put it on the shelf.
- 18
C'est un loisir sympa pour se détendre.
It's a nice hobby for unwinding.
- 19
Je peux essayer ?
Can I have a go?
- 20
Laisse sécher toute la nuit.
Leave it to dry overnight.