Models - both those out of boxes and out of blister packs - often come with flash, mold lines, and attached to a sprue. The first thing you need to do with your model is remove all the excess material and make it look as though it was never there to begin with.
You will need;
Clippers (Sharp pliers)
Files (Fairly fine ones)
Sandpaper (Optional)
Sharp Knife/Scalpel (Optional)
PHOTO OF SPRUE MODEL
Remove the pieces of your kit from the sprue using the pliers or small sharp scissors. It's possible to twist and pull the pieces off but you risk damaging or warping the pieces. Use something snippy rather than a knife - much safer.
Flash is easy to remove from metal models. It is the little strands of metal attached randomly around a miniature as a leftover from where the metal was inject into its mold and effectively leaked outside the wanted shape. Just snip these off and if necessary use the file/sandpaper to smooth the area down.
PICTURE OF BITS OF FLASH
Mold lines can be slightly more complicated as they can run all the way across the model and through fine details. These denote the line where the two halves of the model's mold met but weren't perfectly fit. Larger pieces can be snipped off like flash, but most likely you be filing small but prominent mold lines down.
PHOTO OF MOLD LINE ON PLASTIC AND METAL
When you start filing or sanding beging very gently. Until you get a good idea of how much you can take off and how big your file is you want to be careful. If you don't file enough you can go back and carefully give it another go, but if you gouge out a hole you need to get creative with filler or your paint job!
If you use a knife or scalpel, make sure its very sharp. Hold it against the model with the top ridge facing towards the direction you're pulling. Strip off the lines with smooth strokes. Don't apply too much pressure or you'll gouge the model and probably your thumbs as well.
PHOTO ANGLE/PULLING
The final step is to give models a quick rinse with soapy water and leaving them to dry. This removes any of the agent used to make the model easier to remove from its mold, and any oils transferred to it as it has been handled by people. These can affect how well your model primes. If its a step too far and you aren't trying to do a decent paint job you don't necessarily have to worry about this step.
At the end of this process your model should end up looking like it was never attached to anything in the first place!
PHOTO OF HAPPY MODEL :D
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