opinion of modeling

koombaya!

Modeling is supposed to RELEVE stress?
huh,who'd a thunk it.

Don

I agree.  It is easy to lose sight of the point of it all.  I am guilty of bolt counting, but it started by being victimized by it.  One bad apple ruins the bunch. Once that individual plants the seed in the group it is very hard to stop.  I want to be proud of what I build.  If there is something wrong with it, I feel as though I failed.  There was a time that I didn't care if a kit was accurate at all.  Now... now I pass on a kit because the welds aren't located properly.  

My name is Brian.  I am a Exactoholic.

MortarMagnet wrote:

I agree.  It is easy to lose sight of the point of it all.  I am guilty of bolt counting, but it started by being victimized by it.  One bad apple ruins the bunch. Once that individual plants the seed in the group it is very hard to stop.  I want to be proud of what I build.  If there is something wrong with it, I feel as though I failed.  There was a time that I didn't care if a kit was accurate at all.  Now... now I pass on a kit because the welds aren't located properly.   My name is Brian.  I am a Exactoholic.

Brian, the moment you admit your Exactoholism is the precise moment you can start on the road to recovery!

Thank you for your support(sob). 


Exactoholism---precise---haha

Many of the modelers in the 40 something age group started as kids tube gluing model kits that cost us less than a dollar. As we progressed through the years, being inspired by modelers like Shepard Paine and later Francois Verlinden, our skills improved and so did our research abilities.

With the advent of the internet and its effect on modeling, our expectations in terms of accuracy, engineering/fit and matters of variety increased. Remember the old days when we were happy to have a kit of a Tiger? Now we have umpteen different variations of Tiger tanks and even models of a Tiger that was a "one of".

While I agree that this is a hobby and as such, should not be taken too seriously, modeling is just like any other adult hobby like golf. Some golfers spend lots of money taking lessons, buying the ultimate clubs, traveling to the best courses, joining prestigious country clubs, etc. Others like to grab their hand-me-down clubs and head to the local public access golf course to get a round in when the weather's nice. Different strokes for different folks.

I like to build kits that fit well and that the subject appeals to me in some way. If I "care" about the subject I am modeling, I may try to accurize the kit to the best of my ability. If I do not particularly care about the subject and just like the looks of the vehicle, I may just build it out-of-box and leave it at that.

I also buy vintage kits or the reissues of some kit I built as a child. Sometimes I like to try to bring the old kit into modern standards, other times I like to see how it would look OOB when built with my current skills.

On the internet, many of the forums erupt into flame wars. These never do anyone any good and often turn some modelers away from the hobby (too much drama). Most of the modeling websites were created by modelers who had some computer skills. Many of them tried to make the running of the website an additional hobby. Unfortunately, for many of them, running the website literally took up their modeling hobby time.

Some of the modeler/webmasters actually reached the point where the advertising procedes made them enough money that it became their sole source of income. To them, this is no longer a hobby, but a livelihood. The trolls and other lowlifes that try to disrupt the day to day operations of the site are interfering with those modelers' income.

Same reason why many people are not participating with local hobby clubs.  I for instance wants to join the club, but I've been hearing some horror stories, how old timers are picking on historical accuracy or how many nuts and bolts are missing.  This really discourages young and new modellers.  I want to do it for fun of it and re-living my childhood.  When I was a child, I wanted to buy kits, but I could not afford it.  Now that I work and making my own money, I started collecting exact same kits that I drooled over as a child.  I really don't care too much about its accuracy and historical significance in most cases.  Enjoy, learn and build more kits (and hopefully buy more kits to help the economy).

Like my tag line says, "Build what you like; like what you build."

The tricky thing about this hobby (and many others) is finding that balance among: doing something fun, challenging one's self, working at something; and being satisfied with the end result.

My most recently-completed build was a very difficult kit -- a Glencoe MB-2 biplane bomber. At one point, I discovered that I could not place the engines' radiators in the correct place relative to the cabane struts (which connect the fuselage with the wings). I finally accepted that the radiorts would be in the wrong place and moved on with the build.

I know the kit has inaccuracies, with the radiator placement being the worst of them, but I'm very proud of my kit, and nobody has commented on the errors yet. In fact, most people wouldn't know an MB-2 if one fell on a house.

I know the kit could be better, but I also know the kit is better than what I could have done a few years ago.

To me, that's what's most important.

Regards,

As a results of contests with rivet counters being judges, I no longer build for the contest and build only to please myself with the results. Modeling for me is meant to be relaxful.  

Getting back into modeling was a great stress reliever for me until I got a wild hair and decided to try PE 

Well, that and that evil Revell Spitfire MKII and spilling cement all over my brand new $18 cutting mat and dropping that open bottle of yellow paint right in my lap and realizing that I had double ordered paint for my F4F-4 Wildcat and ...and...

-dave

 

Darr wrote:

Hello,    Don't take the hobby too seriously, please, have fun,enjoy, and use it as a release. Be accurate or don't, historical or probability, it shouldn't matter. I have seen it happen to too many modelers, when it becomes stress and the competition becomes the center of it and the hobby takes a back seat. I've seen cheating at hobby shows, argueing, and even a fight. When my shop started its hobby show it was at the behest of modelers who had experienced these things and had enough of it. They set the show requirements, no trophies, no stress, have fun, socialize and make friends, bring the kids, encourage the new hobbist by sharing secerets and skills of the hobby. That was seven years ago and it's been a joy ever since. So remember why you started modeling 20 years ago or yesterday. Weither you use it as a release, to remeber yesteryear, a fallen comrade, what if or what could have been, or what was it like to be there. Enjoy it, love it.                                                                                     See you later.

I build to relax and I find it fun. You wouldn't think after all those years working on cars for a living that I'd want to sit at the kitchen table and put together scale replica's, but I do.

Whether I'm doing it along in a peaceful house or with the family watching TV in the next room or my 12 year old son sitting next to me. It's quiet quality time that I enjoy from my childhood. I usually build my kits stock after some research on color schemes but sometimes I might just out of the blue throw in something to customize it. I might build the kit straight OOB or add extras, whatever the mood hits me. If the paintjob doesn't come out exactly perfect, I might set it aside and say "well, start again another day" or "who cares, good enough for today".

It all depends on how relaxed I am or how anal I am that day. 

It's all good 

Have fun & happy modeling 

I'm like that, what I do to a model depends on the mood that hits me.

Its got to be fun, if it ain't fun it ain't worth doing.

Hey gang! At the risk of being too serious and proceeding with tongue-in-cheek, I want to weigh in on this with a rhetorical question and my own observations.

Now where is my soap box? Ah! Yes! There it is. Let me begin . . .

Are we maybe taking the hobby too seriously when we have to talk about not taking it too seriously?

Why do we do what we do?  !!!!FUN!!!! Everyone is in it for their own personal pleasures. Its as simple as that.

Some folks are competative, some aren't. There are talented builders and there are those that like to think themselves talented. I never met a modeler that intentionally built crappy models in their own mind's eye.  Most everyone wants there work recognized.

Maybe there are two groups of people that stop competing at shows. Those that get tired of winning and those that can't win. I haven't known many consistent winners that were disgruntled with the contest scene. 

Are some shows better than others? Of course. Are there shows where it seems all the local club members clean house when you know your model was better than anything on the table? We have all been there. Haven't we all been to fair and objective competitions where we either won or our buddy won? Sure, otherwise you would have refused the trophy, right?

For me, contests are what they are for better or worse (like most things in life). If you don't like them, great. If you love the drama and crushing the competition, more power to you. Its all good. Find your niche, have fun, and don't worry about what "those type of modelers" are doing.

 For the love of Tamiya, its just plastic! (group hug)

 

 

 

 

I think the idea here is that often, people lose perspective that this is a hobby and the fate of the world does not hang on who wins what.  If someone isn't the greatest (me), a lot of times the actions of the hyper-competitive can be quite mean inorder to assert their superiority.  When that happens, it degrades us all.  If I show someone something I've done, it's because I want show someone what I did.  I'm not interested in any prizes, I don't care if anyone likes it, I just want to show someone.  (It justifies all the time and money.)  I think I share the thought with many members that this is about building models and enjoying each others work and company, not winning and losing, drama and crushing the competition.

Dave23 wrote:

Getting back into modeling was a great stress reliever for me until I got a wild hair and decided to try PE  [:O -dave

Dave, I totally agree. I feel your pain But, It's fun tho

It should be a retreat from the stresses of everyday life, like reading a book, or going for a run, not a reason to introduce more.

As I think Pix has pointed out on numerous occasions:

'Build what you like, like what you build.'

Karl

MortarMagnet wrote:

I think the idea here is that often, people lose perspective that this is a hobby and the fate of the world does not hang on who wins what.  If someone isn't the greatest (me), a lot of times the actions of the hyper-competitive can be quite mean inorder to assert their superiority.  When that happens, it degrades us all.  If I show someone something I've done, it's because I want show someone what I did.  I'm not interested in any prizes, I don't care if anyone likes it, I just want to show someone.  (It justifies all the time and money.)  I think I share the thought with many members that this is about building models and enjoying each others work and company, not winning and losing, drama and crushing the competition.

 

MM i agree with you on all but the highlighted point if you show someone you want them to at least like it if they don't there is no sense in showing it to them if they don't appreciate it

 

DURR wrote:

MortarMagnet wrote: I think the idea here is that often, people lose perspective that this is a hobby and the fate of the world does not hang on who wins what.  If someone isn't the greatest (me), a lot of times the actions of the hyper-competitive can be quite mean inorder to assert their superiority.  When that happens, it degrades us all.  If I show someone something I've done, it's because I want show someone what I did.  I'm not interested in any prizes, I don't care if anyone likes it, I just want to show someone.  (It justifies all the time and money.)  I think I share the thought with many members that this is about building models and enjoying each others work and company, not winning and losing, drama and crushing the competition.   MM i agree with you on all but the highlighted point if you show someone you want them to at least like it if they don't there is no sense in showing it to them if they don't appreciate it

..appreciate the effort, not the degree of perfection achieved.  I truely feel that trying is all that counts, for me anyway.  If I build something that turns out poorly, I may be too embarrassed to show anyone because it looks like a lack of effort.

How could it be possible to "cheat" in a model competition?
Other than presenting someone elses work, that is...
I'm really curious now! LOL

Some really good comments above.  This thread is a nice read.
The funny thing about modeling is that sometimes the inacuracies
teach me more about the model than the accuracies.  Stressing
and worrying about the "problem areas" on a model (whether
I can work them out or not) really solidifies my knowledge of an
aircraft in that particular area.

IL2windhawk wrote:

How could it be possible to "cheat" in a model competition? Other than presenting someone elses work, that is... I'm really curious now! LOL Some really good comments above.  This thread is a nice read. The funny thing about modeling is that sometimes the inacuracies teach me more about the model than the accuracies.  Stressing and worrying about the "problem areas" on a model (whether I can work them out or not) really solidifies my knowledge of an aircraft in that particular area.

It's been done, folks buying completed models and entering them in contests. Other folks entering pre-made diecast models into contests. I've seen some guys enter the same kits year after year in each of the local shows, just trying to win something.

I have seen it to. At a local IMPS contest a few years ago. A bunch of later teens and early 20's had taken thier "low-rider" models and had the bodies painted by a professionl painter. The rules stated "All work must be your own".