Teach Me, Oh Model Kit...

Chris L

Member since
July 2019
From: Sarasota, FL

Teach Me, Oh Model Kit...

Posted by Chris L on Thursday, July 4, 2019 2:52 PM

Hi everyone. I just wanted to say 'hello" and say what a great resource this site has been as I make my return to modeling after a long break (seems I am not alone with that).

It started a few months ago when my son spotted a USS Enterprise (Star Trek) in the Hobby Lobby and asked if we could build it. Something stirred inside... I turned around and saw all those little testors bottles and my awkward adolescence came rushing back. I was a bit of a shy kid and found such solace in the tiny details of a Sherman Tank, P-51, or X-Wing fighter... Thinking back, I built a lot of kits as a kid.

Now I'm 47 and sitting here obsessing over a 1:48 Tamiya P-51 and I have to say, I am finding my adult mind to be a bit different than my 13 year old one. First, what was acceptable to me then is nowhere near passable now. When did I get so picky? Maybe I just developed more of an eye for detail. Maybe it is looking at all the youtube videos and pics on this forum making me aware of what is possible, and how pitifully far I fall short of the mark...

Oh, well. The good news is that I am having a blast. Building these last couple of kits has really been a meditation for me. I have found it not only relaxing but helpful in cultivating my patience, process thinking, and focus. Each kit is a teacher, and the next one will have fewer flaws than the previous. It's all a bit Zen, really :)

Anyway, every time I hit the web when I'm not sure what to do, I land on this site. The knowledge and experience is amazing. I hope one day I know enough to help someone out, but I'll be leaning on you all for a bit longer.

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Greg

Member since
May 2013
From: Indiana, USA

Posted by Greg on Friday, July 5, 2019 8:30 AM

Welcome back to the hobby, and to the forum, Chris.

Interesting your story about how the bug bit you again.

Welcome Sign

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checkmateking02

Member since
September 2003
From: AandF in the Badger State

Posted by checkmateking02 on Friday, July 5, 2019 8:30 AM

Welcome to the Forum, and welcome back to the plastic!

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GMorrison

Member since
September 2012

Posted by GMorrison on Friday, July 5, 2019 8:37 AM

Chris L

Oh, well. The good news is that I am having a blast. Building these last couple of kits has really been a meditation for me. I have found it not only relaxing but helpful in cultivating my patience, process thinking, and focus. Each kit is a teacher, and the next one will have fewer flaws than the previous. It's all a bit Zen, really :)

That's a very astute view. A habit that we all have to unlearn is to work too fast. Building a kit in an afternoon isn't satisfying. Don't be worried if you get a couple of kits going at the same time. It's a good way to give yourself the time to figure things out.

Welcome!

Bill

Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

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Est.1961

Member since
July 2008

Posted by Est.1961 on Friday, July 5, 2019 9:08 AM

Greg

Interesting your story about how the bug bit you again.

Welcome Chris,

Your story has has me convinced again that there is a mould that us modelers are made from. No matter the distance or time between us, we appear to share similar memories during each of our decades through life, the hobby has helped to keep those memories sharp and alive and we try to introduce our kids to it dispite the distractions around them. Happy modeling and here's to new memories.

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hogfanfs

Member since
May 2013
From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho

Posted by hogfanfs on Friday, July 5, 2019 10:02 AM

Welcome the the forums! Welcome Sign Beer

Bruce

On the bench: 1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

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Chris L

Member since
July 2019
From: Sarasota, FL

Posted by Chris L on Friday, July 5, 2019 10:56 AM

Thank you, Bill. Yes, I quickly added a 1/72 F84 to practice my bungled attempt at Alclad aluminum on my P-51 (It ended up Camo to hide my shame). In retrospect, not the best choice of paint technique for starters Smile

Having the cheap little snap together kit on my work table allowed me to practice my painting and decaling while the main kit rests / cures

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Chris L

Member since
July 2019
From: Sarasota, FL

Posted by Chris L on Friday, July 5, 2019 10:59 AM

Thank you! My son is only 8, so we are starting him on some of those pre-painted snap together kits. I don't think I started until I was 10 or 11... Curious what age anyone else here was when they built their first kit.

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goldhammer

Member since
August 2014
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Posted by goldhammer on Friday, July 5, 2019 11:35 AM

I was around 8 or 9. Still have my ring finger nail deformation from a pocket knife slip when I was cutting of parts from the sprue to remind me of being stupid. Sliced the finger to the root of the nail. Mom took the knife away and wasn't allowed another for a couple of years.......That was around '63 or so. The kit was the old Revell Arizona. Now I think back....at least I wouldn't have had to paint the turret tops Big Smile

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Chris L

Member since
July 2019
From: Sarasota, FL

Posted by Chris L on Friday, July 5, 2019 2:21 PM

Haha - yes this is why my kid is limited to the snap together kits for now :)

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The Drifter

Member since
January 2019
From: Southeast Kentucky

Posted by The Drifter on Friday, July 5, 2019 2:40 PM

Hello Chris, and welcome to the Forums!!

Jeff

On The Bench: Coming Soon

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fox

Member since
January 2007
From: Narvon, Pa.

Posted by fox on Friday, July 5, 2019 2:46 PM

Hi Chris! Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you with us.

Enjoy!

Jim Captain

Main WIP:

On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

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Bish

Member since
December 2002
From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Posted by Bish on Friday, July 5, 2019 3:23 PM

Welcome aboard.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

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Tanker - Builder

Member since
June 2014
From: New Braunfels , Texas

Posted by Tanker - Builder on Saturday, July 6, 2019 7:03 AM

Welcome Back !

Chris L, we're always glad to expand both in knowledge and friendship. A lot gets passed around. Check the forums for your favorite and dive in! Tanker--Builder

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tempestjohnny

Member since
November 2003
From: Naples, FL

Posted by tempestjohnny on Saturday, July 6, 2019 7:06 AM

Welcome Sign

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lowfly

Member since
February 2016

Posted by lowfly on Saturday, July 6, 2019 7:31 AM

Welcome to the forums and welcome back to the hobby. Your story is very familiar as it is the exact way i came back too. I( was 10 when i built my first kit.....Sooo long ago i dont remember what it was...plane of some sort. Than came back to it recently. Have built four kits so far and each one has taught me something new.

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GMorrison

Member since
September 2012

Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, July 6, 2019 4:13 PM

goldhammer

I was around 8 or 9. Still have my ring finger nail deformation from a pocket knife slip when I was cutting of parts from the sprue to remind me of being stupid. Sliced the finger to the root of the nail. Mom took the knife away and wasn't allowed another for a couple of years.......That was around '63 or so.

That’s pretty silly. I found that if you twisted the part back and forth it snapped off just fine.

Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

Reply

stikpusher

Member since
July 2004
From: Sonora Desert

Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, July 6, 2019 5:05 PM

Welcome aboard to the forum. I’m sure that you will see that kits have changed quite a bit in the time between when you stopped, and when you started up again. And don’t look down on the old kits. They are great for getting your old skills back up to speed. Save you money on the new high cost, fancy kits for when you won’t be so hard on yourself regarding your skill set. Remember we all started at zero and learned along the way. Compare yourself to yourself.

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

- Plankton

LSM

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Chris L

Member since
July 2019
From: Sarasota, FL

Posted by Chris L on Saturday, July 6, 2019 9:47 PM

stikpusher

Welcome aboard to the forum. I’m sure that you will see that kits have changed quite a bit in the time between when you stopped, and when you started up again. And don’t look down on the old kits. They are great for getting your old skills back up to speed. Save you money on the new high cost, fancy kits for when you won’t be so hard on yourself regarding your skill set. Remember we all started at zero and learned along the way. Compare yourself to yourself.

Good advice and thank you all for the warm welcome!