What part of Model building do you like MOST

Opening the box.

Afterwards the euphoria wears off and reality sets in as to how much trouble I got myself into.

i like the resach and building part and looking at how otheres finshed models (and deciding on the next project lol)

I like prowling through the research materials and figuring out how I can replicate a certain part that isn't in the kit or needs to be improved, especially if I'm doing a conversion. For instance, the tornado chase vehicle I'm currently building is not a model of a real one but a hypothetical one. (The reason: Most real tornado chase vehicles are minivans and SUV's, but there aren't many kits available of those two categories of vehicles, so I had to improvise with what's available.) I had fun prowling through the websites of various storm chasers and researchers and checking out the pictures of various storm researcher's vehicles. I'm combining several ideas into my tornado chaser.

Assembly is fun, too. Every part that goes into place is one less part I have to worry about. And there is something satisfying about watching an umpromising pile of parts and pieces slowly becoming a completed model. It's always a red-letter day when you glue the fuselage halves together and say, "It's finally starting to LOOK like an airplane!" Or you install the engine in the chassis and add the four wheels, and it's starting to look like a car!

While we're on the subject of assembly, scratchbuilding your own parts is fun! Because I work so slowly, I do resort to buying aftermarket parts too, but I always try to make room for at least a few scratchbuilt items. A few pieces of sheet, strip or scrap styrene, a hobby knife, some glue, and finally the paint, and you've made a CB radio or a shovel.

I also like painting--not so much the tiny parts but the major parts, like the entire airplane after it's been assembled, or a car body that's ready to put on the chassis assembly as soon as the paint is dry and polished. Once you reach that stage, the model is usually 85, 90, even 95% finished; all you have are a few details.

And then one day, you attach that last part and put the model in the display case. I love the feeling of finishing the model and looking at it under the protective cover.

And then it's time to start the next model! That's fun, too!

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV That's easy..........airbrushing! Does that come as a surprise? Mike

I quess more broadly put, finishing and detailing is the best stage for me.

I enjoy gathering references for my build (looking through books, sites on the web) and so on but...

I love weathering! That's the point when your kit comes alive

i build outta the box cos i cant afford PE and stuff. i love to put my model in the display case and turn on the lights. often, i will gaze at the display case for minutes..........i love models

For me selecting the paint scheme and markings. I love the research.

1. Research, 2.Buying the supplies, 3. Airbrushing. Or is it the other way around?
What the heck, anything is better than sanding.

for me the drybrushing of the cockpit. the way this assembly of plastic begins to look real. the dials, the seat, the consol. it has a way of being satisfying on its own..

joe

The final assembly is allways nice for me. It finally gets to look like what it's supposed to look like. Then it's on to the next one :)

Opening up a new box to see the pieces waiting to become something...

Shopping around (stores, catalogs, internet) for decals and whatever aftermarket goodies might be out there (I put more thought into this now, before I just randomly would by stuff!!).

And finishing up!! :)

I like the assembly the best. I even like filling and sanding! I find it soothing, and I have lots of patience. It gives me a chance to listen to good tunes.



DJ

I would have to agree with Jeeves and David Voss i love to open the box as soon as iget it home and stare at the instructions and sprues for a good couple of hours just plotting and planning the build and seeing the built model in my minds eye.
also have to agree with Sth Aussie finishing the kit, everytime i walk past my cabinet i just have to look at my slowly growing collection.
Research can be fun but it can also be frustrating ive been trying to get a handle on an Australian WW1 scout ace flying with 203SQD raf in particular the Sopwith camel he flew and have drawn a blank.

Just one more thing i love going to the newsagent and grabbing the latest FSM magazine.

I like the research and putting together the weapons on the tank

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison I would have to agree with Jeeves and David Voss i love to open the box as soon as iget it home and stare at the instructions and sprues for a good couple of hours just plotting and planning the build and seeing the built model in my minds eye. also have to agree with Sth Aussie finishing the kit, everytime i walk past my cabinet i just have to look at my slowly growing collection. Research can be fun. Just one more thing i love going to the newsagent and grabbing the latest FSM magazine.

opening the box, playing with the pieces, researching, building, painting, displaying, and other sources like FSM & webzines - they all sound pretty good for me!

But I think my MOST favourite part of modeling is walking into a hobby shop and being overwhelmed with all the hundreds of model kits - I turn into a little kid again - I could stay there all day looking at each box - and in choosing a model I think to myself "oh the possibilites" - you could say I GET HIGH ON THE EXPERIENCE!!!

Assembly is fun, but painting is funnier!

Enjoy modeling!
Lu

I would just be happy to work on and complete a model......LOL

Though if I had to pick something I like the most I would have to say......

Picking out the kit....though I may never get to it or might start building it but throw it in the "To Be Completed Later Pile" picking out the kit and looking at the box/box art is the best IMHO

Opening the box, and checking out the detail (or lack thereof) on each piece, and getting the directions nice and "worn in" from studying them a hundred times.

Adding some extra detail and weathering at the end of the build.

Now unless your a Tiger fan, you'll think I'm sick! I just like the look of a fully assembled, unpainted tiger 1 early pro with fef air cleaners all ready to go. The look of a tiger 1 in just really, really flat plain dark yellow with no camo also looks good too. But the parts I like most are putting on indy treads and airbrushing on the camo and weathering the thing! Thats my favorite.

the final weathering and detailing,almost like your placing yourself there(you know what I mean)

when it comes to the cockpits, thats where i do the best of my detailing. I guess i would say that i would be known for my cockpits.

I enjoy the whole kit and kaboodle! From the research down to the final painting/decalling. I find the whole lot pretty relaxing - a good escape from the rubbish that is going on. As others have said before me, I particularly enjoy opening the box of a new kit and checking out all the bits knowing that hopefully at the end of the build it will marginally resemble whats on the box. And if it doesn't - who cares...I'll get it right on the next one! Just enjoy it...whatever you do.