Kits killing model making

I'm with Hercmech.  I build models for my enjoyment.  I really don't give a damn what anyone says in this or any other forum.  I like this site because I get to see some really incrediable model making efforts and I'm picking up some very useful tips and techniques.

That said, if anyone around here is too critical, he/she can eat my shorts.

Oh yeah, the remote control has really ruined TV viewing.

HEY , DOOGS The picture went through my mind of me trying to hand crank my ex-police cruiser , Broken arm and dislocated shoulder anyone ? I agree with the comments you made . The fact is even airplane models became kits over time and the rest followed . Kits are fun when I am too tired to layout a new scratchbuild . So it,s into my stash I go . Sometimes I close my eyes and just grab a box and whatever I grab gets built . That spices things up a lot . If anyone thinks that kit builders aren,t modelers then I would like to see what that person builds and if it would pass my scrutiny . Remember I do this for bucks as well as a hobby . catchya later---tankerbuilder

I build for my own personal satisfaction, and try - emphasis on the try part - to make each build a little better. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, but each one is a learning experience. And each one goes on the shelf with a feeling of accomplishment and pride. And each one starts out as a kit, because I am a realist and mindful of my limitations. "What if" doesn't get it onto the shelf!

There have been some good responses to this thread. All the master model builders in my model ship club say that kits got them started in model making and most admit that they may not have become interested in model building without the kits. All scratch builders I know started on kits. This hobby needs kits otherwise as someone pointed out thepeople who enjoy this  hobby would be small otherwise, and I feel there would be even less scratch builders out there as well as they would have had no kits to get them interested when they were younger.  I have seen planty of kits that are out of this world! Some I have to do a double take to make sure they are really models when I see well photographed models. Keep the kits coming we need them and enjoy them along with scratch building.

Agree with everyone here, snap-together, PE, AMS, OOB, resin kits, carved it out from solid granite, its all good for the hobby.

He is right to a point, kits have resulted in scratch building being a smaller part of the hobby. Without kits all modelers would be scratchbuilders out of neccessity, but the hobby would be microscopic.

Well, when someone says "model building" then it is assumed that they mean building it from a kit. "Kit building" is what the hobby pretty much revolves around. I dont think modeling would be the same without kits.

There's some really good responses to this issue. I agree, the bottom line is to enjoy the hobby. This dosen't mean you won't want to improve skills and try new techniques.  I am getting back into modeling after being away from it for many years. After looking at the skill level of many people and being intimidated by what I saw I seriously wondered if I should do something else. I am 66 and don't have 30 or 40 years to improve. But heck - you know what - I just decided to do it to enjoy it and to improve as much as I can at this late date and in the last 2 years am surprised at how fast things have come together. The secret is to actually spend time building. The biggest thing now is starting to use an air brush. I live in a condo and am not sure if a spray booth and exhaust system will be enough to keep things safe with a hot water tank and furnace in the basement a short distance away from my work bench. I will be doing a major air brush learning project this summer out on my patio and will then have more of an idea of how an airbrush behaves. I have 6 1/32 Me109's I got at bargain price built and waiting to become my air brush  practice models as well as a few others. Look forward to the experience.

Heck... With my messed up coordination, it's a chore just to get a decent looking kit built OOB.  Never mind doing a lot of scratch building.   I think the challenge level (especially for those of us with physical impairments) of doing modern OOB builds is quite high as it is.  All that new AM stuff, and PE and/or resin parts that need to be detailed before you can even glue them in, makes it harder, not easier.  And I would love to tell whoever wrote that letter to try drinking about 20 cups of coffee so he is really shaky and then try to put an OOB kit together, especially something with a lot of detail parts.  That's what it's like for some of us.  I truly respect the builders who do these kits and then ADD even more detail from scratch.  It's something I probably will never be able to do.  Those who work OOB on newer ultra detailed kits, or even the older simpler kits that need a lot of AM goodies,  are just as much modelers  as the guys who build completely from scratch.

Rich

John Lyle

Okay I got your attention.

Last week I was cleaning out my workshop and reading some olf model magazines. I came across a letter to the editor by some modeler who definitely had issues. He claimed that kits were killing model making and dumbing down modle making skills, and that "kit builders" were not true model makers.

I got to thinking and I for one think he was wrong. I build kits and I also scratch build models. I learned a lot of my scratch building skills from building kits (wooden model ship kits). Even plastic kits helped when I tried my hand at a styrene scratch built boat. If it was not for kits I feel that many of us would never have got into modle making. I feel that kits have helped the hobby of model making not "dumbed it down".

Opinions?

As long as there are hobbies, there will be rivet counters, paint *** and those who look down on what you build as inferior because you didn't triple the price of the model with after market parts.  Build what makes you happy.  Paint it the way you want to.  It is your hobby and what the other guys think of your work isn't really that important.  Besides, sometimes it's nice to not have to fuss with all that extra stuff.  Out of the box looks just fine. 

Every activity, hobby or sport means something different to every participant unless taken to the professional level. Once there the highest standard is maintained to remain there.

The important thing is you participate and enjoy the activity.

There are a lot of lurkers and new members on this site who won't dare post their work in fear of the comments they may get, this upsets me as its counter productive and at times cruel. Long as they are enthusiastic with a desire to improve their modeling skills comments should be constructive and not critique.

Many here are modelers striving for perfecting their excellent work, when asked for honest critique its refreshing to hear it!

I know its a fine line yet us that have been here a while should be able to filter out the comments to remain constructive for everyone.

*Back to the original post...

From Snap-tite to complex multi-media kits they are all models, taking the time to build one makes you a modeler.

How far you go with what is in the box is up to you!

Reminds me of a former Command Sergeant Major of mine, when he started his speech at the St, Barbara's Day Dining-out many years ago... It started with, "The Army isn't what it used to be.... And it never was."...

How old was that back issue?

Because I shared exactly that opinion back when all we had was Mastadon bones and our newfangled bronze tools. Those whippersnappers sure didn't know how easy they had it with wood and knives! But in reference to anything since the sixties that's just not true anymore.

However- you truly aren't a "driver" with anything besides a manual transmission!

I would agree that any model built, OOB or not, is how the builder enjoyed it or not. I have found that vacuform kits helped me develop some building skills. These newer kits with greater detail (read: more small fiddily parts) are a challenge than the old Monogram and Revel kits we built in the 60's.

I enjoy all types.

Mike T.

And what about these new fangled darn lawn mowers.....gasoline powered....or even electric !!

Bah, humbug.  (This is me doing a spot of gardening last week)

DoogsATX

Also, electrical starters are totally killing driving. Unless you crank the motor yourself, you're not a real driver.

You're also not a real driver if your car doesn't have a manual trans.  Once automatic trannies arrived driving just dried up and blew away.

                                                                         Pat.

HAHA!

Also, electrical starters are totally killing driving. Unless you crank the motor yourself, you're not a real driver.

Dre

PaintsWithBrush:

There's always going to be some joker who thinks people who build "straight out of the box" are less than others. Complete drivel. They are the types that sour the hobby. If it weren't for the basic kit builder, this hobby would be dead right now.

 

Absolutely. 

  There are a lot more complete kits out and that might have cut into some of the scratchbuilding but has it hurt the hobby?  No way!

                                                                                              Pat.

PaintsWithBrush

There's always going to be some joker who thinks people who build "straight out of the box" are less than others. Complete drivel. They are the types that sour the hobby. If it weren't for the basic kit builder, this hobby would be dead right now.

Absolutely. 

Well as much as I like to do things that other people like, I do models for MY enjoyment and I really think people get too wraped around the axel about what other people think about how they build.

I know I am no expert and by no means am I an artist, like some of you folks, I do the best I can and I don't measure myself against others only against myself and the builds I have done. I stive to improve, but I find the more I try the less I enjoy this hobby as I look for things I did wrong other than the things I did right.

Rant over

I'm with you.  I build both from kits and do scratch projects.  With strict OOB builds, the thing is the quality of the build.  Some kit builds with extensive super-detailing are just as much work and skill as some scratch projects.

I think the recent price increases of kits is a reason for more folks to try scratch building.  The only thing that will hold down price increases is reduced sales.  And if you buy less but want to continue to build as much, what is left is scratchbuilding :-)

Who cares if you can paint a portrait like a master or you have to buy a paint by number kit. It's a hobby and if you enjoy building out of the box, don't let anyone bring you down.

Heck yeah. I know for a fact that Bobby Flay uses canned ingredients from time to time - I'd never tell him he can't cook.

I hate these stupid distinctions. It's a hobby, for crying out loud. It'd be like saying people who don't make their own pasta aren't cooks. 

PaintsWithBrush

There's always going to be some joker who thinks people who build "straight out of the box" are less than others. Complete drivel. They are the types that sour the hobby. If it weren't for the basic kit builder, this hobby would be dead right now.

  Good call.

There's always going to be some joker who thinks people who build "straight out of the box" are less than others. Complete drivel. They are the types that sour the hobby. If it weren't for the basic kit builder, this hobby would be dead right now.