PRIORITIZING MODEL PROJECTS

As I have been returning to the hobby (and don't have a stash to speak of) I've been using group builds to guide me along.  

Random things will inspire me to pick a modeling project.  Maybe watching a particular movie,  a book I'm reading or seeing something on TV.  A few months ago I was out for a Sunday walk with my wife when a flight of A-10's flew over - the first thing I did when I got home was dig out one of the A-10's in my stash and start looking at it.  

I've probably got about 10-12 projects going on, with 3 of them actually on my workbench.  I've got a 1/196 Revell Constitution that I've been working on for a couple of years thats about 50% compete, an old Airfix 1/72 Phantom nostalga build that's about 90% done and a 1/72 Hasegawa F-14B that's maybe 25% complete.

I've been a sporadic builder the last few years; I'll work in something non-stop for a few days and then set it aside for a month or so.  I'm definitely a better "starter" than "finisher".  Every year one of my New Year resolutions is to finish the stuff I've got laying around.

I had some free time this past weekend and had intended to do some modeling, but after taking a good look at all the clutter in my workbench instead spent most of Sunday afternoon cleaning my bench and tools and reorganizing everything.

Mark

I build whatever subject appeals to me at the time. Sometimes this means cracking open a new kit, other times it means tinkering with a partially built kit.

My main displeasure is painting kits. I have sooooo many kits that are just awaiting the day I drag myself to the paintbooth, dig out the airbrush and paint the darn thing. On the plus side, when I do get the airbrush started, I often knock out 5-6 kits at a time. Then they sit waiting for me to get around to decaling, detail painting, etc.

I've learned better than to try to plan a "build roster", since usually by the time I get to the end of a project or projects what I want to do next has completely changed. Though I will keep "types" in mind, usually for group builds. For example, I'm going to have to decide between something like four different Fw 190s for that group build. Also have a ship GB coming up in another forum, and I'm holding off committing exactly what ship I'll do until the time's right. Probably the Zvezda Dreadnought, but maybe the Warspite or my giant 1/144 Fletcher.

How do I prioritize?  I go downstairs to the basement where my work bench is.  I look at my stash of 25 kits.  I scan them with my eyes.  The kit that makes my heart beat faster and my breathing quicken for some reason unbeknownst even to me, that's the one that I build next.  When that build is all done, I repeat the process.

Eric

I do not typically have many models laying around to choose from, but I go a lot by whether I want a challenge, or do I want to bang an easy kit out and spend more time on practicing my painting and weathering.

I have found that I have more patience then when I first began just a couple years ago, when I was mostly trying to build as fast as I could.  Now I am more able and willing to take on a more complex kit and take more time.  It is also easier for me to buy nicer (more expensive) kits and take my time, relax, and let it last.

Other times it is simply seeing a subject that really grabs me, and then buying the kit.

If one of the clubs I belong to has a special topic for a meeting, or some challenge that suits one of my unfinished kits, that bumps up priority.  Or, if I see a new detailing product that applies to a kit.  Or, read a book or see a TV show that concerns an existing project.

Lots of things determine how I prioritize work on the models..  group build deadlines, contest deadlines, calendar deadlines.   If I don't have a firm end-date for active projects, then I'll work on things in a rotation- a little work on this one, a little on that one until everything is ready to paint.

I like to paint things in groups if I have enough stuff that requires using one color on several things as it saves time and effort.   When I know that I have a bunch of kits ready to be preshaded, then they all get that done at once in an assembly line fashion.

In 99% of the time,I am only working on one kit at a time,I don't need to have an assembly line going.At this time however i have hit a snag with a Hobbyboss Tomcat for now and that is aside for now while I am working on my Tamiya Tiger

Usually I just pick a kit and start,sometimes priorities are set by diffrent group builds I might be involved in.

I have a list of things I want built before "my shelves stop needing dusting"

Once the kit, the decals, the books, the weapons, the colors, etc,,,,,,,all come together, then a project is actually "ready to do"

of that 100 or so that are "ready right now",,,,,,,I keep switching my method of choosing between "in order by squadron" and "get one of each tail code done"

I have only 3 kits going right now, and don't have a "shelf of doom" for unfinished models,,,,,,,,,,,,Anne does make jokes about not needing a shelf of doom if the kits sit on the desk not getting finished, but, even if they all got done before I start another,,,,,there'll just be something else to joke about, anyway