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Following the Instructions?

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Sarasota, FL
Following the Instructions?
Posted by RedCorvette on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 12:27 PM

When was the last time you built a kit and literally followed the instructions as written:  assembly order, painting call-outs for each step, etc.?

I always spend a lot of time studying the instructions before starting a kit, but seldom follow them exactly.  To paraphrase Capt. Jack Sparrow:, "they're more 'guidelines' than actual rules".

The thing that got me thinking about it was looking at the instructions for my new Academy F-4B.  They have you attach the main landing gear to the wheel well walls and then trap that assembly between the top & bottom wing halves.  To me that's a recipe for disaster.

And not just to pick on Academy, because I can also think of several other impractical assembly sequences I've seen on kit instruction sheets.  For example, the Hasegawa Tomcats that have you mount the nose landing gear before assembling the forward fuselage to the wings and rear fuselage.

Unless there's some overwhelming reason not to, I almost always will leave stuff like the landing gear, antennas, weapons, canopies, etc off a plane until it's assembled, painted & decaled.  Besides the risk of someone clumsy like me breaking stuff off, it makes it almost impossible mask and paint any type of multi-color paint scheme with all the little bits sticking out.

Most of us experienced modelers have figured things out, but I have to wonder how many newcomers to the hobby might get frustrated by trying to follow the instructions verbatim out of the box?

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 1:14 PM

Good point,kit instructions almost everytime have to be taken with a grain of salt.The build sequence always has to be thought out ahead of time,not just one step at a time.

Dre
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: here, not over there
Posted by Dre on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 1:34 PM

I always have a laugh when I see instructions that have you add all the breakable bits early in the build sequence....  it's almost as if the instructions are written by someone who doesn't build kits.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Sarasota, FL
Posted by RedCorvette on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 2:22 PM

Dre

I always have a laugh when I see instructions that have you add all the breakable bits early in the build sequence....  it's almost as if the instructions are written by someone who doesn't build kits.

I've suspected that on more than one occasion...

Mark

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  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: near Nashville, TN
Posted by TarnShip on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 3:05 PM

I mostly use instruction sheets as a place to write notes, changing the color call-outs, sometimes noting that ONE thing that has to be installed before the assemble continues onward, things like that

I know a lot of people don't agree with my color choices,,,,,but, when one company calls for Aircraft Gray, and another calls out Dark Gull Gray,,for the SAME part on the same aircraft (same as in exact same BuNo on exact same cruise),,,,,,someone has to decide which is right and which is wrong

so, for every file folder full of instruction sheets, there is one of each type in the front, with all of my color notes on it for the details of that type, and even if I am building an Italeri or AMT version, I will just follow my color notes on a Hasegawa or Fujimi instruction sheet as I go

almost gone

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • From: Hatfield
Posted by Misty on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 3:29 PM

I read instructions as

"this bit is supposed to go here, how and when you get it there is up to you."

  • Member since
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  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 9:13 PM

I built one of Hasegawa's 1/72 F-18F's that was missing the instructions, and had a lot of fun figuring it out. Anyways, I never have any extra screws left over when I follow the instructions...

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:10 AM

I have built more than one model that absolutely could not have been finished if the instructions were followed in the sequence printed.  I sometimes wonder if mfgs ever really assemble a kit from a test shot to see if all parts fit and the instructions are correct.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:51 AM

IMO the Trumpeter 1/48 MiG-21F-13 is the worst I've ever seen in this regard. The last step is literally...mate the fully completed wings, landing gear and ordnance and everything already mounted, to the fuselage, which already has the canopy installed, all the little antennae...just stupid.

People complain about Dragon's armor instructions, but at least they seem to more or less follow a logical build order.

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: MN
Posted by Nathan T on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 11:18 AM

On some aircraft kits the landing gear has to be attached early on otherwise its impossible to glue on properly insde the wing or fuselage. Hasegawa's Arado 234 kits are a good example. I usually attach landing gear before painting comences anyway because then you have something to set the model on while the paint dries. Overall though, the best advice it to dry fit each assembly, then decide to follow the instructions or not, thats the best general advice for new modelers.

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: NW Washington
Posted by dirkpitt77 on Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:23 AM

Kit errors aside, I think it's a learning curve. The  more experienced you get, more likely you are to deviate from the assembly sequence. Just my .02.

    "Some say the alien didn't die in the crash.  It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:48 AM

I'm basically a believer in the aircraft mechanics rule #1 - When all else fails, Read the Manual! (that's not exactly what it says but this is a family forum) - I always keep the instructions at hand in case I have a problem (or the kit is gigantic and/or has approximately 1 gazillion parts) - If I don't have any problems and/or its a small kit, I won't usually look at the instructions once the box is opened.

Quincy
  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by Scorpiomikey on Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:17 PM

I keep the instructions handy to make sure ive got everything before i button it up. And when i finish the building stage, if i have spare bits ill check to see where they go then decide if they're necessary.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how i soar"

Recite the litanies, fire up the Gellar field, a poo storm is coming Hmm 

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  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Colorado Springs
Posted by Geof on Friday, December 21, 2012 12:21 AM

talentless

I read instructions as

"this bit is supposed to go here, how and when you get it there is up to you."

+1

For me, I use the instructions as a general layout to see how the sub assemblies actually go together. I never build in order of the instructions. Sometimes it also depends on how I want a kit to be displayed, motor visible,  closed hatches, etc. you get the idea. In terms of painting it depends on the kit. Usually I reference pictures more than anything for painting, but when the available pictures are limited, I will default to the instruction sheets. At times, I go totally off the radar and ignore most of the diagrams. This has put me in a quandary once or twice, but I can usually save it...

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On the Bench: Tamiya's 1/48 A-10a Thunderbolt 

In the Hangar:  Hmmm???

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Colorado Springs
Posted by Geof on Friday, December 21, 2012 12:27 AM

An entirely different thing, and situation are paint order, decal order and getting everything in place at the right time. This is where experience comes into play. Some instructions will advise/warn if a part needs to be placed after a decal, or painted or whatever. Experience is definitely helpful here. Planning is key. For the mast part, particularly planes, the build process is pretty similar, exceptions come in with internal details, doors, canopies etc.

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On the Bench: Tamiya's 1/48 A-10a Thunderbolt 

In the Hangar:  Hmmm???

 

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • From: Hatfield
Posted by Misty on Friday, December 21, 2012 7:30 AM

And then add AM kit instructions as well. The AS-90 eduard sets add up to 4 etch frets. i spent weeks just cutting bits off and sticking bits on before assembling anything. plus the AM barrel, plus the AM bronco tracks (500+ parts) trying to cross reference kit and am instructions is a nightmare.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, December 21, 2012 8:02 AM

For the newcomer, the instruction sheet is a vital tool for assembly. For the experienced modeler, the instruction sheets are a way to verify where things go and to plan ahead as in sub-assemblies and painting certain items beforehand. I never follow the building order as it would be impossible to properly and accurately detail certain features. This is specially true when using resin updates or replacement parts and pe sets as talentless pointed out. Right now I'm working on a kit with a ton of resin extra parts so I have to deal with two separate instruction manuals. Another mistake that newcomers make is following the color callouts in the instructions which are sometimes incorrect. Then you also have the instructions which don't list certain parts or are just very vague. Bang Head

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Sunday, December 23, 2012 9:54 AM

i can't because you have to plan the assembly around the painting sequence.It does require some thought for sure.

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by Spike Redding on Thursday, December 27, 2012 6:05 AM

It's a magical day in each modeler's life when you see the words "instruction manual" but read them as "suggestion manual".  It means you truly have progressed beyond 'beginner' status.

--Spike

  • Member since
    August 2012
  • From: Parker City, IN.
Posted by Rambo on Thursday, December 27, 2012 8:04 AM

I'm still trying to figure out why 99% of every instruction manual for a tank wants you to install the road wheels and tracks before you assemble and paint the main body... and like talentless said too, trying to go between AM and kit instructions can give you a headache i usually read though and make notes on the kit instructions on where all the AM parts come into play

Clint

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Back in Town on Thursday, December 27, 2012 8:32 AM

Exactly. Like most modelers, I guess, I make a scan or photocopy of both the kit and AM instructions, then use the copies to markup extensively for notes regarding assembly order, replacement by AM parts, etc. I like to keep the original instructions in original condition in a file for future reference.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, December 27, 2012 9:32 AM

Rambo

I'm still trying to figure out why 99% of every instruction manual for a tank wants you to install the road wheels and tracks before you assemble and paint the main body... and like talentless said too, trying to go between AM and kit instructions can give you a headache i usually read though and make notes on the kit instructions on where all the AM parts come into play

It is not just tanks.  Many kits of most genre make it very hard to paint if you follow the sequences in the instructions.  I have come to the belief that most kit mfgs figure very few modelers paint their models.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 8:40 AM

HI:

       Listen to this .You all have made a point about the strange building sequence they come up with .I don't know how many of you have tried either a DRAGON or TRUMPETER ship kit ,in either 1/700 or 1/350 scale .

       They have you build ALL the upper works ,THEN put the lower end (screws,rudders etc. ) on last .What's with that .On ships , because of the actual sequence that's the first thing you MUST do !(ie. the screws , rudder , bow bulb etc .)

       I got an ARMOR KIT (yes the DICKER MAX kit ) with a set of FRUILMODEL tracks with it .I wondered about that road wheels and stuff BEFORE painting too . As has been said they are a good to fair guide , but , common sense MUST prevail , especially with the price they go for today .Who wants a $70.00 or $129.00 disaster ?

       I will review them and sometimes double check for locating something , but , sometimes ,even here they flub it . If I had followed the sheet on the U.S.S. NEW YORK (1/700 ) I would've had a double stern !

 I do believe as has been said , I don't believe they assemble test or display models with their own instructions ,or they would see the horrors they are creating . Well that's that , now where did I put that 1/700 - 40 mm. gun ?       Tanker-builder

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