Possible new column for FineScale Modeler - input please

Sounds interesting. You could show the goof, and then show how to do it the right way--sort of a "before and after" type thing. I'm assuming a text and image approach.

Gip Winecoff

Sounds like a great idea to me. People just getting into the hobby can benefit from the learning "experiences" that all of us have made (and sometimes repeated). If a novice modeler plunks down $30 - 40 on a new kit and makes a "faux pas," they probably would not want to hear, after the fact, someone saying, "Oh, I could have told you THAT !"

Its a good idea to help the newer modelers interested in the hobby. You have my vote.

sounds great to me also. wish i would have had something like that years ago. so many "oops" i stopped counting.

joe

Good idea.

Hi Lawrence,

Although the premise is good, aside from CA and paint compatability issues, where does it progress beyond the known quantity of problems we face? We have to agree that there's a finite number of problems, as we can tell by the posts in the forums. I agree that making it visible for the less experienced modelers is the way to go.

I'd lean more towards a knowledge base of problems and solutions, compartmentalizing the issues based the problems...almost a ' Golden Rules' of modeling if you will.

There's many issues that the less experienced modelers have yet to encounter, such as putting enamels over acrylics, or even breaking parts from sprues instead of cutting. Perhaps developing a modeling techniques FAQ would be the way to go. I've been modeling long enough to know most of the the tricks to the trade, and it's a very rare instance that a published trick will catch me thumping my head and muttering 'Doh!'.

That being said, the techniques I've used for years may be completely novel for the beginning modeler.

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com

Sounds like a great idea to me.I've been modeling for years but just started to get into all the neat new stuff in the past few years.As new things come out ,it would be a great help if someone finds and shares any little concerns before we all make the same mistake.
The new column could only add to an already great mag.
My thanks to all the staff on a great mag and website.I only wish I'd found the site sooner.

Sounds like a great idea Lawrence. Even though I had been building off and on for years, I have learned more than I ever imagined about models since being around here. Not only that but new modelers probally don't get helped much with the articles on conversions and stuff like that. Sometimes it's great to have the basics available.

Sounds like a good idea.

I too have been modeling long enough to know the ins and outs, but I learn something new, no matter how small a bit of info it is, almost every time I pick up a modeling rag, or talk to fellow modelers.

I can't tell you how many times I've picked up tips from car, armor or even ship builders in my club or at shows; stuff that I just don't think about because I don't have to deal with it in the course of building an aircraft model. I usually can find an instance where some of these techniques would be useful on an airplane. And I don't build just aircraft, I'm into military vehicles, figures and the odd ship.

Alotta folks out there don't have the luxury of a local club or an annual model show or shows. Something like these two ideas would be very useful to these folks as well as outright beginners, whether or not they have the benefit of local input in the form of a club.

I'd be glad to see these types of columns in FSM and would also be happy to contribute to them if I can.


Fade to Black...

Sounds like "War Stories" to me. And is this the right bunch for that. Pun intended. Lord knows I have my share. Upside-down decals, using dullcoat on a metallic finish, etc. Plenty of DOH!!!!!s to share.

One other thing. Polls always seem to be a popular topics in the forum. For example the post, "What would you like to see at 1/48?" was a good one. Polls are always fun to see the results of for readers. Manufacturers love them cause its a great way to gauge market demand. Manufacturers might even spring for sponsorship too.

Hmmm, what other things might make money for the magazine?

Personally I think the magazine and its online presence should complement eachother more often. Next to IPMS (which costs members $$$), FSM has a great channel with its readers. Plenty of synergies and opportunities to be realized here.

Sounds like a great idea.

It couldn't hurt to help all the newbies and just plain curious.

i am in agreeance with the new colums suggested. I love the mag and i love coming to this site. another idea might be to pull a thread from here or whatever topic you decide to use (armor, sci-fi, etc) It would depend on the topic being highlighted. have an article on sci-fi and pull a thread from the sci-fi, aircraft, armor, car forum that relates to the article that could be helpful to newbies reading the magazine. I know that could be a little expensive if you had to pay everyone on the thread, but i'm renewing my subscription.

Keep up the good work.

Sounds great. I know of at least two Do it yourself mags that do that. The lesson is valuable and the story is sometimes priceless.

I think such a column might be more benefitial than how to install the latest resin cockpit into a Plane Model. BTW, we need those too.

IME, most mags and tip/technique guides tell how to do them and what to expect when everything goes smooth, few show what can go wrong and what the result may look like and most importantly how to recover.

Sounds like a good idea.. Heck knows I could do with laughing and learning from other peoples accidents..

Need any humour and/or cartoons too, by the way?

I love it. Put it in there!! And lower the price (doesn't hurt to ask!!)............

I think it'll be a good column! Add some laughs to the magazine like we get here in the forums!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Michaelvk Need any humour and/or cartoons too, by the way?

Nah, Lawrence can use the photochopped pics from last year, courtesy of dwight and Pix, i think! Lawrence even had one of him!

QUOTE: Originally posted by garydmason I love it. Put it in there!! And lower the price (doesn't hurt to ask!!)............

On, that note, how about free subscriptions to all forum members!!

I think it belongs in the existing Readers Hints & Tips section, but keep the emphasis on the positives of how to do things right/better. One or two "I Iearned from this" items won't hurt, but a separate section will either get outrageous or boring or both.

Think it's a great idea. I've noticed over the years, that no matter how many times I've done something, whether modeling or at other endeavers, there is always someone out there that has discovered someway to do it cheaper, or faster, or better or all of the above. And I always end up saying, "Damn, why didn't I think of that.

Well, I may just have to add a chapter to my upcoming book on modeling...hmmm....I wonder if anyone would be interested in publishing it....

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com

LOL Sounds great to me...I'm always fascinated reading about other people's goof ups....and then I go and commit my own!!! That's Karma for ya!!

Sounds like a good idea, Lawrence.
Could it also extend to particular kits that have a curveball or two to throw to an unwary modeler?
For example, the drive sprockets on the Skif BMP-3 that I recently built were much too narrow for the tracks to even come close to fitting. Had I blindly glued them together per the instructions, I'd have been in a mighty tight spot. They needed to be shimmed.
That kind of thing.

Or would pointing out a specific manufacturer's kit's boo-boo be a bit too naughty?

EDIT: Re-reading the topic, I have realized that's not the point at all!
Sorry!
Completely different topic!

i think MadModelFactory raised an interesting point:
don't just tell people what not to do,
try to give them some 'outs' if they have already done it.

ed.

i think this is a good idea & another suggestion i have would be sort of a reference or general infomation thread (example; a scale conversion chart or drill size chart ect)
jamest

QUOTE: Originally posted by jratz I think it belongs in the existing Readers Hints & Tips section, but keep the emphasis on the positives of how to do things right/better. One or two "I learned from this" items won't hurt, but a separate section will either get outrageous or boring or both.

Agreed on all counts. Keep it in the reader's tips section and keep the focus positive.

As a newbie, it can be disheartening to hear horror stories that don't include either some context (just what are enamels and acrylics), or a positive end. So, "I screwed up and fixed it this way" would be okay, but not "I screwed up and ended up at the hospital." I don't want to laugh at others' misfortune; I just want to learn a better way to model.

Just some thoughts,

It sounds good to me. Will it bump another feature or shorten the usual content?

Alot of good points expressed on here....I agree them and adding positive end results by explaining/showing what to do for a fix. This would give us all tips on better modelling.

Regards, Dan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lawrence Hansen Hi folks~ Example: The time years ago when I sprayed Krylon on a model (hey, you got way more in the can for less than model paint ) with no primer coat....and watched the paint shrink and wrinkle up like crazy. DOH! Come to think of it, I also learned that super glue clouds clear plastic the hard way......

Actually, Krylon in certain circumstances will work wonders, like when you want to add an interesting texture to the armor of one of the Nitto figures - found that one out by accident.