Building for Oneself

I don't really do comissions, but from time to time I build a model to give away as a special gift. When I build for myself, there are no deadlines and sometimes I can really go to town with details, scratchbuilding and so on. The "gift" models usually have a deadline, I have to dial it back a little then. But it's good for widening my horizons.

Model On

Paweł

hi TB

I too model for myself, I always have. So much so that at one time after a divorce, I had a separate room for the building and the display, and mostly kept that door closed when I wasn't actually in there building or moving the planes around.

Because I model for myself, and know the difference between 595A and 595B/C,,,,I use that in my model building, and post the differences when they apply to answering a question.  So, I don't just use "Red" for all the places that "Red" goes,,,,,,,,I use the different Reds in each place that the color Red was different in real life.

Same with weapons, I use each weapon for each mission it was used for, only infrequently loading an aircraft up "by spec" instead of my usual method of matching a pictured load out of the real thing.

I do the same with aircraft variants, to the point where I will have the different F-4B noses and tails that match the actual deployment photos that decal sheets match up to.  At the same time that I care about getting the three different Phantom main wheels correct for each model (those show sitting on the shelf), I don't care about modeling inside the cockpit at all,,,,,,something like the Zoom sets or even Monogram's cockpits are enough for me, with the canopy closed whenever possible. (my cockpits Don't show when sitting on the shelf)

It is the way I choose to "Build it my way" (by the way, Al's quote wasn't just "Build what You want, the way You want to", they always went on to say "Build what You want, the way You want to,,,,,,,and the ______________" with the blank filled in with some "saying of the month" when he signed off his column, such as "and the purists will hate you every time" or "and the rivet counters will scream at you when they see it" (examples, not actual quotes).

I think the well meaning posts that say "It is your model" are a bit overused,,,,,of course it is your model,,,,,,,but, if a guy is asking about colors, weapons, tail codes, wheels, engines, etc, etc,,,,,doesn't he deserve a factual answer? (I think the guy already knows the model belongs to him)

Rex

(no matter who posts otherwise,,,,,full Green bombloads at Glenview wouldn't be very realistic,,,,,,and Marines risking their lives at Chu Lai to sling an empty Marine Phantom at the Vietnamese with the SATS catapult wouldn't be realistic)

You Know :

   I kinda like the way you said that . There is this . I have pictures of California ANG F-100s ( love ALL the century Series Birds ) and believe me , they are colorful and they all have something here or there that's different .You know , wheels , Pitot tubes , refueling booms etc .For those which are my faves I'Il pour the building skills on . No aftermarket but ALL bare metal foil .Won a NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS CONTEST with one of those birds .It is permantly fixed in a display cube at the location I once volunteered at .

   I do ships for instance various ways based on my experiences with Clean Seas /Clean Bay Incorporated of Califiornia And my time on the bridge with BP/Shell . . Everything  they had was different in many ways even if they were sisters from the same yard .

    I will admit to stupidity on a lot of bird and armor detail so I get lots of books before I build , BUT , Not building for outsiders , Except in maritime subjects I do build for ME .I have three F-104s that only match the box art because they look so neat chasing each other around my shop ceiling in bare metal . Each one better that the last ! Plus like you , on most the " Office " is closed so I don't really worry about it .

i build stuff that interests me and, if it is an obscure catagory for a contest, so much the better. right now that would be 1/24 emergancy equipmant ( a quite recent interest), modern warwheels, especially trucks and PLA and JGSDF stuff., towed guns becuase sometimes i need a quicker build. i don;t do AM except for ship railings and maybe specific decals. i would rather do and pay for 2 OOB good builds with detail washes, weathering and a base than 1 build with 3x the cost in PE.

i will deviate in color schemes within reason and don't get hung up on the exact color. for examople just finished a UN UNIMOG but painted the xcargo canvas brown instead of white to add color.

Way to Go!