How you decide which kit to build next

My decision is easy.

I have a build list of what is needed for my collection. I have all the decals that can be bought for it. And I have all the kits that are needed for it.  The only supply I don't have all that I need of right now is the supply of weapons. It is possible to have to skip to another aircraft because I ran out of Sparrows or 500 pounders or something,,,because I didn't buy all of each type of weapons sets that I will need in the long run. (I only have 36 sets)

If there is any hesitation in choosing a kit (very unlikely, I like all the aircraft), I just reach for another Skyhawk. Sometime while working on that, another markings scheme will come to mind, maybe based on a trim color on the kit I am doing.  Then I pull that other kit down. I stop starting kits when I have 4 or 5 going, I don't like to do more than that at one time.

The list lets me just go in order if I might ever get stuck on what to start.  But, that didn't happen to me before I made the list up, so I don't see it happening today. Another thing that might happen is that I might notice that I have VF-11, VA-12, VF-14, VA-15 done, so I would just start on VF-13's and VA-16's models, just to get a sub-set finished.

Rex

Usually it's a Group Build or Campaign I signed up for,or a kit that I just have a desire to do at that time.

Sometimes, I know exactly which kit I want to build next. Sometimes, I ask my wife to pick for me (that happens more often than you might think). Other times, it's for a group build or a club project. If none of the above happen, then I just peruse the Internet, or these forums, to see what strikes my fancy next.

I used to be very organized, and had a list.  But I found that actually distracted with too much anticipation, and not enough focus on what I was doing!  So now I mostly just grab a box and dig in.

I do have a list of kits in the order I plan on building them. But as I am always in GB's, the top of that list is determined by which GB ends next. Its just a case of deciding which kit to build for each one.

Usually, it's determined by a GB, or whatever mood I'm in. I tend to go through a lot of phases. One day modern military jet aircraft, the next WWII German armor.

I used to just randomly pick kits from my stash.  I might be in a real space mood, or a jet mood, or a WWII fighter mood.  But lately it has been GB's that have headed my list of kits to build.  In a way it is fun because I don't have to think much about what genre to choose.  What ever the GB dictates is what I pick for....of course I still have to decide for the GB theme!  And if I have multiple kits to choose from...well, I guess we are back at square one!    Just have fun picking them out!

  Eagle90

My knee jerks and makes my foot point to the next one :-)

This is a way to say there seems to be no rhyme or reason. I wish there was.  The decision can be due to a challenge, or theme of a contest coming up.  Or, I can be reading a book, or watching a movie, and the subject reminds me of a kit in my stash. Or, I can see a neat new kit at hobby shop, and buy it, and instead of going into the stash I just suddenly feel that has to go on bench next.  Sometimes I have paint already mixed for airbrushing, do not finish the bottle, and notice a kit in the stash has same or very similar paint scheme. I think the number of reasons a kit makes it to the bench next is exceeded only by  the number of kits in the stash!

More often than not, it's a GB, not only in which one to build next, but sometimes in what to BUY next.

More often than not, it's for a GB, either here or on another site, or an IPMS or AMPS upcoming meeting theme. Occasionally it's a sidelined build that I decided to move to the head of the line for whatever reason. Sometimes I will read a book or see a movie that will inspire me to pull something out the stash (or off the sideline shelf) that is related to that source. And occasionally I will just pull somehting out of the stash on a whim, or most rarely buy something on a whim and commence to building as soon as I can.

GB's are a great source of inspiration as are upcoming model show themes.

Let me answer my own question now !

For me it's a combination of many things :

Like I already said, I try to alternate between a land vehicle and a flying one. Also, I choose about 3 to 4 kits and let my girlfriend choose one out of them. Or I just saw a great documentary about Cold War Soviet AFV, and goodie! I have a T-62 in my stash. Talking about stash, I try to take something out of it before buying something new.

And I may have some odd "choosing" habits : for example I have one last 1/72 aircraft in my stash, so might as well build it. Or I have only one AFV Club kit, or my first Dragon kit, so that can be my next kit to build. Or I still have some Navy Blue color, I'll start an F6F Hellcat.

Well;

   For me it works like this .Right now I am not building ANY of my stash .I still have a very intense two ship build for a client and friend . So I check out my Evergreen,pull out a paper ship model and copy it in .010 and .020 plastic .

     When I raid my stash I usually grab the first one to fall off the shelf. So it may be a plane ,ship , car or Armor . Sometimes it's been H.O . Scale houses and buildings !

For me it's group build, with a few caveats.  I'm in the '44 group build, and I'm hoping that there is a '45 group build.  I always build WWII planes.  When I'm in between GBs, I tend to build where my historical passion takes me.