Do you plan your builds in advance?

I typically spend some time...sometimes even years...conceptualizing a project, gathering info and decals, etc....but when it comes to actual builds at any given time, it's pure whim.

Or whatever I can get at in the pile....

Well, Hutch6390:

    This is what I do, and most of the Lads think I have a couple lorries full of pebbles missing from the old head ya, know! I am at present working on over twelve models. Five in Card! Now when I feel the urge waning, I just move that one to the yard and pick up where I left off on the one I have chosen.

    No, There actually no confusion as to where I stopped. I mark the model in a spot that won't be seen, to indicate what step I was at and the instructions as well. Then I just pick up there.

     This isn't that hard, because I may get a stray thought or ping an Idea from an ad or another modeler and try it on the model that I set back cause maybe it got Boooooring! Yes, Modeling can get you to a stage that the steps seem so rote it gets Boring-Time to change.

     This is why I have so much going on at one time. About the only variance from that is when I am scratchbuilding a ship from plastic. Then I plan the Ship, It's Layout, Deck Hardware and Scale and ERA. Then I gather the material together I know I will need.

 Then I transfer the drawings to the plastic and start the ship. 

I'm the same way, Hutch.  I really enjoy the envisioning and planning part, its sticking with the execution of the plan that eludes me.  I'm getting better at sticking with one thing and finishing it, but its a constant struggle to keep myself from saying, "Oh look...a butterfly".  I have at least 20 kits in my stash that are at various stages of construction.  Just finally finished an F-16CJ that I had started over 2 years ago.  For that, I have to say that the thing that re-lit the fire was to do a quick (couple of days) test build of the F-16 using Scotch tape.  It really restored my motivation to get a basic look at exactly what the prize at the end would look like.  This time I started my Frogfoot project by doing that, and I'm still managing to keep interest even though progress is extremely slow at this point.  Finally buckled down and got the leg restraints on the seat done yesterday, and managed to make a really convincing seat cover with lead sheet today that I already have primed, painted, weathered, and clear-coated.  I'll be epoxying that in later today.  Both things on the seat were really daunting challenges, but once I dove in it went better than I thought it would.  Not sure how it is for you, but I started to realize that I let the little man in my head talk me out of things really easily.  Learning to block out that voice in my head more and more.  

I have a good idea of what i will be buidling at least a year in advance. I organise into batches that will last about 6 months. When i finish one batch, the next batch gets starteon and i decide what i will do in the batch after that. But plans do change if a GB comes up i want to be in or if a build takes longer than planned.

This year i have not done my batches, i have a list i would like to build this year but everything depends on my U-Boat. But i know what i plan on building for the next 3 years.

I have long term projects, such as building aircraft from all the military airfields in Norfolk, but i don't try and do it all at once. And i arrange my builds so that they vary.

    You're not alone, I build each kit in my stash in my head 3 or 4 times before I actually glue one single part together. Sometimes this helps because I have a clear vision of what I want my finished product to look like. Unfortunately I do get overwhelmed with some of the processes and loose motivation, almost every kit I have started usually gets finished but honestly it is more to make room for something else thst trots into my melon. Hang in there, someday time, money, and enthusiasm will connect and it will be AMAZING.

Hutch, I've been building models of all types and sizes since 1946 (6 years old). In the beginning, I would just build whatever model my uncles brought for me and then eagerly waited for what was next. When I got old enough to buy the kits myself, I bought 1 or 2 and picked one to start with. When older, I started building my stash. I guess that was in about the mid 70's. My method was to just look at the stash, open a few,study the sprues and pick one, whatever it was. That has basicly been my method all these years as I only buy kits I'd want to have for my shelves.

I have planned a few builds. I have built several models for friends and friends of friends that were in WWII. Those were planned very carefully, researched and personal sit downs for details. I also clean and repair models for the local WWII museum. Those I do as a side project when waiting for glue or paint to dry on my current build. Those have to be done slowly and with just a little more care than my own builds. Lots of research there. I have the last 3 they gave me to do. They are finished and in the box to be delivered when they can open again. I'm glad that there is no time limit placed on completing the job as I find them to be slightly uh------------------ can't find a good word so I'll just say "tension causing". If they gave me a time limit, I think I would pass on the job even though it is a great honor to be selected to do the work. I'm sure there are lots of guys out there that build much better than me including the members of this forum. They've been very helpful over the years and helped me out of a tight spot or two with their expert help.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

I usually just  dig through the pile until something "calls" to me.

Then I build it to a point where I need to let glue/paint  dry, and grab something else.

I can easily have 5 or 10 projects going at the same time. (Right now, I have 8 wood ore cars, and 4 boxcars on the bench.... and a ship sitting in the paint booth.... but it's been there for 6 months!)

And,  I occasionally lose track of what each build needs next. ( at least 2 of those boxcars may,  .. or may not need the decals sealed.... I ain't sure ...)

Hi Jim;

       Your mentions of the Museum, makes me think back to the ones I did work for. I would get a call. Go pick up the model and she'd be in the shop, Some plates awaiting re-soldering and such. The Museum is getting bugged by visitors" Where's the Lightship?" So they would call wondering when she'd be finished. But as you said, they did help me over a large Emotional Hump. That was right when the first Missus got her Wings!

My current project, convertingb a battleship into a battlecruiser space craft took about 15 minutes before I started it.  The delay was caused as i decided to give it two engines, one on top of the other, like the British electric  fighter.  

I find participating in group builds makes me plan a bit.  I have 6 or 7 going on now - it's fun.  I tend to dig through a kit 6 or 7 times before building it.  I find it a great part of the hobby and I like to review the instructions/decals/parts etc.  Cat loves it too.  But I don't really plan builds other than the group builds.

For my part I don't know if I get bored or lazy. I seem to go in bursts and at times have to push myself. I enjoy building, but I'm terrified of painting, (other than figures which I do by hand). If I'm building a subject that really interests me, I will do a great deal of research and plan the stages, often marking the kit plans as a guide. Trouble is I also have various other interests and enjoy my pub time, none of which helps. I am trying to be more disciplined now and to some extent the group builds have helped, but I am going to have learn to do one GB at a time.

I do not plan at all.  I just pick up whatever catches my fancy.

I plan, not that it does me any good, And I build, not that it is anything like the plan .  .  . So, never mind, I'm going to go plan something I can't build.

Actually, In my mind I can do some amazing things. But, the hands do not play well with others; apparently.

No I don't plan the builds in advance.  Or at least I don't plan them very far in advance.  I've been pretty good at staying motivated during a build.  When I get 2 or 3 weeks to finishing a project I'll walk into the stash closet and start thinking about what's next.  Usually the kit I select is from something insirational I saw here.  Several months ago someone posted pictures of a brilliant f16 and I was nearing the end of a build so that triggered me to build mine.  One time the inspiration came from the book The Battle Of Midway.  That led to a Wildcat and a zero build.  So I guess for me it's about timing and what looks cool/fun at the moment.

Yes, I often plan my builds in advance, but I am also prone to selecting a model on a whim and building right away, straight out of the box.

Sometimes, the inspiration will hit me and it may take years of collecting bits and pieces to bring the project to fruition. For instance, there used to be an MBT70 of some vintage at the entrance to Disney Barracks at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

It used the running gear of an M60A1 tank and looked interesting to me. So when Dragon released a German version of the MBT70, the hull was not correct for the US version. But what if the turret was used on an M60 series tank?

So my project, the MBT60 was born. The counter rotating driver's compartment in the turret did not work properly, so the driver's compartment would remain in the hull. The commander would get a standard cupola with a .50 cal and the 20mm cannon might be eliminated (not sure on this).

But sometimes a kit is on clearance, catches my eye and gets built in a jiffy.

Bish

I have a good idea of what i will be buidling at least a year in advance. I organise into batches that will last about 6 months. When i finish one batch, the next batch gets starteon and i decide what i will do in the batch after that. But plans do change if a GB comes up i want to be in or if a build takes longer than planned.

When I was younger and did 'spot modeling", I'd just buy a kit and build it.

Approaching 70, time means more to me. I'll pick a subject , but then plan from there.

i usually don't have a deadline, and I am resistant to buy much AM stuff.

But I'll buy a couple of books to really understand the subject. Then I decide what I need to do to satisfy my vision.

Kind of simple, but to know your subject is to get the model right.

Bill

I come up with a plan for builds for the year, but sometimes that plan changes with a project that I "need" to get done.  Since I have been retired, I have almost 100 kits in my stash that I want to build...some sooner than others.  Hence, the plan.  But, like most plans we make, God laughs and we make changes to suit the situation that faces us and we go from there.  

Some of my builds are planned, or rather I have plans for them.  But no set time frame.  If it's going to be something that is rather involved, and I know is going to take a lot of time I'll plan to do it in the winter months.  But most of my stash is just grab whatever sparks my interest and work on that.  I only work on one model at a time.  I have on rare occasion tossed something back in the box when I lost the desire to work on it, and pulled out something else. 

No, not anymore.  I used to really study a project, after years of that, I've gone to just modeling for fun.  I've built so many tanks and A/C and ships, that I like, the shelves are full.  I just now build OTB.  I never build for contests or GB.  I stil like putting kits together and it's fun looking at all the books I have sitting around.  With the quarantine going on, I'm glad I have this hobby.  I have been in this hobby seriously for 50 + years.  I'm now just decaling a Tamiya 1/48 FW 190 F8 that I'd a done 4 or 6 times before, I'd sold 2 or so I, lost count.  I do like usisg all the after market decals and PE I bought.  It's a gteat time for modelers.

Some builds I plan, others I don't. Some I plan to the nth degree. I will have other projects going at the same time to keep my interest up, but I never have more that 5 at one time, I prefer 3.

Almost everything I build I build for GB's. They keep me focused and motivated although sometimes, since I join so many of them, I can't get to them all. Some kits I just do because I feel like it at the time but those usually fall into the shelf of doom pile because something else comes along, like a GB.

Around Christmas, I'll set out all the kits I plan to build for the year but like a New Year's resolution....that plan quickly changes. I do have some kits that I plan for a future date and buy AM and PE for it.

I never plan to build several subjects as a theme, like the Battle of Britain. I am unable to keep my focus for that long 

If I were to build just for myself without the help of GB's, I seriously doubt I would get much done.

Do I plan in advance?  Yes, I've got some themes or collections, such as to build one each of all US aircraft used in the Battle of Midway, a "Doomed at the Start" theme of US aircraft in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded, a Yellow Wings USN collection, and so on.

And that's how I ended up with a stash! 

Wow, that's a great response - thanks, everybody!  There seems to be quite a spread of approaches to building, and some good ideas I can try.  Some of you (RealG, Tankboy51) don't actually plan, and build what takes your fancy at the time, but stick more or less with it until it's done. This is a more disciplined approach than mine, up to now. 

Others (e.g.TB) have a number of builds on the go, so when your enthusiasm for the one you're doing at the time dries up, you have a range of others to choose from and can find one of them that which is different enough to re-ignite interest.  This is a ggod idea, and something I try to do, but on a small scale (pun absolutely intended) - 2 or 3 kits on the go at one time, but some still get put aside & left untouched for ages.  I don't think having a lot of alternatives would work for me, I'm afraid.

One or two (Bish, MrMike) plan well in advance and more or less stick to the plan, but I don't have that degree of self-discipline.  Tojo72, you plan ahead, but not as far, which is what I have also tried, with limited success e.g. the BoB build.

Some of you (Keavdog, Modelcrazy, Dodgy) have hit on the fact that GBs provide an added incentive to manage builds, which I think is very significant.  I have taken part in only two GBs so far, but both got finished - although one did sit in the Doldrums for a while, I got it done when the deadline loomed.

So, from your kind responses, I have decided to try to - 

1) Plan, but keep it realistic i.e. limited to my own attention span, and try to tune out the voice in my head saying "this is boring now, just leave it" (thanks, Eaglecash!)

2) Keep a (small) number of interesting alternatives going, as back-ups in case the voice gets too loud!

3) Participate in more GBs

I've also hit on a way to limit the impulse builds (and the impulse buying that goes with them).  I intend to start making a list of the kits that I suddenly absolutely, definitely must buy, instead of just reaching for the credit card.  I'll look at the list in, say, 6 or 12 months' time and see if the enthusiasm for them is still there.

I feel a lot more positive now I've got this sorted out in my head, now I just have to make it work.  I'm really grateful for all of your input, thank you all very much!

Tanker-Builder

 This is why I have so much going on at one time. About the only variance from that is when I am scratchbuilding a ship from plastic. Then I plan the Ship, It's Layout, Deck Hardware and Scale and ERA. Then I gather the material together I know I will need.  Then I transfer the drawings to the plastic and start the ship. 

TB, you are a remarkable man!

Eaglecash867

I started to realize that I let the little man in my head talk me out of things really easily.  Learning to block out that voice in my head more and more.  

I didn't even realise he was there - thanks for pointing him out!  I hope we get to see the Frogfoot, when it's done.

fox

I have planned a few builds. I have built several models for friends and friends of friends that were in WWII. Those were planned very carefully, researched and personal sit downs for details. I also clean and repair models for the local WWII museum.

Thank you, Jim, I value your experience.  I also admire the special builds for veterans and the museum repairs - those are fine things to do.

GMorrison

When I was younger and did 'spot modeling", I'd just buy a kit and build it.

Bill, maybe that's what I should aim at getting back to! 

    Cheers,

              Hutch.

HooYah Deep Sea

I plan, not that it does me any good, And I build, not that it is anything like the plan .  .  . So, never mind, I'm going to go plan something I can't build.

You have no idea how wide my smile is, reading that - how well I know the feeling!

armornut

Unfortunately I do get overwhelmed with some of the processes and loose motivation, almost every kit I have started usually gets finished but honestly it is more to make room for something else thst trots into my melon.

Yep, that's exactly it - you and me both, mate!