How has FSM affected you?

Hasn't affected me at all. I always spend more than I should on the hobby . But the Forum has been a lot of fun & a learning experience. Does broaden the enjoyment of the hobby by being able to interact with so many modelers of like interests. Time on the Forum does take time away from the bench, but I think it's time well spent.

Regards, Rick

FSM has completely taken me away from building!
Now all I do is TALK about modelling!

Seriously though, I have learned a tremendous amount about both modelling and modellers from FSM. The high level of craftsmanship and enthusiasm here has encouraged me to strive to do the best I can and have the most fun I can with this hobby.

Thanks, FSM, and most of all, thanks FSM members!

Now if I could just sit down and BUILD something...

The Forum has opened a whole new world to me, too. Not only a place full of great people, but great advice also. I have made many new friends here, from all over the world.

I was thinking the other day about how we all try to moderate ourselves here and of how very similar it is to the "Forums" of Roman times (duhh? ). I know, every now and then an Administrator has to step in, but we all try to avoid that.

Once again, I want to thank all of you who have been good friends and have helped me along in my modeling pursuits.


stinger

I enjoy seeing all the builds, the only negative thing is it that it keeps me from doing my job at work.
See ya in the unemployment line!

Thad

I think this forum has been a driving force to keep me going in this hobby.
I tend to change hobbies too often and without being able to discuss it and see pictures of builds on this forum, I would probably lose interest pretty quickly.

Mike

FSM Definetly helped me A LOT!!! The Mag and the Forum. For example, without the 2 I wouldn't have a clue to what A: a wash was B: Drybrushing to show raised detail.
I would Probably even be building aircraft!
And the knowlege I have learned from here about the vehicles. WOW!!!!! I acually know the Difference between an Sdkfz 251/1 and a sdkfz 251/21! Might not e much for some of you, but its alot coming from a guy who knew coming i nto modeling that there were panzers and Tiger tanks and Shermans, thats it.

SO yes, it had deeply affected me.

It has inspired me to stop doing things strictly by the book and out of the box. I realized that I don't just have to paint that JDAM od and be done with it, detailing it a little is okay, even if the instructions don't tell you to.

Definitely inspires me to build more with the GB projects. I learn a lot too.

FSM... first the magazine ... and then the online community ... both have affected me and my hobby.

They have both made me a much better builder. They have both allowed me to enjoy myself and my hobby more. I have learned more about history. I feel I have collected more kits for those "future project" then I think I would have without being exposed to all of the new stuff ... and the old stuff (ebay has entered into this probably more than it should have ... )

I enjoy the fellowship here in the online community ... I really didn't know there were so many "scale model nuts" around the world as there seems to be ...

Like some others have mentioned ... the online community does take away from "workbench" time ... but, I think all in all it makes the "workbench" time better.

I like them both a bunch ... and I can't imagine enjoying my hobby as much without either one of them.

I really learned everything I know about serious modeling from reading FSM, I had built models before discovering the magazine but from what I can remember they were truly "straight out of the box", not even a paint job, and I remember using that stringy tube glue that gets all over everything including your fingers which would result in smudgy-glue-fingerprints on canopies and such, decals would fold over onto themselves a little bit but that was cool, and never mind the seam down the top of that fuselage that I tried to disguise by spreading a layer of glue down it like caulk.

I did start to improve on my own after a while, paint was a big improvement on most projects, as was sanding the sprue attachment points, ( never occured to me before).
I started being more careful how I handled parts, and a little less glue was used, ( I think I was under the impression that 1 tube of glue = 1 model ), but I still knew nothing of weathering or washes or all the wonderful paints and chemicals available to make this hobby so much more enjoyable, but on I persisted.

I can't say exactly when I came across my first issue of FSM, but the information within had me amazed, I couldn't believe the quality of work that people put into their kits, I never knew there were people out there that took this hobby so seriously, and all the techniques and tricks on those pages just made me want to try harder to improve my skills.

Yes, I have come a very long way since those early years thanks to FSM magazine, the website and forum just make it even better, even though I am kind of new to the forums, I am no stranger to the hobby and I can't wait to share my experiences and show off my finished projects to everyone here who I know understands all the time and work that goes into building one of these little buggers and making it look just the way we want it to. The fact is, I will probably try even harder now that I know it will be seen by someone who is also involved in the hobby and will be more critical of my work.

Thanks FSM and everyone here.

1.) FSM helped me confirm that I am crazy.
2.) FSM made me realize that I am not the only one.

Thank you FSM.

The magazine isn't familiar to me but this BB is!
i've spent the last few months hours and hours just reading and watching all kinds of terrific pieces done.
1000's of ideas flooded my brain.
what started as a shy attempt turned out in a way of life.
Scale modelling/scratchbuilding as i do it isn't that popular in Holland,
i have to buy all my stuff in the USA B/C the scale( 1/64) i work in is totally unknown here in the old world.
all knowledge by all you guys and gals on this forum is just incredible
so does it affected me mmmmmmmm a full YES

It has raised the bar for me.

well i believe that dwight has said it best.




joe

The forum particularly, has shown me what is possible in modeling, and given me tools to try to achieve it. I've also met a ton of great people who have never been too busy to answer questions, and comment on my work. It's made me a better modeler. And I spend too much money.

I can honestly say it's changed my life! Now I can talk to other model builders, learn new tricks , ask questions and share my models with people who are interested in what I've done.

I tend to spend more time at the bench than I do here, but I've always been given a warm welcome when I "drop in" and for that I am very greateful.

Darren.

FSM really hasn't impacted my model building that much, but it is great to pass the quiet times at home and at the office.

One of the reasons why it hasn't impacted me that much as many of the subjects, tools and materials I build are not covered here and on the more common subjects like Bikes, Robots, etc I tend to do my own thing and usually differs a lot from the supplied paint schemes.

Did I already mention that I like to vary from the norm and ususally avoid popular subjects like common planes, gundam, etc.

I am wearing out my computer, getting less model building done and HAVING A BLAST.
I have learned a lot just reading the topics. I think I have learned more from the members than they have from me. It has helped me in my building. I also feel I have made many friends. I have also discovered this hobby stretches all over the world and speaks many languages.

The magazine renewed my interest in my "forgotten hobby " and the forum has taken the interest to another level. The interaction with other modelers has filled in for an old friend whom I shared this addictive passion in my younger years and is now gone from view. The helpful assistance as well as the making of friends has made the hobby better than ever in my old bloodshot eyes.

Well in short FSM has turned me from being an occasional modeler and into a completely obsessedmodeler
Cheers Jules.......

The mag has always been a great source of ideas, tips, experience that have helped me building better models, for sure. It also keeps me open to building other things than just aircraft (my 'main' interest, so to speak) and I've found myself building AFVs, ships, cars, SF/F stuff, paint figures and sculpt dinosaurs in response to what I read/saw in the magazine.

The forum has become my model club so to speak. Seeing so much enthusiasm, variety and experience shared here has changed the way I model in the sense that I still build for my own pleasure, but I share my work and ideas with a lot more people, a lot more people that are not 'competitive' as the people you'd meet at the local show/competition. Above all, 'meeting' people here and seeing their work has allowed me to enjoy again the hobby after having 'lost touch' during 4-5 years building models for customers, with deadlines and money at the key. Money is useful, having your creations produced and sold all over the world and reviewed in mags is quite a feeling too, but it quickly becomes impossible to enjoy it as a hobby.

And like many here, I've been spending more money on kits (and ref material) than before...

100% positive for me. Thanks!

I know that FSM when it first came out many moons ago was a Godsend to me.There where not many mags out there that were any good.A lot of techinics that was in the oler mags I had used and was being rehashed over and over again.Like beating a dead horse,very stale and out of date.Since they came out (FSM)there have been a lot of different ways of doing things,this open a whole new world to me and my buddys who build models.The mag has helped me to shrapen my techinics ways that I could not imagined.An now since they are on line and I joined the forum,more ideals that has made modeling enjoible again.Not to mention that it drive my wife up the wall when I am on here for hours,....ha,ha ,ha.Digger

It's affected the quality of my kits on an exponential level. I was just winging it before, but after reading everyone's advice, the columns and reviews in the magazine, etc., I've added quite a few techniques to my repetoire. I'm not that good yet (how many of us have said that, though) but I'm getting better. Thanks to everyone here on the forums and the editors of FSM.

Dwight summed it up nicely but I can't leave it at that!

It is always wonderful to find like minded individuals to share your passion with. I built models from the time I was a wee lad up until I was about 25 or 26 and I loved every minute of it even if I didn't know what I was doing. Towards the end of that stretch (late 80's) I discovered FSM, tried PE for the first time, and even convinced my new wife to buy me an airbrush for Christmas. I completed only one model with the airbrush before university, marriage, kids all that responsibilty stuff landed on my lap.

Now, 15 years later I decided to return to the hobby and there on the shelf at the local grocery store was a copy of FSM, and wait, what's this, a draw you can enter on line for free models, ooooo!!! they have a forum. AAAAAAAUUUGGGHHHHHH!!!! in hooked!!!

Seriously, with three kids and a wife that works a lot of evenings I don't get the opportunity to hang out at model shops or club meetings so I doubt the return to the hobby would have been anywhere near as enjoyable as it has been without the online support here on the forum and the opportunity to share tips, research and of course, the finished products. Thank you FSM for a great rag, an even better forum and for all the inspiration that both provide. Thanks also to all the guys and gals on the forum.

And yes... I SPEND WAY TOO MUCH MONEY!!!! But I used to spend $30-$40 on one round of golf that would provide 4 1/2 hrs of entertainment. That same $30-$40 spent on one model and paint now stretches out over several weeks if not months (this how I explain it to my wife anyway) and I can do it while my kids are asleep and my wife is at work and save my Saturdays for the "honey do" list.

FSM has affected me profoundly:

I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE!!!!!

Well, maybe not THAT propfoundly

Seriously, the best part about FSM and particularly the forums is that it shows me that this hobby is not the solitary pursuit I always thought it was.

I used to sit hunched over my workbench in the basement, like some old monk doing an illuminated manuscript in the middle ages. Hours of work and at the end most folks I knew would say "Oh, nice" or "nifty" but never really appreciate the work that the finished model represented.

With the forum, I can post pics of my builds for folks who know whats involved and know that whatever models are, they most assuredly are NOT just advanced versions of toys, but a whole other animal all together and must be appreciated as such.

The magazine and forum are a great place for idea sharing and commraderie and as long as they exist, I don't consider myself to be solitary in pursuit of the hobby.

I probably won't complete any builds in the next year or two, but I'm stocking up. This forum is just the thing to keep me with one foot in the hobby.

FSM has definitely made me more aware of others out there, and through that, has made me a better modeler. I've become interested in more topics for modeling, learned new techniques, and yes, spent a lot more money than before.
So, here's to FSM. It's thanks to you that I'm financially unstable now