One of the hardest things for all of us to remember, is that we do this stuff for fun. We build models to relax, to get away from reality for awhile. What you build doesn't matter, it could be armor, it could be dollhouses or model railroading. It also doesn't matter how well you build, as long as you have fun doing it. You can paint a T-34 purple if you want to, and no one has the right to say anything. It's your model, your paint, your time and effort. Bravo Zulu for doing it, you could be laying on the couch eating Bon-Bons and watching Oprah instead.
I don't feel that anyone has the right to bash someone else's models, here, or anywhere. It's just not conducive to the hobby, or the feelings of the person who built the model. I've experienced it at shows, where folks will make comments about a model, and the poor guy that built it is within earshot. I guess it makes some people feel superior by criticizing someone else's work, but the ones who generally do aren't that great at building themselves. It's a sad state of affairs when the only thing that matters to someone is criticizing someone else's models...pathetic really.
So don't let it get to you, and just remember, for every person who criticizes, there's dozens more, like the folks that posted above, who CARE, and who haven't lost sight of the fact that this is a hobby that we do for enjoyment.
As for me, I'm going home to paint a T-34 purple...because I can... :-)
Just remember... Illegitmus Non Carborundum
Jeff