Ever get carried away when planning a build?

Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Ever get carried away when planning a build?

Posted by Lufbery on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 10:53 AM

Hi all,

This is a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately: why is it so easy to get carried away when planning a build?

Here's an example -- I've got a 1/72 scale Revel Yak-38 (the Soviet version of the Harrier). It's a great kit, but there's hardly any cockpit detail. So I figure that this is a great opportunity to scratch build an instrument panel and maybe some sidewall detail.

Then I start thinking that I should order some instrument decals from Mike Grant, because they look great. But he's got a minimum order of $12, so that means I'd need to get two decal sheets. I'd use them eventually, but still...

I figured I'd need a contour gauge to get the right shape for the instrument panel. My local hobby store doesn't have one, and the local woodworking store has one, but it's too big for 1/72 scale models (although I bought it for my wooden ship kit). Micromark has a good one in its catalog for less than $9, but the shipping is $8!

I went ahead and bought some sheet styrene at my local hobby shop because that stuff is always useful!

So at this point, I'm already planning on spending $29 (decal and contour gauge) for a freaking instrument panel!

That's when I decided that I don't need the decals, because the instrument panel will be difficult to see anyway, and I can trace the shape for it on an index card cut so that the fuselage fits into a couple of slots with part of the card sticking through the cockpit opening. That techinique worked just fine.

All I really need are a couple of bottles of paint, and I'm ready to go.

Does anyone else make grand plans like I do?

When do you make the decision to go ahead with them, and when do you aim a bit lower?

Don't get me wrong, I have great plans for this kit. I still plan on scratch building the instrument panel and maybe adding some sideway detail. I also plan on making the seat look a bit better. The kit has recessed panel lines, and I'm going to experiement with using Tempera paint to apply a subtle highlight to them.

But I don't need to lay out $30 bucks to do those things.

How do you decide what level of effort and expense to put into a build?

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

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MortarMagnet

Member since
May 2006

Posted by MortarMagnet on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 11:59 AM

I'll put it this way, when I consulted a physics II textbook, I walked away. Smile [:)]

Brian

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Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Posted by Lufbery on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 12:49 PM

MortarMagnet wrote:
I'll put it this way, when I consulted a physics II textbook, I walked away.

Okay, what's the story?

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

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MortarMagnet

Member since
May 2006

Posted by MortarMagnet on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 2:20 PM

I'll keep this really brief and cut to the chase. I was working on my massive Tunisian Village dio. In it was some close quarters tank fighting and bazooka rockets in flight. It was the most absurd thing I ever worked on. I had a Pz III that was being hit, so I made an explosion for it. Cotton, sprue, and paint made a decent looking burst, but it was missing "energy." I decided to put a light in it and I wanted it to look right, so I busted out the chapters on light. It started to look less like a wad of painted cotton with a christmas light in it. As I fiddled with it somemore, I realized how ridiculous it was...the whole project. I scrapped the whole thing. I kept the inprocess kits and figures. The base was stripped and used to start numerous other dios. Then I decided that I no longer had the space nor patience for dios. I wish I would have been on this forum back then so people could have talked some sense into me.

EDIT: It was 71"x41" That would be a scale 75yd x 40yd. Train layout size.

This is what I modeled the shell burst from. Mine wasn't as feathered.

Brian

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jwb

Member since
February 2006
From: Parkton, NC

Posted by jwb on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 3:39 PM

I did that on a 1/72 scale Academy TBF I bought.

I'd just gotten back into modeling, and had built a 1/72 P-40N. I went to the LHS, and boght a Hurricane IIc and a TBF. Both Academy, both 1/72. I dove into the Hurri, and was looking over the TBF.

Now, it's void of much detail. Not even an IP. So I started planning how to add an IP. Then sidewall detail. Then console detail. Then I needed to block in the wheel wells. Then I wanted the wings folded. The cowl had the cylinders molded in, so I wanted a resin engine for that. I was planning to buy tools and resin and styrene and had to figure out how to do it all....

About that time I discovered my eyes simply couldn't handle 1/72 scale.

So I finished the Hurricane, and the TBF still sits in the box.

Jon Bius

AgapeModels.com- Modeling with a Higher purpose

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

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Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Posted by Lufbery on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 9:19 AM

Jon and Brian,

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I see a lot of builds on the Web, and people often say that they built a model "straight out of the box" as though that's something odd. Maybe it is.

"Straight out of the box, with kit decals" is even more rare.

I wonder why we have this culture that every build needs to be a once-in-a-lifetime, superdetailed, partially scratchbuilt masterpiece requiring $100 of aftermarket parts.

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

Reply

jwb

Member since
February 2006
From: Parkton, NC

Posted by jwb on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 10:29 AM

Lufbery wrote:

I wonder why we have this culture that every build needs to be a once-in-a-lifetime, superdetailed, partially scratchbuilt masterpiece requiring $100 of aftermarket parts.

I guess for me it's the challenge of "Can I do that?" I tend to scratchbuild vs. buying aftermarket parts. I did by a whole sheet of P/E belts, because they look good. But I like scratchbuilding sometimes just for the diversion of it. It's more of a challenge, than an obsession, I guess, though the line between the two is often blurred.

I have seen that sometimes it's just fun to do a kit as is. Not that I have many under my belt since getting back into this, but I'd very quickly gone to obsessing about detail, then I just sorta backed down and realized, for me, it was "Do what is fun".

So on my P-40, I scratchbuilt parts to correct the IP, added stuff to the floor, modified the seat- just 'cause it seemed cool. With my Me262- it's OOB. Only added some P/E belts.

Now- if my budget and time allowed, I'd probably go hog wild..... Wink [;)]

Also- since this hobby is mostly guys, and guys tend to be competitive- whether they admit it or not- I'm sure that creeps in. I try not to let it happen to me in an unhealthy way, though I think it is fun to strive for improving. And yes, sometimes I get petty and just try to make a better build than the previous guy. Then I realize that my talent ends long before my ambition does.... and I suddenly post "I really liked this as an OOB build..."

Big Smile [:D]

Jon Bius

AgapeModels.com- Modeling with a Higher purpose

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

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mfsob

Member since
March 2005
From: West Virginia, USA

Posted by mfsob on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 10:36 AM

Oh yeah do I know about going overboard without even pausing to think about it! That happened when I was building a 1/700 Victory cargo ship for my Dad.

Had to get an additional PE fret from Tom's Model Works for some little goodies the kit fret didn't have ... then deck cargo, including tanks, that was one Skywave kit ... another PE fret for fire hoses and life rings from Gold Medal Models, realized there weren't enough so ordered a second one ... decided the Skywave tanks didn't look good, got some White Ensign Models tanks and halftracks and jeeps ... back to WEM again for oars and tillers for the non-motorized lifeboats ... another Skywave kit to get better scale boats and a 3-inch gun ... you get the idea.

After that, I vowed to keep a tighter rein on my spending, but the internet and one-click ordering and credit cards make everything so darn easy! Pirate [oX)]

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MortarMagnet

Member since
May 2006

Posted by MortarMagnet on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 11:11 AM

It may the challenge. We'd get bored building kits that are simple and lifeless now that we have some developed skills. Remember being eight and trying to build a model the way the instructions told you to. It was challenging then, you got a sense of accomplishment from that. Like all addicts, we need a greater dose to get our fix now.

Brian

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Dave23

Member since
May 2006
From: Oklahoma

Posted by Dave23 on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 11:36 AM

Now that I'm to the point in life where I'm "simple and lifeless" I tend to look for things that present some degree of challenge to either get my brain and/or my butt in gear. That's why I got back into this hobby, that's why I'm seriously thinking about getting into RC flying. Now if only I could become obsessive with diet and exercise Wink [;)]

-dave

-d

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Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Posted by Lufbery on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 1:56 PM

Hi all!

It's been good to read the responses so far. I feel as though I've just backed away from the brink of making a big mistake with this hobby. As one of the other posters said, I think my ambition was running away from my skills (and my wallet).

One key for me, that keeps me from going too overboard, is that good assembly and a good finish are worthy goals in and of themselves.

My last two builds have turned out well, but they took forever to do. The first because I was trying a learning a whole host of basic techniques (filling seams, painting with an airbrush, applying good quality aftermarket decals, etc.). The second build was complicated because it was an old kit that required a ton of TLC to make it look good.

For my next model, the Yak-38 I mentioned in my first post, I started out planning another complicated build. As I stated in that post, I pulled back when I realized how much my plans would cost. My wife helped there a bit. Smile [:)]

So now, I've refocused my efforts on some minor scratch building and producing a nice finish. I think that will be enough for now, and I may finish the kit in less than a month.

And anyway, I've still got two 1/72 WWI biplanes with full PE sets to complete sometime...

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

Reply

rudy_102

Member since
December 2005
From: Ontario, Canada

Posted by rudy_102 on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 2:04 PM

I've never gone AM except for the Eduard 1/72 scale Bf-109G-6 PE set I got for my Mastercraft Hobby Kits (Polish company) one, was missing an I/P and I didn't feel like scratching it. My favourite scale is getting to be 1/72, cause of the inexpesiveness of them and the fun of playing with them....... the most resin and PE I'll be working with is my Warsaw Model Center/ Mirage Hobby PZL P.23B Karas reconaissance bomber. It's loaded with superdetail sets in the box. TTFN.

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Agamemnon

Member since
January 2006

Posted by Agamemnon on Thursday, August 3, 2006 1:03 AM

Lufbery wrote:

I see a lot of builds on the Web, and people often say that they built a model "straight out of the box" as though that's something odd. Maybe it is.

I've noticed the same. My favorite description is "Built practically OOB, with brand X barrel, brand N roadwheels, Zmodel tracks, Q-duard photoetch engine grilles, crew models from Å..." and so on.

The phrase "Out of the box" has a very specific meaning. Once you stick metal tracks onto it, it loses that OOBness.

Look at these people, these human beings; consider their potential! From the day they arrive on the planet, blinking, step into the sun, there is more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than... no, hold on. Sorry, that's The Lion King. But, the point still stands... leave them alone! -- The Tenth Doctor

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J Pad

Member since
July 2003

Posted by J Pad on Saturday, August 5, 2006 12:47 AM

Picture time!

OK Drew, here's proof I tend to get carried away w/ finding reference and scratching details, giving strength to your point... Blush [:I]

Take my Hasegawa 1/72 MS 406 for example. What started as a simple "let's add some missing detail to a barren cockpit" plan quickly blossoms into a full-on internet treasure hunt for the 'correct' French interior color. Not to mention all those stringers, ribs, and other 'minor' details!

My Evergreen drawer always needs a restock after I start a new 1/72nd scale plane!

A couple shots of the highly embellished cockpit floor, with scratched radio deck:

And the sidewalls. Note that EVERYTHING was scratched (except the IP), cuz those bare Hasegawa cockpit walls looked too, well... bare. Smile [:)]

And finally a shot of the floor in place w/ the port wall. Many stabs into my fingers w/ a good old #11 blade were endured to make a 'decent' representation of a 'pit! Why can't the detail just be included in the first place?!

As far as over-preparing goes, I tend to be the 'over-researching' type. I build on-the-cheap, using as many scratched parts as I can, using good reference photos to guide me. I really never spend $100 just to finish a $15 model. But I do spend weeks, sometimes months restlessly searching out that reference material in the first place!

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Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Posted by Lufbery on Sunday, August 6, 2006 6:50 PM

J Pad,

That's some great work! I, too, like to work in 1/72 scale, and it's nice to see some very fine scratch building at that scale. Smile [:)]

I think getting carried away with research and scratch building is a better affliction than getting carried away with buying aftermarket parts. Wink [;)]

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

Reply

m1garand

Member since
November 2005
From: Somewhere over the rainbow

Posted by m1garand on Monday, August 7, 2006 8:03 AM

I am glad that I have not started building aircraft models yet. I have stash of WWII fighters and bombers, but I do not dare to start because I know I'll probably go crazy with cockpit details and aftermarket upgrade parts.

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berny13

Member since
February 2003
From: Panama City, Florida, Hurricane Alley

Posted by berny13 on Monday, August 7, 2006 8:26 AM

I started work on my Trump F-105G, by cutting out the lower fuselage engine bay doors, side panels and adding ribs and stringers to the aft section. I wanted to display it as an engine change in progress. Then I ran into problems, threw it all back in the box, and haven't touched it since Every time I think about it, I decide to work on it again, but somehow haven't. Then I saw the article in the last FSM with the F-86 and decided to start it again, maybe. The major problem is I need an engine dolly, like the Tamiya 1/32 scale F-16CJ has. I will have to scratch build one for the F-105G project.

Berny

Phormer Phantom Phixer

On the bench

TF-102A Delta Dagger, 32nd FIS, 54-1370, 1/48 scale. Monogram Pro Modeler with C&H conversion.

Revell F-4E Phantom II 33rd TFW, 58th TFS, 69-260, 1/32 scale.

Tamiya F-4D Phantom II, 13th TFS, 66-8711, 1/32 scale. F-4 Phantom Group Build.

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scottrc

Member since
December 2003
From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W

Posted by scottrc on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 7:05 AM

One simple word......

YUP!

Scott

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Jaypack55

Member since
October 2005
From: Tacoma, WA

Posted by Jaypack55 on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 11:33 PM

Lufbery wrote:
Jon and Brian,

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I see a lot of builds on the Web, and people often say that they built a model "straight out of the box" as though that's something odd. Maybe it is.

"Straight out of the box, with kit decals" is even more rare.

I wonder why we have this culture that every build needs to be a once-in-a-lifetime, superdetailed, partially scratchbuilt masterpiece requiring $100 of aftermarket parts.

Regards,

I like to scratchbuild at least a little detail on my kits, just so I can say "I did that", ad not have the same build assomeone else...

-Josh

Current Builds: If I were to list everything I have in progress, it'd take way too long! Some notable inclusions:

Hasegawa 1:48 KI-84

Tamiya 1:48 P-51D (in Iwo Jima long-range escort markings)

4 (yes, four) Tamiya 1:48 F4U-1s (1x -1D, 1x -1A, and 2x -1s)

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Jon_a_its

Member since
April 2004
From: UK

Posted by Jon_a_its on Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:09 AM

YUP!

Ever since I saw Accurate Armours' LCT IV, UKP @ £500

then i thought
4x Resicast Churchill AVRE Conversions @ UKP £120
4x Tamiya Churchills @ UKP £120
1x AVRE SBG bridge @ UKP £60
2x Tamiya Centours @ UKP £60
1x Italeri Crusader AA @ UKP £15

UKP £875..... I needed to sit down!

more than i 'could' bear to spend on a car.....
but far less than the D I V O R C E cost!

hmm
(g)
Jon UK

East Mids Model Club 32nd Annual Show 2nd April 2023

http://www.eastmidsmodelclub.co.uk/

Don't feed the CM!

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MortarMagnet

Member since
May 2006

Posted by MortarMagnet on Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:07 AM

I better get my Wall Street Journal out...let's see British Pounds to US Dollars...ok it's still a poop load. Laugh [(-D]

A bigger one at that. You should see what it costs to do a small train layout these days. Sometimes I have to wonder weather a product is really worth what they charge.

Brian

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Jon_a_its

Member since
April 2004
From: UK

Posted by Jon_a_its on Thursday, August 10, 2006 9:19 AM

hmm

according to XE.com:
875.00 GBP
United Kingdom Pounds = 1,661.53 USD
United States Dollars
1 GBP = 1.89889 USD 1 USD = 0.526624 GBP

sounds even more expensive!

East Mids Model Club 32nd Annual Show 2nd April 2023

http://www.eastmidsmodelclub.co.uk/

Don't feed the CM!

Reply

MortarMagnet

Member since
May 2006

Posted by MortarMagnet on Thursday, August 10, 2006 10:28 AM

1.90... What's that matter over there? It's usually over 2.

Brian

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ROGER RAMJET

Member since
December 2002
From: Bendigo , Australia

Posted by ROGER RAMJET on Thursday, August 10, 2006 8:56 PM

Dont worry about a contour device. Juse get some flexible thin solder and press it against the fuselage interior, remove and trace outline onto plastic card

Reply

jdun91764

Member since
August 2004

Posted by jdun91764 on Friday, August 11, 2006 7:34 AM

Me get carried away- nah!

I need to be carried away sometimes...

I am currenty completeing two dios- one with a Dragon Wagon with a Sherman ARV on the back- this is going through a section of the Sigfried line into Germany.

The second is a Famo running over a cobblestone street (Lentils- glued down and then modeling paste for grout) in a small bombed out village.

these are not the problem-

I am planning a dio of a railroad switchyard. I only buld 1/35th by the way- it will have a Leopold rail gun, the Karl Morser on the Train cars, and two of the Trumpeter locomotives. I have all the kits on the bulging shelves- along with a ton of incidentals (I have been planning this for many moons- back when it was all planned in resin as no plastic was available of these kits).

I have no idea of the size...yet- I do now it will be big! Somebody stop me...please!

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DrewH

Member since
May 2003
From: Abbotsford, B.C. Canada

Posted by DrewH on Friday, August 11, 2006 10:46 AM

How could one possibly get carried away? Dunce [D)]

Let's see, Hasagawa 1/48 F-4J kit I have had for five years waiting to be built. Added to the box is:

- Seamless sucker intakes, Aries exhausts, Black Box cockpit, Eduard Etch set, True details EJ seats (no idea why either) Yellow hammer decals, Eagle strike decals, True details wheels, canopy masks (agian, how'd they get there?)

Then if some one put the Aries wheel wells for it in front of me, I'd likely get them too. And I think I will use the kits markings anyway. But then again.......

And somewhere in this life time I need the motivation to build it.Hmmmm....................

Drew

Take this plastic and model it!

Reply

Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Posted by Lufbery on Friday, August 11, 2006 2:10 PM

DrewH wrote:
And somewhere in this life time I need the motivation to build it.Hmmmm....................

Hi Drew (great name!),

Getting the motivation is exactly what I was trying to get at with my first post! I started to feel that if I didn't have some good tools and/or aftermarket accessories, I couldn't build the model.

I wonder, too, if having the aftermarket parts puts a bit more pressure on us modelers to make the builds as close to perfect as possible.

Regards,

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

Reply

DrewH

Member since
May 2003
From: Abbotsford, B.C. Canada

Posted by DrewH on Friday, August 11, 2006 2:52 PM

I don't know about that one. I build the same quality(or try, at least I'd like to think so) weather it's a pile of aftermarket or OOB. I think I put more care into the aftermarket stuff, but I think it's really more time. Pressure, well I guess that's up to the individual. How do they want to build. I built Accurates Avenger OOB. Thought I put as much into it as the Starfighter I'm loading up. I may try a kit, easy one, and see what I end up with.

Yea, That's a great name you got too!

Drew

Take this plastic and model it!

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