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What's your favorite part of the build?

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  • Member since
    January 2007
What's your favorite part of the build?
Posted by Gigatron on Monday, May 7, 2007 12:55 PM

Hey gang,

As I've been working on my latest kit, I've discovered that there are some aspects I really love and some that I really hate.

For instance, I love doing detail work, no matter how tiny, minute or mundane it may appear.  I just like seeing all the details coming together to make something more realistic.  Whether it's OOB, AM resin, PE sets or scratchbuilding, it's just something that I could spend days doing.

On the other hand, I hate painting and weathering.  Mostly, because it's my weakest skill and it usually ends up detracting from all the work that I've put into it prior to that.

So how about the rest of you?  What part of the build do you really look forward to or dread coming to?

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Medina, Ohio
Posted by wayne baker on Monday, May 7, 2007 1:42 PM
Glueing, painting and decaling.  I hate filling and sanding.  Most of my projects come to a screaming halt at that point.  I don't weather a lot.  Most of my aircraft are just off the wash rack.  And like the Amazing Race on Guam, it doesn't come off the wash rack until it has been spit shined.

 I may get so drunk, I have to crawl home. But dammit, I'll crawl like a Marine.

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by mitsdude on Monday, May 7, 2007 1:51 PM

Favorite-glueing.

Least favorite by far-putty/filing/sanding. All of my current projects are stuck in this stage. I've been so impressed by pics showing great putty/sanding work that I've put all on hold until I can improve this technique.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Monday, May 7, 2007 2:35 PM

I have to agree with the filling and sanding - to a point.  I too hated filling, sanding and filling, sanding ad nauseum - until I read a great tip on here that really changed my outlook.

Using squadron white, take some putty and smoosh it into the gaps.  Clean off the excess with a putty scraper.  Let it sit about 2 minutes, then, using a q-tip dabbed in acetone nail polish remover, just go over the seams a few times.  The actetone liquifies the putty and it just fills the gap itself.  Then wait for it to dry and just do a quick, light sanding and you're done.

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Nashotah, WI
Posted by Glamdring on Monday, May 7, 2007 4:58 PM

Does shopping count? Big Smile [:D]

As far as the actual construction, I enjoy the research of the subject and the gluing of the parts together.  I used to like painting and weathering, but now I'm more apathetic.  I loathe sanding and seam filling, but it's gotta be done so I generally grin and bear it.  Though, since I bought a Dremel, it's alot more fun.

Robert 

"I can't get ahead no matter how hard I try, I'm gettin' really good at barely gettin' by"

jwb
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Parkton, NC
Posted by jwb on Monday, May 7, 2007 5:41 PM

I think I like research, detailing the cockpit, painting the exterior, and weathering.

I really don't like applying decals, masking and painting canopies and gap filling/sanding. I think I dislike them simply because those are the parts that have the most problems with. I suppose once I get better at it with experience that will change. (That's the theory....)

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

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Oromocto, Canada
Posted by Gun Tech on Monday, May 7, 2007 7:05 PM
I love everything until the painting stage and after it.

Jean-Michel    "Arte et Marte"

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, May 7, 2007 7:18 PM

In order of like:

  • Research
  • Construction
  • Painting
  • Completing

Dislikes:

  • Cleaning
  • filling
  • sanding
  • camouflage
  • weathering
  • completing

Yes, I listed completing twice, because I love to finish, but am saddened at the same time if I really enjoyed the build.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Monday, May 7, 2007 7:35 PM

Right now, I'd just like to get a model finished - had modelers block for several months - piddle with em, but just don't seem to make any real progress.

And I must be weird or something, but I often find applying putty and sanding it or sanding off the rivets from amodel to be a relaxing way to spend an evening.  Especially if I've had a bad day or week at work.  Stock my hobby room fridge with Coke, fan on, Vivaldi, Bach & Rachmaninof (sp) in the cd player and just relax and sand.

Quincy
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 7, 2007 11:13 PM
Like pretty much all of the building, even though the filler can get frustrating its often a time I find new ways to do old tricks. But the absolute fav is painting. If I could paint all the base colors and have somebody who has a clue do the decals and weathering, I'd be happy. My decals usually end up looking like I put them on with elmers glue and weathered the thing by spilling some coffee on it.
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Tucson, AZ
Posted by Archangel Shooter on Monday, May 7, 2007 11:34 PM

For me...opening the kit box for the first time is the best part of a build. Besides that thrill, trying to detail the cockpit as much as possible particularly the ejection seats. Trying to remove seams is still a headache for me.

Scott

 Your image is loading...

 On the bench: So many hanger queens.

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
Posted by Yann Solo on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 12:01 PM

Unless most of you guys, I really like painting and weathering.  That's what brings the model to life.  I really enjoy the building process also, GLueing, detailing. 

But I HATE puttying and sanding.  I'm gonna have to try the White Squadron putty and acetone nail polish remover method one day.  Thanks for sharing.

No matter where you go ....... there you are.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Humble
Posted by rrmmodeler on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 1:54 PM

My favorite parts are:

1.) Decaling. The subject really comes to live at this stage for me.

2) The Building.

3.) Painting the details

My least favorite parts are:

1.) Filling and sanding

2.) Painting and weathering

3.) Painting Canoplies. I really don't like this part and get burned out very quickly when doing this.

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Smithers, BC, Canada
Posted by ruddratt on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 3:26 PM
For me the most tedious part of any model is removing the mold lines from and filling the sink holes on individual parts, although wingnut's suggestion of using scotchbrite pads has helped with the former immensely. Those pads, along with 2400-grit sanding pads, make short work of most lines. I do this to every part that needs it, and it really slows down my progress, but it makes a huge difference. Most everything else is really a piece of cake. Applying masks is also tedious for me, but removing them after painting is quite a rush.

Mike

 "We have our own ammunition. It's filled with paint. When we fire it, it makes pretty pictures....scares the hell outta people."

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Indiana
Posted by overkillphil on Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:01 PM

Painting the tires on A/C.   Don't know why but I always like painting tires.  I like most of the rest of the painting too, except painting anything white.  Hate that.  I don't mind seam filling much either.  My main trouble with that is getting an appropriate amount of putty into the crack before it gets too inflexible.  Sanding can be kinda relaxing as long as you don't get carried away and annihilate abunch of detail that you then have to fix.

Unfavorites.  Anything having to do with canopies.  Filling sink marks and cleaning up ejection points.

my favorite headache/current project: 1/48 Panda F-35 "I love the fact that dumb people don't know who they are. I hope I'm not one of them" -Scott Adams
  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by Gigatron on Friday, May 11, 2007 8:30 AM

I just found something I  hate more than painting - making masks for canopies.  For some reason, there are no canopy masks for the 1/32 Hasegawa a6m5c zero.  They make 'em for the tamiya, but they don't fit.  You'd think all 1/32 a6m5c's would be the same size - nope, tamiya is slightly larger than hasegawa.  The worst part is that hasegawa refuses to use raised frames on their canopies, so you have to put the tape down and then hold it up to the light to see whare to cut - it takes forever.

I'm surprised at the number of people that like gluing so much.  Is it the fumes or something Laugh [(-D]?  I've never really considered it a step to be liked or disliked, but to each their own, I guess.

-Fred

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posted by m1garand on Friday, May 11, 2007 6:05 PM

My favorite part of the build is actaully what happens prior to building.

Purchasing, opening it up, reading the instruction manual (with little history lessons) and hiding it from my wife.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:54 AM
i just hate filing and sanding
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: The flat lands of the Southeast
Posted by styrene on Monday, May 14, 2007 9:19 PM

My favorite part is the build part: actually getting to the point where I can glue stuff together.

My "mostest totalliest favoritest" part is finishing a kit: finally putting it on a shelf where it can be enjoyed.

Gip

1882: "God is dead"--F. Nietzsche

1900: "Nietzsche is dead"--God

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by SteveM on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 6:35 AM

I do mainly figures, scenery and getting into armor. I love assembling / modifying figs to pose just the way I want them. 

I hate roadwheels. GOD, I hate roadwheels. Sanding, painting, attaching, weathering... necessary evil.

Steve 

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Houston, TX
Posted by MattSix on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 3:25 PM
My Favorite parts of the build has to be assembly and painting. The kit finally start to look like something, and a littel color really dresses up that boring plastic. Having said that, my least favorite part (s) happens next: the weathering, shading, and decaling. It seems like too many steps are required, to complete those tasks, for my liking.  
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