OK, now how long does it take?

Well, I personally have only 3 complete WWII builds with 2 others in progress. I too have seen the 20-40 hours to build statements. I can say its not just you. My last one, a P-47 Revell 1/48, took me about 60 hours in all. Now I made some changes and mistakes. But, I just don't ever see myself building many, if any, in 20 hours. I'm not that good yet and I am pretty picky as well, and that slows me down.

Remember, reviewers work on deadlines, and they don't/ can't weather their models or add aftermarket stuff, usually.

Speed does not equal quality either.

Yearly, we have the "Weekend Madness" Group Builds on here where the challenge is to complete a kit, from start to finish within a 48 hour time span. Usually that ends up being about 20-30 hours of work time on those builds. With minimal "advanced" techniques- washes, drybrushing, weathering, etc. And using every speed up trick in the book. They turn out ok, but stand out compared to my "slow and steady" tortoise paced every day builds.

Once upon a time I used to regularly build 35th scale armor kits over a weekend from start to finish. But that was with no stowage, weathering, etc. Yes, if that was my full time job, getting paid for it, no interruptions from the task, I can see building  some kits in the 20-40 hour range. But again, that would be with minimal finishing efforts, and maximizing speed tricks. Many of the things that I do now:super glue fillers, airbrushing, sanding, gloss coats, flat coats, weathering, rescribing lost detail, mold seam removal, masking, add many many hours to builds that I did of the same kits as a younger modeler in a fraction of the time.

Right now I am waiting on something to dry on my current project so that I can proceed to the next step and passing that time on here.

I don't know and don't want too know. For me 2 main considerations 1) Did I enjoy the build (usually yes) 2) Am I satisfied with the results (yes if I don;t look too closely, but I am usually dissatisfied on some points)

Don't feel bad.  I probably get up to the 50-75 hr range.  This P-40B Flying Tiger I'm doing is taking forever since I decided to add the the engine.  =P  I should probably keep time on this next build I do.  I've always estimated my times but I know good and well I'm way off.  In defense of taking longer than what would be average, I can say that I normally try to master a new trick I've learned or something I think will work better from my last build.  That seems to sometimes take a little longer depending on how complicated/detailed I make it.

But I likely border on 100 hours for my last three builds.  

Hi, Shipwreck - I take longer than some, a good bit of my time is spent on making corrections, mostly dealing with ill fitting parts in the case of some models. My career was spent in commercial aviation, our aircraft were kept in the best appearance possible, so weathering and "muddying up" is not something I do, unrealistic I know, but I build as if it just left the factory.

As far as I go is to simulate engine exhaust and gun smoke streaks on military models, like P-51's, etc. So, I'd estimate a 1:48th WWll model would take me 30-40 hrs for a kit with good fit, a few more if it's stubborn, maybe one hour if it's a dog, then I just toss it and cuss. (Had a few of them.)

The only time I'll spend any significant attention on the cockpit is if it's to be left open, otherwise it's just a fair representation of modest detail. I doubt I've ever put 50 hrs in a model, I get bored and discouraged easily when it doesn't go my way.

Patrick

I think one consideration is how they record their time too.  I look at it from the perspective that, you only record time actually working on the kit. I don't think the reviewers record time taken for paint to dry, for researching the subject matter etc.

Further, as a kit review, i do wonder if correcting fit/seam/alignment/rescribing issues are undertaken as thoroughly as when doing a kit for themselves - when you consider what it is - a kit review - it should appear as it is out of the box, including all fit and alignment issues.

Having said that, i suspect for an average 1/72 scale WWII fighter, i suspect adding up every second actually spent building the kit (that is, not time sitting at the bench thinking of what to do next on it) I only spend 20-30 hours however, i don't add anything extra and, to be honest, none of mine will win any contests. Also, i'm still in the learning process of weathering, so i don't spend much time doing that.

Thank you for all of your replies. Your various approaches were interesting. I never meant this post to be as much a personal question, but to generate some discussion on the topic.

Today I finished my 1:48 Accurate Miniatures P-51B as Lt. Henry Brown's Hun Hunter ~ Texas. I estimated that it would take me 40 hours to build this kit. It took me 40 hours to guid the cockpit! Total time was 159.5 hours. So what did I do for 159.5 hours? Lots of re-doing, scratch building, and figuring out how to do my first gear-down kit. When I looked over the log, besides the cockpit, there is little I would want to do different. I actually enjoyed the build (except when Lt. Brown kept jumping out of his seat after i completed the cockpit).

I've spent 80-100 hours on the last three kits. At least half on the cockpit. Right now, I am making a 1/32 F-86 and will spend only about one hour on the cockpit. The rest is focused on NMF and some really cool decals I was lucky enough to find. I estimate no more than 40 hours on this kit. No AM other than the cockpit. I think it will turn out great.

I plan on mixing it up a bit like that. My next kit will be a Stuka that I have bought substantial AM for and will take 80-100 hours.

It's just a matter of personal style and taste.

I'm curious....If someone says (for example) that it takes them 40 hours, how much time does it actually encompass?  I could say it takes me 40 hours to build a kit but it takes me about three months to do it.  With all of my work and familial obligations, the true length of time for me has to be measured in months, not hours.

Eric

I don't know how many hours it takes me but I usually spend 2-4 months working on a model.  Sometimes I put in several hours a day and sometimes it sits there for a few days.  There really isn't alot of consistency with me.

That is an interesting perspective Eric. The reason that I am concerned about how long it takes is that I am 65 and have a small stash of around 60 kits plus a couple more that I want to buy and build. At my current pace, I will run out of ability to build them before I deplete the stash. I am a retired accountant so I can be very detail oriented in the time keeping, but I probably need to back off and just tract technics such as filling seams, scratch building, paint, etc.. That means enjoy the build, not how much I can get done!

to be honest time spent on a model is dependant on so many things there is no way to give an accurate answer.  myself for example.  i recently completed a car kit.  from start to finish was a week and a half, time wise we are talking hours in the teens.  but my last aircraft build i went all out and it was seven months start to finish and if i had to guess, several hundred hours.  

it is one of those things that time spent on a build depends on so many factors, and quite honestly, on the builder.  as has been stated already, what will satisfy you.  

joe

I don't punch a time clock, so I have no idea of the number of hours.  But in terms of calender time it can range from about two weeks to several years.  The latter time is for planes I have a problem with, and put up on my shelf of doom until I get reinspired or figure out a way to overcome a nasty problem.  

Ships are something else. I don't think I ever turn out ships in less than six weeks, and most take more like six months, some I have been working on literally for years. If the ship has a lot of rigging I can only do that for limited periods of time each modeling session- maybe twenty minutes or so.

WW1 planes (and the recent Stearman) take more time than almost any other airplane, again because of the rigging.

The FSM review staff are certainly working with deadlines. Having managed the staff for close to 30 years, I can tell you that the important criteria include getting the model done by deadline, having it look good, and being able to report the build in readable English. Usually, the reviewer has the model in hand about a month before the deadline. (I had to build Trumpeter's 1/32 scale A-10 in a week!) They are instructed to build the model out of the box and not to add detail or aftermarket goodies (with the exception of decals when the kit examples are defective), and to go to reasonable degree of filling and sanding ill-fitting joints. We want to show to the reader what the model will look like when finished in the time it would take an "average" builder. Now, this can be complicated by overly complex paint scheme options; the reviewer can choose, but if it takes 20 hours to mask and paint a Star Trek mosaic scheme, he needs to mention that in the review. And he still has to get it done for the deadline.

Let me give you an example: I'm currently working up the new Airfix C-47 (great kit, BTW, but you'll have to wait for the review). It took me exactly one hour to build the entire interior, and another two hours to paint it, install it, close the fuselage, and add the assembled wings. So that's three hours in. I didn't go to extremes detailing the cockpit; I didn't add seat belts, I didn't dark-wash deep detail nor dry-brush highlights in there, because I know that little of the cockpit can be seen through the tiny windows. I don't expect there to be much time needed in filling and sanding before I start painting. I have yet to build the landing gear and engine/cowl/prop assemblies. Even with the upcoming complex paint scheme (I'm doing the post-war Skytrain in natural metal and Arctic red), I don't see the project taking much more than 20-25 hours.

Some kits take a lot longer just because there are more parts (read Dragon armor kits), more complicated (read Zoukei Mura kits), or just plain badly produced (read Mach 2). But the deadline stands and the reviewer can't take the time and effort to go to contest-level detailing, correcting, substituting, scratchbuilding that some readers would choose to do. And another thing: the review staffers are building constantly, so they tend to work more efficiently because they know how to dry-fit and correct as they go and are not usually flummoxed by fit problems or errors in the instructions (yes, they happen quite often!). And they can see problems coming up and can swerve to avoid them. You'll find the more you model, the faster you'll be able to achieve great results. Like a musician who has their "chops" -- practice is key.

There's very few build that I keep track of time on....because time spent on a model is time that does NOT count against you (unless you keep track of your time!) It is a huge variable, depending on how much you want to put into it. I've knocked out a Tamiya P-51 in as little as 15-20 hours...that said, I've also put in 50-60 hours on another example of the same kit....adding all sorts of good stuff.

Last year, after the work season started up, I hadn't built anything in over a month...we got a rain day, so I parked myself at my bench and hammered out this F-18D from start to finish, in a one day "power build"! Actual time spent building...12 hrs or so.

In contrast, I spent close to 200 hours on this 1/48 Barracuda. Scratched(mostly) interior, landing gears, wing fold...rescribed and riveted(one by one w/ a needle)

I myself don't keep track of the time I spend modeling. I have started models at 6 pm on a Friday night and put the finished model on the shelf on the following Sunday at 2 pm. I have also spent up to 4 months building and finishing a model (not many mind you) and I've spent times in between those two extremes.  I never really notice how much time I spend on any given model.  I just go by how much fun and enjoyment I get out of modeling - it's just a hobby and when it stops being fun, I'll quit.

qmiester

I myself don't keep track of the time I spend modeling. I have started models at 6 pm on a Friday night and put the finished model on the shelf on the following Sunday at 2 pm. I have also spent up to 4 months building and finishing a model (not many mind you) and I've spent times in between those two extremes.  I never really notice how much time I spend on any given model.  I just go by how much fun and enjoyment I get out of modeling - it's just a hobby and when it stops being fun, I'll quit.

BOOM!!!

That's it right there brother!!!

Modeling time is time that does not count against you! The way I see it, the longer it takes, the better the entertainment value for your buck. You can go to a movie for about $15 each (once you get your popcorn and a pop) and be entertained for an hour and a half...or spend $20-30 on a kit and be entertained for about as long as you want. Everybody complains about the cost of kits today, but when you really think about it, and compare it to other forms of entertainment, models are pretty cheap!

Everyone builds at their own pace. Some people can do fantastic work in a short amount of time, others take longer to achieve what they`re looking for. Remember why you started building models in the 1st place...it was fun. Imposing deadlines on yourself because you think you`re taking too long compared to other people may just take the fun out of modelling for you, and that my friend would stink...lol.

fermis

There's very few build that I keep track of time on....because time spent on a model is time that does NOT count against you (unless you keep track of your time!) It is a huge variable, depending on how much you want to put into it. I've knocked out a Tamiya P-51 in as little as 15-20 hours...that said, I've also put in 50-60 hours on another example of the same kit....adding all sorts of good stuff.

Last year, after the work season started up, I hadn't built anything in over a month...we got a rain day, so I parked myself at my bench and hammered out this F-18D from start to finish, in a one day "power build"! Actual time spent building...12 hrs or so.

In contrast, I spent close to 200 hours on this 1/48 Barracuda. Scratched(mostly) interior, landing gears, wing fold...rescribed and riveted(one by one w/ a needle)

Yes and if memory serves me that Cuda collected some hardware to boot.

Shipwreck...seriously....take as MUCH time as you like....as long as you're enjoying yourself, who gives a tinker's cuss how long it takes?

Personally.....I tend to take WAAAY longer than I should on builds.....because I really enjoy the journey.....and I'm not that interested in the finished result.  After all....a finished model is DONE....and then becomes a fragile dust collector.  That's why I've almost exclusively built contract builds for the last 10 years.  It's no longer mine, and someone else gets to spend their life loving the model I've made for them.

In reality.....it takes as long as it takes.  I love messing about, improving, changing, scratchbuilding.....and wouldn't give up those hundreds of hours I spend on each model for anything.

Mate....just have fun and do what makes you feel good.