What to build next?

I usually look at the materials (paints, etc.) I readily have available. Thus why I've been building nothing but Navy US planes lately. They're all painted Sea Blue or Intermediate Blue. Saves on paint, that's for sure.

Seems like every time I decide on whats next, a new release comes out that I just Have To Have, and some of my other Have To Haves get pushed back even further. Last several months Iv'e been concentrating on building my older Have To Haves. I decide what to build next by the amount of dust on the lid. If it's over a 1/4" thick, it qualifies.

I don't buy excess kits, I just buy and build. When I'm done, buy another. Saves money I think.

Sometimes it's difficult to choose. I like to place my chair in front of the stash closet and just sit back and study the whole pile. Sometimes certain kits will call to me, sometimes more than one. Right now I'm trying to decide between a Bandai M-13 half track and an Arii Ki-44 Tojo. The Stang is nearly complete and that leaves just the Little Katie on the bench and that's just not right. These are hard decisions to make but when we accepted the modeling calling we also accepted this responsibility.

I get my next calling by reading FSM or listening to you guys on the forum. When I get interested by one or the other I build it if I have it or I buy it and build it.

Actually, I'm trying not to start any new kits from my stash right now - don't need any new starts - too many kits at various stages of construction line my desk - just need to work on getting some of them finished - probably ought to stay away from the computer for a while - would that work???

Yes, it would. Swanny, If I were you, and had a pile of models, i would close my eyes, and touch one, anywhere....And, build the one you are touching.

I draw my inspiration from real life. It's sort of a kharma thing - if something has struck me recently, I go with it. War starts - build an M1A1. Fly on a business trip, build an airliner. An F-16 screams out of the AFB, build that. Go to a NASCAR race, voila, a race car is next.

When I get no kharma, I scan my pile of Detail and Scales, or like Swanny, I go in my model closet and see what strikes my fancy.

But first I have to finish what I have going now - Benetton F-1, Zero , and a Dodge Viper. Maybe a Continental 777, a TBM, or that McLaren M8 will be next.

I like to skip to a new genre each time I start a new project. Is there anyone else out there who is an indiscriminate builder? (Indiscriminate except for sci-fi, that is. It has to be something real to interest me.)

I have several projects going. i have about six that I am really focused on because of the Group Builds I am in. I like to do things in baby steps. I like to work on several models that have exactly the same paint scheme as each other so I can work on more than one when I paint. Efficanciancy that is what I preach. I know I did not spell that right but I tried.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Swanny Sometimes it's difficult to choose. I like to place my chair in front of the stash closet and just sit back and study the whole pile. Sometimes certain kits will call to me, sometimes more than one.

Swanny,

Since I always build one kit at a time, start to finish, this is exactly what I usually do. Open up the closet door, sit back in my desk chair, and see which model or models "calls to me". Sometimes it will take a while to narrow down the contenders and other times just one kit screams to be built.

My current build is an armor build-along that I'm involved with and to be honest, I'm having a few stretches of short-term modeler's block. I think the reason is that this kit really wasn't ready to be built yet.

See the model...be the model.

Robert Foster

I draw from my modeling theme (Modern Military Aircraft) and think about what aircraft I need for my collection in 1/72nd scale. I also concider historical aircraft, recent events, famous pilots and their aircraft. For instance; I'm currently working on "the worlds first supersonic trainer"- none other than the USAF's T-38A Talon. And in-keeping to my "modern" theme, I will convert it to the current T-38C wearing the two-tone "Orca" paint scheme. This will look great displayed next to my other US jets and I've preserved an often over-looked piece of history in 1/72nd scale. Hope this inspires ya!

When I have to go on business trips I take my next model with me.
Sitting alone in the hoel room with my tools I will strip all plastic pieces
and clean them up.Then they go into a plastic bag that came with the kit.

This saves plenty of time and when I get home they are ready to be assembled
and painted.
Then I can select a model from my striped down pile.

Also I work on one model at a time ,when I am not working on it ,
it sits on my workbench in a plastic box.This way I never lose intrest in it.

I use Swanny's method. It has worked well for me also.

Well Mike, I've thought of this long and hard the past couple of months. I thought that by starting more kits, I wouldn't get much done, but I found that I was waiting around for paint to dry too much. So I decided that 5 kits in progress would be a nice number. What kit I start next is one that for some reason or another is screaming at me, and I just have to scratch that itch!!! I start trying to figure out what I would like to start a couple of weeks before I finish, so that I can smoothly transition into a new kit without blinking!!!

for me when the idea becomes an obsession it is time to buy and build the kit. example the willy's jeep i just started, the vmf 211 f4f (i blundered on), the b-17 for my friend at work, and "pappy"'s corsair. the last two i have yet to send for but have the orders ready to go. i am trying not to start too many at a time but counting the jeep i do have four going. three in the final stages, two needing to be fixed and one to be weathered. anyway that is how i choose what to build.

getting back to the original post, build the p-61. love that bird, almost as much as the p-40.

joe

Joe, sent ya an invitation to check out the B-17 photos I took this week of the B-17 9-0-9 that dropped by this week. Maybe it will urge ya to grab that B-17 first.....

now youve done it.

joe