Instructions , Not a bible .

I like parts maps too.

The worst situation I can remember.

It was a Zvezda kit I think, maybe the Borodino.

No numbers on the sprues, so the parts map was critical.

PE set maybe had diagrams for the major stuff and a general discussion of which of the rest of the parts replaced which in the kit. So from PE to plastic parts map to sprue to model.

Ah !

  Don , You are so correct on that . Plans I have all over the walls .Instructions in a file cabinet and drawings in two flat files .Whatta mess . But in summation you really have to know what your about to abandon instructions completely.

 Now the example with the Trumpy ship instructions was a really good example . Anyone who has been building at least past four ships knows the truth of that Mistake , right ?

    The one thing I do like in most , but , not all instructions is the parts map .My gosh, even " Metal Earth " gives you that for their product !       T.B.

I think we need to differentiate between plans, drawings and instructions.  I think modelers frequently tend to misuse these terms.

Yeah, well try to build a building from the architectural plans.

In full disclosure, I am one.

For a mass consumption item like a hobby kit, yes a little more guidance is warranted.

But geez, I have built many a kit that came with an exploded single view.

I frankly don't think reading the instructions front to back does much good unless you already know what you are doing.

Better to dry fit stuff, and lay out the parts and play with them, IMO.

I really think you should read the instructions front to back before beginning a  build, then just use common sense. Like tojo72 said, grain of salt

Well, there's instructions and there's instructions. And some, as Cap'n Jack might say, they're really more like guidelines...

Just about everyone realizes that Dragon instructions also need to be taken with a grain of salt also.

That's probably true.  Most of these instructions are probably created by graphic designers in an outside design firm with little to no interest in modeling.  They are most likely working from rough directions from the designers who created the kits.  As soon as they are done with that instruction manual they'll start on a cookbook cover.

I always build the thing in my head first, right down to paint and detailing, before I take the first piece off of the sprue.