Am I being too picky?

I stop when it's good enough. But then "Good Enough" to me is when there are no seams visible at all. There are several ways to avoid using putty though. Welding glues such as Tenax or Ambroid ProWeld melt the plastic and do a good job of leaving very little seam to fill. Gap-filling super glue such as Zap-A-Gap work very well also. Even thick paint or Future can be used on minor seams.

Don't settle for second best. Get it right .

I dont think that is being too picky Aviator.
You have to decide when you are happy with the current results.
Remember, a good model is the one that your happy with.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Aviator I have been working on the wings on my B-24. I'd apply the putty, wait for it to dry, and then go to work filing and sanding. I'd think I was done, and then notice that there was a little spot that could be filled. I have been doing this over and over for a few days now and have begun to wonder if i'm just being too picky. Do you usually stop when it is good enough or do you try to make it as perfect as possible? I guess I don't mind too much if it will make my model look alot better, but if I don't call it good sometime, I'll probably keep finding more things wrong that could be fixed. What do you think?

I also have had this problem, getting trapped into a cycle of sanding and puttying.
One thing that helps is using the right putty for the job.
I once tried to fill a huge gap with tippex (corectiom fluid), that was bound to fail! and it did!
I try to get a perfect finish, and I do have that......until I put the paint on, then all sorts of imperfections appear.

At a certain point enough is enough, but only you can decide when that is!

One way of testing this, is covering your model with a coat of contrast color paint.Be sure to use your airbrush, 'or suffer the consequences', at least if the eventual coat is done with an AB.
The contrast color often shows alle the imperfections that still have to be done. The bare plastic often doesn;t show it. This method might speed up things a little...

I usually stop when it's just good enough. I figure I'm going to end up weathering and paint chipping and adding pastel chalks to the panel lines, etc, that it doesn't need to be PERFECT! That's why I just work it until it's close enough for government work. LOL!

Eric

It's a hard call........being "picky" is really quite subjective - but in the end, you have to be able to understand that there's a point where YOU have to believe that enough is enough. Perfection is relative - what you may think is ordinary, others may think is simply fantastic.
You also have to determine just what it is you're trying to accomplish.......are you building for a contest, for a client, to try to make the best model you've ever made regardless of the effort required, or make a model as well as you can and still have fun?
For me, it's all very personal - and it also depends upon the subject matter - for some subjects I hold a particularly high degree of emotional attachment or passion - those models often get more attention (somewhat OCD type attention). Others tend to get a little less attention.
In the end, you just have to please yourself and have fun.

Hi Aviator, thx 4 the kind words on my first models. there is another reply to u from me somewhere around here,( I obviously don't know how to use forums yet but will get there)(it's under "perfectionist"). I say it's great to be picky as long as it does not take away the fun!

in that this is a personal expression, aviator........it's really up to you.........it's always gonna be your call.
.......that i'm obsessive/cumpulsive is a malady that's grown with each project and i've little will of my own in accepting substitutes.......it's just gotta be right but, that's my fun...............LOL

as usual, Lee and Music City, hit the nail in the head........most eloquently