how would you rate your models/modeling skills

I'd rate myself in the middle somewhere as well.  Not poor, not great.

Every once in a while, I'll surprise myself and think something came out great, usually by accident!!!! But hey, even a blind squirrel can find a nut now and then!!!

SuppressionFire

My modeling Kung Fu?

I cannot judge my own work, only rate mine in this format:

The Good,

Scratch building becomes faster with practice & learned techniques.

The Bad,

Time it takes to finish projects as said scratch building slows down the process.

& the Ugly,

The kitchen table right now, actually this is tidied up! Far as skills the fact I still rely on spray cans, NO airbrush yet...

Well, you seem to have a good set-up right now. The funny thing about spray-cans and an airbrush is, you'll more than likely use spray-cans for almost everything, even though you have an airbrush.

To me, it's cheeper to get 44 oz. of compressed air and paint for $5.00, ready to go with a few shakes than to go and buy a $15.00 airbrush (on sale), a $60.00 air-compressor, $20.00 worth of parts for the gague (which won't tell you what you needed to know), $5.00 for 1.5-4.5 oz of paint, and $1.25 for about 5 oz of thinner.

[ If added up, that's about $5.00(more or less) for an easier-to-use product V.S. $101.25 worth of who knows how many bits and pieces needed just to blow air (before paint even flies)]

I will give the airbrush credit, it's not as bad with spewing out paint and loosing detail, and it saves on masking tape, since you have more control.

With all honesty, Yes, I don't like using an airbrush (I probably use mine 12 times / year in a good year)

Better than I was yesterday worse than I will be tomorrow. Seriously one thing I did do after i built up a stash of abt 40 kits, was take kit purchasing out of the equation. I'm down to 25 and I can really see a difference.

I'll go with your 4.5 for me too.

I am better than I was... and intend to get better as I go. I think my biggest indicator is the feedback I get from fellow local modelers who see my work in person is generally very positive. I dont think I will ever get anywhere near Mr Paine's level though.

My modeling Kung Fu?

I cannot judge my own work, only rate mine in this format:

The Good,

Scratch building becomes faster with practice & learned techniques.

The Bad,

Time it takes to finish projects as said scratch building slows down the process.

& the Ugly,

The kitchen table right now, actually this is tidied up! Far as skills the fact I still rely on spray cans, NO airbrush yet...

I really don't care. To quote from a favorite movie:

"If he is the best, with a knife or a gun, with whom does he compete?"

"With himself." —The Magnificent Seven

How do I rate myself and my model? Better than the last one.