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What is your most dreaded part?

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Green Bay, WI USA
What is your most dreaded part?
Posted by echolmberg on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 2:48 PM

With heartfelt apologies to A.S. and his great post of "What is your most favorite part?", I'd love to ask the opposite question.  What is your most dreaded part of the model building experience?  I'll start.

The part I dread the most is the little fiddly bits!  When I'm 99.9% done with a model aircraft, all I want to do is put it on my shelf and eagerly select my next kit.  The last thing I want to do is put on the gear retraction actuators on a part of the plane that neither I nor anyone else is ever going to see!!!   Super Angry

Eric

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: Houston, Texas
Posted by Medicman71 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 2:56 PM

I hate SEAMS!!!!! Bang Head

Building- (All 1/48) F-14A Tomcat, F-16C Blk 30, He 129

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:01 PM

Canopy framing.... Angry

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Fort Worth, TX
Posted by RESlusher on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:04 PM

Anything having to do with PE!

I HATE PE!  Bang Head

Richard S.

On the bench:  AFV Club M730A1 Chaparral

On deck:  Tamiya Marder 1A2

In the hole:  Who knows what's next!

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Hancock, Me USA
Posted by p38jl on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:09 PM

the part that doesn't EVER want to stay on/glued etc...Bang Head

[Photobucket]

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tornado Alley
Posted by Echo139er on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:14 PM

The part I dislike the most is deciding what to to or where to put he model after completion.

The rest of the process beats mowing the lawn and the honey-do-list,  so I am good with it all.

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: DFW, Texas
Posted by NervousEnergy on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:14 PM

VanceCrozier

Canopy framing.... Angry

Oh *&# yes.  I'm doing that right now on a fairly simple canopy (1/32 Mig 3), and it's still torture.  

I also dread the painting steps.  My airbrush skills are still developing and inconsistent, and when it comes time to paint I may have 20-30 hours of construction work in the model.  Poor paint results are a lot harder to reverse than a poorly fitting part or a bad seam, and it comes after so much time and effort has been invested.

Conversely, it's also one of my favorite steps as the model really starts to come alive with the paint... 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Sarasota, FL
Posted by RedCorvette on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:16 PM

Explaining to my wife why UPS just dropped off another package at the front door...

Mark

 

FSM Charter Subscriber

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Ottawa,Ontario,Canada
Posted by modeler#1 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:21 PM

attaching rubber tracks....Bang Head

On the Bench: Nothing atm

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:23 PM

Fiddly interior parts that will never be seen again when the model is finished: I don't bother including them.

A modeler friend of mine hates cockpits and landing gear, so he builds all his "gear up" and paints the inside of the canopies sky blue!  Actually, it doesn't look bad at all, especially on 1/72 scale aircraft.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Hobart, Tasmania
Posted by Konigwolf13 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:26 PM

I hate trying to convince the carpet monster to give parts back.

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:29 PM

The CLACK...clack...clack...clack (or ting, if it's PE) of a part hitting the garage floor and immediately bouncing to the most inaccessible place.

Then looking down, and seeing the floor strewn with little bits of discarded sprue tree, all the EXACT SAME COLOR as the part lost.

Then spending half an hour on my hands and knees trying to find said part.

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Fort Worth, TX
Posted by RESlusher on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:31 PM

DoogsATX

The CLACK...clack...clack...clack (or ting, if it's PE) of a part hitting the garage floor and immediately bouncing to the most inaccessible place.

Then looking down, and seeing the floor strewn with little bits of discarded sprue tree, all the EXACT SAME COLOR as the part lost.

Then spending half an hour on my hands and knees trying to find said part.

Throw a little dachshund into the mix who thinks that since you're crawling around on the floor that it's time to play with Daddy!  Welcome to my own special flavor of Hell!  Devil

 

Richard S.

On the bench:  AFV Club M730A1 Chaparral

On deck:  Tamiya Marder 1A2

In the hole:  Who knows what's next!

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Monster Island-but vacationing in So. Fla
Posted by carsanab on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:35 PM

waiting on "instant glue" to bond  PE parts...

 Photobucket

  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by A.S. on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:45 PM

Trying to get a glossy finish, with the loaded airbrush in my hands,  and noticing that the model is covered with thousands of miniature specks of dust. Trying to remove them, almost impossible.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Scotland
Posted by Milairjunkie on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 3:54 PM

I can't say that I hate any particular part of the build, but I do have some pet hates;

ill fitting canopies, particularly those that are too small,

Poorly fitting & designed intakes & wing roots.

 

I imagine that if I were more experienced these wouldn't be such a problem.................

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Buffalo, NY
Posted by macattack80 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:17 PM

VanceCrozier

Canopy framing.... Angry

Ditto  UGH!!!  Thank you Eduard for making precut masks! Although it's still not fun applying those...

Kevin

[

 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Allentown, PA
Posted by BaBill212 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:44 PM

Seams, sink holes or painting road wheels,,,  don't like ANY of them

Enjoy the ride!

 

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:52 PM

macattack80

 VanceCrozier:

Canopy framing.... Angry

 

Ditto  UGH!!!  Thank you Eduard for making precut masks! Although it's still not fun applying those...

Ditto

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    February 2011
Posted by GreySnake on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:56 PM

For me its sanding never really liked doing it. Also having to fill in seams, nothing worse then working on a seam and then priming and part of the seam still being there. Also I never really enjoyed cleaning my airbrush much either. 

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Launceston, Australia
Posted by the real red baron on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 5:10 PM

filling and sanding seams and steps. Bang Head

(been doing a lot of that lately to my MiG-3) Angry

 

 

 

 

cml
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Brisbane, Australia
Posted by cml on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 5:23 PM

My two dreaded steps:

Rescribing lost seams (thought hopefully this will change with experience); and

Detailing ordinance.

 

Chris

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 5:56 PM

on aircraft,setting the dihedral,although some kits make it  easier then others.

on armor,magic tracks,and excessive roadwheels Bang Head

 

Carsnab + Vance yes I here you guys on those things also Ditto

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 6:26 PM

On aircraft, its gap filling and seam clean up... very tedious work.

On armor, it's indy link tracks... doubly tedious and reminds me of bad times in the motor pool or field doing it for real...

I do not dread either one, but just find those area to be the least enjoyable. On the flip side when done properly they really improve the final appearance of the kit. So like those final cruches or push ups, they are worth it in the end...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: San Antonio
Posted by MAJ Mike on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 7:38 PM

Paying the MasterDebt card bill at the end of the month for all the stuff from SprueBrothers.

 

 

 "I'd "I'd rather be historically accurate than politically correct."

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!"

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by GreenThumb on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 8:00 PM

RESlusher

Anything having to do with PE!

I HATE PE!  Bang Head

I will throw in an amen to that! Big Smile

Mike

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Carmel, CA
Posted by bondoman on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 8:09 PM

Just teasing!

For me, all of the things on ships where rigging disappears into a deck or surface at each end and cannot be stretched and knotted at one end, like stack stays.

Why I stay clear of biplanes too.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 8:38 PM

It used to be indy tracks and decals, but it road-wheels: the ones with tires and lots of them.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Denver
Posted by tankboy51 on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 9:16 PM

Armor:  PE

Aircraft: canopy frames

Doug

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 10:01 PM

Frankly, the only part I dread is being interupted... I get on a roll and then it's one thing after another at times... 

Sure, there're parts I like less than others, but al in all, it's all part and parcel of the "fun & relaxation" of building a model... Many times, the more ate-up a kit is, the more I like building it (That P-82 comes to mind, there)

But as with anything else, there ARE shortcuts and little things one can do to at least, if not eliminate, make them less of an impact on the entire process.. Masking, seam-filling, frame-masking, airbrush-cleaning (my solution to that is use it as little as possible, especially whenever there's a rattle-can color around).

Seam-filling, while it can't be avoided, can at least made less painful by using thinned fillers, i.e. putties that're easily thinned with liquids that don't attack the styrene (Testor's White and rubbing-alcohol, for instance), using shims and strip or sprue to fill the larger gaps, rather than things that require more than a few swipes of the sanding-films, and always wet-sanding (easy sludge removal, far fewer sand-scratches, and the films/paper cut better, faster, and clog less)...

Vinyl track issues, like them not taking paint well, can oftentimes be solved (or greatly diminished at least) by using a combination of sanding and dull-coating, and flexing them as little as possible by painting after installation, and adding "mud" and skirt-armor... Re-enforcing their glue-joints with sewing thread can solve fit issues if you have to remove a link or two to achieve a better fit (along with moving the idler-wheel forward or backwards, which, coincidentaly, is how the "big boys" do it)...

"Sagging" them with thread tie-downs around the axles of the correct roadwheels also helps eliminate the tediousness of indy and link-and-length AM- tracks, allowing the kit tracks to be used too (unless you need a specific track that's not included in the kit to model a specific mark or variant)..

At any rate, there's never been a kit that beat me... Although I've had to beat a few into submission... Whistling

 

 

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