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Have you ever just said "I quit" with a model?

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  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by JayF on Thursday, July 31, 2014 11:36 AM

Hahaha ! Happy I made you laugh Shaun !

I won't recommend this kit (the Italeri He-111) to someone just about to start the hobby as his / her first model because it's so discouraging. The fit is average at best, something that won't matter much on a destroyed plane ... Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2010
Posted by CrashTestDummy on Thursday, July 31, 2014 11:08 AM

I was _almost_ there with the Revell 1/48 Apache.  With all the mis-fitting parts, and offset molding that took FOREVER to clean up, I was getting quite frustrated at all the time I was spending applying putty and sanding it off.  If it weren't for the fact that my wife picked the kit up in the store and said 'neat', it would be in the spare parts bin.  

I decided to make it a platform for practicing some scratch building skills, and went full speed ahead.  It actually ended up being not that bad a completed kit.  It's displayed on top of her crafting armoir, and looks pretty good from 10 feet away.  :-)

G. Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Thursday, July 31, 2014 7:47 AM

Oh AARON !

Shame on you ! Don't tell me there was nothing that was good enough for the old parts box. There is ,in my mind always something that can be used elsewhere .Take MONOGRAMS Big B-29. I've finally got one to go together right ! The other two ,well, all parts smaller than the fuselage and wings went in the parts drawer  .I cut the rest of the planes up for useable parts .

  So I now have a parts Box with fuselage sections, engine nacelles , engine fronts and cowlings and such as well .You'd be surprised how nice a model of a deep submersible a section of B-29 can make . Oh , I like your little films each month .Where's Monica ? She's better looking than that other person . Tim's okay though .I guess .

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 12:26 PM

I just can't bear to throw that otherwise nice kit out.  I got out the Optivisor today and managed to glue the struts back on, even though I had only a very small area to glue.  I used CA and an accelerator and they are holding on.  After letting it cure overnight, I'll brush a thin coat of epoxy over the breaks to strengthen them further.  I'll repair the decals with touch-up paint.  It won't win any contests, but it's still a good looking model, if you don't get too close!

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

Moderator
  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: my keyboard dreaming of being at the workbench
Posted by Aaron Skinner on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 9:07 AM

The only kit I've deliberately round-filed was a Hobbycraft 1/72 scale MiG-15. It was a good deal on clearance with a great selection of markings. For $5, I figured I'd have issues to deal with. That started with the surface  pock-marked with what were supposed to be rivets. Not ideal for a natural-metal finish, but I'd fill them and move on. What finished it was that no two pieces were interested in fitting together. I'd have had better luck starting with a bar of soap. Kit parts in the trash, decals in the stash. They might look good on the new Eduard MiG.

Cheers, Aaron

Aaron Skinner

Editor

FineScale Modeler

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 6:06 AM

OUCH !

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 10:59 PM

I am about to "deep six" the Tamiya 1/32 F4U corsair I have been working on for the last 6 months.  Fragile landing gear broke off, engine panels don't fit, and now the lousy decals are peeling off and cracking just because I sprayed Model Master clear coat over them!!!  The stencils also silvered, even though I applied them correctly.  I expected better quality from Tamiya on a kit this costly.

Not recommended!

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

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 4:42 PM
Jim Barton

Sometimes when you get one of those models, a firecracker can be your best friend!Big Smile

In my day, a firecracker and a BB gun.....................
............................
.........using either one these days might get ya more jail time than the worst sort of felony....... Hmm
  • Member since
    February 2003
Posted by Jim Barton on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 4:19 PM

Sometimes when you get one of those models, a firecracker can be your best friend!Big Smile

"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

  • Member since
    February 2011
Posted by Shaun34 on Thursday, July 24, 2014 7:48 PM

Hi Jay,

   That last sentence in your post about your 'Generous Comments" regarding your HE 111, just gave me a good laugh and a lift to my spirits. Thats the great thing about having an art form as malleable as this hobby is. Mistakes and catasrophes on any project, with a little vision and imagination can be masterpieces. I have a OV-10 Bronco kit, That may need to be repurposed in a similar fashion as your German bird. Any way, some good thoughts!

Shaun

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Sunday, July 6, 2014 7:15 PM

Here's the thing - this isn't the first time I lost the rod and reel. Last summer it happened but I was lucky we were able to fish it out thanks to my bro-in-law. Today..... nope not this time. Lake was choppy and the water was really murky that you couldn't see the bottom due to recent rainstorms early this past week.

  • Member since
    March 2014
Posted by Tarasdad on Sunday, July 6, 2014 5:48 PM

I was always just a bit paranoid with my rods, kept them strapped down when not actually in my hand. More than once while out on the lake my brother or myself fished up a rod and reel combo!

Tarasdad

On the Bench:

  • Revell 1/48 F-15 Strike Eagle
  • Revell 1/48 A-10 Warthog
  • Revell 1/426 USS Arizona
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Houston, Texas
Posted by panzerpilot on Sunday, July 6, 2014 4:48 PM

I have a 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire, with a completed cockpit, that I mysteriously just quit working on years ago.I think it was related to discovering 1/32 scale.  I'll get around to it again someday, A few others I thought I shoulda quit on working on..bad kits that I had to knash my teeth to get done.

Aw, Geesh, Black Sheep. Sorry to hear.

-Tom

  • Member since
    January 2013
Posted by BlackSheepTwoOneFour on Sunday, July 6, 2014 4:02 PM

Unrelated to modelling, today I'm in the verge of calling it quits after a day of fishing. Dropped my brand new rod (Christmas present to myself last year) and brand new $65 spinning reel I bought last night (late b-day present from the missus) into the lake. $100 gone and never heard it splash into the water. My bro-in-law & son didn't either. >:( :((

  • Member since
    August 2012
  • From: Billings, Montana
Posted by Daddydan on Sunday, July 6, 2014 2:37 PM

I'm taking a time-out on my Academy M18 Hellcat TD. For some reason, Academy decided when they made the rubber tracks to shorten them by 1 link.  So, when you try to stretch the track to fit the wheels and bogeys, the track snaps like a sun-dried rubber band.  So I'm taking a break rethinking my diorama choice for this kit.  

  • Member since
    July 2011
  • From: Armpit of NY
Posted by MJames70 on Saturday, July 5, 2014 4:37 PM
The Zvezda T-60, which I am pretty sure was the company's very 1st model, is widely regarded as maybe the worst armor kit ever released. Thankfully they survived and have improved greatly since.

How bad is it? I saw someone trying to ditch a lot of 100! of them that eBay place not so long ago for $3-$4 apiece. No takers.
  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by Kilroy Was Here on Saturday, July 5, 2014 5:33 AM

Quit? No never1 Set aside - yes (some for a decade) I had a Monogram B-36 I started in 1994, due to frustration, job change, family health problems, moving, teenagers (5 of 'em). Did finish it this year, but missing parts, bad finish etc, but too many times I'd said one of these days...

Current issue is with an F-106 that has a warped fuselage,, nothing is going to fix it, tried warming it with a hair dryer, soaking in hot water and then "assembling" with masking tape, fit improved but there will still be too much putty. Glued it together last weekend.

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • From: N. MS
Posted by CN Spots on Monday, June 30, 2014 1:13 PM

I have a 1/72 Airfix Catalina that i've opened and stared at probably a dozen times over the last ten years.  Just can't bring myself to deal with it because I know that it encompasses everything that I dislike about the hobby.   Too cheap to toss it.  I figure I'll use it as a guinea pig when I want to try simulating shell damage or bullet holes.  Fortunately, it was inexpensive.

The wooden model of the Prince De Neufchatel that I gave hundreds for is sitting out of lack of confidence in my planking abilities.  I really want to finish that one but I think I going to build a smaller one for practice first.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Monday, June 30, 2014 11:56 AM

I don't think I could say I've every quit a kit altogether, but I, too, have a bunch of models that I left sitting when some issue or another arose during the build.

I think I may have quit on my Tom Daniel Red Baron hot rod.  A kit that was such a fun build as a kid has given me fits (no pun intended), but it's more because as an adult, I tried to make more of it than I should have.  I started by stripping the chrome from the chrome bits, because I knew that I wanted to clean up the seams on parts, and it went downhill from there.  Other bits didn't fit quite right, some popped off, and now it's sat for over 2 years or more.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Monday, June 30, 2014 8:30 AM

I've never said I "quit", but I have said I "quit for now".   I have a few models that where relegated to the archives for want of better skills than I have at the moment.  A Doug McArther said  " I shall return "

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Sunday, June 29, 2014 7:55 AM

mitsdude

seasick

I have a Tamiya F-84 that has been in hiatus for nearly 7 years now. I have a Harrier GR.3 that has been on hiatus for about 2 years. Both kits have severe building errors that are a bit daunting to fix and I don't enjoy fixing them. Eventually I'll either salvage the kits for parts or just throw hem out. But i'll delay it as long as possible.

Be aware that if you throw it out as soon as the trash collectors drive off with it you will find a use for it! Unfortunately you will have to throw it away in order for this use to become apparent!

I have definitely had that occur.
.
Must be one of "Murphy's Laws " 
.
I've also noticed that manufacturers tend to design and issue new kits after I scratch build a model.Bang Head
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: 29° 58' N 95° 21' W
Posted by seasick on Sunday, June 29, 2014 12:45 AM

When I was a teenager I had a monogram F-105 that was nice when I built it as a 12 year old but looked plain awful as I  got older. I stuffed it with gun powder and blasting caps and blew it to Mars. I'm thinking of doing that to the F-84.

Chasing the ultimate build.

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by YoungRookie on Saturday, June 28, 2014 11:56 PM

Sorry for interjecting my mandatory post here, but I just joined in the hope of getting some insight into the hobby and this single thread has done me a lot of good on my first build.  

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by mitsdude on Saturday, June 28, 2014 10:00 PM

seasick

I have a Tamiya F-84 that has been in hiatus for nearly 7 years now. I have a Harrier GR.3 that has been on hiatus for about 2 years. Both kits have severe building errors that are a bit daunting to fix and I don't enjoy fixing them. Eventually I'll either salvage the kits for parts or just throw hem out. But i'll delay it as long as possible.

Be aware that if you throw it out as soon as the trash collectors drive off with it you will find a use for it! Unfortunately you will have to throw it away in order for this use to become apparent!

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: 29° 58' N 95° 21' W
Posted by seasick on Saturday, June 28, 2014 3:49 PM

I have a Tamiya F-84 that has been in hiatus for nearly 7 years now. I have a Harrier GR.3 that has been on hiatus for about 2 years. Both kits have severe building errors that are a bit daunting to fix and I don't enjoy fixing them. Eventually I'll either salvage the kits for parts or just throw hem out. But i'll delay it as long as possible.

Chasing the ultimate build.

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by mitsdude on Saturday, June 28, 2014 12:56 AM

I've never quit on a kit permanently.

At times I will reach a point on a kit where the next step is gonna require lots of time or an activity that I don't really enjoy doing, like seam filling.

Other times I will really screw up something and become frustrated and don't want to take the time to fix my mistake.

Some kits have been placed on hold because I need an additional part. My "THEM" diorama was on hold for 2 years because I couldn't find an additional ant.

I like building all the scifi kits from the 50's-early 60's. Many of these kits were crappy to begin with and the recasts are even worse. Some of these require lots of filing, sanding, seam filling, puttying, and fabricating defective parts.

So far I eventually found myself in the mood to return to these kits

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by CodyJ on Friday, June 27, 2014 7:56 PM

Oh heck yeah.  They become parts kits.  Not very often do I do that.  Usually put it back in the box if something isn't working and come back later.  Some don't deserve to come back though!

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Friday, June 27, 2014 6:33 PM

thats a shame on the amx kit i have one johan built and one i am saving  cause my bro has the real thing  68   i just quit on an eastern exp  mig-31

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Friday, June 27, 2014 3:54 PM

Very few that I can remember in a long time in the hobby. here was a Glencoe Soviet something or other--worst model I ever saw. A 1/72 ACE waffentrager; a Stuka that I messed up the complex paint job. And a very expensive and rare AMT AMX Javelin that I completely ruined with bad paint.....oh, that still hurts to remember!

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