Researching a model - How much do you do?

jtilley

Recently I've been attracted to an approach that I really like: building models of ships that never existed.

That may seem crazy (and maybe it is,) but it's fun. My last ship model was a generic, 1900-vintage steam tug, which I named after my wife. I'm almost done with a lobster boat named Wendy Jean, after my stepdaughter. My next one is going to be a generic Gloucester fishing schooner, which will be named after my father (a former naval officer and the biggest seafood fanatic I've ever met).

I've spent at least a year digging up all the stuff I can find about Gloucester fishing schooners - a fascinating and beautiful ship type. I've found all sorts of stuff about deck fittings, rigging, weathering, construction, etc. I can pick and choose which features my imaginary ship will have - and nobody will be able to tell me I'm wrong.

i imagine these models would be ineligible for some contests. I have no interest whatsoever in contests. (Believe me, you don't want me to get on that soapbox again.)

After a long career as a history teacher, and more than fifty years of trying to make models as accurate as I can, this approach has given me a new way to look at the hobby.

That's one thing I like about building car models. Some guys build cars as they would have come from the factory and that's cool. But I like to build them as they may have been after a few years. They could have been re-painted, engine swaps. You can do a period hot-rod, or maybe a modern resto-mod. When I was younger, almost nobody I knew had a completely factory stock car. You can also have some fun with some light or heavy weathering.  The sky's the limit and nobody can say it couldn't  happen.

I try to get it right, or as close as I can. I"ve rebuilt my sWS models at least three times. Not always w/expected results. Paul

Hey : J.T.

  You must be dreaming .You find the time for an OOB ? I will tell you this Mein Frent .Resoich aynt all its cracked to be .I did that ona chip und da chip comed oot wrong ! He! He! I research only moderately . Just enough to visually , not historically improve a model .

I started this after my last I.P.M.S. show when there were only four ships entered and one was 1/72 or so , one was 1/350 and two were 1/700 .Of course straight out of the Box the LINDBERG U.S.S.MELVIN won the class .It was like the three others didn't exist .So I don't compete any more .

 I had figured ( wrongly , I might add ) that being so close to CORPUS CHRISTIE and the U.S.S. TEXAS and U.S.S. LEXINGTON there would be more ship modelers around  (.I should be so lucky ! ) I know what you mean though . I researched the Conte Belgica so I could build her out of plastic - The paper model being so detailed and looking so nice when finished .

     Well , I was heart-broken ( as a ship Lover ) to learn this great looking -self-unloading container ship had been severely damaged in a collision and ended her life on an Indian scrappers beach ! After that - No more info was available . I still do it , more out of habit than need though .

    It can make the final product mundane .My first Queen showed me that light research kept me going where heavy research stopped me dead in the water ! So I learned from her . Plus like you , I learned that trying to fix mistakes in a kit can turn into an overwhelming task that is NOT pleasurable . Isn't that why we build ? For the pleasure ?  

        Tanker - Builder

stikpusher

Now how many of you continue your research during the build to look up something not covered yet, and turn up a tidbit of information for something you have already passed in the project. let's say a point "D", when you are already at point "E" or "F"? And find out you  have it incorrect?

That depends on how hard it is to fix. If I've already closed up the fuselage, then realized I used the wrong color on the interior, I'll just keep going and note it for next time. If it's just the wrong type of gunsight, then I can probably fix that.

I believe in making a plan and sticking with the plan. If you are constantly making unplanned changes throughout the project, it starts to become one of those never-ending builds and gets a lot less fun. That's one reason why I like to do the bulk of my research before I even start the kit.

I've often started projects knowing that there are certain errors that I feel are too much trouble to correct. I'm not going to change all the panel lines or re-shape the wings even if my research shows that those are wrong on the kit. IMO, it's just a reasonably accurate model, not a 100% perfect reproduction. That said, I do like to know where the errors are and then make a educated decisions about what to correct/modify in a kit.

haha, Stik

Wait until you get justttt a touch older, and remember something that people will come right out and tell you never happened. And it will be something that is not yet online, so you won't ever find it. But, you might find a photo in a book someday, or a description of an event typed out in some book.

I get that quite a lot, because some of the things we did back in the seventies (and in the fifties and sixties before me) wouldn't even be tried today, either because the results are known, or because there is an easier way or system to do it with.

Also, remember,,,,,there is still a very large gap between what is on the internet and what is in print,,,,,,,a lot of people hold the "it is not on the internet, so it is not true" belief,,,,,,,and we know of hundreds and hundreds of books that have still not had their copyrights violated yet. (this doesn't count the internet articles that are simply wrong about something)

Rex

Well, we now have so much information at our fingertips via the internet, that it is truly staggering. One has to sort thru lots of chaff to get to the germ that you are searching for. Mind you, as you said, somebody else has put the information online, either as intended exactly as your are searching for, or uninted as part of something else. There are sites that have teh hsitory of a particular subject or group of subjects. Other sites dedicated to their fate or combat chrnology. Unit histories, etc. For several years here I kept trying to come up with photos of a peculiar camo scheme, which apparently was only used by the Division that I was assigned to at that time. Other vets of the same era but different units had no idea what I was talking about. But finally in searching for other subjects I found photos of what I was looking for. Had digital cameras existed back then with their high memory chips to save them, I could have spared myself all the hours of searching. At that time I thought my memories of the patterns would hold on... age plays games with the mind as it fills with new memories. But I digress.

One of the good differences between "researching a model" today and researching one a few decades ago is that a vast number of models don't require any actual research.

For many of them today,,,,,you pick up a fairly accurate kit, some pretty good decal sheets, some very nice paints,,,,,,,and you "look up" a photo, getting the same serial number as you find on the decals, you just look at a paint list and pick out the right colors, and if you want to look at a detail on the aircraft, you just flip the page of a good book and there are ten pictures of landing gear details, for example.

note that the above is not "researching", it is just looking something up,,,,,,,,,,the research was done by someone else and published, or molded, or silk-screened or popped onto a website.

Granted, if you are looking for a photo and details of the specific aircraft that was sitting near the fence at Billy Michell Field in July 1961 after you stopped at Big Boys and were sitting in the viewing area eating your burger and watching take offs,,,,,,,,,,you are going to have to do some research. But if you want a photo of the aircraft in their Air National Guard unit at that time,,,,,,,you just flip open a book.

Rex

Kilroy Was Here

Just wondering how much time and effort people put in to researching a model they're building.

Too much!!! I am completely normal… bideebideebideebideeebidee… [lip flapping sound]

My renewed modeling career started with the research.  

I was endevoring to find info on the ship on which my father seved in WWII  (the CL-81 Houston )  Since it was a rather obscure ship that had a short life, it took me 1 1/2 years to find pertinent information on it, but I got it done.  Along with this researching my neighbor gave me a large lighted desk magnifier and I said to my self "hey, I can build a model of this now "  Now I am into modeling my many favorite aircraft and loving it.

I am not researching as intensly the aircraft but always search for pictures online for proper colors, model differences etc. to get a resonably accurate build.  I simply enjoy the hobby now that I am retired, as much as I did when I did it as a kid, maybe more so what with all the new techniques and products available these days

Recently I've been attracted to an approach that I really like: building models of ships that never existed.

That may seem crazy (and maybe it is,) but it's fun. My last ship model was a generic, 1900-vintage steam tug, which I named after my wife. I'm almost done with a lobster boat named Wendy Jean, after my stepdaughter. My next one is going to be a generic Gloucester fishing schooner, which will be named after my father (a former naval officer and the biggest seafood fanatic I've ever met).

I've spent at least a year digging up all the stuff I can find about Gloucester fishing schooners - a fascinating and beautiful ship type. I've found all sorts of stuff about deck fittings, rigging, weathering, construction, etc. I can pick and choose which features my imaginary ship will have - and nobody will be able to tell me I'm wrong.

i imagine these models would be ineligible for some contests. I have no interest whatsoever in contests. (Believe me, you don't want me to get on that soapbox again.)

After a long career as a history teacher, and more than fifty years of trying to make models as accurate as I can, this approach has given me a new way to look at the hobby.

I usually hit a "good enough" point. I know when I worked on my M1IP Abrams, I was always looking for photos of something. I came to the realization that you could never fix everything; especially when an M1IP could have been an XM1 first or an M1 first or manufactured as an M1IP. Each one has some variation that makes it different.

stikpusher

Now how many of you continue your research during the build to look up something not covered yet, and turn up a tidbit of information for something you have already passed in the project. let's say a point "D", when you are already at point "E" or "F"? And find out you  have it incorrect?

I certainly go through the books and continue to research as I am building. And yes, on occasion I have come across something relevant to a stage I have already passed.

Now how many of you continue your research during the build to look up something not covered yet, and turn up a tidbit of information for something you have already passed in the project. let's say a point "D", when you are already at point "E" or "F"? And find out you  have it incorrect?

For me, I think modeling came from researching history and not the other way around.

I'll get an interest in a certain aircraft, or car and try to learn as much as I can about the subject. Then I'll search  the web for good period or detail pictures to inspire a specific example. Then I'll build a model of it.  If I can't find pictures of a real example, I won't build it. I never trust the model kit or decal set instructions. They are often wrong.

Last year, I learned a lot about Model-A hotrods that I never knew before. I never realized that East coast and West coast builders had complete different ideas on how to approach their projects (West coast being influenced by Bonneville Salt Flats).  This led me to convert a Revell kit to a "low boy" instead of just building it as it is out of the box.

As often happens, I never finished that project, but when I get back to it, I'll refresh my knowledge with some more studying and then pick up where I left off. I always save as much info as I can (pictures, web pages printed to PDF files, etc) so I won't have to start my research from scratch. It really bugs me when sites don't let you download pictures and then when you go back later, the site is gone offline, so I like to archive as much as I can when I do find good info.

Thanks, Nomad; I'm always happy to help or give advice if I can!

JOE RIX

I personally love to do research on my models. In fact I'm easily a bigger hoarder of reference books than I am of kits. I'm also a historian by education and it's just simply a passion since my childhood. I really enjoy getting to know my subject on a technical, historical and personal level. I have to admit that although I do a lot of research through reference material and the internet, being active on this forum is one of the most miraculous sources of info I have found. The stuff I am able to glean from the fellow members here is immensely valuable. and educating.

+1

A fellow member mentioned "Robin Olds" in a post, so I had to do some research on this person. I learned quite a lot, and expanded my knowledge.

IMHO, the research is as fun as building the model.

doog, Rob,

I think your models are just great. I was just looking at yours doog. Thanks again to the both of you for your help, advice and comments. They are not filed in the crapper for sure.

I only model for myself, and the occasional group build so accuracy to me is a casual concept. My models sit on a shelf in my study, and the only people who see them are my daughters boyfriends.

"Cool, is that a Tiger tank?"

That being said, research is one of my favorite pastimes. I've always been a really avid reader, and I'd rather read a magazine issue about British Escort carriers than watch "Keeping up with the (idiots)".

I'm not too concerned about shape issues, but I do like details.

A perfect example is My Trumpeter Hornet CV-8. I read ad naseum how the hull was "all wrong", to the point where I sawed mine off and built it back using modeling foam as "bread and butter" style. But I've never reshaped it, it sits on the shelf of doom, and now I'm moving.

Rob Gronovius

the doog

Then again, I'm also aware of how many actual veterans there are on this site who will be watching with a keen eye, so I generally try to ask if something can be improved or corrected within a reasonable amount of effort and time. In that case, research is warranted.

Doog, I wouldn't give a rat's behind what any of us veterans think about your builds. You are by far one of the best modelers on this site. And since there are members who think "our advice should be filed in the crapper", I rarely give critiques on accuracy issues, even when asked by the original poster. I've found if I do give a keen eye when asked, I get piled on by defenders who chuck out the "don't listen to the rivet counters" "they don't even build" "suck the fun out of the hobby" comments.

I only give out critiques if I'm asked via private message and do so by private reply. The only advice I give is to build it OOB and have fun.

I think you know that I do appreciate what advice I do get though because if there's any aspect of my modeling that could use improvement, it's my fidelity to accuracy, ala' Bill Plunk. That guy is like, the Guru of Armor here, lol. I feel a bit indebted to the veterans here to build something that honors them, like that M48 I did. It was pretty neat to get feedback and anecdotes from actual war vets when I was building that. And I appreciate it too when you PM some relevant info that helps me out too.

And if people don't like criticism, then often I"m the first one to unintentionally offend them, lol. I'm sure you remember a few "episodes", ha ha.

I do all kinds of research,  being a little OCD,  I need first off to make sure I have the correct colors and then the right armament and so on.  Then I like to go into it's past and find out about the plane itself,  and then as much history as I can find, where used, who used it etc etc.  

I to have books on many of my subjects,  especially the jets and now I'm starting to increase my pre jet collection

John

I never used to research. But I recently started a project to build a PBY 5 that was flown by a local man who fairly recently passed, that won the CMH in WWII. I started trying to find out as much about the particular plane he flew. It turned out I enjoyed the research.

Now if I'm building something new to me, I research it. Besides enjoying the build, I enjoy the history lesson before.

I've certainly increased the research quite a bit with experience because I've learned that sometimes the instructions can be rather vague on things.  Also, the instruction sheet as to paint detail sometimes does not clearly indicate all the colors.

I research depending on my goals for the model. A "five foot model" requires less as you're not going to "count rivets" from five feet. I research more when first hand knowledge of the subject is lacking or close observation is anticipated. A WWII jeep is likely to be correctly represented by the model maker versus an obscure WWII German field expedient like a Hummel ammo carrier w/Drilling AA installed. As far as a particular instance of a subject, this is where research becomes more of the hobby than the actual construction. I have fallen down this rabbit hole more than once. I enjoyed the journeys but it can be very distracting when you're trying to make build progress. Paul

When I was a kid I built models to play with so no research was needed.  This explains the bright red P-40 in the attic.  As I've gotten older, I tend to find research to be a necessary part of my builds.  Especially considering the cost of kits these days.  Research adds a bit more time to the build but I see that as a free bonus as long as it doesn't get out of hand.  And when I say "research" that doesn't just refer to the color of an aircraft or what the correct roundel looked like.  It also refers to the techniques used by other builders on similar models.  

And it sure is a lot easier to find material on obscure subjects today than it was 30 years ago.  ; )

I drive my family nuts with reading the research behind the build of a model. I've alway enjoyed reading about the war machines and the folks who operated them. Being an auto technician by trade also brings out the "What's under the hood??" and "How does it work" questions. All are answered in research. I'm with Joe Rix up there who's a hoarder of books. I have one book at the very minimum for every model I build.

My more involvrd research comes when I'm building a diorama. If the diorama is a scene from a movie or TV show I will do frame grabs and try to get as close as I can. If its a more generic diorama I try to make sure the flora, fauna, and geology is consistent with the real world. Not anal retentive consistent but more ball park consistent.

I've got plenty of research to do during the semester with all my classes and upcoming senior thesis. Summer and winter break (when I get most of my modeling done) is a chance for me to unwind. Modeling is one of about 4 different ways I do that and get away from school.

That being said, I enjoy learning about the models I build so sometimes I'll do a quick google search or try to find a previous WIP in the forums, if I find something that is easily fixable I'll do that, otherwise it's just an OOB.

I personally love to do research on my models. In fact I'm easily a bigger hoarder of reference books than I am of kits. I'm also a historian by education and it's just simply a passion since my childhood. I really enjoy getting to know my subject on a technical, historical and personal level. I have to admit that although I do a lot of research through reference material and the internet, being active on this forum is one of the most miraculous sources of info I have found. The stuff I am able to glean from the fellow members here is immensely valuable. and educating.

I'm another one in the "depends" camp.  Sometimes I do a little, sometimes, a lot.

However, many times I get stumped about what something or a particular part is supposed to look like.  And when that happens, I'm off to research.  Cockpits are a good example; more specifically, instrument panels.