Researching a model - How much do you do?

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.

Some of my builds are quite well researched, other hardly so or not at all. I think part  of that depends upon the subject type, and part upon the base kit. If the base kit is well detailed inside and out, and of a subject that I am not obsessing over, it will likely go into the minimally researched end of the spectrum. If it is an older kit with lots of room for scratch work, and it is a subject that tugs at my deep interest for one reason or another, I may spend many hours researching and planning modifications.

I am in the same group as some of the posters above. I research and research,,,,,,,and then model notes fall out of that research, and then I build models. I rarely buy a kit and then start researching that subject, about the only time that happens is with a prototype aircraft, then I might see the kit, buy it, and then go look for a Ginter book on it or something.

By the time I first bought most of my model kits, I already knew which BuNo on which ship, with the accurate load-out, and all the colors matched to chips.

I only have a very few favorite projects,,,,,,I like all of them so much that I have a "200 way tie for 3rd favorite" thing happening,,,,,,so, I just let my build sheets tell me what is the next model,,,,,if all the fields are filled in, it is ready to go,,,,,,,,so, I just flip through the finished sheets and build what grabs my eye.

The approach seems random,,,,,,but, otherwise I run the risk of having even more Skyhawks, Phantoms and Crusaders,,,,,,and the Cougars and Skyraiders get neglected. And I wouldn't have a Tomcat, Bug or Super-Bug at all, lol.

Rex

mr tilley try a car    no real research is needed       OOB is more than acceptable for that genre

I do a lot of research before I do a build.  For some subjects, the research even takes longer than the actual build.

I build for relaxation and fun. Researching is something I can easily become obsessive over, and when that happens modeling becomes more work than hobby. For me it's best to not even start.

I'm undoubtedly biased because I got trained as a professional historian.  But to me, research is a major part of any modeling project.  Sometimes I'll pick a subject because I'd like an excuse to learn about it.  At the moment I've got a stack of books and internet printouts beside my bed, all having to do with my next model.

There are down sides to this approach. By the time I actually get ready to build the model I'm thoroughly bored with it.  Oftentimes the research establishes that fixing the mistakes in a kit would require more work than I'm prepared to put into it. And my wife gets thoroughly sick of hearing me rattle on about the esoteric stuff I've learned. ("Honey, I finally found a drawing that shows where Gloucester fishing schooners kept their compasses!")

One of these days I'm going to make myself build a model right out of the box, and trust the manufacturer's researchers.  One of these days.

I generally like to approach certain subjects with an attitude of "I'll make a few small details that will put it a notch over OOB." unless, of course I'm doing some dedicated "project". I try not to obsess about details TOO much, as my modeling goals definitely fall on the side of "Art for Art's sake".

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.

I DO have a large research library of expensive hardcover, first edition volumes which aid in that regard. And then there's always the internet.

I do a moderate amount of research. I find it interesting, since I always learn something about the aircraft, etc. Looking at era photos and films can help a lot as well, for weathering ideas, etc.

It depends on the subject/model. I'm mainly a modern armor modeler and spent a great deal of my life on US armor. When building one of those kits, I tend to spend a good amount of time making sure I get things right. Having said that, I know many of the modern US armor kits have issues. If I really don't "care" about the subject too much, I'll just build it OOB.

If I'm building some other genre that isn't my lane, it will be built OOB without much research.

The last few years I've researched every build I've done. Mainly pictures to get an idea of how others have painted  the model. Also tips on lighting. Where, size, what color lights to use, how to run the wiring, etc.

Not  much,sometimes I will consult books,Internet,and pictures,to see some detail that is not clear on the instructions

It depends on what I am building. For subjects I am most interested in, German aircraft and armour, I will do a lot. Most of my books cover those subjects so I always have any that are relevant to hand during a build and on top of that I will be looking at online for anything my books don't have. I may well spend as much time doing research as I do building.