First off let me state that by no means am I a great modeler, heck i wouldnt even say I'm good. I'd say decent, decent enough to the point that people who don't model, see my work and are blown away. The modeling community however, not so much.
At any rate, there are those of you out there who go above and beyond, and do tons of scratch work to build and create a 100% accurate mini version of the real life subject matter. My hat goes off to you. That takes a level of skill, number of years, and great dedication to the hobby to pull off. Something that one, I cannot do, nor do I care about doing at this point in my modeling career (I have lots of years ahead of me for it, I'm 35). Some others are in the same boat.
This hobby is meant for the enjoyment of the person doing the work, not so much for everyone else. There is nothing wrong with doing 100% accurate recreations, not at all! But there is also nothing wrong with wanting to build an F14D thats bright pink and covered with roses! Its the modelers perogative to build what they like and thinks looks good, not what anyone thinks. Where does it say anywhere, that as modelers, there is a strict set of rules and guidelines that must be adhered to when working on our models? Why would there be? Where is the fun in that? This hobby would blow more than a GE F110 if there was a strict set of guidelines. Everyones stuff would look the same.
If your a rivet counter, keep on counting! If your a fair weather player, wait for that fair weather! Do what YOU like to do. Thats why our hobby is great because of the mass amount of diversity in creations.
Now to the main topic of this, well, topic!
I was at my LHS the other day, just hanging out STS with some of the old timers. A young man came in, early 20's, needed to pick up a few supplies, but also had brought in a recently completed 1/48 Saber to show it off ( my LHS owner likes to display customer builds all over the store, to a certain standard of course). Let me start by saying that I was blown away (and a bit dissapointed in myself for my lack of skills) by his work. Paint was beautiful, decaling perfect, seam lines non exsistent, everything just nice and tidy with a hint of weathering. Let me jump back real quick, this was the first model this guy had ever built, I know that because i was there the previous month when he came in saying he wanted to get a saber and build for some relative, knew nothing about the models or manufacturers and had never built a model before but wanted to try.
At any rate, he did some fantastic work. An absolute amazing job and you could really see it in his eyes that he was proud of his work. Hell, so was I! New blood for the hobby already representing!
Cue........Old..........Timers.
"Well you know, the Saber your portraying doesent........." "And you know that on this particular variant..........." "the grime and oil wouldn't really streak this way because......"
Not once did they complement him on his work. Not once. Everything they said was pointing out what was wrong, or inaccurate. As this is going on, I'm slowly watching the glimmer leave his eyes, not to mention his heart and soul! I was disgusted. I left and went home. What became of the young man, I have no idea, but I promise he will probably never model again.
We can't have these types of things going on folks. Lets face it, young folks these days just are not interested in building models, not like they were. We loose LHS's everyday due to the internet, and decline in business. We are a dying breed, accept it or not, and any and all youngsters and new modelers that we can get, we need! Just because it isnt 100% accurate or isnt up to par, dont criticize! Instruct, teach, show! Offer to help, give tips and advice! Pass on what you know and have learned. It will increase your love and enjoyment of the hobby as well as thiers.
This hobby is about building and creating what speaks to you and you alone. No more. Thats all there is to it. Some people seem to have forgotten that and its a shame.
Now let me just throw my soap box back in the trunk..........