Am I a Modeling Anomaly?

I'm a bit diverse. I have mostly 1/35 armor. I do have a couple of 1/48 aircraft and one 1/72 aircraft. In addition I have 1-1/700 scale ship and a 1/24 auto.

I think it comes down to my quote line (Build what you like, like what you build) for most modelers. Since we're all different, our reasons for kit selection are different. The more diverse the selection, the stronger the hobby.
That being said, the kits that interest me are all 1/48 WW II aircraft from all participating nationalities.

Even if we specialize on a scale or catagory there can still be a great selection of subjects available to build. I personally like 1/72 experimental, prototype, heavy(twin engine prop), and night fighters. Recently I jumped into Sci-Fi modeling and I can't believe how much fun it is.

Not at all! I started with A/C, moved to armor and also doing a ship. Might try other genre in the future. The possibilities are endless in this hobby..actually.

well, i have a stash of about 30 kits myself, which include mostly WWII era fighters, axis and allied. that is where my main passion lies, however, i also have several modern a/c, one piece of armor, and 2 1/35 scale helos. i like 1/48 mostly, but i do have one 1/32 scale kit, and plan to purchase more of them. i also plan to do some 1/24 stuff just for the fun of it. i'm planning to build me a 1/1 house before i start doing the larger scale birds, because i plan to build me a display room too. later.

I build mostly 1/48 WW2 Aircraft because thats my main historic interest & scale of choice. But, I also build a few more modern AC once in a while & build a few 1/72 also. Have built some armor in the past, but only have one Tank in my kit stash. When I need a break from building I paint figures, both Military & Fantasy subjects. I think most modelers are diverse in their interests.

Regards, Rick

Very good thread ...

As for me ... I'll build (and have built in the past) just about any subject in just about any scale ... I firmly believe in building what you like ... and if you are not having a good time doing it ... why do it ... this is a hobby ... not a job ... just my ...

I model all genres, but I restrict myself to 1/72 scale for Armor and Aircraft. I like seeing the size consistency of all the kits together. Ships, I usually build in the scales between 1/500 and 1/720 scale, with a few notable exceptions.

My collection is about 387 Armor in 1/72 scale, 291 Ships in scales mostly between 1/500 and 1/720 and about 240 Aircraft all in 1/72 scale.

I also have two Sci-Fi models built, and five HO scale buildings, along with a couple of cars in 1/24 scale.

Dan, you have WAY too much company to be an anomaly! In fact, you're just a face in the crowd (like the rest of us!)
Paul

I do mostly armor but have ships, sci-fi, and AC in the stash.

Currently my stash is about 95% (over 200) 1/35 scale armor/vehicles/figures/guns, but I also have 5 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 scale aircraft kits and 8 sci-fi kits in various scales.

I think most modelers have at least one scale and subject that they consider their favorite area. However, I also think that most modelers will dabble in other areas if for no other reason than to see how the other side lives.

Enjoy your modeling...

in work or some stage of progress are: the Marvel Comics "Silver Surfer", a 1/200 Northwest Orient (oc) DC-10-30, 1/144 B-17G, P-51B & P-47 dio., 1/48 HH-60 conversion to a VH-60N (long term), a 1/35th German soldier and his bicycle, a 1/400 duo B747-400 / A340-300 and coupla USAAF figures in 1/35th.
the stash which has been pared down to about 60 from some 275-300 has some 1/48th Bandai armour, 3 Beechcraft Staggerwings, a bunch of 1/48 WW II aircraft, about 8 1/20th Nitto armoured fighting suits, a dozen or so Minicraft 1/144 airliners of the 50's........etc......etc.....
variety is the spice of life..........even in plastics.
like Pix says.....build what you like......like what you build.

Not an anomaly, just pursuing some healthy diversity in your interests! Like others here, I've done ships, aircraft in 1/72, 1/48, 1/24, cars, armor in 1/35 (and soon 1/16!), etc. The beauty of the hobby is in the diversity and commonality all rolled up together.

Racing car models are where my main interest lines and for those I stick to 1/43rd, 1/24th, 1/20th and 1/12th. This year I have also started on 1/48th aircraft and also returned (after 45 odd years) to ship modelling in 1/350th and 1/72nd. I have about 100 kits yet to be built and about 400 built.

Dan,
A diverse interest in subject is the only way to go! How many great subjects are there in ALL types of subjects? Cars, planes, bikes, helicopters, armour, ships, sci fi, space.......every genre has fantastic challenges to face.
One track modelling? Not for me, mate.

I currently have an armor, aircraft and a scratchbuilt fire truck being built. Gotten to to where I like haveing a few different things to work on.

No, Grandpa, you aren't alone. Almost, though. I too like to build diverse subjects, but I get the impression we are in the minority around here. To a lot of people switching from armor to aircraft or vice versa feels like cross-dressing.

Let's see, I started the year by building a Benetton 188 and a Dodge Viper. Then I moved on to a 1/48 A6M2 and a Corsair (they got into a fight when I set the boxes next to each other). I dropped those to do a group build A-36 (which is what I should be doing instead of fooling around the computer). My next project will likely be an M1A1 Abrams or a Sherman M4A3. Other than race cars, muscle cars, prop planes, jets, armor, and the odd figure, I don't have many other interests. I guess that leaves out ships and sci fi, but I wouldn't count out doing a ship sometime. I do have one in the stash somewhere.

Building across the board makes you a jack of all trades but a master of none. No matter how good my Panzer Mk.VIb ZR-1 looks, I'll never enter it in a contest because I know someone who lives for that subject will discover I used the wrong shade of gray or forgot to correct the JRS pod by adding a bump on the fender. That's OK, because it is a hobby, and I do tip my hat to those who love a subject well enough to get a PhD in tankology or resin chemistry.

I really like things that go fast, shoot straight, and fly high, so I doubt I'll ever be able to settle down to one genre, much less one subgenre, though I really admire the work of those who do. For me life is exciting all over the place. Everytime I go to an airshow I can't wait to build an airplane and everytime I go to a race I want to build a car. Maybe I'm just too impressionable.

I used to build most everything; ships, A/C, cars, Sci-Fi, spacecraft...pretty much the whole enchilada. Now that I have become seriously involved in competitions, I find that I need to specialize in order to make sure that as many of the kit mistakes and omissions are fixed as possible. The rivet counters will eat you alive if you don't. I still have the occasional A/C kicking around, but I am now a dedicated Treadhead / Dioramist. (Is that a real word?)

I will build what ever strikes my fancy. Boats, ships, cars, a/c, armor, drum kits. figures. sci-fi just what ever! I have a freind in our localmodel club only builds Fords. I have heard of another fellow only builds 1/48 P-51's. They both enjoy what they do, I wiil NEVER criticize their choices!

Gramps your not alone i have a fairly diverse collection myself not as diverse as you though,i consider myself to be a military modeller,whether it be ships planes or tanks.
Basically i model whatever takes my fancy............J.S

Dan,

You're no different than the majority of us. I do aircraft (1/72 with the occasional 1/48 and 1/32 thrown in), 1/35 armor and figures, 1/700 ships and an occasional N scale building for my N scale layout (ok, its only a little switching yard, but it's mine). In fact, I'll build about anything that flies (except helicopters - I figured out about 35 years ago they will fall on you - and if you paint them green, people shoot at you and then the helicopter falls on you)

NO!!! LOL

Not at all. I have 3 helos, probably 5 autos, at least 5 Aircraft, 4 pieces of armor, just bought a ship, and 4 or 5 figures. I prefer Aircraft and Autos, but right now, I am building a British Rover Ambulance, and a Panther tank. So you are not by yourself, and I hope to see you post in all of the above threads, as I surely do. Next, I may have to go pick up a motorcyle!!!! LOL

Dan if you are, we all are. I started with aircraft as a kid, and have built models of many subjects and scales since that time. My current interest at present are 120mm fiqures and 1/35 scale armor, but if a see a model of another subject that I really like and it fits the budget I will buy it.

Qmiester,

You and I sound like we' ve got pretty similar interests. I'm mostly a model rr'er (N scale), but recently decided to take a break from a really intensive rr project and do something simple and OOB. I bought a 1/72 Tamiya Corsair, and its a beauty. Needless to say, the military modelling bug hit hard again, mostly due to discovering this forum and the wealth of information here. Currently in progress I've got the corsair (just needs a coat of flat clear and its done), a PST 1/72 scale Pz 753r (about 80% complete), and an Italeri PzIVF2(about 30% complete). So Dan, I guess I'm just one of those who builds what they likes too.

Jeff

I am starting to feel a bit more normal now. Thanks for your replies.

I mostly do sci-fi, but I do have a few planes, jets, figures, cars & mecha in the stash.

I am all over the board. I find it very enjoyable and relaxing. Why stick with one subject. See what you can do with those skills in another area. Aircraft dominate my collection, really dominate!! Lately I have been taking my detailing into those other areas. I spent hours in Jo-Ann's Fabrics trying to find the right material to do the interior and trunks of my current auto projects. In the past if I did an auto; detailing was under the hood, suspension, or the dash and console. Expand see what you can do, take the blinders off get rid of the tunnel vision, have some real fun.

Grampa,

I'm a bit of a 'mixer-upper' too. Most of my built and un-built kits are either cars or planes. (Even within those categories, it's pretty diverse - everything from muscle cars to formula1, and WWI planes to modern jets...). I've also recently completed a couple of armour kits, and really enjoyed that. A few more kits have found there way into the stash.

I haven't really branched out into sci-fi or figures. Neither really interest me too much. I REALLY appreciate seeing quality finished products in these categories, but they're just not something I'd enjoy building (at least that's how I think right now.... who knows what will happen down the road...)

I find that mixing-it-up teaches me so many new things. I'm always learning something new when I take on a new project. Some people build the same subject over and over, and I guess that's fine, but just not for me.

Murray

Definitely not alone. I started with I/72 aircraft, then shifted to 1/700 ships, later moved to 1/35 armor and once did 1/24 stock cars. The kits I build depend on the availability of the subject and my current mood to build. Lately, I find myself refurbishing old models to sharpen the skills I will need for the next model in the box. Each scale (I like to believe) improves certain skills that are helpfulin building all the kits. Keep building!