does anyone cheat

Usually, I'm in this catagory.  If the part will be hidden completely, I may not even install it.  The engine for my 1/35 Cobra is a case in point.  I just closed up the access panels and still have the parts on the sprue in my spares box. 

But for some reason, I'm going all out on detailing the insides of my AV-22.  I scratched together some seats for the gunners, a sensor operator's console and I'll be making the guns and their associated equipment as well.  The ramp will be down, and I made a bigger window on the forward hatch, but otherwise, you won't be able to see much of it, but I'll know its there.   I can't explain it, but I just wanted to go that extra step on this kit. 

J-Hulk wrote:

Sorry DURR, there's no such thing as "cheating" in modelling, unless you're talking about submitting work that's not yours in contests. If you're just building for yourself, for fun and pleasure, then anything goes! I never paint or detail something that will never be seen. I prefer to spend what modelling time I can find detailing, painting, and weathering only what can be seen. Even if it can only barely be seen, however, I'll give it the full treatment. Something that cannot be seen at all? Nope. I won't even use the parts, actually. That's not cheating, or being lazy, that's just smart modelling, as Robert mentioned!

Agreed completely.

If its not going to be seen at all when the model is finished, don't waste time or materials on it. Save it for something else.

When you think about it, it is smart modeling. If you're looking for a detail part for a visible part of one model and you can find it in the form of a part that will be invisible in another kit, why waste it on the kit it came with, why shoot money on a resin aftermarket whatever if you can canibalise it without harm from the styrene of a kit already in your posession?

Sorry DURR, there's no such thing as "cheating" in modelling, unless you're talking about submitting work that's not yours in contests.

If you're just building for yourself, for fun and pleasure, then anything goes!

I never paint or detail something that will never be seen. I prefer to spend what modelling time I can find detailing, painting, and weathering only what can be seen. Even if it can only barely be seen, however, I'll give it the full treatment. Something that cannot be seen at all? Nope. I won't even use the parts, actually.

That's not cheating, or being lazy, that's just smart modelling, as Robert mentioned!

Cheat??? No, absolutely not. Work smarter? Yes, by all means. I can't come up with one good reason to spend several hours hyper-detailing (or simply assembling) a tank's engine when I know I'll be modeling the kit with the engine bay and hatches sealed shut. It just doesn't make sense to me.