If I read one more "shake-n-bake" comment....(rant)

ajlafleche wrote:

crockett wrote: the car no longer comes with a crank to start it? The only resentment I've heard is to the the constant re-release of kits from ancient molds that don't meet the current standards of rpoduction, to poorly researched kits and to kits that require too much work to build up well.

 

 

yeah AL but you can still push start them

Since it appears that this thread has gone this way, I'll throw these wild opinions out there:

For those individuals who just want a nice model without any work: buy a pre-built model. They can be expensive, and sometimes not as detailed, but hey, look at the work you've saved! No worries about poor fit, messy painting, or tricky decals. A nice model on the shelf, instantly!

For those individuals who demand a challenge: scratchbuild your models. Even if you pour thousands of hours into detailing a sub-standard kit, someone else still created that kit for you. Be a "real" modeller, and scratchbuild the entire thing! Don't rely on others to do the work for you! Then you'll really have a model you can be proud of.

 

Of course both of those extreme opinions are said somewhat tongue in cheek, but I believe there is a hint of truth in both. It is certainly true that you hear complaints about the hobby from both camps ("kits are too easy, I want a challenge" vs "kits are too difficult, I want perfect engineering"). Perfectly valid opinions, too...we all want different things out of our hobbies, which is as it should be. Our hobbies are for our own individual enjoyment.

The various opinions about price and value are of course valid, too. Of course, Tamiya now includes PE and other extras in their kits, and Dragon is increasing their prices. It all seems to be levelling out, no?

Anyway, what was the original topic? Oh yeah, disgust at the term "shake and bake kit."
Hmmm, it's never bothered me, and I've never taken it as a derogatory term...it's always meant "easy to build" to me...and I've never thought that was a bad thing!

I tried that method once: Open the box, pour in paint and glue and then cover and shake the daylights out of the box.
It didn't work.
If you really want that look, buy a (dare I say it???), diecast.
Isn't half, okay, some of the fun, solving the problems encountered in building process?
If you really could "shake and bake", (isn't that what snap tite is for?), would anyone really build them that way?

Don

But "Breaded and Fried" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

what's this "shake & bake" ? a new technique?,,,i'm gonna try it on my p-40 right now,i'll post the photos when i'm done

HeavyArty wrote:

My only issue with the "Shake-and-Bake" kits is the price for the level of detail that is usually not there.  Yes, they go together easily, but they are missing or have poor details.  For the price that Tamiya charges, they should be that "well engineered" and have superb details, along with all the items that should be on it.  Case in point, the new Tamiya LeClerc tells you you have to buy their extra PE screen set to complete it.  What the hell!!  Other companies (Dragon, Trumpeter, etc.) can generally produce a much better detailed model, which includes PE, multiple options, and extras, and it is half the price of the same Tamiya model which has none of the stuff they include.  And often, the Tamiya kit is a reissued older mold with no improvement.  Sounds fishy to me. Don't get me wrong, Tamiya has some great kits, but just because they are Tamiya is not a reason to warship them.   And they are "Shake-and-Bake" easy.  Great for beginners, but some of us do like a little more challenging of a build.

First off, not all Tamiya kits are shake and bake. Try some of their older offerings.

Second, Gino is right. Tamiya offers stuff like indies and PE screens to upgrade their kits, when Dragon gives it to you for less.

Third, the shake-and-bake is a varying term. To some, even Tamiya's newer kits aren't perfect and need certain attention which detracts from the so-called "builds itself" so to speak.

Fourth, some of us do like an easy build, for lack of time or skill. Personally, I don't need a 1000 piece kit, 500 of them unecessary, to build a replica. Just my 

My only issue with the "Shake-and-Bake" kits is the price for the level of detail that is usually not there.  Yes, they go together easily, but they are missing or have poor details.  For the price that Tamiya charges, they should be that "well engineered" and have superb details, along with all the items that should be on it. 

Case in point, the new Tamiya LeClerc tells you you have to buy their extra PE screen set to complete it.  What the hell!!  Other companies (Dragon, Trumpeter, etc.) can generally produce a much better detailed model, which includes PE, multiple options, and extras, and it is half the price of the same Tamiya model which has none of the stuff they include.  And often, the Tamiya kit is a reissued older mold with no improvement.  Sounds fishy to me.

Don't get me wrong, Tamiya has some great kits, but just because they are Tamiya is not a reason to warship them.   And they are "Shake-and-Bake" easy.  Great for beginners, but some of us do like a little more challenging of a build.

crockett wrote:

there is a certain amount of contempt for those "well engineered" kits (Tamiya?). The idea that they are engineered to make the mediocre modeler look good is a sticking point with a lot of the community. regards, Steve

Huh? People are complaining they DON'T spend enough time filling, sanding, filing, and correcting to get a decent looking model? Who are these people? Please let them know there are very good medications any qualified psychiatrist will be happy to prescribe. Are they also complaining they no longer have party lines on the phone, that they have indoor plumbing and the car no longer comes with a crank to start it?

The only resentment I've heard is to the the constant re-release of kits from ancient molds that don't meet the current standards of rpoduction, to poorly researched kits and to kits that require too much work to build up well.

I'd never heard that term..... of course, I've only recently been back into modeling after more than 20 years.

I kinda like a kit with lots of detail and good engineering. Comparing my Revell Mk. II Spitfire with my Accurate Miniatures P-51A- I'll be glad to have both on my shelf, but the Spit was a bit of a hassle because of fit, etc. Heck, though, I'll build anything.

Plus, "shake-and-bake" makes me hungry for some chicken, now that I think about it. :-)

I can understand your frustration, but you must face the fact that there is a certain amount of contempt for those "well engineered" kits (Tamiya?). The idea that they are engineered to make the mediocre modeler look good is a sticking point with a lot of the community.

The satisfaction of taking a less than "well engineered kit" and making it into a thing of beauty is a direct statement to modeling skill and, like it or not, feeds the ego.

Let these statements roll off your shoulder and just have fun with them, anxiety over semantics has no place in the "fun" hobby that we are engaged in.

 

regards,

Steve