Are most modelers specialists?

Tom,

I think you're fairly accurate in your observations. There seem to be 3 broad categories of modelers; Generalists - who build just about anything, Genre Specialists - who primarily build one type of model (armor, A/C, etc), and Super Specialists - who focus primarily on a specific genre, nationality, and time period (for example Allied Vietnam Era Aircraft). There are varying degrees of specialization within these three categories and you could probably find more than 100 individual "nitches" within our hobby. Also, it's not uncommon for modelers to switch between areas of interest throughout their modeling lives.

For me, the primary nitch is WWII Military Subjects (armor, softskins, guns) from all nationalities in 1/35 scale. While I will build something different every once and a while, 90% of my builds fall into this area.

Yes there is no doubt that there are specialists, and I would say most are..  Since I am aviation buff it is aircraft for me.  You will even notice it in the forums.  I almost never got he the other sections, ships, armor etc.  But when I do I see modeler's handles that I have never seen before so they are not venturing out of their area either.  Just seems natural to hang with the people that share the common interest.  Using Robert's definition I am probably close to a super specialist.... Aircraft/WWII/Fighters... at least for now.

Personally, I build what looks appealing to me at the moment.  I have a lot of fun building armors because there is not much putty and sanding to do (I hate putty and sanding) and I also love weathering and armor is the better subject for that.  But I also like to build other things.  I've built a F/A-18C Hornet lately and I enjoyed it (except the putty and sanding which ended up getting the plane sitting on the bench for several months before having the courage to finish it) and I'm currently building my first battleship (and progress has been very slow lately cause I'm stuck at a putty and sanding step)

Good topic and yes we are mostly specialists in one way or another with the generalists being the exception.  As someone stated earlier our area of specialization may change over the years but once we find an area that interests us we usually stick to it for a good long period of time.  My specialty is a little different in that I build anything from WWII that is in 1/72 scale.  This includes aircraft, armour and boats.  I really like the notion of having everything in the same scale and 1/72 scale has the greatest variety of subjects.  Part of the reason that I like to place limits on myself is that it reduces the spontaneous "I GOT TO HAVE THAT" knee jerk response that I get every time I walk into the LHS.  Happy modeling everyone.

I stick to 1/48 scale WWII aircraft. I recall when I was a kid modeling many years ago, I did pretty much the same thing. I like the scale, the subjects, etc. Then I think part of it was simply because most of what was on the shelves at the local store was 1/48 Monogram kits. Now, I have trouble seeing 1/72 scale stuff, 1/32 is too big for finding shelf space. And I am just really a WWII aviation fan. I never got excited about building other gneres and even time periods. I've built tanks and jets and ships.... they just never really got me going like the WWII birds.

One thing I know you become a specialist at when you get into modeling- spending!  

you may be right, modelers become specialists of sort. although i try to build many genres i will always come back to aircraft.  and if i really think about it p-40's and flying fortresses are what i tend to gravitate to.  part of it is because i have spent a great deal of time researching both.  i believe some of the builds that have the best overall finish are hawks or forts, this is because i know a great deal more about them than anything else.  when i go to buy kits i tend to look around and come home with a hawk or fort kit.  half my stash is hawks or forts.  in reality this is both a good and bad thing to me.  bad in that i could be described as being in a rut, and good in that when i build my "specialty" i go all out.  currently i have two hawks in progress.  one that has been shown here in progress (the revell 48 scale "b") and one that i havent yet (the trump 32 scale).  i can tell you this when i look to build hawks i cant just let it go when i see something wrong.  when i build other stuff i get it to where i am comfortable.

joe 

I'm a specialist, but only because the voices tell me to be that way...

Must... build... 1/48... Soccer War... Corsairs... only... 

Fade to Black... 

No specialist here, I was a Petty officer. . .dadadum.

If they put it on the shelf I will buy it. That appears to be my specialty. I have a 1/72nd helicopter collection, and a rapidly growing 1/48 helicopter collection, all USCG aircraft. I have my greatest fighters of all time collection I work on from time to time as a change of pace. Then there are my "gift kits" that I receive from well intended folks who "never know what to get me". Some I keep, some I let get away.

Now if you catagorize a specialist as one who: builds injection molded plastic kits form major manufacturers of assorted scales, then I am a specialist!!

I say build, not finish!

Don

Great Topic!  I agree with most everyone, we all tend to specialize or have a focus in something.  For me it is WW2 birds (I flip between 1:72 and 1:48, I just can't make up my mind), particularly aircraft flown by Canadians.  I also just recently bought a Tank and boat to try my hand at other types so as to expand my skills.

As for other interests, I would like to try several WW1 subject ( I love the Albatros DII/III/V)

 Although I'm a fan of the P-47, I'll build any aircraft in 1/72. I don't coinsider myself a specalist, but some might, since I only build aircraft in a single scale.

Joshua

Thanks all for your responses.  It's really given me a perspective on my fellow modelers that I never would have had otherwise.  I can see by the responses that I am far to one side of the spectrum between generalist and specialist.  A few of you build what I would consider a variety of subjects, but most are what I would call specialists.  The only question is how specialized, and that clearly depends on your point of view.  Joe builds only two types of WWII aircraft, and I think one of you said you build only one.  At least Joe realizes he's a specialist, but Joshua builds only one subject (aircraft) in one scale and is not sure if he is or not.  Clearly, it's all in your point of view.  However, being the basically anal types that we all are (let's face it, you have to be to enjoy detailing a cockpit) what we need is an OFFICIAL DEFINITION for Specialist and Generalist.  Aahh..... maybe not.   Now, if someone tells me that there really ARE such definitions I'm really going to start worrying about this hobby!

TomB     

I'll have to join you as a definate Generalist.

I'm about evenly split between props, jets, submarines, modern tanks and WWII Armor.

HoweverI would probably considered a scale specialist.  ie Only 1/35 for vehicles......1/48 for aircraft......and 1/700 for my subs.

Something just bothers me about seeing two aircraft of two different scales sitting next to each other. 

I have one poor 1/72 japanese float plane that is my only non 1/48 aircraft.  I had to banish it to another room, because it bothered me so much to see it out of scale with everything else.

Maybe Im just weird.

Am I a specialist when it comes to modeling?

Well I do mostly concentrate on one type of subject for my modeling. Mostly mid-60's to early-70's Chevrolets and some Muscle Cars from other manufacturers. I say "mostly" and "some" because there are the occasional exceptions. Such as a Buick GNX, some race cars or a Kenworth, etc... I have been interested in most of the cars I am building (or collecting in my stash) since my childhood years. For most of my builds I have gone further than I did when I was a kid. Inow research and try to match factory colors instead of grabbing a neat color off the shelf. I add details that are not included with the kits. I buff and polish the paintjobs until they glisten brightly. Oh wait... my truck is a rust bucket and the motor in my wifes car just blew.

I'm no specialist, I'am definately an analist...

i am a generalist with  3 little (strange) twists

1 i won't build 1/48 scale armor please don't ask me why,  i don't know it just turns me off

it is the only thing that does

2 i build in one genre at a time i will do 2-22 , get tired of it go to an other  smae thing  get tired  etc....

3 i build in assembly line form 2-4 at a time step one of each step two of each etc....

yeah   ok i am a

 I have built cars , ships , armor , aircraft and missils . The only that doesnt appeal to me is science fiction .