Are you suffering from AMS?

[Guest]

Hello awesome people,


Yesterday I read few articles about AMS (Advanced Modeler Syndrome), are you guys/gal suffering from this? I even read there are modeler trying to duplicate the number of rivets with the actual thing. Is it that important? perfectionist? OCD? Never build OOB?


It just amazes me how people go the extra miles to duplicate their references.

[Wong Ryan]

99% of my build is OOB ...


Being detailed will be too stressful ... building model kit is supposed to relieve my stress and an enjoyable hobby.

[Guest]

i must suffer from the hidden version of this as most of any extra detail I do is unable to be seen when things go together. It's only then do I think why on earth did I bother. Doesn't stop me from doing it again though...

[Guest]

Not by the moment


Anyway I want to take more care with the details on my builds in a near future!!!


But with a good paintwork you have solved the 80% of the model O_o

[Alan 45]

I'm an OOB builder unless it's a warship but then I only go down the minimalist route, decking and hand rails


I really don't see the point to it as once all the pe and so forth is painted only you know it's been added , I doubt there are very many that could actually tell a gun barrel on a hurricane MKIIC is aftermarket or not


As for hidden detail that gets my goat why add instruments halfway down a fuselage? Once it's together you can't see it


And as for rivets well that the height of OCD or CDO as they like it in order

[PaulTRose]

im definatly not a rivet counter,

[Guest]

all my models must be in perfect condition, otherwise they look like crap for me see my aventador built


i dont know OOB and OCD abbrevations stand for, OCD; Orange County Dildos maybe ops: but i must admit that i am suffering AMS even i am not an advenced modeller.

[Guest]

Rivet counter OOB AMS it all add up to the same thing.


All model makers are on the brink. Or even kinky. Thinks no may be it is the drink.


Laurie

[Richi72]

All of the above but I don't count rivets


I build out of the box (OOB) I use PE were it is needed and use after market parts.


I am Most of the time very picky with my models or dioramas they need to satisfy me and thats hard for me to do, but that does not mean I count the rivets.


Cheers Richi

[Guest]

OOB for me..... The end result is of less importance to me... I enjoy the process of getting there... Gave my finished Beetle to my 5yr old granddaughter to play with

[Alan 45]

There's nothing wrong with building a model to as perfect as possible the problem comes when elitists pull others up about there build ,


It's all about tolerance , ive seen builds look just as fantastic OOB as with an extra £40 spent in aftermarket extras


We are all builder of the plastic and should all feel the love

[Guest]

I, for one am so glad that these more obsessional modellers exist, as I feel their research and knowledge makes them guardians of history, this seemingly insignificant detail (to some) would get lost in this homogenised and dumbed-down world. Their skills will always amaze folks who are engaged in the subject, whatever it may be, military vehicles, 15th century boats, old glass making techniques, whatever.


However, and I write this with a certain amount of trepidation, I have a theory that in making sure that we include every detail that exists on the real thing, can lead to a model being "over detailed". Before you shout "BURN THE HERETIC", let me explain!


Let’s imagine a scenario at a public model-making exhibition. A tank enthusiast looks at a model of a say, King Tiger, they will know what they are looking at, they will expect to see details that they know are there, and will register the fact that they are missing. A viewer who has a more general interest in model making may be unaware of these finer points of detail, and not miss them at all, happy to enjoy the overall effect of the skills of the model maker. A complete stranger to the world of model making will most likely register the model as “a tank” and then fall back on what seems a common, but strong attraction that we all have for miniature things – probably a throwback to their childhood and toys. All of these responses are valid, and, of course, there are many permutations of these main elements of how we look at and perceive things. The same goes for our personal reasons for making these models, so varied and diverse as to be impossible to generalize!


I was happy as a kid to just make the 1/72 aircraft, whack the transfers (as we used to call them) straight onto the plain plastic (at 10, my mum and my purse, precluded me buying loads of oil based paints, which I would have spilled everywhere, and ruined the kit!) and to a 10 year old lad, a little imagination filled in the missing stuff! Which brings me to a significant point…


As an art & design student many years ago, I was introduced to Gestalt theories of visual perception – which help explain how we perceive objects and images before us. The one that has stuck in my consciousness for the last 45 years is “Closure”:


Closure occurs when an object is incomplete or a space is not completely enclosed. If enough of the shape is indicated, people perceive the whole by filling in the missing information.


Impressionist and abstract artists have played on this phenomenon since way before it had been hypothesized, and I believe it is relevant to this discussion, if a little wordy (!). Some of the most visually convincing models, and (especially) figures I’ve seen on these pages have scant detail, but the detail that is there is the vital stuff. So I’m not looking at the fingernails, or eyelashes, but the overall impression of a figure. I will admit, that I would also be very excited about looking at a figure that does have these details; it's just that I am happy to embrace both!


So, let us embrace the whole spectrum – out of the box or every rivet counted, scratch built or snap-together, there are incredible skills demonstrated on this forum from all of these areas, and it keeps us off the streets!


Sorry, I seem to have written an essay, but the initial post re-kindled thoughts I’ve had since returning to this hobby!

[dave]

Whatever floats your boat. I like my models to look good when finished and to be identifiable (to the level of that's a MkI Hurricane or a MkIX spitfire). But I don't feel the urge to get every single detail spot on.

[stona]

John has hit on something akin to my own theory above.


I like to build models to references and will therefore attempt to replicate that reference to give a good impression of the original. This extends to getting the right version of the subject and even scratching some minor but obvious deviations from the kit. It does not extend to counting rivets or spending fortunes on after market parts that will most likely be invisible when the model is displayed in my home.


The most important element of my endeavour is invariably the painting. 99.9% of the people who will see my models can't tell a Spitfire V from a Spitfire IX and they certainly won't recognise an Me 162 or a Bachem 'Natter'. All of them will spot a camouflage pattern different from the photo behind the model.


It's for the same reason that, unless a requirement of my reference, my models are almost always built 'closed up'. I don't fit the bits that I don't have to. I'm building for myself, not competition judges.


That's just me! I have no problem with people who take things to what some might consider an extreme. Like John, I think they perform a valuable service in the interests of accuracy, long may they continue. I just don't have the skill or patience to be one of them.


Each to their own, this is supposed to be fun! We should all enjoy the hobby, whether building OOB or counting those pesky rivets matters not at all.


Cheers


Steve (who has just demonstrated considerable ingenuity in removing the Spitfire flap superglued to his thumb!)

[Guest]

Well just to add my tuppence worth I am never ever fully happy with anything I build (I came close with the 2 1/6 bikes I've just finished) but in all honesty I don't think I ever will be regardless of how much after market stuff I put on it or scratch building I do, I think that is a good tthing, because it makes you force yourself to improve. If for instance I built things that I was always happy with, where is the motivation to continue, I am pretty sure we would all get bored and wander off to find another