Unfinnished kits , own up guys

[Gern]

Oh Gods! I've lost count of the number of unfinished kits I have! Must be 12-15 at least. I tend to stop a build if I run into a problem that I can't solve quickly (Usually I need to try and correct some mistake I've made). While I'm thinking of a solution, something else will catch my eye from the stash and I'll start that - meanwhile, I'm saying to myself "I'll just do this bit while I'm waiting for a solution to my problem to come to me" - then I get engrossed in trying to finish the new kit until I run into a problem ...... etc. etc.

As for buying more than I build. Guilty as charged m'lud! I'm sure I've already got more than I'd be able to build even if I retired tomorrow and could devote all my time to it, but I can't resist all these bargains I find at the shows and on ebay. How about the Polar Lights 1/350 Enterprise for £57 inc. P&P! Who could resist that little beauty?

Oh well. It's all part of the fun and I'm doing what I want to do so I'm happy enough! I guess modelling means different things to different folks, but we should all be approaching our hobby in the way that suits us individually.

Gern

[Guest]

Have an airfix 1/24 bike which really just needs decaling, it was an entry for a brushed gb but my modelling mojo took a hike and I completely lost the go. Also have a tamiya lotus 7, done as the prisoner no 6 car, ness windscreen, wipers, hubcaps, rear lights and some little bits.

[Guest]

I always start out with one single project in mind, aiming for full and undisturbed attention to that one project. For some reason though, I tend to end up with extended periods of waiting time (Curing, missing materials for detailing and such) and because, once I'm in the "Zone" it's hard to break out, especially as time reserved for modelling is getting increasingly scarce - so I break open one from the stash, being that the compressor tank is all full and my tools are lined up ready for action anyway.

/Daniel

[Guest]

Modelling's supposed to be done for pleasure, if it gets you stressed what's the point

Just chill, enjoy yourself, don't get uptight about mistakes or not finishing a kit

:vacat:

[BarryW]

I just do one at a time through to finishing... I am no multi-tasker!!

[homechild]

Apart from a terrible airfix corsair with awful moulding

Please don't tell me this is the 1/72 Airfix Corsair with the RAF (or FAA) colours is it?

Other than that I generally only have one project on the go at any time, I have to confess to binning a miniart building because I totally messed it up (a repair was way beyond my expertise) and I just started a Huey that's gone back on the shelf in favour of something that'll give me less issues!

[Guest]

I have a 350th Prince of Wales and a 72nd Flower class corvette which have gone back in their boxes. The PoW kit is about 6 years old, while the corvette is about 24 years old. I gave it to my sister, who had it all that time and didnt build it; she gave it back to me, I started the hull then decided I needed to learn how to spray before I continued with either of them!

[Guest]

I have to admit to 6 unfinished kits on the go with 5 at the painting/final assembly stages and the 6th, an old model of shell Welder tanker just needing deck railings that i'm in 2 minds about whether to use the supplied vynil rails or make my own brass ones. I also have a huge very long term scratchbuild project thats lasted 8 years so far

[slupanter]

All 1:35

Panther A late w/PE and Crew

Quad 2cm w/crew

3.7cm AA Flak 43

Tiger P

Porsche king tiger (paper panzer)

251 walking stuka

1:24 Stuka

12x SS grens

1:72 Zero

Schwimmwagon w/ PE and crew

Kubelwagon w/PE and Crew

stug 3 98% there

Oh the shame

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Richy

It's been a while since I last had a chance to post but I felt this was such an interesting point I felt obliged to contribute.

I, like you, have several projects on the go but that's not the reason for my post.

It occurred to me that my attitude to model building has changed over the years. When I first returned to the hobby some 10 years ago I'd buy a kit and see it through to the end, making a few mistakes along the way but ultimately achieving a finished result with which I was happy at the time. 10 years later, many techniques tried and refined, some yet to be mastered I find myself approaching the workbench with a completely different point of view. I now go into a modelling session with a particular result or specific objective in mind eg.construct the interior of an aircraft, paint and weather the tracks of a tank, work on my figure/face painting etc etc. In this way I don't really care whether I have 1, 6 or 20 kits on the go, I get the result and satisfaction from finishing exactly what I set out to do when I sat down. It also focuses the mind on the task in hand.

For me this 'micro' approach to kit building works very well. It means that you approach the model in a good frame of mind each and every time you approach the bench and you never feel this part of the build is 'a bit of a chore' (which has been mentioned previously). I'd be lying if I didn't say that certain builds have been frustrating - it is a fun hobby, but being human frustrations can and do occur! Don't get me wrong, I always have an end game in mind and I'm careful to ensure that these mini sessions come together as a cohesive whole but this whole is not the be-all and-end-all, the journey in getting there is.

For me the hobby is not just building and painting - I have a genuine interest in history and feel this is every bit as important a part of modelling. If a modelling session means spending a morning gathering reference, working out camo patterns, researching terrain, the particular regiments involved etc then this is a morning well spent.

Not that it matters but this is what I currently have in the 'in tray':-

1/16 Tommy figure (needs only the regiment patches painting - working up the courage to sign write letters less than 1mm tall!)

1/16 RC Tiger (yes, it's still on the go and is a very exciting project that I want to be right)

3 x 1/48 FW 190s - 2 A8s and a Dora

1 x 1/48 Me 262 with Verlinden interior/detail set

1/35 Scratch build/kit bash Sexton self propelled gun (going to purchase the Bronco 25pdr gun to replace ageing Tamiya offering). This is a tribute to my Grandfather mentioned in a previous post.

1/48 Eurofighter (almost complete just needs decals and finishing)

All these are at various stages of build/completion and I do intend to finish them all. There isn't a single one on that list that I didn't feel was up to my own standards, to be honest I can't remember the last kit I binned, it has to be 8 years ago at least.

I wouldn't beat yourself up over the amount of kits you've got on the go, I certainly don't feel any shame in it! My view is just go with what works for you. If the number of builds is piling up and space is becoming an issue then that's your motivation for finishing a few!

Anyway, that's my 10 pence worth.

All the best

Paul

Ps. I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like because of work commitments and also a number of commission builds that, because of a lack of time, I've not been able to share with everyone. In the new year I hope to finish my 1/16 Tiger and Tommy figure and then post some in depth build threads.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Xmas and new year and hope you get all the kits you've been wishing for!

[Guest]

Too many to mention.

I only got back into kits because I bought them for drawing references for my artwork. I used to knock them up very quickly with unpainted cockpits and so on. The exteriors were never painted either, although decals were sometimes applied. You see, unpainted models or grey primed ones show up the lighting/shadows nicely when creating a piece of art. I then thought what a waste and made one from scratch - it all began from there really........

However, unfinished are:

1/72 Airfix P-61 (terrible quality kit and canopy doesn't fit at all).

1/72 Academy P-51D Mustang (the lowered flaps wouldn't fit well so I abandoned it.

1/72 Tamiya Mossie - built for a commission for a book cover and never painted.

1/72 Academy Wildcat - again, was used for a painting I was doing so assembled but never painted.

1/72 Academy -B-17G - another used for a commissioned painting. I seem to remember the wings were a terrible fit.

1/72 Airfix B-29 - bought for a painting that never happened and partly built.

1/72 Hasegawa K-45 - as above; in fact this was also to be in the same painting as the B-29. It was depicting a ramming attack. However, I found another artist had done the same event on one of the Osprey book covers!

1/72 Airfix Mk1 Spit - an ancient model with very few parts, but provided a good lighting model.

Most of the above have unpainted cockpits so I've never touched them since. I suppose they've all paid for themselves, so that's good thing.

[Guest]

I've got the Revell 1:48 Rafale M to finish, but that is because I'm waiting for the airbrush that I will eventually buy so I can paint it properly. The only other unfinhsied kit I've got from this year was the Revell 1:48 Lunar Lander that I had started scratch building an interior for but then my Tamiya Challenger tank kit arrived and I got somewhat distracted

Apart from that I've been quite good this year! Currently trying to make some progress on the Bablyon 5 Starfury with the added lighting kit!

[colin m]

Without a doubt, I'm a one kit at a time sort of person. Generally speaking...................

Colin M...........

[Guest]

I tend to have two on the go at any given time, so I can alternate one with the other while things are drying/curing/etc.

Currently the ARII P-40 Warhawk, my first attempt at 1/48 and my first attempt at PE parts, and the MasterCraft 1/72 PZL P.7c

[Centurion3RTR]

Hi all, well here i am tail between my legs and i've got a confession to make. The last six models are as some would say 'unfinished', i would say they're heading for the bin. I can't get into it, i just seem to fluff it up at the moment. But as for true unfinished kits i have just the one (seven LOL), and that's USS Voyager, i'm still getting the parts together to go inside.

Have fun, John