Should I ruin another kit?

[Guest]

Hi guys, Well I was hoping to start a new kit today but rather that being excited about it, I'm thinking "Do I really want to ruin another nice kit?"
and, well.. I'm not sure I do. My heli was disasterous and my enthusiasm and excitment took a massive hit.

So the reason for this thread, back when you guys were new to the hobby or had just came back to it after many years break,
did you ever made massive mistakes and did these ever put you off from continuing or starting on another kit?

if so, how did you deal with it (although I guess if you quit, you wouldn't be here.)

[spanner570]

Steve, The main thing is you have had the balls to post your mistakes. that is to be admired.

I still make mistakes of some sort with all of my stuff. Show me someone that claims not to and I'll show you someone who tells porkies!

It's all part of the learning curve. You will have learned from your Heli., so get over it and move on to the next model.

This game is all about fun. If you start to think negative, snap out of it right away!

Consider the above a mild bo***cking.

Ron

P.S. Don't bin the chopper, send it to me. A model is never that bad and can always be 're- cycled' in some form or other.......

[Mark1]

I just went with cheap kits,simple build and paint.when i messed them up, learn how i could improve next time and have another go, its difficult to get a kit looking like the vision in your head at the best of times,first goal was to concentrate and practice getting things glued together reasonably neatly and when your happy with that then concentrate on getting a reasonable paint finish,dont even bother about weathering for the time being.its a hobby which requires a fair bit of self teaching. Patience and practice is the key, like learning to play an instrument youll be rubbish to start with but get better with time.

[Waspie]

Steve, I am new to this, under a year and only three completed kits under the belt.
Like you I started with a Sea King, albeit the Crab SAR version. (Apologies to Rick!!!) In my favour, I was familiar with the SK having flown in them. BUT it was still daunting.
My biggest fear was kit number two, a tank!! Again, luckily I had worked around the things for a few years.
I guess what I'm taking a long time getting to is; I chose kits I was familiar with. As such I found the subject matter easier!!
If you enjoyed the build, for me, choose something you're interested in or have in common.
As for mistakes, yup, still making them. Do they put me off? Nah. The weather puts me off!! Not being able to work on my current build - frustrating. Put off - Nope.
Onwards and upwards - learn from mistakes. I try to make sure my mistakes aren't repeated.
The secret is enjoying whatever you do.

[davecov]

I am in my Sixties and been modelling since I was 8 years old, although I did have an absence of 25 years or more. Since coming back to modelling in 2005 I have made lots of models and lots of mistakes. Rather than get bogged down with builds when they get too stressful, I put them to one side and start another kit. One model I am making at the moment has almost 1800 parts and if I was to concentrate solely on that build, I would be completely gaga before it gets finished.

As frustrating as mistakes may be, they are a part of modelling (and life in general). I accept that is easier to be put off when you are new to or just returning to modelling but you will learn to accept them and gain experience from them. Forums like these are full of great pictures of completed models but there are also great build threads where you will find how those builds were achieved. It is very rare for those build threads to complete without out a problem or two along the way but importantly, everybody learns when those problems are shared and solved, not just the builders.

My signature has a quote from Salvador Dali that says "Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." It is a great quote and something to bear in mind when you finish a model. Even if you think it is a perfect or rubbish build, your experiences (good and bad) will be beneficial to you when you do your next build. That is how you improve.

Dave

[Guest]

1800 parts! oh my word, that's both amazing and terrifying haha.

Thanks for the comments everyone, I'm looking at my stash and trying to pick a model to attempt next, I think it'll be between the Tamiya 1/35 Churchill Tank and the Eduard 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109-G10.

[Mark1]

I could be wrong but i think a couple of the guys had a few fit issues with the eduard 109,having a read through the build section might be an idea.
Cant go to far wrong putting a tamiya together.

[Andy T]

I absolutely made mistakes when I started out a few years ago, and I'm still making them now, I've just got better at fixing or hiding them :tears-of-joy:

Please don't let it put you off continuing though. If something didn't turn out as you wanted use it as a lesson for next time.

As a person with Autism I'm programmed to see anything less than a perfect result as failure. This hobby is beating that mindset out of me and I'm now more than happy if I know I've done the best I can, and more importantly, had fun doing it!

[Andy the Sheep]

I'm subscribing what Mark said: nothing better than a Tamiya kit to restore one's own pride.

[Dave Ward]

did you ever made massive mistakes and did these ever put you off from continuing or starting on another kit?

if so, how did you deal with it (although I guess if you quit, you wouldn't be here.)

OOh yes - running before you can walk! Overestimating your capabilities! You can get discouraged, but you have to tell yourself that nobody makes museum models from the get go! Recognising and learning from your mistakes is part of becoming a better modeller. If you have to abandon a model, use it to practice painting, masking - I have guinea pig models that are harlequin/piebald through experiments. You might try an easier model to build the confidence - the HobbyBoss easy assembly series are ideal for that - very good fit there are a whole load of 1/72, as well as 1/48 & are cheap enough - I did afew in-box reviews of one or two https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threa...-review.38931/ & also here https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threa...-review.38759/
They can restore confidence & help a failing mojo
Dave

[David Lovell]

Steve ive always tried to enjoy it dont bench up because you feel you have to ,build when you want to ,the biggest get out clause in this hobby is to compare your work to other peoples dont ,be inspired by it yes but never compair ,I always try and make the present one better than the last if I do job done if not as long as ive learnt why it wasn't and can take it away with me job done.

[Tworrs]

Welcome to the club Steve, we have all been there, and come out the other end stronger.
You will make mistakes, it's called learning.

[stillp]

Steve, you didn't ruin that kit, you just made a couple of beginner's mistakes, same as most of us if not all.
Pete

[papa 695]

I found that each kit I built, learning from the mistakes I made on the last one, seemed to be a little better. And that still counts today, all these years later. If you don’t start that next kit you never will get better.

[Valeron]

Steve,

I understand where you're coming from. I've only been doing this a couple of years and I've made and still make loads of mistakes. And it is very frustrating.

I find taking a short break is often a good thing or swapping to another model. As other people have said, you can get relatively cheap.kits where you can practise skills on then.

I'm currently having a bit of a breather as the BI plane got too much for me but I will back on it shortly.

Also keep posting, including any mistakes. It's all a learning curve and many of the experienced people on here have been there and will offer advice for the future.

But I wouldn't give up, unless you really don't enjoy it.

Mike