Advice not required then?

[AlanG]

I've been involved in a conversation regarding a model built by someone. He's built a beautiful Hobbyboss Tornado GR4 and it's going to feature in an upcoming article in Scale Aircraft Modelling Magazine.

Now i do not consider myself as a 'rivet counter' or anything like that but when someone goes to such lengths to make the model accurate and then add crew figures to the 'diorama' then imho they should make it someway remotely realistic. I know on this fine forum we all enjoy, and quite rightly too, each others work. After all this hobby imho is all about enjoyment.

The model is beautifully finished and i cannot fault the detail added to make it so. It is way above a standard that could ever dream of getting to.

But when i pointed out a few factual faults about the build i have had people jumping down my throat about not knowing anything and that Brian is an expert in the field of model making (i have no idea if this is true).

My point i am hopefully trying to make here is that if you build something and especially for a magazine article then surely you should be open enough to accept some criticism if something is noted to be wrong? Or is that just wishful thinking on my part? I wasn't trying to denounce his work. I on the whole loved the build.

[Ian M]

I would of thought that you line of work was by far a better qualification than that of some one that has read a book.... What ever. The most important thing is that He thinks he is right. You Know you are.

I am guessing that the person is not on this forum. As you said we build and show and if there is some thing wronge we tend to get told. Some times we wonder "what?" and then get on with our knitting.

i agree whole heartedly with what you say, I you have reached that kind of standard and cant take a helpfull suggestion....

So what should we all be looking for in Scale Aircraft MM?

Ian M

[AlanG]

As i said Ian i cannot fault the detail. It is stunning. And even better it's a 14 Sqn aircraft which is one of my old Squadrons. It wasn't the builder himself that has got the hump. It's other people.

The model is a 1/48 Hobby Boss Tornado GR4 done in 14 Sqn 90th Anniversary colours.

[stona]

If you submit a model to a magazine or enter a competition then you have to accept that it is open to criticism. Criticism is not of itself a negative word. I think a constructive word should be accepted in the spirit in which it was intended. Slagging someone's model off (and I'm not for a moment suggesting that's the case here) is unacceptable in any circumstances.

People can be thin skinned,I have been known to send a friendly and hopefully helpful PM to avoid even the chance of causing embarassment on a public forum. I've received the same and not been in the least offended,infact I may have made the correction public.

Everyone who builds for a bit of fun and to their own level can post a model on this site and be sure of help and encouragement,a positive response, which is a very good and uncommon thing.

Cheers

Steve

[AlanG]

Steve i would never slag off a model. Everyone is at different standards and i just hope they enjoyed building it. That is the paramount part of this hobby imho.

The points i raised in particular (and you'll see when it's published) were that the engines are running with the steps fitted, canopy strut fitted, reverse buckets partially deplyed, airbrakes out and no aircrew in the cockpit. Maybe i'm just being too critical but being an ex-Tornado man i just like to see them portayed correctly lol.

[Guest]

You have a perfectly valid point and someone who has had direct dealings with the aircraft in question and their operation should, in theory, have the best idea of accuracy in a diorama.

I know what you mean about thin skinned though.

A motorbike forum i frequent had a recent post on a paint job someones had done and they were recommending the painter, the paint looked very good, (which I said), but the website is absolutely awful, it's poorly laid out, not optimised, and overall amueterish, this is OK for a personal site but as a 'shop front' it's just not, (imagine Johns website having a single page with randomly scattered pictures of the goods he's selling and you'll get the idea)

Now I mentioned this and gave my reasoning citing a professional painters website as a 'for example' of a well laid out site.

Since that I have had nothing but abuse pointed at me by people just not grasping the content of my post though a later one I posted tried to clarify it, i've now given up trying, as above, this was primarily other forum members and not the OP himself.

All this becuase I was trying to be helpful, as said, critiscism is a positive thing, it allows improvement and correction of errors if acted upon.

I know I take liberties with my models but I have no intention of showing them professionally or using them as an 'how it should be done' thing, if I were to model a very specific craft then I would frankly be very grateful for any assistance in getting the details correct, especially so if it was a vehicle I wasn't too familiar with.

It's a shame that some people just fly off the cuff and take umbrage

[Gern]

You know what they say Al: "If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined". With some folks, it doesn't matter how justified your comments are or how they are phrased, they will get upset by the slightest suggestion that they have something wrong with their masterpiece.

"Men will give up anything rather than what they want to believe. And hate you for telling them there’s nothing to believe. And even if you prove it to them, they’ll continue to believe, and hate you for proving them foolish." Louis L'Amour

Leave 'em to it! It ain't worth the hassle. Do what we all do best on this forum and enjoy our hobby. Take pleasure out of your accomplishments, and if it ain't quite perfect - there's always the next one .....

Gern

[Guest]

If your work is off a standard where you show it in a magazine, then constructive feedback should be welcomed,and listened to. I would be greatful for any input good or bad, alas how do we improve. But I would welcome any feedback from someone who has been up close to the real thing. I love the Bf109, and would cherish input from anyone who flew,worked on one, or just seen one in the flesh.

I agree 100% with your comment of "open enough to accept some criticism" .

[Guest]

I'm afraid every one is different and this is demonstrated by thier reaction to critisism as much as anything else. Some actively encourage it and some are completely dismissive. If it was me and I had made a model and had access to someone who had first hand knowledge of it's operation I would be asking thier for input and making the model accordingly.

Unfortunately some modellers are not as open and because they are good modellers seems to think that makes them experts in any given subject (and any other associates continue this misconception!) . I wouldn't worry but always approach advice with caution until you know it is going to be recieved positively or not.

[AlanG]

I have to say it isn't the builder of the model that's getting their hair up. He probably doesn't even know the comments have been made lol. After a bit of googling i've found more out about the builder. Have to say he does make some mighty fine models and is an IPMS member in the UK.

I've stopped commenting on it now as this is supposed to be a fun hobby. I suppose that's why i stick with this forum. Everyone is friendly and helpful with no serious rivet counters in your face.

[Guest]

...and long may that continue!!:cool2:

[Guest]

I recently quit another forum because of this Al, I still cannot get over the school playgroundity of the situations on several occasions. When someone gets jumped on for pointing out a factual error, that's completely out of order and not why people appear on these forums...

Obviously the details aren't as important to some as the model itself! first hand experience like yours should be used to advantage, not some petty needling!!

Stuart