discussion Should I ruin another kit?

[Flip]

Without a doubt, yes. DON'T PANIC, CONTINUE MODELLING :smiling5:
With each and every model you learn something new.
And it will just get better and better :thumb2:

 

[colin m]

Even now, after years building, when I open a new kit, with loads of parts, I sort of think 'Are we ready for this' ? Sometimes, no. I put it down. But eventually, I pick the cutters up, and we start.

 

[BarryW]

The whole point of modelling is to have fun. What you must avoid is getting stressed over it. Mistakes happen and they are part of the learning curve, just roll with it.

It’s frustrating when a kit actually fights you due to poor design, fit and/or instructions, in which case once the fun stops and it really starts getting to you, dump the kit.

Where it’s my mistake and i still make plenty, I just try to learn from it and make the best of it. The key is to enjoy it and to select subjects that interest you.

 

[Flip]

The whole point of modelling is to have fun. What you must avoid is getting stressed over it. Mistakes happen and they are part of the learning curve, just roll with it.

I know it's true Barry, but it does me good to keep hearing it from time to time. Thanks. :thumb2:

 

[Peter Gillson]

One thing I forgot to add is keeping sub-standard builds provides useful models to practice painting and weathering. i have practices different camo schemes on old models. It doesn't matter what they are - I've practices ww3 german cammo on post war british AFVs!.

Peter

 

[Miko]

Scale modeling is a learning process, we start out not really knowing what to expect and through experience we improve,
and because of that process it's a series of problem solving exercises, this is good!

If your starting point is 'I don't want to ruin another kit' then that's really being hard on yourself, you managed to recover your helicopter kit, so, if something goes wrong with your next kit, you'll find a way to put it right! For me it's all about planning and taking time to complete the build properly, I have made many horrific mistakes,

Using a big blob of polystyrene cement in a nose cone to fix ballast weight, I had a Tornado ADV with a wrinkly nose for a couple of months before it cured enough to sand and fill back into shape.

I've fixed tail planes, landing gear doors and everything else that's symmetrically opposite on the wrong side,

Thought I knew better than the instructions and left parts off to make painting easier only to find they don't fit once the fuselage is closed up!

Not adding enough ballast weight to prevent a tailsitter, drilled a hole in the forward bulkhead of the nose landing gear and slotted lead shot through the hole!

Poor preparation for paint job, painting on a kit that has been stood for a while and gathered dust makes for an interesting finish! I'm yet to find a paint I cannot strip back to bare plastic and repaint, (take a bow MrMuscle oven cleaner)

The worst was when I melted a kit (Frog Fairey Delta 2) by leaving it too close to a fan heater to dry the paint! layers of plasticard to build up the sagging aera before sanding back to shape and rescribing panel lines

Part dissolved an under carriage wheel while trying to paint strip acrylic paint with Tamiya lacquer thinner, shaped it the best I could and live with it until I find an after market replacement, that build is in 'Miko retrospective' see if you can find it!

Losing bits to the carpet monster, I had a Jaguar with 'bicycle' undercarriage for a while! Clear back the furniture and give the floor a good vacuuming then sift through the detritus in the dust recepticle, the lost part turns up most of the time!
The longest the carpet monster held a part to ransom was over ten years! Only when we had a new carpet fitted did the Matchbox 1/72 SAAB Tunnan canopy turn up!

As a boy I was frustrated with a build, it was a German night fighter, (can't remember which?) with an antenii array on the nose, it just wouldn't go right and I kept breaking bits off, I lost my temper and threw it at the wall, i was literally in tears! Spent the next day putting it back together again, wasn't perfect, but it hung from my bedroom ceiling for many years as a constant reminder that patience really is a virtue worth having

There are more but I think that's enough!

Miko (I really don't understand why guys bin kits, there is always salvage to be had)

 

[Guest]

I really don't understand why guys bin kits

Same. I put models that are giving me too much grief back into the box, or I might even try to sell them (possibly for nothing more than postage), but throw it in the bin …?!

 

[Miko]

Same. I put models that are giving me too much grief back into the box, or I might even try to sell them (possibly for nothing more than postage), but throw it in the bin …?!

Always something salvageable

Miko (frugal northerner)

 

[Dave Ward]

Always something salvageable

Miko (frugal northerner)

The technical term is 'reduced to produce' - like ' constructive total loss ' means a write off!
Eschew obfuscation.......................
Dave

 

[Miko]

The technical term is 'reduced to produce' - like ' constructive total loss ' means a write off!
Eschew obfuscation.......................
Dave

Management speak eh? Cah!

Makes you wanna 'degastrificate' your lunch! Ha!

Miko (styrene assembificator)

 

[Guest]

Making mistakes is part and parcel of modelling. You should see my 'shelf of doom' of models I built but are not up to scratch for one reason or another. I try to look at the model, what went wrong and how I can ensure the same mistake happens again - usually a different one will happen!

Shelf of doom! haha, I love it.

 

[Miko]

Shelf of doom! haha, I love it.

An all to common situation for those with 'advanced modellers syndrome'

Miko (mostly immune)

 

[Guest]

So just trying to get opinions here (didn't want to make a new thread and annoy the poor mods)

I wish to build an aircraft next, not done one in 40+ years, but which to do?
Yes I bought a Lancaster yesterday but hmmm. i'm not sure I'm up to tackling that just yet, but I do own these:

1:- Airfix 1/72 Lancaster B.III Special
2:- Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-10
3:- Hasegawa 1/72 F-4 Phantom (bought before I realised some 1/72 kits are too small for me)
4:- Eduard 1/48 Fokker D.VII
5:- Airfix 1/48 Hawker Sea Fury FB.II
6:- Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk Vb
7:- Hobbyboss 1/48 A-10 Thunderbolt 2
8:- Revell 1/32 P-51D Mustang

but which to start.. hmmm choices!

 

[The Smythe Meister]

So just trying to get opinions here (didn't want to make a new thread and annoy the poor mods)

I wish to build an aircraft next, not done one in 40+ years, but which to do?
Yes I bought a Lancaster yesterday but hmmm. i'm not sure I'm up to tackling that just yet, but I do own these:

1:- Airfix 1/72 Lancaster B.III Special
2:- Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-10
3:- Hasegawa 1/72 F-4 Phantom (bought before I realised some 1/72 kits are too small for me)
4:- Eduard 1/48 Fokker D.VII
5:- Airfix 1/48 Hawker Sea Fury FB.II
6:- Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk Vb
7:- Hobbyboss 1/48 A-10 Thunderbolt 2
8:- Revell 1/32 P-51D Mustang

but which to start.. hmmm choices!

I'd say "ease yourself in gently", don't take on too much, therefore,my vote would go to the Tamiya Spitfire

 

[Jim R]

My approach ....
Each new model I start I try to build and paint it as well as I possibly can. I try to double check the instructions, I try to be patient and prepare and dry fit parts carefully, I try to do the best painting and weathering I can. I try to make it as good as I can.
You'll notice that I "try" but all the trying in the world doesn't prevent mistakes. This thread is testament to the fact that even really skilled and experienced modellers make many c***-ups.
Perhaps my approach can be summed up as "Do your best, put mistakes behind you and never forget it is just a hobby".
So crack open that box Steve - start cutting and glueing.

 

[Andy the Sheep]

First of all, Steve, enjoy building kits: it's supposed to be fun.
Do not worry too much about mistakes, mankind progress is mainly based on an incredible amount of mistakes (e.g.: me thinking I would finish a build within the time limits of a Group Build ) and some, rare, good result (e.g.: .... can't remember one :tongue-out3.
Moreover, we get enough sadness and punishment from real life; there's no need to self inflict useless pain on us through an overly critical approach about our hobbies.
Finally, to stand out from the dullness of the average mankind, we modellers try to do learn from our mistakes to positively progress in the kingdom of knowledge.:rolling::nerd::smiling4:

My more serious advice: I would try with the Sea Fury: it's Airfix 2018, so it should not be over complicated (according to the instructions sheet available on Scalemates:rolling, with good details, folded or not folded wings option, a simple painting scheme and it's a nice and impressive model when on the shelf, maybe with a small base reproducing an aircraft carrier deck.

 

[Guest]

3:- Hasegawa 1/72 F-4 Phantom (bought before I realised some 1/72 kits are too small for me)

Oh, then you’ll be alright with this kit — if there’s one thing Phantoms are, it’s not small

 

[Dozent]

Hey Steve,

If you check out my thread, you'll see I'm diving into my first kit, and yeah, I've made some mistakes along the way. At first, I'll admit, I was a little disheartened. But you know what? It turned on something in me a determination to tackle those challenges head-on and push myself to do the best I possibly can.

Best regards,
Matteo

 

[Ian M]

If you want an ego booster, go for the Tamiya Spitfire. They almost build themself and look good. The decals can be a bit thick though, but normally you can get them to go down well.

 

[Guest]

Looking at my kits yesterday, I did decide on doing my Eduard Bf 109, so got it out and started reading the instructions. only to find out that I can't do it.
all the colour schemes use the mottling effect on the fuselage and theres' no way I could paint that.

so back to square one lol