discussion Aesthetic appeal vs realism?

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

Just curious, when doing a model, will you do everything to make sure it's historically accurate? Or do you tend to lean towards aesthetic appeal when you can't have the best of both worlds, which is often the case?

Just asking.

Adrian

 

[saguy]

an interesting question .. b4 i joined here i built models which were aestheicaly appealing with little or no referencing to the actual aircraft .... i have since changed a wee bit and now take much more of an interest in the actual aircraft being described in the plans. It certainly adds to the fun a whole lot more and brings the kit to life a bit more. Steve (Stona) has shown quite a few of his models along with a historical back ground of the actual aircraft and certainly tries to replicate the model in an accurate fashion (rather succesfully too!!). His latest one of the Me262 is outstanding as is some of the me109 builds. It is everyone to their own but I am leaning more and more to making my kits a little bit more accurate in terms of history .. rgds lindsey

 

[Guest]

I'm on the same lines as Lindsey above.

I used to just do models kits as something to look at but since joining here and seeing what can be achieved i'm now quite into getting the realism of the topic rather than making it look nice.

The historian guys here certainly know their stuff and lots can be learned by us mere mortals.

 

[Guest]

I tend to go for historical accuracy, although sometimes it's good to move away from that to stretch my abilities & learn new skills.

A good current example is Ray's (sprayman) halftrack. There's no way it'd get that bad in reality, but as an example of whats possible to make plastic look like distressed metal, it's amazing!

Patrick

 

[stona]

I think there's room for both.

I usually try to build a model to represent a real aircraft with an interesting history attached to it or its pilot. I enjoy researching my projects and the challenge of replicating a reference but that's not for everyone.

There is nothing wong with building a generic model or a "what if" model. It's all supposed to be fun and we should all do what's most fun for us.

Thanks very much for being so kind about my Me262 Lindsey....I've gone all embarrassed now

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

I confess, most of the time I tend to produce "what i want to see" and not "what i should see" and make little reference to the subject Im building. Theres a famous quote, by an artist (I cant remember who): Draw what is beautiful, not what you see. So thats the rule I tend to follow most of the time. Its still best if theres both though...

Adrian

 

[Guest]

As an historical re-enactor, I always find myself striving foor my models to be as factual as I can get them. Which is why I stay away from most tamiya figures :rasta:

that smilie has nothing to do with anything, it was just the best one on their list.

 

[Guest]

Historical accuracy in a lot of cases especially where armour concerned is usually battle damaged worn out and down right neglected so that is what i try to acheive when i build personally i find it asthetically pleasing rather than factory show room pristine.

scott

 

[Guest]

personally ,i just build so that the model looks good to my eye and then hope when i post a picture that everyone else likes it.maybe in the future as my skills improve i will go for more accuracy.

 

[AlanG]

I do both. I want accuracy but i know my limitations so i make sure i enjoy looking at it when built

 

[BarryW]

I am a bit of both, its about balance for me. Enjoyment first for me too....

 

[Guest]

Balance for me too, I try to get things as accurate as possible without getting hung up about it

If I know something is definitely wrong I will correct it but it's the overall effect I like to reproduce, within my limitations

 

[Gern]

I'd like to add my 2d worth.

There's an old story about an artist. He'd painted a picture of a garden with a circular pond. A viewer pointed out that he'd painted the pond as a circle but anyone looking at it would see it as an oval shape. The artist said "You see what you see. I paint what is really there".

Making models look like the real thing requires more than just matching exact shapes and colours etc. I don't know how it's done, but lots of the guys here have the required 'magic touch'. I really wish I'd got it.

Gern

 

[Guest]

I have enough problems at my stage of modelling putting the things together as best that I can.

Now into 15 months & I have looked longingly at the artistic nature of the weathering all at different dramatic lengths.

Decided that I will carry on just concentrating on getting the things to look right. I am worried that if I start weathering I will start being slap dash in the knowledge that I can cover up poor workmanship.

Also that after spending so much time on a model that my skill at weathering will be a great disappointment if it is not well done. Tried on a small 1/72 & tetered on the point of giving it a good hammering.

Laurie

 

[AlanG]

I really wish I'd got it.Gern

Don't we all? I could use seriously improvig my techniques. But i still enjoy building

 

[Centurion3RTR]

I use to go for an accurate model, trying to find out all the history about it was all the fun. But then i stopped, i found out it can cause an argument. It was on anouther forum i don't use now but i asked a question about Zimmerits on a King Tiger, if it went into battle without it. Just one question led to five pages of arguments. Now i just build for the fun of the build and enjoy it, if it looks ok to me then i'm happy.

Have fun, John

 

[Guest]

I aim for a little of both. I like my models to be as accurate as possible so have a good library of references (built up over years for use on my artwork), but will sometimes use a little 'artistic license' to achieve a 'look' I'm trying to produce, especially when it comes to weathering.

It's basically going to be viewed myself 99.9% of the time, so number one - it must look exciting to my eyes. If others enjoy it too, that's a bonus

 

[stona]

I use to go for an accurate model, trying to find out all the history about it was all the fun. But then i stopped, i found out it can cause an argument. It was on anouther forum i don't use now but i asked a question about Zimmerits on a King Tiger, if it went into battle without it. Just one question led to five pages of arguments. Now i just build for the fun of the build and enjoy it, if it looks ok to me then i'm happy.Have fun, John

Well the most important thing is to enjoy yourself! I hope you zimmerited (is that even a word!) that tank,or not,as you wanted.

I've seen those sorts of arguments as well. A healthy debate can actually cast light on a problem but all to often more heat than light is generated.

I think everyone here agrees that in the end its your model and you should build it how you want.

Cheers

Steve

 

[Centurion3RTR]

I think everyone here agrees that in the end its your model and you should build it how you want

Nail on head there Steve mate.

The KT was the one i build a few years ago mate, 'October 1944, The Quiet Before The Storm'. I just gave up on the zim and built it how i wanted (or looked right) lol.

Have fun, John

 

[Guest]

Think in life you can not do better than be your own biggest critic.

If you can do that without becoming obsessed then life becomes competitive & exciting you want to do everything better than before. Works for me.

Once you you divide that on satisfying others then you have lost it as you lose on one or the other.

That is a bit heavy ! Must go & plant my tomatoe seeds.

Laurie