I wouldn't say I'm a very good modelmaker, but I'm certainly better than I was.
These days (when I have the time for making models) I take my time, and I have had the benefit of a lot of tips and advice from Baldwin, Crash and Bern, and Plastic Fan.
I find the modelmaking step by step threads on this forum incredibly useful, and I wish there was more of them.
Since taking up modelling again since being put out to grass I have finally found more patience rather than rushing in. I will never be a serious modeller as you see on such sites as 'missing lynx' or 'hyper scale' but my intention is only to entertainment myself. I would agree that work from others is always a source of ideas. At the moment the Strelet range of British artillery are certainly keeping me entertained especially with the likes of Ian P's and many other skilled modellers giving lots of ideas to ponder on. The one thing I have found is that you do not have to buy expensive models to get reasonable results unless you want to submit to some of the societies!
Well, certainly practice has helped me a lot. And I think that building a model in a couple of hours (paint and decals included) as I did in my childhood was perhaps a bit rushed to get "box top results".
Anyway, I still wish I had such an intense fun as when I ended a model full of fingerprints and spending half a glue tube on each kit.
As far as my modelling activities are concernded, couldn't put it better than PDA and RCD did.
When modelling pages on the internet became available, I learned a lot, but I have not been making progress for some time - which is also due to having less modelling time now. Regards, Pat
For me I was always inspired by the models that others built. This led me to begin improving my skills by simply building out of the box and concentrating on fit and finish of the kit instead of correcting any major faults. Model building takes time and patience which is what I lack so for me it is a discipline to build since it requires I slow down and take my time as opposed to rushing through to hurry the build. In a world of instant coffee, communications and information modeling takes time and a lot of practice to build up skills. Right now I am working on making a desert diorama and I have made several samples and I believe I just now have a sample I really like. It has tanken a month to get this far!
The more models you build, the better you should become unless you are trying to churn them out.
In our modelling club, we have people who can turn out a 1/35th scale tank in a weekend, including painting; I take nearer a month and rarely finish the models because the painting side I find of little interest.
However, the cardinal rule is "If you're happy with it, then that's all that matters". If you're dissatisfied with your efforts, analyse where you have gone wrong and work on one specific aspect at a time.
Practise with scrap plastic until you have got it taped. When you have improved in that field, start on another. Unless you are particularly gifted, perfect models are only made by a few, but good models should be obtainable by most.
My experience has not come about by watching videos on YouTube or similar, but to talk to a modeller and watch them while they do something. I find this is more helpful and allows you to ask questions during the process.
Join your local IPMS branch or modelling club - most people are happy to talk modelling and, should you so wish, you will then have competitions to enter to test your increasing skills and confidence. The latter, by the way, is the most common cause of lack of progress. Some people don't like competitions, but I have found that senior judges write crrative criticism on the judging sheet for you to follow in the next model. Many experienced modellers will talk disparagingly about "pot collectors", but believe me, that first trophy is one hell of a buzz and a good indication of your increasing skill.
The greatest obstacle to producing models is analysis paralysis; there's so much on the net these days that you can spend months researching a particular model instead of getting on with it. In "the old days" you normally had to by a book per model as reference material, whereas now you just need a computer of some sort to access the specialist websites such as this one. The pool of knowledge of the members here is mind bending and covers far more than you would get in a book. Furthermore, members seem on to glad to help.
No more excuses! Build! (and paint).
Tony
I bought myself my first model a day before yesterday. PZL P-11c "Laciata 3" by ZTS Plastyk. It's an ancient company, famous for selling models from the communist times. It's a model from 1979 and quality is quite awful. On the other hand it costed me only 12 PLN (~3 Euro). I'm reviving my Citadel Mega Paint Set.
I'm taking time with it. For now I just primed and painted propeller and engine cover. The engine is absolutely horrible, BTW Front and back of cylinders are shifted about 1mm. Here's how the box content looks: http://www.super-hobby.com/products/Polish-IIWW-fighter-PZL-P-11C-Laciata-3-1939.html Check out that engine.
I will be using the models from that company for practice while completing my equipment.
I bought myself my first model a day before yesterday. PZL P-11c "Laciata 3" by ZTS Plastyk. It's an ancient company, famous for selling models from the communist times. It's a model from 1979 and quality is quite awful. On the other hand it costed me only 12 PLN (~3 Euro). I'm reviving my Citadel Mega Paint Set.
I'm taking time with it. For now I just primed and painted propeller and engine cover. The engine is absolutely horrible, BTW Front and back of cylinders are shifted about 1mm. Here's how the box content looks: http://www.super-hobby.com/products/Polish-IIWW-fighter-PZL-P-11C-Laciata-3-1939.html Check out that engine.
I will be using the models from that company for practice while completing my equipment.
I remember painting a PZL when young - (Revell product?) along with the wide WW1 range they produced. One is always amazed at the seagull winged monoplanes. In hindsight they were not that good but manufactures were more adventurous with the choice of products. Never understood why other manufacturers (talking about Airfix type companies) did not do such the Fokker VII, DH2, Spad VII and SEa5. They were a gateway for many into knowledge of the Great War which was generally ignored in the 60s. Companies like Matchbox were in the forefront producing unusual types of aircraft and tanks. (probably one reason why they went down the pan!).
The bottom line is that modelling is only a hobby not a way of life! You are doing something different and that is to be congratulated.
I have been enjoying modelling since running round the garden with an Airfix (pale blue plastic) Spitfire in one hand and Focke Wolf in the other having a dogfight. No paint involved just a rather large amount of tube glue. The hobby has stuck as good as that tube glue but my tastes' have changed over the years and my skills have too. My early figure painting resulted in the figures all having the "scared rabbit" look about them. With the help of titles like Airfix magazine and Military Modelling I honed and polished my skills to the point where I was coerced into entering a competition with a WW1 diorama. To my shock and embarrassment I won a Gold medal and have since gone on to win Best of Show with my Ford T diorama. With my health and eyesight declining, recently I have struggled to do any modelling. But I was asked by my brother to make a diorama of a Chieftain and a Ferret with markings similar to those used by the both of us whilst serving in B.A.O.R. with The Scots DGs'. Total change of period and my enthusiasm is growing almost daily and I am finding ways to counter my health problems. Modelling is a skill that has to be learned just like any other skill and there will always be those that are better than others. Its a mighty fine way of enjoying your spare time, whether researching or gluing or painting. Hope you all have as much fun as I do !!! Paul
-- Edited by Paul Bonnett on Thursday 3rd of October 2013 01:03:00 AM
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The finest stories of the Great War are those that will never be told.
I used to make the run of the mill 72 scale Airfix kits which i enjoyed doing but wasn't that a good painter. As i got older and started making the Tamiya kits i was inspired by the results of the finished models in the Tamiya catalogue which i bought every year. This inspired me to perfect my painting skills. As i'm getting older i prefer larger scale kits as even smaller models in 35 scale such as the FT-17 is a real fiddle to place micro parts together. I look forward to bigger scale kits being made in 16th scale in the future plus the ability to RC the models. God knows how modelers make 72 scale stuff, must have nible fingers and good eyesight to do a good job. Bigtank modeling skills have leaned me towards cardboard.
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