This seems appropriate

[Lovefordgalaxie]

I assemble them the way I like doing so. 

I love to paint, and I try to do that well. 

I also love to foil, and I try to do that well (with less success).

Also have a huge love affair with Ford cars. Assembling models is something we do because we like to, and having limited time, I only "build" the cars I love. 

One thing I really don't enjoy doing, is making tiny holes for spark plug wires, fuel lines, making tiny supports, braces, linkages, tubes, boots, and the sort. It's not like the little thing is going to start and drive away .

A super detailed engine bay does look amazing, but for me it's a burden, and not part of the fun, so I just do't do it. 

I don't consider myself a model builder, as I don't build anything in the literal sense of the word. I consider myself a model kit assembler. I take the parts that come in the box, and try to paint and assemble them the best I can while enjoying myself. It's quite simple really. 

If during the process I break a tie rod in half, I can just glue it back together, give the glue joint a sanding, and be done with it. Doing that on a real car would get me (or someone else) killed in a hurry. That's why 1:1 car work is work for me, and not a hobby, as is assembling model kits. 

[Rider]

This has been an interesting and enjoyable thread to read. It's nice to read more guys build for the pure fun of it then to be the best or for perfection.  

Thanks Dave for starting this thread.

As was mentioned prior "perfection is the enemy of good".

• Eric Johns (October 1988), "Perfect is the Enemy of Good Enough", U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings: 37

Also  Geddy Lee, from Rush.

I too have always built just for the enjoyment and personal satisfaction, accuracy is of very little importance in regard to body lines, roof angles, etc. Although I do have great admiration for those builders who will spend hours to correct these details.  

 I enjoy detailing and modifying kits and parts, I also find the challenge of making parts from scratch very rewarding, a skill I have a great desire to expand. 

For me models have always been a source for my creative side and to build something unique. I have never built a model specifically for competition, I simply build for my own pleasure.  

Painting is a love hate relationship. I hate the actual process of laying down the paint, I tend to rush. I do however enjoy all the other aspects of it, such as figuring out how to go about masking up a given design and in what order to lay down the various colours.  To me it's a great challenge to mask and paint the trim, pulling that masking off and not having any bleed or blow through is very rewarding. 

Figureing out new techniques and developing them to be more efficent  is also big part of the allure of scratch building for me. 

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without."  Unknown.  In other words, finish those stalled builds. 

Happy Building guys.

 

 

 

[Snake45]

30 minutes ago, Rider said:

"Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without."  Unknown.  In other words, finish those stalled builds. 

That should be my new motto for my Glue Bomb Rescues. 

[Rider]

9 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

That should be my new motto for my Glue Bomb Rescues. 

Totally, it should also be a mantra for all of use who put stalled kits back in the box  for various reasons. 

[ZTony8]

I've never been a  military or aircraft or boat builder (just never interested) but I did pick up a Tamiya Gama Goat recently. When I do get around to building it it's going to be a beach buggy towing a tram-like trailer.

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 10/3/2018 at 8:22 PM, Rider said:

..."Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without." 

I guess it's a matter of perspective.

Personally, I'd rather have one D, Flawless diamond than a dump-truck load of chips.  

Edited October 5, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[redneckrigger]

On 10/2/2018 at 5:00 PM, mikemodeler said:

I have always built for myself and never intend to detail a model in hopes of winning a contest. That said, my builds look better than some but not as great as others but as long as they look good to ME, then I am satisfied.

A friend of mine is an excellent bodyman, has been for nearly 40 years. He restored one of his first cars with the intent of winning awards and he did, pretty much every show he entered, locally and nationally. That experience burned him out so much that the rest of his cars are now drivers that look good, but a stone chip or light scratch doesn't matter to him.

Build for yourself, enjoy the hobby and have fun

 

Been there, done that...............used to restore cars for myself, working on my own cars..........had a blast, and being a perfectionist. Then started doing work when others asked me to. Then got busy so hired couple guys to work for me. Ended up with a full service collision and restoration shop, two tow trucks and also a full mechanical service garage and a payroll of 12 people, and no time, or desire to work on my own stuff any more. Got fed up one day, closed the shop, sold the spray booth, the frame rack, the tow trucks, the lift, the shop machinery and tools, laid everyone off, and sold all of my cars except one Mustang and one old truck. And still now, 20 years later, never finished fixing my own two remaining vehicles, getting only the car to the point of being a driver, and loving it just right there. And have refound model building, for myself, and no one else. I build stuff that may not have ever existed, but COULD have. And I only have my worst critic to satisfy..................me!

[Rider]

9 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I guess it's a matter of perspective.

Personally, I'd rather have one D, Flawless diamond than a dump-truck load of chips.  

That is one expensive rock. 

[Richard Bartrop]

This scene from Lawrence of Arabia sums up modeling for me.

We are people who are possessed with what could be described as "a funny sense of fun", and some people's sense of fun is funnier than others.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said:

This scene from Lawrence of Arabia sums up modeling for me.

We are people who are possessed with what could be described as "a funny sense of fun", and some people's sense of fun is funnier than others...

From this day forward, whenever I sit down at the modeling bench, I'll think of the Lawrence of Arabia theme...