When the project dies. Or does it?

[Jantrix]

Like most of us I think, I have about 12 models in some sort of work-in-progress mode. After a while though, I tend to look at some of them and say, "I'm over it" or "I was really in the wrong direction here" or finally, "Man, I really screwed this up". Then they go from WIP to parts kits. I figure this is healthy for me, keeping me creative and good parts don't sit unused. Also the thought of the WIPs just sitting there is a bit of a downer making me less inclined to build in any case?

Anyone like me or are you a "I'll finish it eventually", type and it will wait on the shelf in perpetuity?

[Casey]

I'm like you. Once I get to the point where I no longer have the desire to work on it, I trade, sell, or part it out. I'll never build everything I have ideas for, and completion isn't the end goal for me, so better to acknowledge you'll likely never finish something if you see no realistic chance of that happening.

[tbill]

I’m from the ‘ I will finish it eventually’ camp .  Most builds I get done in a month, but I have  a few stragglers. One kit took me 4 years to get finished up, and I recently finished another one that had been kicking around for 2 years or so. I keep the stragglers in eye sight, eventually the urge to work on them returns .

[Tom Geiger]

Ah, one of my favorite subjects.  I've always taken my unfinished projects seriously.  I keep them in marked boxes on the two shelves directly over my work bench so I don't forget about them.  In fact they are "in my face".   

Why are they unfinished? All the usual excuses. I lost interest. I put them aside for a time sensitive project and never got back.  I was in over my head skill wise. You know.   

I've usually had the week between Christmas and New Years off from work.  I decided to devote as much time as I could to working on models.  I quickly learned that there really wasn't enough time here to build a model start to finish, but there was time to finish a model I had sitting that was at that 50% or more mark of completion.   I started my "Christmas Amnesty Builds".  Just as the President grants amnesty to a turkey for Thanksgiving, I grant amnesty to a model for Christmas.  I pick something off my shelf of broken toys and actually finish it.  I have been doing this since the year 2000. I didn't finish one each and every year, but gave it a good try.  There are cars like my Volare Messenger car and '63 Valiant stock car that I went back and finished in the second year.  There is only one car I attempted that still is not finished. The only year I didn't do this was 2010, which was the year we were in the middle of the move from NJ to PA. And here they are in one folder:

https://public.fotki.com/ModelCitizen/model_cars/my_model_cars/my-finished-models/the-model-car-amnes/

The past two years I've also been concentrating on that shelf.  I had a lot of great ideas I want to see come to completion, and I'm doing so, one model at a time!   Both the 1950 Ford pickups and my Dog House Camper are all long languishing projects. The secret to getting them done was that I finally got it in my head that every model doesn't have to be perfect.  Done and on the shelf is better than unfinished perfection!  And two of these three have won awards. Go figger!    

Edited November 15, 2019 by Tom Geiger

[89AKurt]

I *never* have this problem. ?  My excuse, spend so much time on it, get bored, want to do something different.  I have too many kits, and ideas, and no time.  For this project, started mid 1990s!  Stalled because I wasn't happy with the A-pillars, so need to reinforce with wire and rework a little.  The big issue is doing the inside around the windows, plan on making some windows open like the real thing.  These also have bars inside around the windows, the kit has lame decals, I want to make real wire units, not at all a fiddly detail. ?  And I want to add lights, using fiber-optics, not at all involved or fiddly. ?  Now that I think about it, will finish when the moon drops.

Meanwhile, also have:
Ferrari N.A.R.T. which was started recently, and *will* finish this year.
Chevy Canopy Express started last century, attempted Bring Out Your Dead but now stalled, again.
Bigatti (also not admitted to before)
The list used to be longer, since I began on this forum, have completed most WIP!  So there is hope, just spill the beans.

Future projects:
Mercedes C-111
Mercedes G4 sedan
Toyota Celica with Lexus V8
'77 Honda Civic with Integra engine
'68 and/or '69 Chevy pickup
Gullwing diorama
1937 Auto Union Vanderbuilt
Klein bike ad with 911 Turbo
Dad's '51 Ford pickup
Dad's '57 VW Beetle
My '57 Chevy 4 door station wagon
Model A Russell Stover sales car
Tom Mix's Cord
MFH - Ferrari Lusso
Fisher - Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5
Audi Quattro S1, two versions
Pagani
Huracan
Ferrari GTO Spyder
Just for an example, top priorities, mood changes (that's the real problem), so I'm *never* going to have this problem, ever, famous last words. ?
 

[Plowboy]

Happens to me quite often. Actually going through it with a current project. I almost boxed it because I had to raise the front end and it ruined the stance. But, after giving it some thought, I came up with a better plan and now I'm looking forward to finishing it again!

I have 60 plus projects in different states. When I lose interest, I box them up and let them set. I have one that has set for almost 20 years. In the back of my mind, I know I'll get around to it. Inspiration will strike and it'll be setting there waiting on me. You never know when the inspiration will come around or what will cause it. You may see someone else's project or finished build and it'll hit. This is something that happened to me recently. As I was watching Dennis Lacy's '53 F-100 project, I remembered my '55. I pulled it out with a new plan and finished it. The styles between the two couldn't be more opposite. But, it still got the inspiration going. It had set in a box for 15 years or more. If I had tossed it, I wouldn't now have it on my shelf. I had the right idea. I had just executed it wrong in the beginning.

Another plus to hanging on to them is when you do get back around to them, a lot or most of the work is already done. I have many builds that have stalled at one point or the other. When I do finish them, it's just a little more satisfying because I didn't give up and saw it through.   

[Fat Brian]

This is an issue for me. I still have unfinished builds from my teens and early twenties, probably a third of my kits overall at least. I had severe kit ADD back then and just jumped from one build to another constantly. Now that I'm older and my skills are improved I have trouble going back and working on these kits when the quality isn't up to my current work. So they get used as donors and if the concept is sound I'll start again with a new kit.

[SoDak1]

I suffer from the exact same things. I've been thinking in recent years to tone back my wants in terms of how detailed I want my models. Detailing is what really consumes the time and gets tiring so I've reached a point where some kits will get plug wiring and fuel lines and some wont that sort of thing. They dont all have to be show worthy just shelf worthy. Another thing that bites me is when I steal parts from kits and forget. Then I go to start that kit years later and go "oh yeah I used that hemi for that blah blah" it wouldnt bother me so much if kits weren't 30 dollars these days am I right

[Tom Geiger]

21 minutes ago, SoDak1 said:

 Another thing that bites me is when I steal parts from kits and forget. Then I go to start that kit years later and go "oh yeah I used that hemi for that blah blah" it wouldnt bother me so much if kits weren't 30 dollars these days am I right

I've trained myself to avoid that one. Especially helpful for future owners of my stash!   I have a stack of old obsolete business cards I use in the hobby room for a bunch of different uses,  so whenever I take parts from a kit, I jot it on a card and toss it in the box.  

[SoDak1]

1 minute ago, Tom Geiger said:

I've trained myself to avoid that one. Especially helpful for future owners of my stash!   I have a stack of old obsolete business cards I use in the hobby room for a bunch of different uses,  so whenever I take parts from a kit, I jot it on a card and toss it in the box.  

Lol the future owners might assume those are IOUs and be contacting those businesses Tom! 

[countrypapa]

I just introduced my self on the new member site so this is my 2nd post. The feelings here on this post are exactly how I feel and I thought it was only me.I started building a couple of years ago and I have still not finished one. I probably have about 10 started,some of them 90% done but none finished.I get one almost done and be putting foil on and scratch the paint so back in the box until I cool down.Then there are some that I just can't seem to fit right so back in the box. When I screw up a body by sanding something off and try to make a custom out of it to hide the mistake I realize how crazy it;s going to look so back in the box.I have a mild case of OCD if (if that's possible) and just can't get it to look like I want or screw up the paint job so back in the box.After doing research on this site every once in awhile I learn how to fix something that I had a problem with so back out of the box until the next roadblock,then back to the box. I've got a couple that I'm wearing out the box. The bottom line here for me is ,as I stated in my intro, I,m 79 and it is just so nice to sit in my nice little room with some nice background music on and lose myself in my cars.I don't care if I ever finish one ,I just enjoy what I'm doing.

[crazyjim]

It's never happened to me, Rob.  I finish every kit I start in a timely manner.

[Tom Geiger]

37 minutes ago, crazyjim said:

It's never happened to me, Rob.  I finish every kit I start in a timely manner.

and that sir is why we call you Crazy Jim!    ?

[Anglia105E]

I do admit to having several unfinished builds, and they bother me, in the sense that I keep thinking about the kit in the box..... just waiting for me to address the problem whatever it may be. I really like to complete a model car build, and usually it is the process of building that I enjoy most, and then it leads onto the process of photographing the finished model, always in a diorama setting of course. The ones that I regard as ' failed ' projects are those builds that have stalled due to some difficult issue that I cannot seem to find a solution to. I must come back to these failed builds, or they will drive me crazy!

Tom Geiger..... your idea to put a business card in each box, with missing parts noted is an excellent idea. I very often steal parts from a donor kit, or a kit that won't get started on for some time yet, and then forget why the kit is not complete when I come to it later..... so maybe I will use some of my business cards as you have done.

David

[SCRWDRVR]

I tend to put them back in the box for a while and I usually don’t use parts from another kit unless they are left over parts. If I decide I totally went the wrong way and don’t want to build it I take 2 steps back and punt and make it a rebuilder and basically start over. I recently finished a 1/16th 55 Belair I started at least 20 years ago and have started doing little things on 3 others I started back then too... they will get done eventually...... maybe...

[espo]

I think like many builders I become distracted when a new idea pops into my head for a different model than the one I'm about 25 to 30 % done. That seems to be the time line on the ones I have set aside. I found at first this seemed to be triggered by having 2 or more projects going at the same time. I started limiting myself to one build at a time start to finish. Lately, this year anyway,  I have one build that I got about 50 % done before I boxed it up. This one is a Corvair with an LS engine in the back seat. I went on to build a few all the way thru. Now I'm coming to a halt on the reissue AMT '60 Chevy pickup. This one is my version of a Cameo pickup prototype. I added all of the additional chrome trim and opened up the rear window and dressed up the interior. I'm at the point where I'm putting a "348" optional engine in it and I just feel like I've hit a wall. The interest just isn't there any longer. The box is starting to close on this one I'm afraid. I just want to build another Hot Rod or mild Kustom. 

[iamsuperdan]

I don't give up on any kit. They may sit untouched for a while, but I will always go back and finish.

Current benchwarmers include:

Italeri Ferrari F40, started in the 90s, and has survived my non-building period.

AMT Superstones Ford truck - I hate this kit. Body doesn;t fit right. But it is close to completion.

Monogram Superbird - a rebuilder. I first built it in 1988 according to the writing I placed inside the kit. Many adventures rolling off a shelf led to broken biots, and eventually a box. Rebuilding it with a specific theme. Again, close, but not quite.

Tamiya Mini Cooper - started in the 90s and like the F40, just never got done.

[jas1957]

I have had unfinished projects sit for 15-20 years or longer (there are still a few in that category).   Often it is some technical issue that I cannot figure out that stops me.    Since I retired 5 years ago I have finished a number of those long dormant builds but a few are sitting there & I don’t think I will ever touch them again.  

[Brutalform]

I get too many ideas going on in my head, like I’ll get really interested in building several cars. I’ll take the 62 Bel Air S/S cars. I’ll build the Dyno Don car, then Stricklers, and when it comes time to build the Proffitt car, it  will wait for about a year until I get around to it, in order to have all three completed. Same goes for Max Wedge cars. Build two, then loose interest (temporarily) in building the rest I had initially planned. 
Then I’ll pop open a kit, for no apparent reason, and get it done from start to finish, even though there are ten others started. Maybe it could be called a slump buster? 
Now I’m all involved in a semi wrecker, that will be finished up before any of the started kits I have waiting. A few of my old big car Fords have been sitting for over a year now, Go figure. 
I really never sell off started builds. Usually I look in my stash, and I have to ask myself why I’m holding on to cars I know I will never build? They are the ones I normally will sell off. 
Building, collecting or hoarding models may not be as bad as suffering from alcoholism, or some other form of addiction, but sometimes I do wonder? 

[Jantrix]

Thanks for everyone who replied. I'm surprised to see how many people don't recycle dead projects. A project that sat decades would bother the heck out of me.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Most of my builds end up going dormant for one reason or another, most commonly to await my skills catching up to my vision (though building real cars has a lot of overlap with building models, the very fine motor skills required in modeling take time to develop), or due to changes in the initial vision...some large, some small.

Eventually, they always seem to get back on track.

The longest running project I have is one I started back in the early 1990s when somebody asked me if I wanted a few of their old kits they'd lost interest in. I hadn't built models for fun since I was in my late teens (though I'd done presentation models for product development and testing).

I started this little sectioned '40 Ford as a "Forsche", initially intended to be running 928 guts, in '93 or '94. It didn't get very far before it was shelved. Somewhere around 2005, as I was just beginning to get back into hobby modeling seriously, it came back out and went through several mockup iterations...none of which I really liked.

Then in 2010, after I'd accumulated enough parts and skills to come close to what I had in mind, I got this far...

Still later, I decided to try a '37 nose on it (as above)...though I still really liked the '40-nose version as well.

I've now gone almost full-circle, and have a gluebomb to build another one with the '40 nose...and I will, eventually, finish both of them.

(PS: I'm pretty sure it was Jantrix who supplied the '37 front fenders. )

Edited November 19, 2019 by Ace-Garageguy

[thatz4u]

I just recycle some of the parts to a newer build, trade the parts or sell them at shows....

[Mike Williams]

I only have one project at a time on the bench.  Usually beforehand I've already spent months gathering all of the information needed to build the project.

Once started, I'll go through with it until finished, like maybe 3-4 months.  The build before last though, needed a 30 month interval due to joint problems with my hands. OK nowadays.

I'm rarely happy when it's done, mostly kind of saddened that's it's over.  Then after a break, on to planning the next one.

Anyways, I'm always interested in reading what other modelers are up to, and also the mind think.

[Straightliner59]

Having finished two projects that averaged about 20 years old, in the last two years, I guess you know my position! ?

[W-409]

I have dozens of models that I've started working on and for one reason or another, they got stalled at some point. Almost all of them are going to be finished some day. Some of the kits might wait for the inspiration for a year, two, five or ten, but eventually they will be finished sooner or later.

There are a couple of exceptions where I have sold a couple of kits that I had started, and at the moment I have a couple I believe I'll never continue. The ones I have now, are not suitable for parts kits either as they are too modern (Chevy SSR and AMT Wagon Rod).