When the project dies. Or does it?

[Snake45]

On 11/16/2019 at 5:57 PM, espo said:

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. 

Hah! Way ahead of you! I started almost that exact project around 1972, and got about as far as you did. Mine's still boxed up, and I'll get back to it someday. 

Meanwhile, dead/comatose projects and those serving long sentences on the Shelf of Doom have a home here. We started doing this just about one year ago, and in that time something like 30 cool models have gotten done. Many of us have discovered that the truth is that these models aren't perfect, they're never gonna BE perfect*, but it's a lot of fun to drag them out, finish them off, and stick them on the shelf. 

*Straightliner's Junior Fuel dragster excepted. 

 

[Straightliner59]

18 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

*Straightliner's Junior Fuel dragster excepted.

Well, hell, man. Thanks!

[Deathgoblin]

Got a few I've shelved, but usually for technical reasons.  The Lindburg Dodge L-700 so I could develop my skills more.  The Accurate Miniatures Corvette Grand Sport due to fit issues with the headers and suspension.  And I just shelved a Heller/Union Porsche 917K so I could try to make the fit a little less vague.

[Lunajammer]

Half the time, once built, I don't remember what stalled them out in the first place.

Deadlines are my best motivators. Left to my own devices, my time and interests wander too much.

Guilt is a motivator. Not a good one, just a motivator. Finishing a decade dead project is more rewarding than finishing a fresh one because it's done shaming me.

[Snake45]

21 minutes ago, Lunajammer said:

Half the time, once built, I don't remember what stalled them out in the first place.

Deadlines are my best motivators. Left to my own devices, my time and interests wander too much.

Guilt is a motivator. Not a good one, just a motivator. Finishing a decade dead project is more rewarding than finishing a fresh one because it's done shaming me.

Preach It, Brother Lunajammer! 

[Tom Geiger]

20 hours ago, Mike Williams said:

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.

Ha! I was thinking about this myself.

When you are working on a project it's fun, especially if it has promise and you are all in.  You think about it when you aren't home, ideas flow on your daily commute to work or when sitting in boring meetings.  Once home you cannot wait to get back to it!

I have caught myself not wanting a project to be over. I slow down. I do one small detail, call it quits for the evening and sit and admire it.  I will add additional details just to keep it going.  For instance my Dodge Ramcharger truck has interior details like scratch built sun visors. When that wasn't enough, I added a tissue box to the right side one!   Anyone else?

And as Mike said, once it's done. It's almost like the project has died. It's over. Nothing more to do!

 

[Tom Geiger]

21 hours ago, thatz4u said:

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

You reminded me...  back in the early days of my club, we had dead project day once a year.  Everyone would bring dead projects, their junk boxes, etc and either trade or give them away.  One of the pieces I picked up was a poorly built Plymouth Volare from a guy named Todd.  This was back when Volare kits were a dime a dozen so this was just something to play with.  I stripped it and painted it yellow.  Then I learned to weather on it.  When it started to come together as a credible project,  Todd actually was ticked!  ?

And it took me some 25 years to actually get it finished.  Unfortunately we lost Todd a couple of years ago so he never saw it completed.

[Brutalform]

On 11/19/2019 at 3:39 PM, Mike Williams said:

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.

I can relate to what you are saying. I’m not really saddened that a project is over, but disappointed because I always seem to realize I could have done something differently to the project after it’s completed. Lately I’ve been writing my plans of my projects in a note book, and try not to stray from the plan. Seems to help when it’s all planned out on paper, for me anyway. 

[Jim N]

I do not give up on a project.  Usually, it will go back on the shelf because my skills are not where they need to be to complete the project or I get frustrated.  I do not kitbash.  It bothers me to spend money on a kit to use a few parts and then the rest goes into a parts bin.  That is just my opinion.  But below is an example of what I am writing about.  This kit I bought about 20 years ago.  I started it and then the fiddly construction irritated me and it went back on the shelf.  I pulled it down earlier this year, found some Studio 27 decals that put the kit decals to shame and its one of the best looking models in my display case.

[Jantrix]

1 hour ago, Jim N said:

I do not kitbash.  

Now that is a unique statement. I've never heard a modeler say that before. That's not a criticism, just an observation. A unique perspective, but based on the cost of whatever kits you build, an understandable one I suppose. Frankly I couldn't build models without doing so. I look at a kit as just a box of material. 

[Hotrod 97]

I'm more of the "I'll finish it eventually" type. Sometimes, when I get back to a stalled build, I change the build plan and end up completely redoing pretty much everything that was painted and assembled. Although, kits that are "too far gone" or that I lost interest in do become parts kits.

[ToyLvr]

On 11/15/2019 at 3:30 PM, SoDak1 said:

 it wouldnt bother me so much if kits weren't 30 dollars these days am I right

Jeffery, you’re so right! The price keeps going up and up on even the most simple kits. Honestly, I’ve lost count on how many stalled projects I have?. But, I still look forward to completing each and every one of them in the future, so I hang on to them. Amongst others, I’ve got a 1/8 scale Pocher ‘32 Alfa that I’ve had since 1976. I got it back then for approximately $30.00 (that’s a long story I’ll save for some other time). Imagine what that kit would cost me today if I had disposed of it in years past, which I’ve been tempted to do on occasion. But you know Rob, it’s whatever works for you, just sayin’.....

[Bills72sj]

I am pretty good about finishing projects. The few that I have stalled, are skillset issues. A bad paint job, or the decision to add LED lighting AFTER it is already painted with no longer available paint. I also have the problem where I can dream up new projects faster than I can build. I have pretty good luck if I build similar kits in batches. Years ago I did (4) 70-72 Challengers all at once followed by (3) 68-69 Chevelles. This year I started and finished (4) 70-72 Chevelles. I am presently building (2) White-Freightliner cabovers at the same time. My newest hurdle is, after seeing so many HIGH Quality builds by many of you, I am putting in the effort to try to detail them much better. However it is time consuming to do so. On a separate subject, I somewhat kitbash. I absolutely HATE pulling parts which make a kit unbuildable but I am OK with swapping key items to get a build-in-progress to meet my vision. I am not a hoarder and I have very few duplicates, but I may have more kits than I can finish in the next 20 years. I am going to build a paint booth this month so I can paint year round. (I used to paint a bunch of bodies in the Summer then build them in the Winter).

[LL3 Model Worx]

I currently have 3 kits that are in "seclusion"....

One of those is the 89 Batmobile...that I got 99% done, really took my time and done MAJOR research and work to get the paint and other colors right, went through the trouble to run fiber optics all through the model, and the only thing that rekt it all was those stupid little round peephole windows on the rear bulkhead behind the cockpit...

I was putting them in and got a smudge of CA glue on the body..

BOOM!  Back to the batcave!!

Luckily I have a few of these kits so I can try agian later when the smilex wears off. The thing was a real beauty.

The other two I dare not speak their names.

I will eventually build every kit in my current stash (hopefully) wich is modest compared to some at just shy of 100 kits.

Even the ones that get shelved, I always eventually pull them back out and "finish" them, in one way or another... otherwise it will drive me nuts knowing I have boxed up some of my own failure.

If I don't plan out the entire build I find I get bogged down in the details and eventually start losing my direction.

 

This thread has inspired me to finish a kit! Thanks for that.

 

[Jantrix]

11 hours ago, LL3 Model Worx said:

This thread has inspired me to finish a kit! Thanks for that.

?  You are quite welcome!

Smilex! LOL!

[Snake45]

11 hours ago, LL3 Model Worx said:

I currently have 3 kits that are in "seclusion"....

This thread has inspired me to finish a kit! Thanks for that.

Check out the BOYD thread and join the party. 

[LL3 Model Worx]

9 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Check out the BOYD thread and join the party. 

I may just do that!  Either gonna be the blundermobile, or perhaps the "Joker Goon car" as it is neatly finished, I just lost interest after being unhappy with the paint... went through 3 different paint jobs and never did turn out like I wanted, so back to its box it went.

But, now I'm inspired so I'm gonna finish it.

[89AKurt]

Just thought I would dredge up this old OT, found randomly.  But still applies for today, doesn't it?   I was hunting down one of my completed builds, need to replicate an exhaust tip, a benefit of not getting banned from this forum.

[Bugatti Fan]

Finishing auto models !    It depends on how 'driven' you are, it you will excuse the pun.

Over the years my psyche has changed with regard to building models.

I used to have fortunately a manageable  number of incomplete models sat on the I'll finish it some day lack of motivation shelf. Then I began to realise that unless I change my butterfly mindset with regard to finishing models I would end up with just boxes of  part built kits worth next to nothing just sat there. So I set about completing them as a target before doing anything else, accomplished that and sold off many complete kits that realistically I would probably never get around to building.

So what do I do now?  I tend to look at larger scale stuff and build something that really interests me and seek challenging kits and stick at the one project until it is finished. Over the last few years though I have gone over to the dark side of scratch building subjects that in no way would ever be kitted. Very satisfying in the long term, but definitely not for the model maker that likes to see a quick result of simply not have the time for extended model building projects.

However, it does not really matter what sort of model maker you are as long as you get pleasure out of the hobby as it gives great enjoyment and probably good as a therapy towards health and well being.

Edited Sunday at 04:46 PM by Bugatti Fan

[sidcharles]

every model is only practice for the next one

[johnyrotten]

5 hours ago, sidcharles said:

every model is only practice for the next one

I have the same outlook. I've got a few I've back-burnered so i can improve my skills on certain aspects they need. 

[bobss396]

I've got some that are 20+ years being BACK IN THE BOX!!

I lose interest, hit a block with something minor that derails me. I have around 25 stalled projects boxed up. Some are very close to completion.

[Rob Hall]

I have builds that I started in the late 80s and early 90s.  And ones I built back then that need restored. 

[Pierre Rivard]

A working project never dies with me. One project at a time and I always finish what I start.

However finished builds are never safe. I regularly "crush" older built models as they lose interest on the shelf next to newer better built models. I just keep a stable of about 25... and I build about 5 per year. So on average about a five year life expectancy.

Don't say it... I know... I'm weird...

[meechum68]

So when I got back to building, I had 2 kits going, one was for a build off, and the other was what I wanted, then I saw another kit, and started on it. But, then life got in the way... Selling a house, moving, remodeling house... then work got in the way, all my stuff still packed up, then wife decided to take the shop so I got my hobby room. 

Roll forward 2 years, after work and life interuptions, I got back to them. 

I finished them up and managed to do another 4 kits behind them since I have decided to do a self imposed .. 1-2 hrs of bench time a week and not let things fester for months at a time when I am not traveling for work. Otherwise, they would sit and sit and sit.  

I do still build 2-5 kits at a time, but it let's me keep things fresh and if I run into a road block on one I can do something different and figure out the road block while not working on that road block issue.