The meaning of craftsmanship in model building

[Brian Austin]

“The cutting edge of the civilized mind is the hand of the craftsman.”—Dr. Bronowski

“A person who works with his hands is a laborer. A person who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman. A person who works with his hands, his brain and his heart is an artist.” —Louis Nizer

I don't know who the quoted people were, but the quotes came from the website of the Craftsmanship Museum, located in California.

https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/craftsmanship-topic/

[Matt Bacon]

This is worth a read for all of us who get as much out of the process as the finished result:

https://amzn.eu/d/9faPDPV

best,

M.

[Ace-Garageguy]

What continues to amaze me is that in pretty much every facet of "making stuff", whether it be cooking, building models, building/repairing real cars and aircraft, writing literature or computer code...even performing plastic surgery...there are billions of perfectly "normal" adults walking around who can't tell the difference between a cobbled-up 4th rate mess and top-line craftsmanship that borders on, or is in reality, art.

And many of them get paid quite well indeed for the dog-vomit they spew on the landscape.

Edited December 30, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy
Punctuation

[redscampi]

6 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And many of them get paid quite well indeed for the dog-vomit they spew on the landscape.

And they will continue to do so as long as the "dogs" continue to lick it up. Unfortunately.

[StevenGuthmiller]

19 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Sometimes (and it took me almost 50 years to get here), I decide that I have to accept those flaws, knowing the next time will be better. Like Charles said, perfection is impossible to achieve, but, it's certainly not impossible to strive for! I've discovered that, since I became able to accept those little flaws as products of trying I've found myself actually finishing more projects, rather than saying "Well, this isn't perfect, so I'll stick it back in the closet, until I can make it that way." I've also finished several of those projects, over the last six or seven years--and, I am satisfied with them! I accomplished new techniques on all of them, so I learned from them. That's all the reward I really need. 

I don't understand the phrase "I don't build for contests, I just build for fun." I've never built any model, for a contest. I build how I enjoy, and, if it's good enough to win, then great! If not, okay, not today. I'm no less happy with what I've done, because I didn't win. Over the years, I've known quite a few modelers in different pursuits, who've burned out, and quit building. That's something I can't even relate to. I think they were building with too great an eye on competition, because you do not burn out, on something you truly love.

I hate that “I build for fun” nonsense as well.

As if those of us who dedicate ourselves to more time and effort can’t possibly be enjoying ourselves. ?

I’ve been building “for myself” my whole life, but I will reveal that the first time that I attended a model show was a true epiphany for me.

Seeing the unbelievable models on display was an absolute inspiration!

I saw things there that I had never seen before, or had even thought possible in 1/25th scale.

I could have either returned and decided to remain stagnant in my modeling approach, or I could do what I did, and strive to reach the highest level that was possible for me.

Funny thing is, I enjoy this hobby SO much more now than I ever did back when I was just slapping them together in a few days and using the “I build for fun” excuse.

 

 

 

Steve

[Brian Austin]

5 hours ago, Matt Bacon said:

This is worth a read for all of us who get as much out of the process as the finished result:

https://amzn.eu/d/9faPDPV

best,

M.

I heard a fascinating radio interview with him.  Utterly fascinating.

[Straightliner59]

10 hours ago, Brian Austin said:

“A person who works with his hands is a laborer. A person who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman. A person who works with his hands, his brain and his heart is an artist.” —Louis Nizer

I don't know who the quoted people were, but the quotes came from the website of the Craftsmanship Museum, located in California.

https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/craftsmanship-topic/

I recently saw this in Joe Martin's "Tabletop Machining", which makes perfect sense.

[Straightliner59]

2 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

As if those of us who dedicate ourselves to more time and effort can’t possibly be enjoying ourselves. ?

I mean, RIGHT?! Where's the adventure in simply removing mold lines?? Your recent soft top must have been incredibly rewarding to accomplish! It's a work of art, to me, and the new standard. It's that kind of stuff that's fun, for me, as well. 

You're absolutely correct about shows/contests, too. They're always inspirational, and it's great to be able to visit with other like-minded guys. I always was excited to go home and build!

Your reaction reminded me of something Neil Peart once said upon reading that Eric Clapton had seen Hendrix and said he wanted to throw away his guitar. Peart said that kind of thing only made him work harder, and that he couldn't relate to that thought process.

[bobss396]

7 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

I mean, RIGHT?! Where's the adventure in simply removing mold lines?? Your recent soft top must have been incredibly rewarding to accomplish! It's a work of art, to me, and the new standard. It's that kind of stuff that's fun, for me, as well. 

You're absolutely correct about shows/contests, too. They're always inspirational, and it's great to be able to visit with other like-minded guys. I always was excited to go home and build!

Your reaction reminded me of something Neil Peart once said upon reading that Eric Clapton had seen Hendrix and said he wanted to throw away his guitar. Peart said that kind of thing only made him work harder, and that he couldn't relate to that thought process.

I never wanted to be the "best" at anything. I like to be respected, let someone else take the high honors. With stock cars, I was happy to take a 3rd or 4th place finish with a 10th place car.

With models, I could go way out there and super-detail them. I have done it and it consumed me for 9 months on ONE build. My brother did an amazing rollback wrecker, that took a solid year out of his life. I see guys in my club build 4 or 5 models in a month, mostly out of the box and maybe some parts swapped around, but zero scratch built details.

Making stuff out of nothing is where I am at. That is the fun part, honestly the build loses some of the fun once I start squirting paint on them. There is one modeler some of us may know, he is known as The Primer King. He rarely finishes anything in the 20 years I have known him. He is my spirit animal.

[Straightliner59]

8 hours ago, bobss396 said:

I never wanted to be the "best" at anything.

As long as it's my best, I know that I'm getting somewhere. As long as the next one is better, or more advanced, in some way, I can be satisfied, for the moment!?

9 hours ago, bobss396 said:

Making stuff out of nothing is where I am at. That is the fun part, honestly the build loses some of the fun once I start squirting paint on them. There is one modeler some of us may know, he is known as The Primer King. He rarely finishes anything in the 20 years I have known him. He is my spirit animal.

Agreed. I only prep and paint, because I have to, in order to complete my vision. I started scratchbuilding, so heavily, because I loathe cleaning up mold lines! But, also, I enjoy making my own fittings, and things like that. I wouldn't be as likely to do that without the mill and lathe--I have, but it's time-consuming, and very hit-or-miss.

I wonder if that's the same Primer King I know?

[av405]

On 12/29/2023 at 7:03 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

I hate that “I build for fun” nonsense as well.

As if those of us who dedicate ourselves to more time and effort can’t possibly be enjoying ourselves. ?

I’ve been building “for myself” my whole life, but I will reveal that the first time that I attended a model show was a true epiphany for me.

Seeing the unbelievable models on display was an absolute inspiration!

I saw things there that I had never seen before, or had even thought possible in 1/25th scale.

I could have either returned and decided to remain stagnant in my modeling approach, or I could do what I did, and strive to reach the highest level that was possible for me.

Funny thing is, I enjoy this hobby SO much more now than I ever did back when I was just slapping them together in a few days and using the “I build for fun” excuse.

 

 

 

Steve

I agree. I'd like to add that I've seen some of the more high-profile "I build for fun" folks always make a point of this and contrast themselves with the so-called "rivet-counters." They're just as bad as the people they're supposedly making fun for drawing that line in the sand. If you want to build with Rustoleum paints and not sand mold lines, have at it. In fact, embrace it. But don't constantly make excuses for it or mislead people by saying how great your stuff looks when objectively, it's probably just "good enough." I'm convinced that the prevalence and embrace of this mentality is what has led to what seems to be a spike on the forums and on facebook of the "I painted with rustoleum and cleared with dollar store floor polish, why doesn't my model look as good?" questions. Which can then, sadly, drive some people away from the hobby because they want instant gratification using the cheapest tools/techniques possible. I personally go for a "high-low" mix when it comes to tools and results. Not every paint or tool has to be top of the line or every model plumbed and wired to the tee. It's been a process of learning when I can take shortcuts and when I shouldn't based on my skills and limitations.

Edited January 5, 2024 by av405

[av405]

Duplicate Post.

Edited January 5, 2024 by av405