Picking a build

[stitchdup]

What is the thing that makes you choose your next builds? Have you decided before you finish your current build what you are going for next? Do you stand in front of your stashes doing goldfish impressions until something jumps out? Do you go through kit after kit until something bites? or is it something else? I know I'm struggling to choose something for a quick build just now cos I'm going out to my mums for a few days (she had her hip replaced 6 weeks ago and still needs help carrying food, hoovering and doing the laundry)and nothing thats on the bench is really at a point i can move them too much (those miniart tractors are delicate and have way too many tiny parts) I'm probably going to choose a vw or hotrod of some sort but even that doesn't really narrow down my options. Do i go for a kit or something i've printed or aftermarket resin? I've got starting ideas for everything i have which isn't helping me to choose something. I'm tempted to add the amt 50 ford carson top to a monogram lincoln but at the same time i'm tempted to put a tamiya bug under one of the renault dauphines i recently traded for (I want to build all the feature cars from one issue of hatburner vw mag) but i also want to mix a mk1 golf cab with a scirocco to have a nicely detailed 1/24 scirocco or..... I just cant choose right now and i'm just wondering how you guys choose something

[bobthehobbyguy]

First off I think this question really belongs in "Model building Questions and answers". Make a request for the mods to move it.

 

I would say if you are looking for a quick build I would suggest a kit. You might even  consider taking a different second kit if you get stuck on the first one for some reason.

I would also suggest you make sure there are no issues with the short shots or missing parts.

In my stash I have gotten kits that intend to build out of the box for doing quick builds. 

The Revell 1932 Ford kits, and the Revell 1929 Ford Roadster are great quick build kits. They go together well with little drama.  The Tamiya kits are also a good choice.

Hope this helps.

[John M.]

I got through with the last two of a batch of built cars that need minor reassembly last week. Some needed the kit bashing approach but they all look good. I'm now looking for another project or two to work on myself. I'll look on E Bay this week sometime.

Edited June 18, 2023 by John M.

[MrMiles]

im actively working on 4 cars right now. when i get to the point where i need stuff to dry before i can continue, i move onto the next one. for example, i was waiting on something for my challenger and then started on a fairlane, until i was stuck waiting for paint to arrive for my fairlane, so i started working on a corvette. now im stuck on the corvette until everything dries overnight, and I will either go back to the fairlane or the challenger. i have a 67 mustang that i work on in between each of these but that one is only when i have had enough of the others. 

 

i suspect I will finish the corvette the fastest because its easy, and I would like to start a different corvette that is better

[BlackSheep214]

Depends on my mood what to build. I build everything from cars, aircrafts, armour, ships, figures, etc...

I'm currently working on 2 aircraft kits. It has been awhile since I've done a car kit.

[iamsuperdan]

I generally just stand in front of the stash and stare at it for an inordinate amount of time.

I should start this one. No, I should start that one. Oh tis one would be good. What about that one. 

 

And then I sit down and realize I have a dozen builds underway already.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Funny. I never seem to have any problem...squirrel...  

[slusher]

I have 3 unfinished builds but I am working on a kit to finish it. So pick something you might finish…

[TonyK]

"iamsuperdan" pretty much said it word for word for me.

[atomicholiday]

19 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Funny. I never seem to have any problem...squirrel...  

That's my problem too.   Picking a new project is never really my issue.   Sticking with it?  Now that's where the real trouble starts.  

I have four main projects going right now and it's taking all my willpower not to start another.   

That doesn't answer your question though.   Usually I find inspiration in whatever my most recent purchase is.  Nothing helps me forget the last one quite like the next one.   That's not always the case,  but it definitely happens a lot. 

[John M.]

I just scored two vintage and very dusty rebuilders from a local E Bayer on the cheap which are a 1940 Ford delivery truck and a 1972 GMC stepside pickup both from AMT. They'll be at my place before Friday.

 

[Tom Geiger]

5 hours ago, atomicholiday said:

That's my problem too.   Picking a new project is never really my issue.   Sticking with it?  Now that's where the real trouble starts.  

Oh yea!  I have a few dozen projects started over the last quarter century.  I keep the boxes on shelves over my bench so I do not forget about them. I also have another 3-4 projects strewn about the bench and side tables.  I haven't worked on anything for a while, but hope for the discipline of finishing something.  But it's not hard to start a new one.. stimuli from real life, pictures on the Internet or discussions on this board can get me going!

Right now?  I'm thinking about the little Kei truck that's about half done as a race car hauler for a go cart...  of course after reading the Kei truck thread! 

[stitchdup]

1 hour ago, Tom Geiger said:

Oh yea!  I have a few dozen projects started over the last quarter century.  I keep the boxes on shelves over my bench so I do not forget about them. I also have another 3-4 projects strewn about the bench and side tables.  I haven't worked on anything for a while, but hope for the discipline of finishing something.  But it's not hard to start a new one.. stimuli from real life, pictures on the Internet or discussions on this board can get me going!

Right now?  I'm thinking about the little Kei truck that's about half done as a race car hauler for a go cart...  of course after reading the Kei truck thread! 

do a search for tokyo auto salon, theres a load of wild kei trucks but its easy to lose hours once you start searching japanese customs.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Did you figure out what you want to build?

[stitchdup]

5 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Did you figure out what you want to build?

yeah, i grabbed a couple of revell mk2 golfs off the shelf. one is the usa tuner kit and the other is the zender version. I'm using some of my 3d printed engine bays and engines in them too. one will be more extreme than the other but both will be pretty subtle too

[StevenGuthmiller]

Not that hard for me.

As I build pretty much straight stock vehicles from 1950 or so, to about 1970, and my main focus is on the vintage kits in my stash, I probably have around 25 kits to choose from.

 

It's a lot easier to make a choice when you only have to stand in front of that number of kits and ruminate.

 

Usually, there will be 3 or 4 kits that I have in mind for the next project, and 1 or 2 that are really calling me.

 

The deciding factor is usually something different from what I'm currently working on.

I don't want to get in  a rut.

 

As an example, as I come to the finish line on my '64 Pontiac Bonneville project, I have possibly 4 kits that have my interest.

A 1964 Pontiac Lemans convertible, a 1966 Pontiac Bonneville hardtop, a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda, and a '61 Dodge Dart Phoenix.

The Pontiacs are too close to what I'm working on currently, so they will likely have to wait.

That leaves the Barracuda, and the Dart.

 

The Dart appears to be the most likely, as one of my "requirements" is that it always holds my interest better when I have a more interesting, or different engine configuration to consider.

Nothing bores me more than small block Fords and Mopars, and pretty much every Chevy engine.

 

The '61 Dart will be built with the 383 "Long Ram" D-500 package.

 

I think we have a winner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve