Model Building Terminology

[Brian_R]

I’m trying to compile a list of euphemisms used in our model building.  There have got to be a lot more than these.  I posted this on the Spotlight board and got a lot of good responses, so post your favorites.

 

Model Building Terminology

Euphemisms

 

When a not-done project gets put aside:

·       The muse has left the building.

·       Wall of Shame.

·       It's hibernating.

·       It's not dead, it's just sleeping.

·       It's a UFO (UnFinished Object).

·       Shelf of Regret.

·       Disenchantment District.

·       Shelf of Disenchantment.

·       Apathy Area.

·       Shelf of Apathy.

·       The usual.

·       Stalled project.

·       "In progress." (Even if I haven't touched it in 15 years).

·       Turnaround = perpetually unfinished, but has potential.

·       Unstalled - Back on the bench!

 

When that needed part goes flying:

·       Launched into low earth orbit      (I really liked that one recently).

·       Into a new dimension.

·       Blinked into another dimension.

·       Carpet monster.

·       Carpet trolls.

·       A zinger.

·       It's been carefully stored away for a future project.

·       Every model work area has a black hole where important parts go.

·       Gravity is a wonderful thing.

 

Construction Issues:

·       After a part breaks – that’s much better now.

·       That part’s from a different kit !!!

·       The kit instructions were just a vague suggestion.

·       I'm being creative.

·       Jeez, it's just a hobby.

·       Po' Boy Lathe = Using a 3/8th drill or drill press for turning or tuning a fit.

 

Exterior / paint / finish:

·       Painted with a fire hose.

·       Painted with a 4” brush.

·       Paint prep with a metal rasp.

·       That thing has so much orangepeel it's a Sunkist special.

·       It looks like it was painted by Earl Scheib.

·       Butter dish = A model with lines and features not well defined sort of like an upside down Butter dish.

·       Brick, Doorstop = Coarse, thick and or heavy resin from the early days

·       Bass Boat, Barstool = Clearcoat so heavy it is unrealistic

 

Finished:

·       3 wheeler.

·       A 10 footer  (5 footer etc.).

·       Well, that looks interesting.

·       Bless his heart for trying.

·       Glue Bomb.

 

In General:

·       In a modeling funk.

·       Obsolete or rare/expensive = unobtainium.

·       Sellers remorse = wanting to build a kit you sold X number of years ago and can't get another one cheap enough or at all.

·       Sellers remorse = For me that usually kicks in the next day.

·       What do you call it when a project you know you have just totally disappears?

·       Dog Food = Common kits purchased in multiples to part them out or bash with others.

·       Rivet Counter = Modeler obsessed with scale accuracy to the point of being annoying / unwelcome.

·       A Holy Grail -- a model you've been searching for years, usually one you had as a kid or wish you hadn't sold.

 

[LennyB]

Cool list, I'll have to think on it.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Painted with a dirty pinecone: obvious

Dipped in syrup: excessively thick 2K clear that fills seams and obliterates surface detail

Painted with a roller: again, obvious

"Bass boat" can also refer to excessively large, way out of scale reflective particles in metallic paint, also common on fiberglass dune buggies and helmets with a metalflake finish buried under clear gelcoat.

------------------------------------------------------------

Shelf of doom: refers to projects stalled for a long time but not put away

Edited December 8, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[stitchdup]

it hit a wall - both figuratively and literaly - got stuck and lost temper

 

[johnyrotten]

Surprised not seeing glue bomb included on the list. 

[Rob Hall]

kit type/category:

annual

reissue  (not the dreaded 'repop')

modified reissue

curbside

new tool

 

 

[stavanzer]

You missed the most common term for an unfinished kit that is stored away.

"Shelf of Doom"

I've seen that on Airplane, Armor, Ship and Car modeling boards.

[Brian_R]

Robert, other than the “Repop” do you have the euphemisms to go with those categories?

[Brian_R]

OK, this is the revised list as of now.

Please keep adding your replies

 

Model Building Terminology

Euphemisms

 

When a not-done project gets put aside:

·       The muse has left the building.

·       Wall of Shame.

·       It's hibernating.

·       It's not dead, it's just sleeping.

·       It's a UFO (UnFinished Object).

·       Shelf of Regret.

·       Disenchantment District.

·       Shelf of Disenchantment.

·       Apathy Area.

·       Shelf of Apathy.

·       The usual.

·       Stalled project.

·       "In progress." (Even if I haven't touched it in 15 years).

·       Turnaround = perpetually unfinished, but has potential.

·       Shelf of doom: refers to projects stalled for a long time but not put away.

·       It hit a wall - both figuratively and literally

 

·       Unstalled - Back on the bench!

 

 

When that needed part goes flying:

·       Launched into low earth orbit      (I really liked that one recently).

·       Into a new dimension.

·       Blinked into another dimension.

·       Carpet monster.

·       Carpet trolls.

·       A zinger.

·       It's been carefully stored away for a future project.

·       Every model work area has a black hole where important parts go.

·       Gravity is a wonderful thing.

 

 

Construction Issues:

·       After a part breaks – that’s much better now.

·       That part’s from a different kit !!!

·       The kit instructions were just a vague suggestion.

·       I'm being creative.

·       Jeez, it's just a hobby.

·       Po' Boy Lathe = Using a 3/8th drill or drill press for turning or tuning a fit.

 

 

Exterior / paint / finish:

·       Painted with a fire hose.

·       Painted with a 4” brush.

·       Paint prep with a metal rasp.

·       That thing has so much orangepeel it's a Sunkist special.

·       It looks like it was painted by Earl Scheib.

·       Butter dish = A model with lines and features not well defined sort of like an upside down Butter dish.

·       Brick, Doorstop = Coarse, thick and or heavy resin from the early days

·       Bass Boat, Barstool = Clearcoat so heavy it is unrealistic.

·       "Bass boat" can also refer to excessively large, way out of scale reflective particles in metallic paint

·       Painted with a dirty pinecone.

·       Dipped in syrup: excessively thick 2K clear that fills seams and obliterates surface detail.

·       Painted with a roller.

 

 

Finished:

·       3 wheeler.

·       A 10 footer  (5 footer etc.).

·       Well, that looks interesting.

·       Bless his heart for trying.

·       Glue Bomb.

 

 

In General:

·       In a modeling funk.

·       Obsolete or rare/expensive = unobtainium.

·       Sellers remorse = wanting to build a kit you sold X number of years ago and can't get another one cheap enough or at all.

·       Sellers remorse = For me that usually kicks in the next day.

·       What do you call it when a project you know you have just totally disappears?

·       Dog Food = Common kits purchased in multiples to part them out or bash with others.

·       Rivet Counter = Modeler obsessed with scale accuracy to the point of being annoying / unwelcome.

·       A Holy Grail -- a model you've been searching for years, usually one you had as a kid or wish you hadn't sold.

·       A Holy Grail -- a model you've been searching for years, usually one you had as a kid that you gluebombed.

·       A Holy Grail -- and just after you finally find one and pay $$$$ for it, it gets reissued.

 

 

Kit type / Category:

Term                      Euphemism

·       Annual

·       Reissue                      The dreaded 'Repop'

·       Modified reissue

·       Curbside

·       New tool

 

 

[Hi-Po]

It bothers me greatly to not finish a modeling project and I build mainly aircraft and cars.  So... when a project goes sideways, it doesn't end up on the "Shelf of Doom".  Instead, if it is automotive, it is "In the Shop" or if aircraft, it is "Offline for Maintenance".  

[StevenGuthmiller]

“Assembler”. 
Opposite of a “Rivet Counter”.

 

 

 

Steve

[rattle can man]

Let's not forget "Going for a bath in the purple pond".

For stalled projects: "i'm waiting for the right part/ kit", "I'm contemplating the next step", and "waiting for the paint to off-gas/ dry (my excuse for a VW Type III started 21ish years ago)"

[ChrisBcritter]

Adding detail:

• Well, I'll notice it
• Well, it's better than it was (usually referring to detailing one-piece chassis)
• The more I do, the better I'll get at it
• Could have, didn't want to (quote from Hank Borger that stuck with me) 

[NOBLNG]

Hidden or concealed details: “No one will see it but I’ll know it’s there”!

[NOBLNG]

I have had bench squirrels steal parts.🤔

[Fat Brian]

When trying to repair inaccuracies or add details to a kit falls short, it's not fixed but it is different. 

[johnyrotten]

Tadpole syndrome. Grew legs and walked away

[slusher]

Snap kit

Promo

[slusher]

Snake fu

[JollySipper]

7 minutes ago, slusher said:

Snake fu

He sure would 'wrestle it into submission' and 'drag it across the finish line'.............. Two more terms!

[slusher]

Snake pit 

Snake slap

[tim08]

Wretched Backbirth

[Brian Austin]

To build on one of the earlier replies: 

Holy Grail:  Model you've spent years tracking down, invested more than you probably should have to finally get it, only to be filed away in you stash to the point you'll forget you even have it.  🙂

Edited January 7 by Brian Austin

[stavanzer]

5 hours ago, Brian Austin said:

Holy Grail:  Model you've spent years tracking down, invested more than you probably should have to finally get it, only to be filed away in you stash to the point you'll forget you even have it.  🙂

Or, to finally get it, but realize that your building skills are not advanced enough to do justice to the kit, so it sits, waiting for you to tackle it, "Someday"......