Model building on youtube.

[Bugatti Fan]

This is a hobby is it not?    So each to their own.   Live and let live.

If someone wants to turn out models in quick succession on YouTube and get lots of followers as a result, I guess that is what motivates them. If they are happy making them and people are happy watching them, so be it. In my last post I mentioned that the 'Henry' builder will possibly turn out many models of indifferent quality. But as long as they are happy with what they are doing, so what?

I stated that A4 Garage is more my style for viewing, and probably many more like me might prefer to watch more advanced builds by other experienced model makers too.

What I am getting at on here is that we all have choices as to what we view or not.   HPI guy has been getting a lot of criticism on here. But one has to remember that his videos are actively encouraging people to take up this amazing hobby of ours. Yes, he might take short cuts on his video builds, but if he encourages people to take up the hobby it can only be for the good. One has to remember that we were all rank beginners at one point. Many of us learned by trial and error and the odd magazine article back in the days before YouTube. So if his videos get people really interested in Auto Modelling and save them a lot of grief starting out, at some point they will become more advanced and then seek to go beyond what they learned from watching his videos.

There is a saying 'From little acorns mighty oaks do grow.'.    

HPI Guy just might well be sowing the seeds to grow our future advanced model builders !

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Bugatti Fan

[bobthehobbyguy]

Well said. 

One can choose to see the positive and negative in things. 

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by bobthehobbyguy

[R. Thorne]

Sometimes, inexplicable things can be attributed to the Green Eyed Monster.

[Ulf]

Life has taught me to avoid criticizing anyone as much as possible, you know so little about your fellow human beings. I left judging others on my desk in my professional life when I left.
Model Car Muse every second saturday is a highlight, I like the positive attitude.

[Force]

I agree that these type of channels may incurage some into taking up this hobby, don't get me wrong there, they probably do.
But as I said, every buildup is the same regardless of model and that's not that incuraging and I would expect a little more from guys that builds 40-50-60 models a year, because building those kind of numbers doesn't make you "experienced" if you do it the same every time without taking on new techniques and try something else, you are experienced at what you are currently doing but will not evolve any further...that's my point.
These guys are welcome to do what they want, it's fine by me, but I will not follow their channels as closely as I know what to expect.

I just watched a video at the A4 Garage channel wich I hadn't watched before and that's more my type of builds, he looks like he knows what he's doing, so thank's for the tip.
I also follow Model Car Muse, Clay Kemp and a few others.
  

[Brutalform]

On 12/28/2024 at 11:53 AM, stavanzer said:

 

I seriously cannot understand the Anger directed at HPI Guy

 

Me either. But unfortunately we live in world today that if someone came up with the cure for cancer, half the public would embrace it, and the other half would moan about it.  My advice is if you really don’t like something then flip right on by. But some individuals unfortunately do not understand that concept. People we is not wrapped tight. 

Edited December 30, 2024 by Brutalform

[Can-Con]

On 12/29/2024 at 4:12 AM, stitchdup said:

it wasn't aimed at anyone. it was badly worded on my part but it was in no way aimed at anyone. i meant theres a lot of people complaining about the way hpiguy does his vids while they hold a decent camera in their hand.

I kinda figured it was just a misunderstanding, Les, It seemed a bit out of character as I know you're usually not like that.

Personally, I'm one of those who usually never watch model car videos on YouTube unless I want to see what's in the box and his videos are useful for that. But I do watch them with the sound off. 😉

Edited December 30, 2024 by Can-Con

[Bugatti Fan]

Some people unfortunately get a bit too wound up about things that in the wider picture are really quite trivial  and unimportant.

[dmthamade]

I went on Youtube because I had to see what HPI guy was like, have to say, i think his builds are presentable. Matter of fact, i think mine are comparable to his, but his are probably better.  I get how it's like a review, i guess i can see how some would think he's just slapping stuff together, i think the aim is "this is what the kit looks like, this is a workmanlike build. Others can do better, here's my build, hope it helps". So many level of kits available to us, from snap togethers to hundreds of parts, and all levels of skill, experience and desire to "go up a level" if you want. Don't think any of them are the only right way to build, to say so is pretty arrogant. You might not like it or agree, but it's how "i" build. 

 

Don

[bobthehobbyguy]

First off it's  a hobby and everyone has the right to enjoy it in their own way. Where is it written that you have to  constantly improve or do it in a specific way.

Second I remember from the early days of Model Car Science and Car Model t here was no talk about worrying about production flaws such as ejection pins and parting lines.  There were no real kit reviews.  Also the only way you knew something about a kit was to buy. The what's in the box and build reviews are a valuable service and I'm happy that Hpiguy and others do.

 

Personally I do not feel presumptuous enough to criticize how others build.

[Bugatti Fan]

Bob has summed it all up quite eloquently in the first sentence of his last post.

[Jim B]

As has been said by other posters, I like HPIGuys Workshop for what it is: in box reviews of kits & what they'll look like when done.  I like how he presents the kits in a manner of fact way and will point out faults & issues when they exist; however, I must say that he is a much more experienced modeler that I am so where he doesn't have issues with a certain assembly, mine might be a complete disaster.  I also enjoy his enthusiasm, which I have to stop myself for falling for sometimes.  I believe Chris is a salesman in his "day job", and could probably sell ice to an Eskimo, so I have to be careful.  I have purchased several kits on his "recommendation" & video build.  Some of them have been successful, some not so much.  Taken for what HPIGuys Workshop is, I think it's a very good channel & a good resource for what the kits are.  A couple more channels that sort of fall into the "build out of the box" category is Building on a Budget Models and HPPworks.  Straight-forward builds.  Nothing too fancy.

If I am looking for videos of model building techniques, I will generally just do a search on a particular model & see what comes up.  One channel I found this way was Make it scale, which is quite good.  Another one is autostrada macchina.  This guy is GOOD! As is Scale-a-ton.  Insane detailing, although he does dis on 1/25 scale as being a "flaw".  European thing, I guess.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are lots of channels out there, and it just depends on what you're looking for: in-box reviews, build reviews, detailing, or crazy super detailing.  They're all out there, you just need to look.

[av405]

42 minutes ago, Jim B said:

I like how he presents the kits in a manner of fact way and will point out faults & issues when they exist;

I'll refrain from posting most of my thoughts on the subject. People like HPIguys definitely have a place in the hobby, many of us just seem to disagree on what that place is. With that being said, this quote is a point I will challenge. I don't believe that he really points out a lot of faults or issues. If you pay close attention to some builds, you can see issues that he didn't address in the final result. As a youtuber of his stature, I'm not sure how many faults he can point out in a kit that he is provided with for free for the purposes of hyping it up. I like his videos just to see the kit contents (especially decal sheets), but I rely on this forum to point out any major issues with kits.

[TonyK]

I have watched HPI guy for his review of what's in the box. It's important to me so I don't blindly spend my money on a kit and end up being disappointed. Model magazine reviews are very important to me for the same reason.

His building technique doesn't really interest me but I notice he spray paints with one hand and brush paints with the other. I'm right handed and I would not be able to do one of those with the left hand.

[AMT68]

2 hours ago, TonyK said:

but I notice he spray paints with one hand and brush paints with the other

That's funny because I never really noticed that while watching his videos.

Edited January 3 by AMT68

[Ace-Garageguy]

Want to see something "just built out of the box" using more advanced techniques, care, and skill...but nothing else?

This is one way we learn...by watching somebody who's good at what they do.  

 

[Belugawrx]

I've watched a bunch of Kenji's builds and he is awesome in the scratchbuilding department👍

[Dave G.]

17 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Want to see something "just built out of the box" using more advanced techniques, care, and skill...but nothing else?

This is one way we learn...by watching somebody who's good at what they do.  

 

Good for a beginner to aspire to, or anyone. There are good practices at use. Then again, I know when I began, it took time to acquire, not just skill but tools. And you don't have the keen eye yet, where you might see the finished product of HPI guy results as "good enough for me", scenario. Considering the beginner knows nothing at all, perhaps.

I like this guys parts tree nippers ! But there is no word spoken as to what brand etc.

Edited January 21 by Dave G.

[Ace-Garageguy]

5 hours ago, Dave G. said:

Good for a beginner to aspire to, or anyone. There are good practices at use. Then again, I know when I began, it took time to acquire, not just skill but tools. And you don't have the keen eye yet, where you might see the finished product of HPI guy results as "good enough for me", scenario. Considering the beginner knows nothing at all, perhaps.

I look at it like this: if I were an elementary school teacher and I wanted to introduce music to a class that included some kids who'd never heard any really "good" music (jazz, classical, rock, etc.), I wouldn't start them out listening to a bunch of 3rd rate amateurs who couldn't play well together, who screeched and lost the beat, and had no real "feel" for what they were doing.

I'd take them to hear performers who, while maybe not concert-hall quality, were at least accomplished enough to make truly beautiful music, to show them what was possible with a little applied talent and effort, not just a bunch of noise.

[Mark]

You can usually find something positive in whatever you look at.  Often, at shows or contests, there are entries that aren't necessarily up to the standard of the others, but the builder had a great idea for customizing or conversion that you maybe hadn't thought of.

[Dave G.]

2 minutes ago, Mark said:

You can usually find something positive in whatever you look at.  Often, at shows or contests, there are entries that aren't necessarily up to the standard of the others, but the builder had a great idea for customizing or conversion that you maybe hadn't thought of.

I learned a lot actually from entering a contest. It may have been 1960, I would have been 10 or 11, and I placed last in my class.The biggest blooper was the paint. But I got to see details others put into their entries. I went back the next year and won a ribbon with an AMT 49 Ford, simply by applying what I had learned and subscribing to a car modelers magazine. I still didn't win the contest and get the trophy, but I placed at least.

I didn't go into modeling already a winner for sure. None of us do.

[Dave G.]

52 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

I look at it like this: if I were an elementary school teacher and I wanted to introduce music to a class that included some kids who'd never heard any really "good" music (jazz, classical, rock, etc.), I wouldn't start them out listening to a bunch of 3rd rate amateurs who couldn't play well together, who screeched and lost the beat, and had no real "feel" for what they were doing.

I'd take them to hear performers who, while maybe not concert-hall quality, were at least accomplished enough to make truly beautiful music, to show them what was possible with a little applied talent and effort, not just a bunch of noise.

As I said, something good to aspire to.

[Radretireddad]

I’m a fan of the HPI guys channel for his kit unboxings. Chris gets all the newly released kits first and does a better job of presenting the kit contents in an entertaining and informative way than anyone else I’ve seen. Like many of you however, I don’t watch his builds because I can’t stand seeing sloppy, rushed work but I completely understand why Chris builds that way. I know I wouldn’t want to have to do as many builds as he does on that tight of a timeframe so I won’t fault him for it. On the other hand I don’t watch guys like A4 garage either because he’s way over the top for someone like me. His work is top tier stunning, but he puts the same amount of time and effort into one build that most of us put into three. It’s not that I couldn’t build to that level if I strived to, it’s just that it’s way, way more time than I want to spend on a single build. I’ve watched a few YouTube modelers since getting back into the hobby two years ago mainly to relearn techniques and to get up to speed on current hobby products. In the two years I’ve been back, I’ve happily perfected the skills and techniques that work perfectly for the level of building I’ve determined I want to build to and I’d be quite happy to pass along what I’ve learned to anyone who is looking to share in our enjoyment of the hobby. I’ll never submit any of my builds to contest judges because in the end, the only one my builds have to impress is me. Happy modeling everyone.

Edited January 21 by Radretireddad

[Dave G.]

45 minutes ago, Radretireddad said:

I’m a fan of the HPI guys channel for his kit unboxings. Chris gets all the newly released kits first and does a better job of presenting the kit contents in an entertaining and informative way than anyone else I’ve seen. Like many of you however, I don’t watch his builds because I can’t stand seeing sloppy, rushed work but I completely understand why Chris builds that way. I know I wouldn’t want to have to do as many builds as he does on that tight of a timeframe so I won’t fault him for it. On the other hand I don’t watch guys like A4 garage either because he’s way over the top for someone like me. His work is top tier stunning, but he puts the same amount of time and effort into one build that most of us put into three. It’s not that I couldn’t build to that level if I strived to, it’s just that it’s way, way more time than I want to spend on a single build. I’ve watched a few YouTube modelers since getting back into the hobby two years ago mainly to relearn techniques and to get up to speed on current hobby products. In the two years I’ve been back, I’ve happily perfected the skills and techniques that work perfectly for the level of building I’ve determined I want to build to and I’d be quite happy to pass along what I’ve learned to anyone who is looking to share in our enjoyment of the hobby. I’ll never submit any of my builds to contest judges because in the end, the only one my builds have to impress is me. Happy modeling everyone.

An awesome point you make is that you build to a level you determined is satisfying to you.

[Radretireddad]

20 hours ago, Dave G. said:

An awesome point you make is that you build to a level you determined is satisfying to you.

The most wonderful aspect of our hobby is we each get to determine what that is for ourselves and still enjoy each others efforts. If it were any other way, it wouldn’t be a hobby.