charlzrocks Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Ok, maybe this should be under the rant section? I dunno... I have seen so many folks on here building their models with such incredible detail (building their own headers, wiring the distributors, etc.) that I feel somewhat inferior. I am 51 years old, and my eyesight is starting to go a bit so I gotta magnify when I letter the tires and other stuff. Then I see the close ups of some of these cars and am blown away!! There is no way that I will ever have the patience to make a model that could compete in a show. So what am I upset about? I guess that I really love building model cars, and there have been so many times that I finish a build with the phrase "THAT WILL HAVE TO DO", because there is a part of the kit that didn't fit correctly and threw everything else off (I like to blame it on somewhat poor instructions from the manufacturers in SOME cases). Oh, and don't get me started on DECALS! I get em positioned just so, then push the bubbles out ever so lightly with a wet cloth and the DARN THING MOVES, I get it repositioned almost to where it was and the decal BREAKS, or if it doesn't break, it almost falls off for the lack of glue left on the decal. I had one set completely dissolve, as I dipped the decal in water for a few seconds and move it back and forth a few times, the decal disintegrated! Granted they were almost 35 years old.... I guess I just want to build some nice models that don't have any quirks during the build that will end up resulting in an inferior model. And compared to lots of stuff here.....mine ain't looking so good. It is depressing. But I just build another one anyway! Am I nuts or what? Thanks for listening.
Karmodeler2 Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Ok, maybe this should be under the rant section? I dunno... Charizrocks, I would encourage you to let other's work inspire you to build better, and not try to build to someone else's level each time you build a model. As you have seen on this board, this hobby is about fun (most of the time) and if you enjoyed the build, and built it your way, then that's all that matters. Build what you want, how you want, when you want, and you will enjoy this hobby even more. If you plan on competing, then you might have to step up your game, but if you are just building for fun, then let it be fun and don't concern yourself with what others think. I don't need someone else's opinion (and that is what it is) to validate whether I am a good builder or not. Enjoy the hobby! David
Fuel Coupe Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Man get out of here with that stuff We all have the same problems and issues as you. Trust me you are NOT alone. I went through 5 sets of Slixx decals on a recent funny car build and I'm still not happy.... Matt LeBlanc told me once, "build for Yourself" the rest will fall into place..
ChrisPflug Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 I can definitely feel inferior looking at others' work here but always try to remember to have fun Just try something new on a regular basis and there will be natural improvements- Besides I'd hate to build what I considered a "perfect" model- where's the motivation to keep doing it then
curt raitz Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Do not get discouraged by some of the exquisite models you see posted on this forum. If you really look around there are some "turds" posted as well! Bottom line...build for yourself and don't be afraid to let the rest of us see'em...and remember we are our own worst critic!! It's not necessary to build a super detailed model to compete either. One of the most competitive fields at a model contest is "out-of-the-box", just build what came in the box! The NNL format is a great show to display your models without being a "competition" so to speak. It's a good time to join other modelers and bullshit about model cars. NNL's do have awards, i.e. "People's Choice", staff picks, etc...and maybe a photo of your model shows up in a "model car magazine" Decals are one of my favorite and dreaded parts of model building. Time has to be set aside without any distractions and ya gotta play around with all of the "setting solutions" out there. (no substitute for experience) have fun...
george 53 Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Charlz, wats the confusion about? I'm 56,an I been at this for OVER 50 YEARS now,an I can't build like the majority of the guys here! So wat? I STILL have fun doin the messes I build! THAT IS what it's all about! Don't even worry about your skills or abilities,we're all different,remember, the trick is to ENJOY a hobby, you DON'T hafta win a GSL trophy. If your havein fun, trying to do well, then just enjoy it! Personally some guys DO get kinda anal about building,but it make THEM happy,an THAT'S the jist of it! You DON'T hafta build Like TreeHugger Or Raul Or Bill Or any of these GREAT builders, just build like Charlz, You'll see yourself gettin better,We're NEVER to old to learn new stuff, an though some things may be difficult to master at first, with practice you'll get better! That's why we're here, really, to talk ,and learn, and enjoy seeing others skills displayed, an maybe givin us a goal to reach for! I still wanna learn to paint like MR.BIGGS, to fabricate like Treehugger, detail like Bill G. or have the imagination of Raul to make his ideas come true. These guys are JUST like you an me,they just have honed their skill it a consumate level! If you wanna get THAT good, you can, it's all in the desire. I'm happy with me,so I'll probly never get any better, but, I'm fine with that too! Just make yourself happy. If you WANNA learn to build like that, you sure came to the RIGHT place,caz all the guys I mentioned are more that willing to give you GREAT advice! Just enjoy what you do,caz it's supposed to be a RELAXING hobby!
E St. Kruiser50 Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 HEY CHARLZ I agree with everyone here. Next year I'll be buildin' 60 years YIKES , but still love it like I did when I first started. I'M A SLOW LEARNER and A LATE BLOOMER, so it took me that long for anybody to notice my stuff . I MADE TONS OF MISTAKES AT EVERYTHING I TRIED. I had guys help me and encourage me, just like people will do here for you. DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY, AS IT'S JUST A HOBBY I'm passionate about this hobby and love the enjoyment I get out of it, not to mention the friends I've made here, and the FUN at events and club functions I go to. STICK AROUND, HAVE FUN, MAKE SOME NEW FRIENDS, SHOW US YOUR STUFF, SHARE YOUR IDEA'S and mostly - HAVE FUN . dave
MrObsessive Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Believe it or not............I once upon a time HATED models! You couldn't give one to me as I wouldn't touch it! That changed when I was 17 and a senior in high school-----all of a sudden I wanted to build and build like the ones I seen in the magazines. Of course, I had to learn to build up skills SLOWLY and it wasn't until the early '90's when I was in my early 30's that I started to get detailed with my builds. I'm still not perfect (I know where the boo-boos are ) but every model I build I learn something a little different. It could be to be a little more patient with paint, it might be to make those hinges a little tougher to withstand opening and closing------it might be to scratchbuild something that I haven't before. It's all a learning process, one that doesn't come overnight! If I can give you a bit of simple yet effective advice, and this can apply to just about anything in life-------"Results Will Follow Desire". I learned that from and older gentleman years ago, and I've found that to be VERY true! From losing weight, to finding a job, to getting that sparkling paint job everyone wants------If you desire it bad enough, the results are sure to follow.
CAL Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 whether you think you can or can't you are probably right.
Guest Gramps-xrds Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 What everyone has already said is all true. Do it for your enjoyment. You'll get better but prob not as good as a lot of ppl on here, But who cares. Have fun and make friends. That's worth more than any trophy you could win.
Foxer Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 All these comments above are from some the the best builders I've ever met .. enough said!
crazyjim Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 I've been doing models for 51 years and could never complete with most of the people who post their completed works here. So what? I build because I enjoy it and occupies some of my time. I take greaat pleasure in knowing that I did the best I possibly could.
Scott Colmer Posted August 20, 2009 Posted August 20, 2009 Build to your own desire - is probably the best advice I have seen. Boy, there are some GREAT builders in this thread. It's been fun to hear thier inspirations, since they have inspired me as well. I have a couple of the thier fotki accounts saved on my favorites. I can add one thing that I know from experience - If you want to stretch your abilities, try soemthing new. Don't be afraid to redo something 1, 2, or even 5 times over. Sometimes it never works and you have to find another direction. I can bet there are a LOT of miscues behind those works of art that you see "Under Glass." Or maybe I'm the only one who remakes or repaints parts on every build. Either way - It's a hobby; have fun with it. Scott Colmer
charlzrocks Posted August 21, 2009 Author Posted August 21, 2009 Oh My GOD! Thanks to all of you for the support! The depression over my skill level is what got me out of modeling when I was younger. I guess some things never change. My own worst critic is an understatement. And, I DO appreciate ALL of the comments. I guess I was just at the point where I needed a quick kick in the butt from a bunch of caring strangers to make me realize that I do love this hobby. This thread alone shows how much passion all of us have for the hobby. Thank you all VERY much! (oh, and the decaling tips are great for my next build!!!) CHARLZ
FujimiLover Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 Hi there. I find the decals and window trim the two hardest parts to get right. Some companies decals seem to be stronger than others. The decals on my Fujimi Koenig models probably wore out some with age, but I've always had difficulty with them tearing just trying to get'em in the right position! As for the window trims, I found it easier to mask off the surrounding areas with blue tape and carefully paint by hand. Should also mention not to have too much caffeine before hand as that can cause the shake's to come! The worst decals for me are the KS window banners. They seem to be the most delicate and I keep forgetting to clear coat the window's before assembling them. My KS window banners usually start to peal up and brake away from dust and dry climate. Just keep on building and enjoy each one. The more you do, each one will get better than the last. I'm lousy at scratch-building, and I admire those that can scratch-build anything they can dream of. I see it so perfectly in my mind, I see my self putting it together so 100% perfectly, but in reality, it never look's the way I dreamed it. It must've taken me several tries over the past 15 some years to finally perfect my all time favorite super car, the Koenig Specials Competition Testarossa. I am very proud of my Italian Red paint job even though it's got some flaws in it as well. It's still my best one and I'm pleased with it. We are our own worst critic for sure. Sometimes that can be a good thing to drive us to do better, sometimes, it can bring us down. Important thing, is to keep going with what you enjoy doing. If you don't enjoy it for some reason, move on to something else and come back. Some times being away from the hobby helps as well and you tend to amaze your self with your next project!
Sixties Sam Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 Ditto pretty much all of the above. I'm 60 years old and I set some boundaries as to how much detail I'm willing to attempt. I never used an airbrush or BMF. I use spray can paint and do trim with silver paint and a brush. Sometimes I don't paint every script and emblem. Better to leave it off than screw it up, I believe. Once in a while I wire an engine, but if it looks like too much trouble, I don't do it. My models look reasonably good and I enjoy them. And that's what any hobby is about! So build for yourself and ENJOY! Sam
Karmodeler2 Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 There's nothing wrong with being inspired & influenced by other builder that do things that impress you or that you want to attempt. That's a healthy way of increasing one's skills in & enjoyment of the hobby. When you do attempt something like that however, keep in mind that the person who inspired you went through the same type of learning curve when he first attempted the technique as you experience. What you're seeing in most cases is the finished result of something they have been doing over time, not always the first time they attempted it. I could not agree with him more!!!! I have nine, yes NINE sets of running boards for the truck you see by my name, because it took eight tries of doing it wrong before I got it right. Stainless is THE most unforgiving medium I have ever used. I guess real glass would be a close second!! David
84vanagon Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 There is much sage advice above. I built my first glue kit in late '63, and went hard and heavy and had FUN untill I joined our model club in '85. The club had/has some very noted builders. Then I was taught the evils of mold lines, seams and orange peel. They meant well, but it was so drummed into us that even on a shelf model such evils were unacceptable. As a result productivity and FUN went way down. I suggest trying one thing "new" on each model you do. Don't try to do a lot on any one model at one time, or you might find yourself getting bogged down. As you get comfortable with each new step you can incorporate more into your next model. The main thing is to have FUN!
jbwelda Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 dude, you evidently put together the bleedin beatnik bandit! youre doin ok! seriously like everyone says, build to your own desire and maybe try one new technique per model. have fun, thats the bottom line. even if it didnt turn out perfect, pretty much no one else is going to notice the flaws you know are there. about the decals ditto on whats said and an important part is to get and use a soft brush and just use it for decals and water. also trim close to the decal. one thing many dont really realize, the instrux on many decal sheets are correct: wet the paper and decal for a few seconds and then put it on a paper towel to soak for 20 seconds or so. that works so much better than just putting them in the water to loosen from the paper. decals are an art but as long as they arent old and brittle you can actually work with them quite a bit using micro set and then apply micro sol (and then WALK AWAY!) after you have them positioned correctly and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Pete J. Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 Charlz - You started this thread with "I'll never be as good as y'all". I will reply with, no you will never be as good as all the guys here. Frankly, no one will be that good. No matter how good I get, there is always someone who does something better than me. I may be very good at some bits but everyone on this site has at least one thing he does better. Just the way it is. As others have said, I build to my standard. When I do something(anything) better than the last time, it makes me happy. Each piece is a victory. Enjoy it. Oh My GOD! Thanks to all of you for the support! The depression over my skill level is what got me out of modeling when I was younger. I guess some things never change. My own worst critic is an understatement. And, I DO appreciate ALL of the comments. I guess I was just at the point where I needed a quick kick in the butt from a bunch of caring strangers to make me realize that I do love this hobby. This thread alone shows how much passion all of us have for the hobby. Thank you all VERY much! (oh, and the decaling tips are great for my next build!!!) CHARLZ
samdiego Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 (edited) One of the problems we face is that the decals always seem to be a crapshoot. Even from the same model company they can be completely different from kit to kit. The Cartograph stuff in the Tamiya kits are incredible. Who else advertises the decal manufacturer on the box lid? They do get mushy under Solvaset though. Jbwelda's advice is right on with walking away until they are done festering. They can look really scary during the process and it can be hard to resist "helping" them. One thing that made a huge difference in my modeling was buying one of the magnifier on an arm things. Even when I still had young guy incredi-vision my contest stuff was always done under the magic biggifier. And you gotta wanna Of Course, I am really good, too. Check that avatar! Oops, painkillers taking over one handed keyboard input Edited August 21, 2009 by samdiego
808 Nitro Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for bringing this topic up. Its a good pep talk for everyone who feels like you from time to time. I have been having a bad paint experience and felt like giving up. Laters, Nitro
Dragline Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 After reading it all there is overwhelming evidence that you are not only NOT ALONE in this, but that we are all behind you in whatever you decide for your builds. Box stock Dave Deal clunker? Awesome! Super detailed hemi VW? Go For It..... Glue Bomb, not painted, vintage AMT? Well, let's not get crazy now........... This community ROCKS as you can see. When folks write posts like yours, the supporting cast comes out of the woodwork to gently lift you up. It's like Family really......... Bob F
charlzrocks Posted August 22, 2009 Author Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) Man am I humbled by the kindness! Truely!! I have found that I really need to try some new things and to scrap some old ones! Other than the comraderie I have found from all the responses, I have also gained an insight in what I would like to do for the newcomers to the hobby. We need a GLOSSARY OF TERMINOLOGY for all the terms you dudes use! Paint Bomb, glue bomb, rattle can, BMF, SAE, and "Magic Bigifier", LOL!! Seriously, some clarification on some of the terms as well as products in the form of a sticky or pinned post would always be helpful and could be accessed and/or added to as need be. I would be happy to start the Glossary and keep it up to date. I suppose what I would do is to ask the members in a specific thread for the explanations behind the terms and products. an example would be MCM Ohana - I HAVE NO FREAKIN IDEA! Flash - extra plastic attached to model parts Magic Bigifier - magnifying glass MCM - Model Cars Magazine Microsol - decal setting solution SAE - Scale Model Enthusiast magazine Rattle Can - canned spray paint with a mixing ball inside As far as decals go, I have begun to make color copys or scans of the decal sheet BEFORE I even attempt the kit. That way, If I screw up I can just reprint them on decal paper and start over. The idea of a DECAL BANK came to mind. Where the forum members would have access to the decal artwork from a particular model that had a bad decal set when used (my experience with a Beatnik Bandit took me to the "bay" asking sellers of the kit that might be unsealed to please email me a scan of the decal sheet, after mine had disintegrated) This would not be to take away from Slixx Decals or others, but more of a backup for something that they might not have or be able to carry. So, whatcha think? Be Brutal if you must, and thankewverymudge! Edited August 22, 2009 by charlzrocks
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