A modeller's dilemma

[Nigel Jackson]

Hello All

Wel, it's no secret that I'm not in the first flush of youth - I guess like a few others here, but I now face a dilemma. My customary modelling approach involves working at a pace which means I would be behind a series of snails on a Formula One starting grid. I'm a perfectionist without having the skills to secure anything approaching that goal. What this means is that I have a stash of kits which, while small in comparison to many I've seen here, will largely never be built in their entirety. Furthermore, time will see my eyes weaken and my fingers get ever more clumsy.

So the question I face is this. Is it better for me to just finish kits pretty much from the box, accepting their faults and not really worrying about any superdetailing? I might not look on any such completed models with great pride, but at least they will be there in the cabinet to make a more representative collection of period aircraft. Or should I just grind on in my painfully slow way knowing, for example, that the beautiful WNW RE.8, may only ever exist unassembled in its box, unless it pushes its way ahead of other beauties in this golden age for Great War modellers?

Best wishes
Nigel

[Suffolk Lad]

You are not alone Nigel - I struggle with this on a daily basis - truly!

Currently, as you are probably aware I'm well side tracked from what I'd much rather be doing on another project which, given the time invested so far, I feel really needs to be finished. Strange as it may seem to some though (most, I wouldn't be surprised) I'm really not enjoying it or myself as it slowly progresses and the time away from plastic modelling gets longer. Virtually every day I look at the Nieuport languishing in its box telling myself I'll soon be back on it. What the real problem is is exactly what you have identified - given our age, realisation that our time left is finite finally kicks in and - for me at least it's how best to fill it to the most satisfaction. I have spent a major part of my modelling time over the years machining metal. For all of that time that was nothing more than an absolute passion but I'm truly surprised to find that that's gone, there's simply no fire there any more. A lifetime of acquisition and building up a workshop and suddenly it's no longer important.

'Our hobby' however is totally different. I have so many (plastic) desires for projects I know that most will never see the light of day but it doesn't matter which box gets opened on occasion for a 'look see'  I see the original project that inspired me immediately.

My way of dealing with it is to try not to think about the ones I'm not building but dwell heavily on the one I am. I find it extremely difficult, if not nigh on impossible, to work on more than one at once and though there are a couple of aircraft models on the back burner mostly I have finished what I set out to achieve.

I know for instance I will never be able to finish all the WNW kits recently purchased but I have them, they are there should the desire take me on any specific one at some time along with several other none WWI projects but the manner in which they are finished is yet to be determined. I can see that it will be very unlikely that I will spend time super detailing (or painting) something that will not be seen. That's not to be detrimental to those who exhibit such talent and patience in doing so on here in such exactitude but rather the realisation that time spent doing so, though obviously giving inordinate modelling pleasure, is time perhaps spent better elsewhere on another project. I guess it's very much a 'horses for courses' thing.

I have no answer for you Nigel as I'm a lost cause myself  but perhaps, like the Baron says, break out that RE8 and savour every minute of the build - just forget about all the others while you are doing so .

Good Luck - I wish you well with your future modelling whichever direction it takes

Kind Regards - Tug

[rolanddvi]

Hi Nigel,

I also build at a slow pace and have recently been dealing with a medical issue, two months of treatment left, so my modelling time has been greatly reduced. However it did make me realize that I have way to many kits that will never be built. My modelling skills are just "OK" but for the last few years I have been trying to emulate the work I've seen on this forum and others. I have finally realized that I do not possess the skills to do that. A master modeler I will never be. But I certainly admire and am inspired by the builds I see on this forum. So I have decided to get back to what got me into modeling in the first. Having fun and making a nice kit from the box. I don' enter competitions so no one really sees my work. As long as I am happy with it and had fun building it then I am satisfied.

Mike

PS - I agree with RB, start the RE8. You never know where it will lead you!

[lcarroll]

    Ahhhhhh Nigel, you've hit a raw nerve in this oldsters psyche!
Like you I've passed the "flush of youth" and possess a modest stash that will still be here in some part after my passing. Like you as well I work at a snail's pace in hopes of perfection which has (and no doubt will) continue to elude me. The prospects are not good in this regard; as Justin says here crap(ier) eyesight and fingers that behave like drunken sausages call for greater problem solving, but the fun is in the trying.
    Also like Tug I have no answer for you other then to share my intentions; I will continue as I have before, at a slow pace in pursuit of the perfect Build and continue to buy Kits I may never finish, let alone start! I have regrettably lost the perfect health I enjoyed most of my life so the Hobby provides my main source of leisure and activity, my days of "running, jumping, and hitting the ball" are past so this will do wonderfully! I know of so many fellows who, at the same stage of life, have nothing that draws their interest, and they wither away, unlike you or I who will still find challenge in the next project.
   I have a Wingnut Wings "Harry Tate" in the stash as well, maybe we should start them next.................
Cheers,
Lance

[Monty]

Hi Nigel, some great responses and real evidence that you are not alone in your dilemma! I am also older, and with a collection that could never be completed in three modeller's lifetimes: But I really like all those models I have, it would be truly great to build them, and I will keep them as they give me pleasure - just to open the box, check the contents, and dream about the beautiful build it's going to be... For me, that is great satisfaction too...

Keep those kits, enjoy them. There is no rush.

Regards,

Marc

[mike in calif]

I compare my build pace to Continental Drift. I've found my happiest approach is to add as much as I'm comfortable with, and try to keep moving forward. I'll try at least one new "thing" on each build though.

[lone modeller]

Nigel

I too am an old duffer who finds that the eyes do not see what I want them too and the fingers do what they what to and not what I tell them! I am also a perfectionist but know that I will never achieve that in this world, so I compromise. I accept what I can do, do the best that I can, and enjoy it as much as possible because I will not enjoy it again. I also have learned to cut the odd corner as those few people who see my models are usually unaware of the mistakes or missing bits that absolutely shout at me - I have learned to be deaf to that! Enjoy what you can while you can and follow the mood as it takes you. Modelling is fun - keep it that way and don't agonise over it.

BTW my brother has Parkinson's disease and he is building a 1/80 scale frigate from plans using wood. He is even more of a perfectionist than me but he knows that he cannot do what he used to be able to. But he enjoys what he does because he is constantly looking for a challenge and how to overcome it: I think that that is as good an approach to modelling as any I know. And he is making an excellent job of the build!

Stephen.

[Ernie]

Nigel, my friend, just do what pleases you most. It's not a race, so enjoy the
things that give the most fun.  For me, it's not total superdetailing, but little
extras here and there, taking old eyes and chubby fingers into account.

Cheers,
Ernie

[RAGIII]

Nigel, my friend, just do what pleases you most. It's not a race, so enjoy the
things that give the most fun.  For me, it's not total superdetailing, but little
extras here and there, taking old eyes and chubby fingers into account.

Cheers,
Ernie

I am closer to Ernie on this one but like he said do what pleases you the most. My contest days are long past and now I just try to add a few details and build something pleasing to my eyes. I do dislike the self made errors but sometimes I even let them go. Build the way you like and at the pace you like.
RAGIII

[Des]

I don't allow myself to be pushed by deadlines or unreal expectations, I build models because I love doing it and I build at my own pace. My stash has grown way out of proportion but I'm not at all worried, it is great to have a choice of what I want to build next plus if anything happens that stops me modeling they will be a good thing to fall back on to pick up a few dollars. As others have said Nigel, you build what you want when you want and at the speed that is comfortable for you, there are no competitions to see who can build a model the fastest, enjoy what you do.

Des.

[Ssasho0]

I feel the same dilemma, but in the end, I just open the box and start modelling. Every build is very situational, sometimes I got deep into detailing without initially planning for it and sometimes I plan to detail and then I go for out of the box build...or nearly. For me every build have a lif eof its own and I just adapt For me the building process is the most important, I rarely stare at my models, but I enter competitions a lot, so I am trying to make them perfect, but I also like to finish the builds and if it took too long I just got bored with it. Balance is hard to find, but I strive to achieve it

Anyway, the most important thing is to have fun!

Best regards,
Sasho

[Cimmerian]

I have never been a master builder, I build OOB, with decals being the onyl things that may get changed. Last year I decided to give up on GB on the various forums that I'm on and now I'm having a blast, I build what I want as fast as I want. The models are on show in my cabinet and a few photos on the net and that's it. My hobby is now fun again.

I'll never get through my stash, but that doesn't mean I'll stop buying kits.

[bobs_buckles]

Research it, build it, enjoy the journey and have fun.
Don't get caught up in what others are doing. You just need to focus on what brings you joy from this great hobby of ours and run with it.

I wish you well.
Cheers,

Von slowestModellerintheWorldEver! 

[Der Phönix]

Gentlemen,

One of the things that I have found most enjoyable about lurking on this website is the respect shown other modellers by most of the group. Once in a while someone is treated unfairly but, for the most part, the mutual support, and willingness to agreeably disagree, is commendable. I suspect that the level of maturity evidenced by the previous comments about failing eyesight, etc., has an upside of maturity in manners which has become almost nonexistent on the websites populated by a younger crowd, and a damn shame it is, too, I reckon.

For my own part, I have been fascinated by some of the incredibly well researched and extensively detailed builds I see on this website and intend to begin following along in a step by step manner. Doing so can only serve to make me a better model builder and pay homage to those of you who have more experience and larger reference libraries. So, a few slow builds will soon commence.

But, having been forced to live with myself for nigh on to 70 years, poor man, I also know that I will become anxious if something doesn't get finished. I've had a lifelong bad habit of leaving things at 97.9% and have determined to do so no longer. So, I shall also build a few kits right out of the carton as I know seeing something with its i's dotted and t's crossed will only serve to catalyze the rest of the projects on my table.

So....balance in everything.........seek perfection and accept excellence.....make hay while the sun shines and love when it is dark.

Best regards,
DP

[PrzemoL]

I could surely join with my already started BE.2c in 1/72 from Airfix.