This is my first AC build following reading FSM for a few months. I tried several techiques from the magazine, including decal setting solution and an attempt at highlighting. I also prebuilt the entire model before I began to paint.
I know the paint scheme isn’t correct, it’s just what I felt like using. It’s so small, I was having problem with too large a brush on the wheels.
Yeah, I know it looks crappy, but my eyes are bad, fingers shake, and it’s been a while. In some respects I succeeded wildly with this build, in others it’d be a target for a BB gun…
The bottom line is, did you enjoy doing it? It sounds like you had a great time, and, without trying to sound too much like little Mary Sunshine, that’s what’s important. If you learned a few things to make you enjoy the next one even more, then you’re on the right track.
I hope you keep sharing your builds.
I shall continue. Yeah, I enjoyed myself. I also think on something that small, it’ll get painted before I put it together, and I’ll fix any gaps or problems at that point.
I always enjoy making models, even the ones that end up looking like a pile of styrene on display at a museum. I’m working on a USS SARATOGA that will probably end up filed away, but if I get the Future to work with the decals, and the acrylic filters to work with the enamel on the flight deck, that’s all I’ll care about.
Main reason I posted it was that so many of the pics put up here look so friggin’ good, I think guys like me get intimidated. I mean, there are some incredible levels of detail that some folks are putting into their stuff. I’m enjoying learning how folks do different stuff, since my background basically stemmed from pull it from the box, glue it together, maybe paint and decals, and let my imagination run wild about that aircraft/car/boat for the duration of the build. I still have that part going for me.
I’ll keep posting if for no other reason than to show that mortal humans also enjoy painted, glued and sanded fingers…
Enjoyment, I think, is the main thing in the hobby. If you enjoy building enough, you build more. When you build more, you get better at it.
What Saratoga model are you building? The Fujimi Saratoga was one of the first ships I attempted. Would love to see what you do with your Sara!
Damn sight better than my first builds. You certainly shouldn’t get intimidated. Some of us have been building for years even decades. And we are all still learning and improving.
For a build like that, I think I would assembly the fuselage and lower wing and paint those with the top wing separate. I did my first WW1 Bi plane a few months back, I would have been pulling my hair out trying to work out how to paint it, that’s if I had any.
Hair. I seem to recall that stuff. Actually, I’ve not lost it, I’m keeping it all in a box under my bed.
The Sara is the REVELL release I got around 1990. There was talk of bringing her (to Jax, FL) as a museum so I got one. Since then the Sara’s been turned into razorblades or something else.
I’ll post some stuff on the Sara in the Ship Section.
Having fun really is all that matters, bottom line. You are right that there are many levels of skill on these forums, and some are world-class. The thing we all have in common though is a love for gluing plastic. I’ve been building since the age of 7 (now 45) and have acquired a certain skill set that allows me to improve some kits, but that’s because it’s what gives me enjoyment. So does my build pace: typically glacial. But I love seeing what others post and yours is no exception. [Y]
I don’t suppose you have mine in there as well do you.
Thanks for the pictures and stuff. I bought the kit a while back and am planning to build it.
I know I’ve joined the right forum when people are encouraging like this. To be quite honest, I get a lot of enjoyment looking at all sorts of models people build, regardless of their style and standard. Nice work Viejo, get in and do more now! 
Bish, it’s all GOT to be mine, it’s all grey.
Newtothis, you should see the back up of builds I have in 1/48…