My modeling has been basically a solitary activity, with my knowledge of what others are doing coming mostly from my recent discovery of this forum. From what I read, it seems that most modelers are “specialists”, in that they concentrate on mostly one particular subject like armor, ships, or planes. Is that an accurate characterization of most of you out there? The reason I ask is because I’m just the opposite. I enjoy building different subjects, including prop and jet aircraft, ships, subs, tanks, cars, space craft, sci-fi, and figures (dinosaurs, knights). I realize that I run the risk of never getting out of the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none category by skipping from subject to subject, but it does keep me interested. Comments?
I built cars and lots of planes when I was younger… but for the past 4 years, I exclusivelly built or was interrested by german vehicle and artillery WWII. All the other are nice too, but don’t appeal to me…
I do mostly airplanes. One of the reasons I do this hobby is because I love airplanes, so naturally, that’s what I build most of. However 15-20% of my stash is armor, nautical, or sci-fi, so I do have some other interests too.
I think you’re fairly accurate in your observations. There seem to be 3 broad categories of modelers; Generalists - who build just about anything, Genre Specialists - who primarily build one type of model (armor, A/C, etc), and Super Specialists - who focus primarily on a specific genre, nationality, and time period (for example Allied Vietnam Era Aircraft). There are varying degrees of specialization within these three categories and you could probably find more than 100 individual “nitches” within our hobby. Also, it’s not uncommon for modelers to switch between areas of interest throughout their modeling lives.
For me, the primary nitch is WWII Military Subjects (armor, softskins, guns) from all nationalities in 1/35 scale. While I will build something different every once and a while, 90% of my builds fall into this area.
Yes there is no doubt that there are specialists, and I would say most are… Since I am aviation buff it is aircraft for me. You will even notice it in the forums. I almost never got he the other sections, ships, armor etc. But when I do I see modeler’s handles that I have never seen before so they are not venturing out of their area either. Just seems natural to hang with the people that share the common interest. Using Robert’s definition I am probably close to a super specialist… Aircraft/WWII/Fighters… at least for now.
Personally, I build what looks appealing to me at the moment. I have a lot of fun building armors because there is not much putty and sanding to do (I hate putty and sanding) and I also love weathering and armor is the better subject for that. But I also like to build other things. I’ve built a F/A-18C Hornet lately and I enjoyed it (except the putty and sanding which ended up getting the plane sitting on the bench for several months before having the courage to finish it) and I’m currently building my first battleship (and progress has been very slow lately cause I’m stuck at a putty and sanding step)
Good topic and yes we are mostly specialists in one way or another with the generalists being the exception. As someone stated earlier our area of specialization may change over the years but once we find an area that interests us we usually stick to it for a good long period of time. My specialty is a little different in that I build anything from WWII that is in 1/72 scale. This includes aircraft, armour and boats. I really like the notion of having everything in the same scale and 1/72 scale has the greatest variety of subjects. Part of the reason that I like to place limits on myself is that it reduces the spontaneous “I GOT TO HAVE THAT” knee jerk response that I get every time I walk into the LHS.[:o)] Happy modeling everyone.
I stick to 1/48 scale WWII aircraft. I recall when I was a kid modeling many years ago, I did pretty much the same thing. I like the scale, the subjects, etc. Then I think part of it was simply because most of what was on the shelves at the local store was 1/48 Monogram kits. Now, I have trouble seeing 1/72 scale stuff, 1/32 is too big for finding shelf space. And I am just really a WWII aviation fan. I never got excited about building other gneres and even time periods. I’ve built tanks and jets and ships… they just never really got me going like the WWII birds.
One thing I know you become a specialist at when you get into modeling- spending! [;)]
you may be right, modelers become specialists of sort. although i try to build many genres i will always come back to aircraft. and if i really think about it p-40’s and flying fortresses are what i tend to gravitate to. part of it is because i have spent a great deal of time researching both. i believe some of the builds that have the best overall finish are hawks or forts, this is because i know a great deal more about them than anything else. when i go to buy kits i tend to look around and come home with a hawk or fort kit. half my stash is hawks or forts. in reality this is both a good and bad thing to me. bad in that i could be described as being in a rut, and good in that when i build my “specialty” i go all out. currently i have two hawks in progress. one that has been shown here in progress (the revell 48 scale “b”) and one that i havent yet (the trump 32 scale). i can tell you this when i look to build hawks i cant just let it go when i see something wrong. when i build other stuff i get it to where i am comfortable.
No specialist here, I was a Petty officer. . .dadadum.
If they put it on the shelf I will buy it. That appears to be my specialty. I have a 1/72nd helicopter collection, and a rapidly growing 1/48 helicopter collection, all USCG aircraft. I have my greatest fighters of all time collection I work on from time to time as a change of pace. Then there are my “gift kits” that I receive from well intended folks who “never know what to get me”. Some I keep, some I let get away.
Now if you catagorize a specialist as one who: builds injection molded plastic kits form major manufacturers of assorted scales, then I am a specialist!!
I tend to be a specialist. I build jet aircraft from the Korean war to present. At times something will catch my attention and I will buy the kit and build it. I have built the O-1, 0-2, and A-1 because they were Viet Nam era aircraft. I have other subjects in my collection but haven’t built armor in over thirty years. I sold (gave away very cheep) all of my armor kits about ten years ago to free up space.
Great Topic! I agree with most everyone, we all tend to specialize or have a focus in something. For me it is WW2 birds (I flip between 1:72 and 1:48, I just can’t make up my mind[:P]), particularly aircraft flown by Canadians. I also just recently bought a Tank and boat to try my hand at other types so as to expand my skills.
As for other interests, I would like to try several WW1 subject ( I love the Albatros DII/III/V)
I build modern aircraft for the most part, but I will build prop planes as well. I have built 1 tank, a bit different, but it was ok. I build cars and motorcycles, I have a semi waiting to be built and a few helicopters to! I build whatever happens to intrigue me at the time.
Guess I’d have to say that I’m more of a “car guy”, but I’ve done quite a few aircraft over the years, too. When I was younger I had done a couple of small-scale ships (USS Arizona and a carrier, but I don’t recall which one) I’m currently working on my first sailing ship, the USS Constitution in 1/196 scale, but I’m going back to what I know (cars and planes) when “Old Ironsides” is finally on display.
I specialize in mostly WWII stuff. I’ve been a WWII history nut ever since I was a kid. I focus mainly on aircraft (1/48 and some 1/32), and every now and then I get into a big armor phase and build a Tiger, Sherman, Elefant or whatever. Occasionally I like to branch out and try something different. I have some fairly modern soviet tanks (T-62, T-55, T-72) and others that are in my stash waiting to be built as well as a few Korean war and SAC planes waiting to be built as well.
I Build 1/48 armor…1/48 planes + jets…1/350 ships.Modeling is not a trade where one needs to specialize and become an expert at just one,I build what visually appeals to me.Not that I dont’ try my bestbut variety is important to me