How many of you keep build logs on your projects. Mine are in a 5 subject spiral notebook that I tab off with little tape flags that have the build name written on it. I keep track of stuff like if I needed to make a grab handle the drill bit size, rod diameter, product number or if I made any major modifications I sketch a diagram with notes. Custom mixed colors are notated and any brands and colors I used along with swatches of the color in case I need a touch up at some point. I also stuff my reference photos and W.I.P photos in the section on that build along with the origional instruction sheet. Here’s a photo of a page from my T 34/85 in progress.
I keep one on a portable computer. It only covers what the kit is, and what I do with it after building. I like to keep track of which contests I enter a particular model in (I forget from year to year, do not like to repeat entries). Biggest problem is remembering to enter a new kit when I finish.
I’ve only kept a log for one build. It was more of a session log…date, start and stop times, and what I did during the sessions. It was on Academy’s 1/32 F-18D that I built for my bro during his first tour in Iraq (he was a WSO with VMFA(AW)-332 “Moonlighters” at the time). When he got back, we compared logs (mine is bigger!!![:P]). Turned out, that at the same time (with time zones factored) as I was building the GBU-12s for the model, he had dropped a pair of em, getting 50+(confirmed) bad guys.
I also keep a log of finished builds…just scale, company, type…so I don’t forget any for the “year in review” thread.
Never really crossed my mind to keep one. Adequate bench time, especially at this time of year, is a rarity anyway, so I would need to use that time actually doing instead of writing about it. Something to consider though for the winter months.
I used to keep a log of what NASCAR stockers I’ve built and when, but quit that over 8 years ago. Too many models tossed over the years to even think of going back and building a history.
