is it important to dry fit all the peices of the model before you glue it together?
I think so … it certainly beats trying to pry the 2 pieces apart if the fit is terrible. On some kits I’ve found that other pieces sometimes get in the way of joining 2 major pieces together and need to be adjusted.
Dry fitting is one of the most basic fundamentals of this hobby. Dry fitting and a little sanding as needed saves a lot of filling and sanding.
Darren
Building a model without dry-fitting is like doing a crossword puzzle with a pen.
Ditto all of the above!
Lee
I know how important it is, but for some reason I usually remember it AFTER I’ve applied the glue! [:I]
I always dry fit…yeah, right. [:I] I always try to remember to dry fit but I can’t remember my ginko (that’s the stuff that helps memory, right?). [:p] Dry fitting can save a lot of work so I do it as much as I can.
I use a pen for crosswords too. [:D]
Junkman,
All the folks who’ve replied tell the truth. Dry-fitting is very important.
It can make the difference between a model that looks like crap and a model that you can be proud of.
When you dry fit the bits, you can check and see just how well the bits fit - or how poorly the bits fit.
By finding this out, you can determine just how you need to “massage” the bits so they DO fit properly - by either trimming by knife, filing, or sanding. It can also show if you need to use filler to fill gaps.
Cheers,
LeeTree
Yes!
Junkman,
Read my post about this build (it’s about the fifth down) and you will see why it’s important. I would not have found these problems in time without dryfitting.
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5817
Dryfit, dryfit, dryfit. I probably “build” my kits at least three times before I ever touch the CA or my airbrush. Keeps you from going “Oh #$&*” somewhere down the line. - Ed 
I am a believer in dry fitting. As said above, it will save many hours of extra work. The only time I ran into problens with dry fitting was on the Tamiya F-15E in 1/32 scale. The parts fit so good that when I dry fitted them I couldn’t get them apart. Most I just left that way without applying any glue.
I guess I’m an oddball, I don’t dry fit much at all. [:o)] I usually do if I question the fit, but usually I wing it. Since most of the models I build are Tamiya made, they usually fit together without much problems. Hey these kits take long enough to build as it is! [:(!]
Merlin - I do the crossword puzzle every day in pen ! But I ALWAYS dry-fit. What’s that the old carpenter used to say ? “Measure twice - cut once.” Makes sense to me.
So that’s where I’ve been going wrong!
I’ve been doing it the other way around all these years[:)]
Hey merlin ! Its gotta be that Maine air ! I lived in Freeport ( 1961 - 68 ), and built my first models there. I never dry fitted anything until I re entered the hobby !
HEY,
Listen, i live in Maine and even tho the air sucks, lol, i still dry fit. Now, if he is a MAINA, that would explain alot of things, ayah it would.
Randy[:-p]
I DO dry fit, I do. I spend moah time dry fittin’ than gluin’
I don’t do crawswuhd puzzles tho cuz I cayahnt spell.
I’m nawt a bawn Maina, I just live heeah now cuz I like lobstah a lawt.
Touche Merlin ! ! ! Give that man a cigar !
Ibid to all the above - If I am going to screw something up, I like going into it knowing full well that I am going to screw it up