As I get older I’ve come to face the truth that with my eyesight getting worse (I’ve worn glasses since I was 16) working on small scale models (1/144 and smaller) is getting more and more difficult. Does anyone else out find themselves in a similar situation?
yup, im 25 and my eyesight is so bad that even 72nd scale stuff is hard (doesnt help my fingers a big and fumbly) Even with band new glasses my eyes are still average at best. It really sucks.
31 and my eyesight is still pretty solid.
I had better than 20/20 growing up (really good long-distance out of my left eye), slightly worse than 20/20 now, but I do wear glasses when I’m on the computer…very mild prescription, mostly an eyestrain thing. I wear my older pair of glasses when I model, and I find them help immensely.
Still, I’m devoted to 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft and 1/35 armor. IF I ever take on 1/72 or 1/144 again, it’ll be for some sort of forced perspective/background photo-trickery thing, and it’d be half-focused so I wouldn’t be putting too much into it anyway.
I like 1/48. good compromise between price, selection, and being able to see it.
Let’s not forget that, in 1/48, control sticks are still usually one piece.
Was working on the big Tamiya Spit last night…control stick assembly? 7 friggin pieces.
and not just in aircraft. I am really excited about the growth of 1/48 armor subjects and figures as well. very cool to have everything I build in the same scale. Shows a nice perspective of relative sizes.
After a certain age, an Opti-visor is a necessity.
I’m more on what I can hold. I’ve been wearing glasses since the 8th grade and I can see1/72 fine, I just can’t hold the small parts.
[dto:] on a few of the above. At close to 71, I’m switching to 1/48 or larger. I have to remove my regular glasses and use 2.5 reading glasses from the drugstore and a large lighted magnifier. Am considering an optivisor. Also having trouble holding the parts as it seems that there is always a freight train rolling by under the workbench when I’m working there. [;)]
Jim [cptn]
I’ve picked up a neat trick: I use my various computers as magnifying devices.
- I keep 1:1 copies of views of the elements of my 1:144 diorama WIP, in my PDA. I can view them as they are, magnify them, change the light, etc.
- If you’re running Windows 7 and you’ve got multiple related resource photos on hand (e.g., a few adjacent frames of a movie), Windows Live Photo Gallery’s automatic panoramic-stitch feature can combine those shots into a single megavista. To make this work, select all the shots you want to combine in Photo Gallery. Choose Make → “Create a panoramic photo”. After the beast chews its electronic cud for a while, you’re presented with a slightly ragged photo with an (albeit slightly) improved resolution. It’s not a good as one of those magical picture enhancement programs you see on “CSI: Every Darned Place on Earth”, but it’s a lot better than a sharp stick in the eye.
Been a 48th jet guy since I started modeling back in the early 80s as a kid. Didn’t have the greatest eyesight back then either.
The smaller jet kits (A-4, F-5, etc) are about the smallest I’ll go in 48th, but I do have a few WWII fighters in 48th, but those are the absolute smallest I’ll go.
I have devolved an interest in WWII fighters in the last 3 years or so, but I’ll only do them in 32nd. The upcoming Tamiya 32nd P-51D release that cause such a maelstrom on the Hyperscale forums seems like a worthwhile purchase, especially for me if at some point an aftermarket decal company produces Tuskegee Airmen decals.
All the 72nd kits I have are for big aircraft in real life that are not readily available in 48th (B-36, XB-70, C-5A/B, KC-135).
You’re in luck!
not yet
[dto:] Or some source of magnification such as a mag lamp or combination of:
!(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t320/hawkeyes_bucket/The Hawk/100_6290e5.jpg)
on my bench I have a good mag lamp.
!(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t320/hawkeyes_bucket/The Hawk/benchviewright.jpg)
HOLY CRAP…IS THIS DUDE WORKING ON THE MOLECULAR LEVEL?! LOL
My eyes aren’t that good either, but I use 2.5 mag readers from the local wally world, 'cause I figure, it couldn’t hurt, could it?
Justin
Just paint’in the hairs on a gnat’s a$$…its all about getting the little details right [:P]
Its not really the sight that is the problem for me. I don’t care to handle such itty bitty pieces. I can see them fine…but they don’t want to cooperate with my fingers.
Almost 37, and still 20/20 plus! My eyes are AWESOME!!!
Have pretty much built only 1/48 stuff since i was a kid (no glasses) Now i’ve got to wear glasses and still sticking with the same scale; mostly cause i like the lack of super small parts and pricing is reasonable. I do use a lighted magnifying glass for the fiddly bits though!
I’m old and recovering from a triple bypass surgery, but glasses can be bought to help me. Because of my teenage love of the old Aurora WW1 planes reborne, I’m letting Wingnut Wings decide what I can build.