Greetings from the middle of nowhere (Kansas)

[Monsoonium]

Hello!
New user here.
So far I’ve completed two models, a Tamiya Panzer IIF and “Hanomag” Sdkfz 251 Ausf C. Both I’ve managed to mess up one way or another but they came out.. Alright. Well, good enough. Managed to ruin one of the sprockets because it just wouldn’t stay on the Panzer IIF so I’ll plan on displaying it on one side because that was a huge blunder.

(Can’t imbed more images, yippie)

So far in my stash I have a 1/350 Scale Pola from Hobbyboss, 1/35 Scale Walker bulldog from Tamiya, 1/35 Scale Type 97 from Tamiya, 1/35 Scale Panther G from Takom (The superblitz one), 2 1/48 scale A6m3s from Tamiya (The older Hamp and newer one) as well as an M6a1 Seiran I want to build when I “git gud” at model making since it’s one of my favorite planes. I love submarines, it’s a sleek looking plane and it’s got that sexy Japanese paint scheme, what’s not to like?

I am REALLY tempted to buy the Takom O-I but all I can find is one from Australia and shipping is expensive.

Currently working on an Airfix rebox of the Academy Hetzer i got from Squadron for like 18 bucks. I have learned to hate all forms of tracks. Taking a small break from it but hopefully tomorrow I can force myself to clean it, assemble other small bits off the model and get ready to prime it.

Anyway, that’s my wall of text done.
Joined the forum to meet new people and look for advice (aka complain because I suck at things) about various stuff!
(looking at you link and length tracks)
Also am looking forward to maybe trying a group build if those are ran here? They sound like they could be fun and motivate me into doing more model making.

[dadoffour]

Hello Mason! Welcome to the forum! We all make mistakes around here and try to learn from them as we’re having fun. And group builds are lots of fun. I just completed a Raiden for the Japanese group build and am still working on a Bristol Beaufort for the Battle of Britain group build.

[Aggieman]

Welcome! Your armor looks good despite the problems you faced on those builds.

I know there is a image posting limit, but I have found that posting multiple images in a thread is possible. I try to embed images in a [grid] tag. I’ll type that out, then hit the image tool to upload images (5 is the number that I’m limited to). I’ll close it out with the closing [/grid] tag, and then after those are uploaded, I can do that process again. Or I can post what I have, then come back in and edit the post to add additional images. I can edit the post and add an additional 5 images to the same [grid][/grid] block I already created.

[Cbowling]

Welcome to the forum Manson. Glad that your here. Try not and be so hard on yourself. Everyone on here has been there, trust me. With practice, you’ll improve. You’ll also learn what works, and what doesn’t. Remember to have FUN, that’s what it’s about.
If you have questions, this is the perfect place to ask. Nice builds, by the way😉

[MR_TOM_SCHRY]

Welcome to the FSM forum! Great to have another armor modeler among us. Your builds turned out very nice and don’t let those little setbacks discourage you. There’s no such thing as a “perfect kit/build” and try to use each build as a learning opportunity to try different products or techniques. You’ll soon learn that your skills will improve with each build. If it’s possible try to find a local modeling club in your area and use resources like this forum and you tube for ideas and motivation.

[Monsoonium]

Thanks for the warm reception!

While I am hard on myself, I am learning new lessons. HOPEFULLY by tomorrow I’ll have my Hetzer primed and ready to show off.

(Though it’ll really just be the hull, planning on painting the lower hull so I can put the wheels and tracks on before putting on the sideskirts)

Do you guys work on one model only or start on a new one while painting another?

Also, workable tracks worth it? Might buy a cheap set for the type 97 on Ebay.

[Cbowling]

I can only build one model at a time. Several of my model buddies have many going at one time. As far as workable track, they are some work, but worth it as far being realistic.

[Frozin]

Welcome to the forum.

I’ve have always got multiple builds going (or stalled) at any given time. It’s been like that as long as I can remember. Although I’m not saying that’s necessarily a good thing for me. I have a stash of started / half finished kits that I’m kind of ashamed about.

My wife figures I’m probably ADHD to some level, however I feel that it’s more specific…ADMD - attention deficit modelling disorder. I have great plans for every kit I own and start them with great intentions, but somewhere along the way I tend to get sidetracked or just bored with that kit and put it away for a while. I usually make it back to the kits, but it can be some time (even years) between start to completion.

It kind of saps my enthusiasm not completing a kit in a reasonable amount of time, but that’s a me issue and not necessarily a result of having a couple kits on the go at once. The benefit of having a couple (small number) of kits on the go is that you can work on something while waiting for glue, paint or decals to dry on the other. The drawback is the potential to have an in progress list that reads like a hobby shop inventory…..like me.

I finally joined this forum and started showing some of my work in hopes that it drives me to actually complete some kits in reasonable fashion. I even joined a group build to put a projected finish date on one kit. Started well on that one, but it is a bit stalled right now due to work schedule and the amount of time away from home.

I guess my point would be that having one or a few going at any time is completely up to you, however I’ve found that there are drawbacks to having too many in progress.

[cbaltrin]

Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

[MR_TOM_SCHRY]

Personally, I like to work on more than one model at a time since there is always “down time” for paint or glue to dry and I’m not a very patient guy. Plus it keeps things from getting “boring” by working on more than one project at a time.

[PureNRG007]

I’m new here too.

I actually built the 1/350 Hobbyboss RM Pola as my first build after a long hiatus from the hobby. Would love to see how yours turns out, and let me know if you have questions on it!

Your Panzer and Sdkfz 251 look great! What scale are they?

[mrb865]

Welcome to the forum Monsoonium!

[Samphoto]

Welcome! Great community here that is happy to help.

Regarding your “mess ups”, maybe my story will help.

I’m just back after a 30 year layoff and have managed to complete just two aircraft last year, and have another that is 95% done (shown in photos.) and an F-4 that is 30% completed.

In each case, I made frustrating mistakes, especially in the decal phase.

The first kit, an OA-4m cockpit didn’t go together correctly because I needed to amputate the legs of the pilot to make it fit, and didn’t know that was a thing. Also, I wasn’t super careful on decal placement and was disappointed in that.

Next plane is a Harrier that I assembled the aux intake doors backwards, and had to basically tear everything apart and scratch build them. They look okay from 6t away with my glasses off but I’m disappointed. Also, the instructions for decal placement was incorrect, but I didn’t catch it until I looked at reference photos and spotted it, AFTER I had sealed them all in place.

I was determined not to mess up the F-86 but… Alas, decals got me again. This time one broke and I didn’t catch it and now it will forever haunt me. Also, the yellow bands on the wing tips cracked when I was cutting in the panel lines and look like hell. I tried to make it look like it was weathering with the paint was peeling off, which was a real thing, but it just looks like crap. So I ordered a vinyl printer for my birthday next week, and I’m going to pull those crappy decals off and mask and paint them on.

Moral of these stories, stuff goes wrong. I’ve seen YouTube videos with 'pro" builders who have commissioned work that I can spot errors if I look closely enough.

I’m learning to live with some of those things and consider each model as a chapter in my learning process.

[PureNRG007]

One thing I have found is sometimes I take a kit that did not turn out the way I wanted it to, and revisit it. In fact revisiting builds that I did 30 years ago has been tremendous fun!

Regarding your F-86: it looks gorgeous so far! I certainly could not spot the decal issue you mentioned. But airplanes often have wear marks, which it looks like you have some nice weathering, so perhaps that can be an advantage?

[Samphoto]

I tried, I really tried to talk myself into it looking like weathering. I even found images where the paint was chipped and peeling, but in the end, I just couldn’t live with it.

Plus, the decals covered panel details and made it look fake. Like really thick paint.

It’s going to be interesting learning the vinyl cutter and painting, the paint instead of using decals.

Right now, I’m learning how to remove decals without trashing the NMF.

AND… Thank you for saying it looks gorgeous. Made my night.

[PureNRG007]

I have become a big fan of using paint instead of decals whenever possible, but for me I have a lot to learn around masking to ensure the edges are seamless.
I forgot to mention if you do not already use it: MicroSet and MicroSol for decals. It can really make a decal look like paint. This being an extreme example as the pattern is a saucer sized decal, and it conforms to the deep panel lines due to Micro’s solutions making it look like paint.

[Samphoto]

Yep, I use them both on every decal, in fact I put maybe 7 coats of sol on these to try and get them to conform, no bueno.

I’m almost there, long process but worth it.

I’m 100% with you on painting instead of decals. Looking forward to the lessons learned and hope I don’t screw up this beautiful paint job that I’m rather proud of.

[Monsoonium]

I’m gonna be real

this is one of those hobbies i have that I randomly get SUPER invested in then get burnt out of quickly. Haven’t done any model making stuff in a while. Still have a tamiya A6M3 and airfix hetzer that’s like partially finished.

Maybe soonish my sunk cost fallacy mindset will get me back into this hobby lol, but with wanting to use lacquer paint (since tamiya unfortunately doesn’t have all the paint colors i want) and no good ventilation I dunno if that’ll be anytime soon.

[dadoffour]

@Monsoonium do you have a paint hood? I work in my basement with a hood that I vent through a filter head meant to vent a clothes dryer into the room. It works well and I don’t have issues with paint fumes or smell. Additionally, you could switch to a different manufacturer for acrylic colors. My main choices are Tamiya, Vallejo and Mission Model paints. Between them I can usually find the required color. Finally, I use the hobby color converter app on my android phone (not available for iPhones) to help me find equivalent color in my preferred brand.