I’m curious about everyone models…do you focus on just one at a time, from start to finish…or do you have several builds going at once?
I usually do only 1 at a time but I’ve got 3 going now by necessity.
I started a 1/48 Kingfisher and am waiting on an AM cockpit for it to proceed with the build.
While waiting on a difficult base paint to dry on my F-86, I started a 1/72 easy build Osprey to pass the time.
One at a time, but for some odd reason I have 3 ongoing, and a diorama I’m attempting to finish. It does give me something to work on while the parts are drying, or the glue is setting. No complaints so far. I do worry that it gives me 4 times the chance to break things, however. [:D]
Gary
At least 2 or 3 at a time. I was 5, but finished one, so right now it’s 4.
I have four in various stages of completion now. Like mentioned before, while paint is trying on one, glue can be drying on another.
One model at a time, it always gets finished
even if turns out like a dogs breakfast.[ap]
Three or four. I believe in giving paint time to dry, minimum a week between coats. Dry to the touch, isn’t dry. So it helps to have something else to do.
I model ships, which usually get a little tedious and deserve to be put aside from time to time.
I have tried doing more than one at a time, but i just can’t do it. So i stick to one at a time. Thoug i do have 2 on going at the minute, but one is just on hold waiting for some bits to finish it off.
I’m 15 years retired, so my modeling time is not limited to an hour or so in the evenings. Therefore, I can easily and efficiently have multiple builds underway. That facilitates allowing for cement, paint and filler to completely cure, while continuing to move those builds along.
I agree with GM, there really is no way to get around sufficient drying time. Once I sprayed on a Tamiya primer coat, let it sit overnight and had a really magnified look at the primed surfaces, particulary in the fine surface details.
Then I checked again each day for several days, seeing how the engraved details appeared. I could visually measure a continuing evaporation of the primer for about 4 days, with the engraved details becoming more finely defined each day. After that last check the appearance didn’t noticebly change, I felt the curing had been completed.
Also I use Don Stauffer’s method for a drying box, that really made a big improvement in my overall painting efforts. Thanks, Don.
For decades I’ve been a consistent sprue washer before building, I know the kit production methods have changed and that’s no longer considered essential, but out of habit I still do it. Before any painting begins, I always do an alcohol wipe of the surfaces, then a light tack rag swipe. I just about never experience any paint failures or lifting, if I do I feel sure I did something wrong, not the paints problem.
Patrick
One at a time,for me it’s a hobby,not an assembly line.
I usually have 10-15 going at once.
Usually 3 or 4. I’m also retired and have to wait for the glue and paint to cure sooooooooo I work on more. Get’s a little crowded on the bench sometimes but I manage.
Jim [cptn]
i used to do just one at a time but for a number of years now I have several going at once. I like to do similar subjects at the same time for economies of scale in airbrushing. Right now I’m doing a couple of USN WWII aircraft with similar paint schemes. I will do a couple of early war german armour etc. Even if I don’t have similar subjects to take advantage of spraying similar colours for a couple of models at the same time I like to multiple kits at once for the reasons cited by other posters regarding paint curing, glue curing etc. I build a variety of subjects: armour, aircraft, cars, fantasy, sci fi etc so I need a large number of paints. I think doing a couple of similar subjects at the same time probably saves some paint wasteage because if I buy a colour for a certain subject (say early war german panzer grey) and do a couple of models with it right away, it won’t be sitting around for perhaps years until I get around to doing another early war german tank.
I build one at a time. With all the other things (work, family, life, etc.) I have set aside a night during the week to work on models. Depending on whats going on, I can sometimes get some time in on the weekends as well. It is a relaxing hobby for me.
One 'til done.
Every time I’ve tried to start or work on another, I always seem to lose parts somewhere.
Maybe my work space needs to be larger; I use an old aluminum office desk, about 7x 5 feet large. Not much room to have several builds spread out in any easy fashion. But then again, I don’t like switching genres because I always wind up missing a step somewhere in the assembly-finishing process that I might not otherwise had I been fully concentrating on one model.
Usually two, but sometimes three, occasionally a single kit. Main reason for multiple build is paint drying time. Even with my dryer box, there are times I can’t work on a model for several hours due to drying paint, and if I have the time for modeling, I hate to waste it by doing something else.
Ideally one at a time but lately I find myself working on multiples, 2 to 5 at a time. I rotate the builds so parts, paint or decals dry while I work on another. I don’t consider it an assembly line but I find that I can get more done this way.
When I model…I do my little turn on the catwalk…yeah, the catwalk…I’m too sexy for my shirt!
Anyway…I used to be strictly one at a time. Nowadays though, anywhere from 3-10…and usually in “groups” of either the same or similar. As an example, I’ve got 2 Fougas going (Special Hobby and Heller)…those are off to the side right now in their respective boxes. At the momment, there’s 3 Eduard FW-190s on the bench. When I’m ready to break out the Fouga’s again, the 190’s and their parts will go into their own boxes, so I don’t get things mixed up.
It does get a little chaotic at times, but nothin just a couple minutes of organizing can’t handle.
Retired a few years ago so I do whatever trips my trigger. I usually have two going at once. I sometimes stack up finished builds for painting due to weather conditions up here.
Usually three or four in various states of incompeteness, once every couple years I finish one.