Most of the time 2-3 active projects, 4-5 total if you included stalled projects
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I’m working on a diorama project that has three complete models, several figures, the base and what-not. Does this count as multiple or just one? I’m usually one at a time, but I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
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Many years ago I once counted 19! At present it’s one. Recently I had five, but not all on the workbench at the same time. I might work for a while on one, and then need a break, so work on another, especially if it’s challenging, and I need a palette change. I guess it’s like McDonald’s, something you like a fillet’o’fish, and sometimes a quarter-pounder (but never a veggie burger - they’re the rigging of the modelling world? 
).
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In my world that counts as 3 projects though they are all destined for a single diorama. I just add the building of the actual diorama to the last of the three models to be completed from a project perspective. Figures don’t count in my world unless there is more than are needed to crew the models.
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I usually have at least 3 projects on the bench at a time. Usually waiting for paint to dry on one, work on another one.
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Typically, its one project on the bench, and the next in planning.
“Planning,” means several things:
- Ordering any extra bits, like after market details, for example.
- Obtaining replacement decals (if you want or need something other than what came in the kit)
- Research and foto gathering, etc.
I do tend to remove the outer wrapping from new kits that join the stash, so I can see whats inside. This means inventoring parts, checking decals, making comparisons to on-line reviews, and so on. But I won’t start actually working on the model after this examination.
Therefore, my Shelf of Doom stays mostly empty. If there are gaps of time between actively working on my current “bench project” model - I go do something else other than modeling. I learned awhile ago that I dont need to always be working on models, all the time. Life holds other treasured activities…,
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One by the couch, right now I’m scribing foam board for walls for a diorama I’m working on. Two on the hobby table because one is always waiting to dry. Various other boxes scattered around the house in various stages of planning, looking at instructions, finding the right paint colors, and deciding what’s next. Do the 1-day builds with grandchild count, I clear the bench for him 
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A day or two before I found this discussion, I was looking at how many builds I had going at once. I counted up five active builds and another ten that were all on hold for one reason or another. I put two away so that I only have three on the bench right now. I will pick both of them back up as I finish the kits I am working on right now.
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Generally just one at a time however, I did do a dual build of a 1/48th S-3B and a ES-3A because they were so similar.
Steve
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I can only work on one model at a time due to my limited cognitive capacity, but that is not saying I only have one active project! The only times I had two models on the bench at the same time was when I built a kit that had two of them in the box, and when I built a new and old kit of the same subject.
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I have 2+ ongoing at any time, and as I build both ships and aircraft, this makes sense for me. My USS Hornet conversion is a monster project (which I’m documenting here), so when I feel the need to complete something, it’s nice to have another project ready to go. Right now, those would be a Kitty Hawk UH-1H Huey and a Kitty Hawk SH-2F Seasprite.
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Those came out great! What did you do for that awful smoked canopy? I have both in my build schedule and was considering a dual build.
How did they build up?
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Thanks.
The S-3B was the italeri kit. The ES-3A was a AMT / ERTL kit.
I emailed Italeri for a replacement canopy which solved that issue for the ES-3A.
Both kits went together very well, just take your time and do a lot of dry-fitting. I used the Wolfpack wing folds for both on mine.
Steve
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Four or five usually.
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