Have any of you ever written a “diary” as you were building a model? I’ve been tasked by my cousin to build up a model of a CH-47A Chinook her son flew in Viet Nam. When he has looked at models I’ve built up in the past, he has always asked “…how did you build that?” So, I decided to provide him with a step-by-step “diary” of the Chinook build; e.g. assembling parts, modifications, painting, etc., etc. complete with dates. Its a bit time consuming, but believe he will finally get an idea of the intricate process involved in building up a kit.
Dick McC
Yes, I will periodically type up a complete “build log” on some of my kits. I don’t do it with every build, just the ones where I want a complete record to reference later.
All I really do is keep a log of when I purchased the kit, what I paid for it and when it was finished.
Doesn’t seem like an altogether bad idea though.
It sounds like a good idea as a way to show those who are not in the hobby what’s really invested in making a model look as good as it does.
But I’d be afraid to look back over it and see how much time I’ve actually invested in some of these kits. It’s the same reason I try not keep a running tab of all that I’ve spent on a kit between the kit, AM parts, tools and reference material.
I’m much happier not remembering that I spent 12 hours detailing an OOB cockpit with some lead foil and PE parts from another project - especially since noone will ever see it.
-Fred
I’ve been pretty tempted sometimes, especially on intricate or large builds. But the fact that keeping a log would literally double the build time has kept me from ever seriously starting one.
I take pictures of the build as it progresses. That is usually enough to jog my memory as a write up a ‘build article’ that I post as on my website. It’s hinders your building much less than trying to write thing up as you go along. My website is a much for myself as the world, so I can look back at the different builds in different stages - a different kind of of experience than just looking at the finished model.
I simply note what I did like “sanded hull” or “bent hawse pipe” and the date along with a list of which parts are where so I find stuff. Helps since I build on the run and have to hide stuff from my cats.
Forget it. To the unitiated it’s all just jibber jabber. They never get it, and at this point I no longer care if they do.
waikong’s post reminded me: since I got a digital camera I have started taking more in process photos. In some some cases it’s the only way you’ll ever be to see certain details again.