I just wondered if any of you suffer from the same issue I do: I tend to move from project to project. I have a whole shelf of planes in various stages of assembly. Some of them are are just a few steps from being complete, need only externals store added, or the canopy fixed in place. Others are in early stages of assembly with only the cockpit completed. Sometimes all it takes is for me to see a particular plane featured on “Great Planes” to shift my focus. The other day I was looking at my stash and found this F101b Voodoo and before I knew it, I started taking it out of the box and test fitting some of the pieces. It took all my will power to make myself put it back into the box and return to work on my F-22 Raptor.
Guilty-I have four projects, from 80-90% complete, awaiting some motivation. Been out of work for seven months, didn’t feel good about spending time in a hobby instead of working. However, I just found employment, starting 2/15 so hopefully I’ll clean up one or two of the incompletes before then.
Ahh yes, a common fixation with current interists. You are not alone and the technical term is 70/30 Where 70% of your models are 30% finished. I think most suffer from this and the best cure is a ‘git R done’ attitude. Accept minor flaws and learn from each build knowing its improveing your set of skills along the way. One quote from FSM I need to hear now and then is:
‘When model building is no longer fun take it one step back’
Too often we obssess over perfection and accuracy. Other than contest tables most of the viewers will never notice minute details that are not correct. Remember each build is something you will like to display and for friends and family to admire, not historians or rivet counting experts.
My enjoyment comes from scratchbuilding a few details and improvements that make each build unique. I could never replicate any build nor care to, if it looks cool and better than OOB then i’m happy[H]
Ya Think?
I’m certainly guilty of this behavior from time to time, as I think most modelers are. Can’t wait to start the latest box of styrene goodness, but then some evil kit manufacturer releases an even more enticing goodie. But once started, I do finish them…eventually.
Regards, Rick
GUILTY - Don’t know how many I have in various stages of completion. Cars, Planes, Ships, you name it, it’s there in one form or another. I work on something until it starts to give me a big problem. At that point, it goes to the shelves until I can solve the problem. Start to work on something else in the meantime. Once in a while something goes from start to finish without a break. While working on a new one, I find a solution to the problem with one of the ones on the shelf and go back to it. They will all get done some day. I’m not in any rush to complete my stash.
Jim[cptn]
Once in a great while, one will get shelved for awhile. My problem is getting started sometimes. I’ll pull one from the stash, decide how I want the end result…“Ehhhh, I don’t feel like doing that now”, this usually happens with 5 or 6, then I finally get one picked out, sometimes I have to force myself to just start it. Once I’m started, there’s no stopping me. Especially when it gets close to the end. I get so anxious to finish it, so I can get on to the next one!!!
The vast majority of mine are stalled at the stage of seam work. I just cannot get rid of some of them and I ain’t gonna finish them until I do! The Seaview is still being sanded and puttied and I bought it almost a year ago.
I have several models I plan on putting in a diorama but are waiting on the right part to be found or fabricated.
I just won’t open another box untill the one i’m working on is done,thats it,I won’t do it,just one at a time,been doing it my whole time modelling.It works for me,I understand many cannot work that way.
guilty as well…
I’ve been working on an 1/35th Iwo Jima diorama for over a year. Its 75% done. The base with a cave and tunnel with Japanese infantry, the two M4A2 Shermans are done, what remains are 8 or 10 USMC infantry and trees / foliage…
I like the quote above about when its not fun anymore to back away for a bit, I never want it to feel like work…
Heck…I have 3 Planes that pretty much just need either landing wheels or piddly little stuff. I think my problem is the possibilities of the “next” project.