When taking the Hobby too serious goes too far

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

First off let me state that by no means am I a great modeler, heck i wouldnt even say I’m good. I’d say decent, decent enough to the point that people who don’t model, see my work and are blown away. The modeling community however, not so much.

At any rate, there are those of you out there who go above and beyond, and do tons of scratch work to build and create a 100% accurate mini version of the real life subject matter. My hat goes off to you. That takes a level of skill, number of years, and great dedication to the hobby to pull off. Something that one, I cannot do, nor do I care about doing at this point in my modeling career (I have lots of years ahead of me for it, I’m 35). Some others are in the same boat.

This hobby is meant for the enjoyment of the person doing the work, not so much for everyone else. There is nothing wrong with doing 100% accurate recreations, not at all! But there is also nothing wrong with wanting to build an F14D thats bright pink and covered with roses! Its the modelers perogative to build what they like and thinks looks good, not what anyone thinks. Where does it say anywhere, that as modelers, there is a strict set of rules and guidelines that must be adhered to when working on our models? Why would there be? Where is the fun in that? This hobby would blow more than a GE F110 if there was a strict set of guidelines. Everyones stuff would look the same.

If your a rivet counter, keep on counting! If your a fair weather player, wait for that fair weather! Do what YOU like to do. Thats why our hobby is great because of the mass amount of diversity in creations.

Now to the main topic of this, well, topic!

I was at my LHS the other day, just hanging out STS with some of the old timers. A young man came in, early 20’s, needed to pick up a few supplies, but also had brought in a recently completed 1/48 Saber to show it off ( my LHS owner likes to display customer builds all over the store, to a certain standard of course). Let me start by saying that I was blown away (and a bit dissapointed in myself for my lack of skills) by his work. Paint was beautiful, decaling perfect, seam lines non exsistent, everything just nice and tidy with a hint of weathering. Let me jump back real quick, this was the first model this guy had ever built, I know that because i was there the previous month when he came in saying he wanted to get a saber and build for some relative, knew nothing about the models or manufacturers and had never built a model before but wanted to try.

At any rate, he did some fantastic work. An absolute amazing job and you could really see it in his eyes that he was proud of his work. Hell, so was I! New blood for the hobby already representing!

Cue…Old…Timers.

“Well you know, the Saber your portraying doesent…” “And you know that on this particular variant…” “the grime and oil wouldn’t really streak this way because…”

Not once did they complement him on his work. Not once. Everything they said was pointing out what was wrong, or inaccurate. As this is going on, I’m slowly watching the glimmer leave his eyes, not to mention his heart and soul! I was disgusted. I left and went home. What became of the young man, I have no idea, but I promise he will probably never model again.

We can’t have these types of things going on folks. Lets face it, young folks these days just are not interested in building models, not like they were. We loose LHS’s everyday due to the internet, and decline in business. We are a dying breed, accept it or not, and any and all youngsters and new modelers that we can get, we need! Just because it isnt 100% accurate or isnt up to par, dont criticize! Instruct, teach, show! Offer to help, give tips and advice! Pass on what you know and have learned. It will increase your love and enjoyment of the hobby as well as thiers.

This hobby is about building and creating what speaks to you and you alone. No more. Thats all there is to it. Some people seem to have forgotten that and its a shame.

Now let me just throw my soap box back in the trunk…

2

To those guys I would have said - yes and the sabre was much bigger and not made of plastic :wink:

3

That’s too bad. Guys like that kill the new blood. If you’re gonna critique somebody, unless there is a absolute bloody mess, you should always also include the positives as well.

Hopefully somebody said something to the old cranks about their lack of a good side…

4

I swore to myself I would’nt coment on an opinion thread but could’nt help it. This subject burns my britches.
That is a sad story, one of which I have seen too offten. I always complement builds because I know the builder has put every ounce of their particular talent into it. Will they get better over time? Maybe, maybe not, but it doesn’t matter, like you said the hobby is for fun. I’m sure you chimed in a told him how imperssed you were, which should have helped some.
The last time I was in Boise, where I will be moving back in a few months, I spoke to the owner of the local HT regarding starting and intermediate modeling class. He though it was a great idea and one of the things I would emphasize is modeling does not have to be accurate, just fun. If you want to get accurate, like me, go for it, but sometimes I like to be silly and do whatever I want.

What do the old guys say about egg planes or toon tanks, they’re not accurate LOL.

5

MC, I personally do not like the toon tanks or egg planes one bit. They do nothing for me. And I keep it to myself when I see those builds. But I know guys who love them. And I do love the old Revell and Monogram hippy era Deals Wheels like Rommel’s Rod or Rif Raf’s Spitsfire… Those crack me up!

6

I’ve been lucky enough not to experience that, but I can tell you if I had I probably wouldn’t have continued in the hobby. On the other hand, my experiences with the old timer’s pushed me further and helped me stick around the hobby. I went to my first ever model club when I was 9 or 10, with a POS Academy P-40 I built in a weekend and handpainted with Testors. Instead of ignoring or putting up with or chastising me, I was encouraged and helped and informed, and almost ten years later I’m still in it and intend to build for the rest of my life.

7

I do not mind constructive criticism of my models at all. For example, “Your brake lines are okay, but I have a better idea. I’ll post a photo of my model.” That’s good, positive constructive criticism. I like to see what other modelers have done. What I do not like is purely subjective criticism, " I don’t like the Bare Metal Foil on your airplanes. It looks fake. It doesn’t look like the real airplane at all." My typical respone is, “Okay, why don’t you post some photos of your airplanes in NMF.” Guess what happens? Nothing!

I agree with Modelcrazy, this is supposed to be a fun hobby. It’s also a way to share ideas. We are not building perfect minatures of the real thing. After all, that would not be possible.

8

Dang, I like MY models to be accurate, but every time I’m talking about other models I try to show some respect for the work and time and love that went into those models. That was clearly missing here - pity!

Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

9

Sounds like a bunch of old Sheldon Coopers. They only know how to look for faults in something someone else has accomplished and point them out. Total lack of understanding of how to be complimentary.

10

Those old timers need a Rivet Counter Intervention. Watch out you grouchy, joyless old farts, that kid is gonna show you down one of these days. Unless you killed his enthusiasm, in which case we can skip the intervention and just hand out swift kicks to the a**.

Plastic modeling is a hobby, which means it should be enjoyable. And while constructive feedback from others is valuable, it should be up to the individual to decide how far to take it, and not have to endure someone else’s personal dogma (“…well the real thing was NOT that way so your model is INACCURATE”). I have noticed these self-appointed experts are the least happy people in any modeling group. They need to be less serious. And maybe get shown a magic trick using a pencil.

https://flic.kr/p/srR4kf][/url]Joker by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

It annoys me to no end when some guy says a model kit was a waste of plastic because the real thing didn’t win any wars. Wars not make one great, and plastic toys do not fight wars. Yeah, I just called your precious little fantasies TOYS, you scale-only curmudgeons. How many Zeroes did your 1/48 Hellcat shoot down? Not counting the imaginary ones you shot down when you thought no one was looking. I have been told to my face that plastic models MUST have historical significance in order to be valid, which is just a heaping load of horse manure.

Build what you want, how you want. Strive to improve if you want to, and focus on having fun. Oops, I used all caps on some words. I’d better dial it down and take it less seriously. I apologize for the rant, as it is a sore spot for me.

11

There is a local guy who refuses to have anything to do with our club (which is also the local IPMS chapter), because we don’t build to his standards. Granted he is an award level modeler, but he could be a font of information and tips, help etc. to the rest of us.

All in all, I think the club is way better off without him…

If someone wants to slam what I build, fine, but they can expect incoming as they are told to stick it where the sun never shines. If they want to help with ideas or tips, or a better way, I’m all ears. The latter is all I’ve ever run into here, and it is appreciated.

12

Okay !

Hmmm , darned that’s a nice job .I tried many times with that part and it didn’t turn out that way for me ? Or , Hey ! Are those aftermarket Decals and which company did you contact ? Oh ,and you got them on so beautifully .Gees , can’t anyone say anything nice about someone else’s models ? What the *&() happened to plain old courtesy ? T.B.

13

Real G;

AMEN !!! T.B.

14

So ;

Is there any real difference between " Deals Wheels " and an " Egg Plane" ? Just a different sense of humor Like the old Monogram " FlapJack " .

15

Exactly. It’s the sense of humor involved. And perhaps it’s a bit of nostalgia for that time in childhood when I first came across them. I have no such connection for the egg/toon stuff. I’ve seen those built into great models. I can appreciate the workmanship involved.

16

Im my 6 years on this forum, i have never run into anything other than helpful, constructive criticism. And I have become a better modeler for it. I used to model just fantasy stuff, namely Warhammer 40K and i got real darn good at it, real darn good. But when i made the switch to real life subject matter, well i was weighed, measured and found wanting (not by anyone here). My first attempt was the Revell F4U Corsair. I built it up, liked it but wasnt happy. You can actually see it in my post collection. Everyone was super nice, said that it was great for my first attempt and even offered ideas on where i could make it even better. Thats what kept me in it. And my skills have steadily started to increase, not as great as most of you here, but im getting there. Im still learning and trying new techniques.

As for the young modeler, hopefully me telling him that he did a fantastic job will help wash away the later crticisms of the old farts…I mean timers, and he will not walk away.

To all of you that commented, thank you for having the right attitude and for inspiring those of us not yet on the same level to strive to do better and continue to love the hobby!

17

Ok, this story really burns my @$$. Being married into an Italian family, there‘d be a couple harsh responses from me: **** off and ## #### yourself. Nobody asked for your opinion. I can guarantee that’ll shut’em up real fast.

18

Boy, thats really sad. Instead of taking a strip out of that poor guys hide they shoulda made kind constructive critisim. It’s his 1st model for petes sake! He can’t get every thing right on the 1st try! :frowning: This is what will kill the hobby if it goes on unchecked!

19

Got couple of old farts at my LHS that rip apart everything that’s not a car. Usually something like how can you make killing machines. Then for the poor guys that bring cars in they are never up to their standards. If I know nothing about the subject I’m looking at I’ll complement the construction or something else. If I just don’t like it well I keep that to myself.

20

It sounds like we all agree about the sad situation that occurred during that young mans visit. Lets hope he still continues in the hobby but with some other hobby shop…

Another dimension to our hobby is the friendship, comradrie, and respect we establish. This should go on regardless if it is through a forum or in person. It sounds to me that the LHS in question will not be around much longer if that is thier level of customer service.

I am happy that we, in our forum, are most always honoring the golden rule. For me, I can see great things in any build. I, like many, do not hold a strong interest in every single type of modeling subject, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate the skills and effort applied to ANY build.

To me each build is an opportunity to share some knowledge or learn something new from another; and gain a new hobby friend in the process.

P.S.: Life is short… enjoy the ride… nobody gets out alive anyway.

Ben