Which Kind of Modeler Are You ?

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

Been a model builder for many years & belonged to several Clubs & know a lot of other modelers. From my observations, there are several kinds of modelers & I don’t mean Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Sci-Fi, Autos, etal. Here are a few descriptions of the kinds of modelers I know or have known.

THE KIT COLLECTOR: Sees new kit at LHS. Carefully examines box & shrink wrap to make sure it’s mint condition. Buys kit, takes it home, re-examines box & shrink wrap, puts box on shelf, forgets about it.

THE RIVET COUNTER: Sees new kit at LHS. Asks to open it & examine contents while making tsk-tsk sounds. Buys kit, takes it home, removes all sprues from box, gets out calipers, micrometer & ruler, measures every piece, compares content to every reference known to man, writes & posts Web articles trashing kit for being inaccurate, returns sprues to box, puts box on shelf, forgets about it.

The IMMATURE MODELER: Sees new kit at LHS. Likes the box art. Buys kit, takes it home, opens kit, removes all major parts by twisting them off sprues, dry assembles model with tape, holds model & makes flying motion with hand while making RRRRRRRRRRRR or VROOOOOOOOm sounds, holds model in dive angle while making ACK ACK ACK sounds, disassembles model, forgets to remove most of the tape, puts parts back in box, puts box on shelf, forgets about it.

THE MATURE MODELER: Sees new kit at LHS. Likes the box art. Asks to open kit & look at sprues. Buys kit, takes it home, opens kit, carefully removes all major parts using $20 Xuron shears, dry fits components, sees that some filler may be required, decides to take a nap before doing further work, puts parts back in box, puts box on shelf, forgets about it.

THE MASTER BUILDER: Sees new kit at LHS. Asks to open kit & examine sprues for flash, sink marks & ejector pin marks. Buys kit, takes it home, re-examines sprues for flash, sink marks & ejector pin marks. Goes on-line, orders every aftermarket resin, photoetch & decal sheet available. Starts Google search for detailed reference material. At 2:00am, ends search, puts sprues back in box, puts box on shelf, forgets about it.

Well, you get the idea. Question is, Which Kind of Modeler Are You ?

2

All the above! LOL I’m not much of a rivet counter or an immature modeler, but I see myself in all the rest of the catagories.

3

At this moment, there are over 40 boxes of models that I have opened,examined the parts, perhaps ordered a few aftermarket PE or resin parts and maybe even done some partial assembly. Then put on the shelf. I will add, however, there are over 200 models assembled painted and finished adorning the shelves of my office. I generally don’t ever completely forget about them. I have been known to be on Google at 2 am also but sometimes I’m just looking for a good recipe for chocolate cake.

4

Same here, a little bit of all the above…

Fade to Black…

5

You forgot the PERFECTIONIST: He starts out like the MATURE MODELER or the MASTER MODELER. Spends a year building the kit. Gets the kit 99.99% done and messes up the last decal. Puts kit in box, puts box on shelf, forgets about it

6

LOL

Those are some great categories, but I really don’t fit into any of them very well. Here are my three modes of model buying.

ONE - Wants a certain subject. Looks all over the Internet and at the LHS to find out who makes the subject, who makes the best version, and what the kits cost. Buys the kit, adds it to the computerized inventory, and puts the unopened kit in the stash pile.

TWO - Notices a new, as-yet unpurchased subject online or at the LHS. Decide that it’s worth the price and interesting (in about 5 minutes), buy the kit, add it to the inventory, and put the unopened kit in the stash pile.

THREE - Notices a kit previously purchased or built for half the price of the original. Immediately buy the kit, add it to the inventory, and put the unopened kit in the stash.

The biggest differences are that I generally do not open a kit until the day I start to build it and rarely start to research or rivit count until I’m ready to start. I’m also a sucker for deals and if I see a kit at a great price (ie. the NX-01 for $25 or a Dragon Wagon for $50), I’ll usually buy it immediately. Finally, I always finish a kit before starting a new one and never put a partially completed kit back on the shelf.

Call me the COMPULSIVE MODELER for lack of a better term.

Great question!!!

7

just like the seasons, I evolve throughout the year !

8

scott you have defined me very well. only thing that i deviate on is i find the decal mistake. order decals put on shelf and look at everyday saying "i have to finish this kit.

good stuff i am a mixture of them all. at times i take the parts out of the box fit them and go vroom around the room. at others i take them home in the wrap put them on the shelf and leave it, for about two days.

joe

9

Hey, I haven’t forgotten about ANY of those kits! I’ll get to them - no, really, I will!!!
Paul

10

Hey, I haven’t forgotten about ANY of those kits! I’ll get to them - no, really, I will!!!
Paul

11

LOL

Probably the Mature Modeler is as close to your list as I can get. Add GROUP BUILD MODELER to your list. It seems like I have to order another kit everytime there is an upcoming group build, due to not having the appropriate subject.

12

Don’t fit any of them, I like to complete all the kits I buy even if it takes me a year or more to do so. Must admit that I have brought a kit or two that I wished that I left on the hobby shop shelf and are still sitting on a shelf at home.

13

I’m kinda the same way, but not really[:p]

I do finish models, it just takes me a while. I’ll get one about 3/4 done and start looking for another one. When I finally get the new one, the one I’m working on is real close to done but the new one looks like more fun so I start it. I usually have a couple around that are right on the edge of being done. Eventually I finish them though.

14

I guess I’m closest to the “mature modeler”. I’m kind of different in that I NEVER start a
new kit untill I’ve finished the one that’s in progress, & I never take more than 6 weeks or so to build a kit (7-10 days if I have unlimited free time). I’ll also build alot of kits that other people would consider sub-par & spend alot of time with putty & sandpaper to make them look decent. Bad fit has never deterred me from buying & sucessfully building Revell & Monogram kits–I consider filling & sanding an integral part of the modeling process (admittedly, not my favorite part). I’m not into aftermarket stuff & believe in making the best of a kit OOB. While very few of my models could be considered masterpieces, I can also say that I never ruin a kit, give up on one, or do a
poor job. My time & money are too important to waste. I’m a solid modeler, but by no means a master.

15

So I taped a few planes together, even use rubber cement once, so I can make staffing runs on the cat, is that so immature?[:-,]

16

I don’t think I fit into any of those moulds.
I see a kit I like, a subject I like, I buy it, taking price into consideration.
Take model home, open box, and inhale [:)] (there’s just nothing like a new kit). Puts on shelf with full intention of building.
When I eventually DO get around to building it (I will build all those 30 sitting around) I take the parts off with clippers, clean up, dry fit, enjoy the experience. From an accuracy perspective, I’m definitely not a rivet-counter. I could care less whether the track pattern is correct or not, or whether the unit markings are right. I like the vehicle, the technology, and have a general interest in the history of it, but I do not model for the sake of preserving history, so accuracy isn’t my most sought-after attribute.

17

I am the modeler that ZOKISSIMA descrbed I really don’t care that much about accuracy as I’m the only one around that knows or cares about the subject. And there truly is nothing like opening a new kit:) Besides I never even thought about opening the kit before taking it home. I guess that is cause there is not a LHS local to me. I would have to drive a couple of hours to go to one:(

18

I guess I fall into a strange catagory. i get things that I get a good deal on but still want to build anyway ( Can’t remember the last time i paid full price for a kit) , have never asked the place to open the kit ( I like suprises I guess) Not very paticular on it being 100% accurate and so what if I like to move it across the table pretending it shooting at stuff?[:D]

19

I am the immature modeller and the mature modeller. For one exception, ‘usually’ I build the kit and dont forget about it. I love dry fitting it and making the noises of the tracks squiking, [:I]. and the guns firing…

20

I am an OUT OF THE BOX - BUILD IMMEDIATELY - type of modeler. I buy kits and build them OOB right away. No whines, no complaints just a completed model on the shelf.