Who is Field Marshall Modeler von Buildermeister!?!?!...

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

…von Buildermeister watches over all my German builds and whips me into shape when I make a mistake!

Guys: It’s funny how I put this fig’ on my desk months ago…and there he still stands! Now I just leave him there (he always falls over) for no real reason…and the desk would feel weird/empty without him.

In the past we’ve talked about pre/post-build quirks but I don’t think we gotten into any “in the thick of things” rituals, superstitions, etc. So do you have anything you do that might be considered weird while you build? Music?, Band of Brothers on in the background?, Fido at your feet?, etc?..

C’mon’…we won’t laugh[(-D]…much[;)]

2

I blew out my knee a couple years ago, and am still on pain management, so I usually get my modelling in late afternoon through the evening. Because of the knee, i have to ice twice a day, be hooked up to a nerve stimulator and take pain meds twice a day( noon and 8pm) So when i’m modelling, its not in a fancy work area, but on my bed, with an 18"x24" piece of plywood to work on, an artist box that has my paint and some tools, my model(s) that I’m working on, and to top it off…We raise pitbulls. We have three, and the smallest one is 82 lbs…and they usually are pretty good about demanding some real estate on the bed…now dont laugh…too hard.

3

with German tanks i have Panzerlied running thru my head. US it the theme from Patton

4

While building I always have online radio streaming in the background. Type of music will vary but usually in the category of relaxation/instrumental music as I have a hard time working in total quiet.

5

[(-D][(-D][(-D] LOL the Model Nazi!!!

“No model for you today! Get Out!”

6

oh yeah…either Discovery, TLC, the History Channel or the military channel on the tv(stuff on the DVR) or music from concerts I’ve played and recorded…

7

I actually have a real Field Marshall sitting on my bench whilst I model…

8

I also have to have background sounds. My choice is Pink Floyd, CSN&Y, Led Zep, etc… All good tunes.

9

Music in the background…but it depends where I am in a build as to what I listen to.

Initial building - 70s Rock

Final Assembly and base painting - Jazz

Final Painting and weathering - Classical

Completed model and cleanup for the next build - A mix of marching music

Opening the new kit - the 20th century Fox theme…then back to the start

Not always perfect but most times in that format!!

Rounds Complete!!

10

i usually have a couple cups of tea on a saturday morning,look at the local news(mostly for the female anchors)make sure my dog is still sleeping with the wife (sounds wierd)then turn off the tv and sneek into my man cave where i take a deep breath and let my mind wander.sometimes i gret alot done, most times i don’t,after about an hour just about the time i’m really into a great session the phone rings and its another month before i go back to the cave.don’t know what to call it but i’ve got it bad.

11

I have Major Fritz Bratwurst on the bench staring at me and falling over in a drunken stooper, he has a problem with Vat 69 and hes down to his last case…LOL.

Usually Im in the man cave, door closed, with some Classical playing, then usually after an hour or so, some Zep, Scorpions, Rainbow, Sabbath and usuall finish with classical again. Sometimes Ill pop a good war flick into the DVD on the pc next to me and have it as background and the occasional glance.

Bob

12

Total peace and quiet!

After the career I had I don’t even turn on the car radio anymore.

13

LOL Marching music…my first thought went to the Ruskies and the Chinese.

14

are those men or women, i can’t tell![:O]

15

I have a pilot from a 1/48 kit sitting on the egde of the shelf watching my every move.

16

Always music. From '70s rock (Fleetwood, Boston, Kansas, etc), '80s alternative to contemporary christian. Then when I sit down to start the obligatory questions “Where do I start now? and Why the hec did I do that?”

-Stephen[C):-)]

17

I usually have my xm radio dialed into "Old Time Radio Classics, or the decade of the build I am working on, example: 40’s for WWII, 80’s for a F-106 or F-15 and so on.

18

I have pics of Doog, Wbill, SMJ, Panzerguy (amongst others!) taped over my bench looking down at what I’m building…it’s usually good motivation, at least until there’s an aircraft kit on the bench and I start to feel a bit dirty. Heheheh. [swg]

[(-D]

19

Just as long as the eyes don’t follow you as you build, you should be ok! [:O][:-^]

20

Modeling superstitions?

Sure! I got plenty of 'em! Where do I start?!

Always try to paint road wheels in the first half of the week. Always try to paint in general, near the top half of the hour. Ramius always went to starboard in the bottom half of the hour…

Never paint anything red late at night—screws up your sleep.

If I spill a bottle of glue, I will change my shorts just to be safe. Ditto my socks, if I drop a small part and lose it to the sock monster…

Never look at the last step in the directions before you get there–it’s like “cheating” and you’ll pay for it.

If I don’t use a certain set of brushes for a while, I’ll take them out and wave them around like magic wands a bit, just so they don’t lose their tone. It;'s so much easier to maintain their tone than have to recover it…

If I’m looking through my stash for the next kit and the phone rings, whatever kit I’ve had in my hands can NOT be started for that time period. It’s a supernatural objection from the modeling gods. Once, I picked up the phone–and there was nobody there!! [:O]

NEVER talk to the plastic.

When washing parts for painting, I always wash them in their number order. The directions are handy for this, but can get wet, which is why I always laminate my directions in waterproof covering.

When working on the occasional car model, after washing the body, I will start my truck and dry the model body in exhaust fumes. It imparts and absorbs the Spirit of the Motor into the model, and makes for a better finish.

All figures are given proper names when finished, lest they wander the bookcase world in search of an identity. Especially the ones that are armed.

Before starting on a Dragon model, all part numbers in the instructions are obliterated using a Black Sharpie marker, as the part numbers are all wrong anyway… the model is then built from the second-last step forward >>> to the first, and ONLY THEN is the last step observed.

Emery boards used for toenail maintenance are NEVER re-used for plastic parts! That’s just plain grrrrrosss!

The completion of a model is always toasted with, well, a piece of toast. Eaten dry, of course, to remind me of our ancestor’s deprivations and sacrifice. It keeps one humble.

It’s a wonder I get anything done! [(-D]