Model Construction 102

[StephenLawson]

Just when you thought it was safe to sit back and cruise therough a semester, the comp-CaveTroll-er leaves a pink slip in your campus mail box. To graduate on schedule you are required to attend a first year course that you over looked. *Too many keggers and not enough higher learning. Luckily the visiting Prof has the class.

Greetings *class, welcome to Model Construction. Here we will go beyond our early attempts and venture into the realm of sharpening your third eye vision.

I. Realism vs. Scale Realism
* A. How to escalate from 'Nice' to "WOW!".
* * * 1. Decide that you want to improve, especially if it's a stretch of your talents.
* * * 2. Splinter in the Minds Eye or Metaphysical Blues.
* * * * * a. Look at the real thing or at least photos of it.
* * * * * b. Talk to other modelers.
* * * * * c. Read about other modelers and what they do.
* B. ..."Its just a model."
* * * 1. Does it look like a dime store toy?
* * * * * a. No amount of detail can correct a lifeless composition. Not every color scheme is eye catching or interesting.
* * * * * b. Monotones have highlight and shadows.
* * * * * c. What does the eye see. Your brain adjusts for changes in light and shadow.
* * * * * d. Can you create an illusion that makes the
observer think that he sees what he ought to see on the full scale version?
* * * 2. What makes it believable?
* * * * * a. Relative scale. All items relate to the one next to it.
* * * * * b. Subtle effects do more than drastic changes.
* * * * * c. To have Balance you must realize your limitations.
* * * * * * * 1. Time.
* * * * * * * 2. Eyesight.
* * * * * * * 3. Dexterity.
* * * * * d.What tools do you have to compensate?
* * * * * * * 1. Planning.
* * * * * * * 2. Magnification.
* * * * * * * 3. Tweezers.
C. * The real aim is to please yourself. Have you achieved the goal set for yourself.
* * *1. Are you happy or do you want to improve your skills?
* * *2. What are you willing to put into a project?
* * * * *a. Cost is not a good indicator of the quality of a kit.
* * * * *b. Evaluate the kit for what you want out of it. Will it need additions, what will you have to scratchbuild or buy to make it right.
* * * * *c. Even the oldest name companies put out a bad kit once in a while. Improving one of these will make you a better modeler.
* * *3. Are you building for yourself or are you building to compete with others?
* * * * *a. Contest judges can't read your mind-and * sometimes have lost theirs.

Pop Quiz:What must you have to build a model?

[Barker]

i-mag-in-a-tion.

ability to visualize.

[vonLemming]

A plan.

[Rob_Owens]

Pop-Quiz Answer: Above all, PATIENCE. Without it, the most artistic vision, the most perfect kit, the best plan, the most "wazoo" tools, are all for naught. The ability to concentrate on each "part" as a model in its own right, to test-fit, scrape, test-fit, scrape, ad nauseum, and then, finally, chuck the whole part in the scrap heap, and start-over because it "just wasn't right." All the while knowing that, at each stage, you might have to do the process all over again. Rob (Professor Lawson, can we get back to the "Keggers" now?)

[Copperhead]

Right on Rob! The only part I have to dissagree with in this thread so far is time. The one thing I seem to have little of anymore. No matter how much "I" plan, something always comes up. I work 2nd shift, and when I get in, everyone else is asleep. Can't model then, or I'll wake them. After I get up, I have to do the daily running, plus my (hopefully) 1 hour nap, before I get to start over. With any luck I can squeeze in 90 minutes a day. But you are dead on about patience. I have a friend that models also (Navy blowtorches), and recently I was redoing a seat for the HC Nieu. 17, for about the 5th time. He happened to be over and was talking to me as I built. I over sanded one side, and to me it looked lopsided; he asked why I threw it away, it looked fine to him. That might be so, but it looked lopsided to me. And it was one of the few days I actually had nothing to do all day. John

[stringbags4ever2]

Ah yes, Rob and John. Time and patience, patience and time. The basic hobby tools are a must, also.... the proper glues and cements for the task, wet n' dry paper, the indispensable No. 11 x-acto knife, sprue cutters, good paints and brushes, airbrush, and references, references, references..... such as this blessed Forum. Amen. Did I forget anything? ???

[Barker]

"wazoo tools"?

I don't even use an Optivisor (should) and think nail files are pretty swell.

time and patience doesn't go anywhere without a plan, as Mr. vonL simply states.

time, patience, and a plan all rest gently on top of what you saw in the first place, while fondling the kit and looking over the refs.
that'd be imagination - visualize what you want the outcome to be.

where can you get these waZoos, online?

[DJ]

References are the 1st step. Most important is to actually keep trying. Don't fret but do!!! Pick out a picture and make your part like it. Think less and act more!! Just think "What will make it look right" and try it out. Experience will come.

[drIace]

My answer to the "pop-quiz".

The desire to build the subject you are going to model (for yourself).

[Scimitar]

What you must have first i a QUIET place where to build models...