Laws of Modeling 101

[StephenLawson]

This thread is meant to explore and glean information. *It is meant to benefit all who seek enlightenment and understanding

The information herein has been gathered by practical application of trial and error. *(and lots of it.)

1. Every modeler's desk comes with a black hole beneath it, that swallows parts. Only on rare occassions does it see fit to spew one back at you.
* *a. Only the highly scratchbuilt parts or ones that have
* *no replacements will fall into this black hole.
* *b. the porbability of dropping a part is inversely * *
* *proportional to to the size of the part.
* *c. The closer the match of a part and the floor, the * *
* *greater the probability of dropping the part.
* *d. A dropped part will bounce to *the most innaccessible *
* *area of the room. (this also allows you to mark the *
* *boundaries of your black hole.
* *(Note: A dropped X-acto knife will visit your foot before
* *obeying *d.)
* *e. As soon as you quit looking for the missing part you will
* *probably step on it.

2. *The time it takes to build a kit is in direct proportion to the amount of reference material used and often impedes further builds.
* *a. The more unbuilt kits you have on the shelves the fewer
* *kits you actually build.
* *b. Unbuilt kits expand to fill available space.
* *c. Reference materials expand beyond available space.
* *d.The more second source reference materials(published
* *by non-modelers) adds confusion, not clarification.
The solution here is to choose a 'school of thought' from informed sources.

3. No matter what the size of your modeling desk is, 99.9% of all your modeling will be done in the 5 square *inches of the off-center front edge.

4. Dollar for Dollar and Pound Sterling for Pound Sterling the absolute best value is Rosemont Atlee 1/48 seated pilot.

5. No matter what your method of sealing your paint bottles it will go bad two days before your intended project.

6. The amount you pay for a new paint brush is directly proportionate to the probability that you will inadvertently dip it in your coffee or a blob of super glue or both.

7. What ever you purchase for your hobby will go on sale a week later.

8. All manufacturers hold their releases until they are absolutely sure that you just spent six months scratch-building your version.
* *a. There is 'NO' such thing as a perfect kit.
* *b. Half built vacuform kits impress people with your skill.
* *c. A completed Vacuform just looks like another model.

9. There is no substitute for a well oiled Dremel motor tool.

10. Humbrol paint will always be the best paint in the sorriest container.

11. X-acto scars on your fingers are a given. *learn to live with them.

12. Sooner or later you should buy an airbrush. the simpler the better.

13. Half of the washes you apply will be done on the areas of your paint scheme that are not dry yet. *But you'll do it anyway just to be sure.

14. Lacquer thinner odors can be smelled by your family members from the basement through a solid core door.

15. If you find something you like, buy a lifetime supply. *Because they'll quit making it just to spite you.

16. The kit instructions, may be very interesting, but are 95% of the time irrelevant.

17. Tossing a finished, expensive model kit against the furthest wall in your basement at 90mph is the most sincerest form of self-criticism. *But doesn't live up to the acclaimed rush that is supposed to follow.

18. You will NEVER get all those models built! *

19. The probability of finding an error in a built model
* * increases exponentially after you've entered it in a
* * contest.
* * a. The more important the contest the greater the error.

And now a pop quiz what is the 'Theorum of Progression' ? * *

[NeilE]

Ah yes Stephen! you would be referring to Doctor Eli Spad's famous Progression Theorum I take it?

Dr Spad rightly theorized that as modellers progress from absolute beginners through intermediate to accomplished to master, the urge to detail and finer finish develops also. However, the number of models finished becomes inverse to the amount of detail added.

He expressed this by means of the following rather elegant equation: MF= (A+S) - (D+ @#@^*&%!)

Professor Edward's First Paradox is also important in this context. Edward stated that the more progress we make in modelling the more skills we achieve. However the more skills we achieve the less progress we make.

Truly elegant you'll agree.

All the Best

Neil
BSSc BSW MA Psych Airfix University.

Thus the parabola[?] : Build Simple,Build Cheap:-build More.and its opposite=Build Super detail[most of which only YOU know is there!!]Build Expensive,:- Build Less.
And this too is true;your cat/pet will step on whichever model cost you the most [in time/effort/money] first.The model you are dyeing to remodel into a wrecked a/c will remain untouched.

[Michael]

Six months after you buy sufficient kits to model your current theme you will lose interest in that theme.

Your next theme will not be able to make use of any of the kits bought for the previous theme.

If you move at least half of your completed models will not survive. You will, however still have the decal sheets and instructions.

Although as an adolescent you practically bathed in brush cleaner and liquid cement, after any time away from the hobby the smell of ordinary tube glue will send you for the nearest window.

[topgun56]

Michael,

No way, the smell of Ambroid cement is in our veins. Unfortunetly on loved by those who proport to love us.

Stephen,

Great. Add shag carpet to that list.

But why does the little paRT ALWAYS RESURFACE 3 MONTHS AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETRED (sorry, cap lock stuck). the project.

[topgun56]

Thats after the cat plays with the part for a week.

[stringbags4ever2]

Hi Steve:

Remember me from several days ago? I had all those questions about Fokker Dr1s... your laws of modelling hit the nail right on the head, big guy. I've got models with themes I haven't built yet, x-acto cuts all over my fingers, and I've stepped on my share of small unfound parts......

Model on!!

Pete L'Heureux

[topgun56]

Pete,

Please oh please don't get the really sharp X Accto # 11 blades, you will cut your finger clean off.

But then, as a doctor once told me, after he had ct ME, the dull blades do the most damage.

TG, with fingers 2 inches shorter.

[fltmech]

The laws of modeling 101 also apply to full scale building. The small but vital part(s) seem always to get misplaced. The one tool you need to do a job, is the one you don't have :

[StephenLawson]

Alright class settle down. *The question was what is the Theorum of Progression ? Much like a stooge that falls from a flag pole mounted outside a window of a 17 story building the 'progression develops' ;

1. As soon as you scratchbuild a model, a manufacturer will release a vacuform kit of it.

2. As soon as you finish the vacuform kit, an injected molded version (this includes slush plastic, resin or metal) of the prototype will be released. *

3. As soon as you convert the the injected molded kit to the version you want, your version will be released by another manufacturer who will include the refined versions of the decals, resin or photo etch that you had suggested to them on their website. But they will not mention you or provide you with gratis examples for your trouble.

4. You can't win.(Because will inevitably manufacturer's screw up. Ref. Tamigawa.) - modified by class input.

5. You can't break even.

6. but you can publish an article that will give you a chance to review the final kit and point out it flaws. * *

Next Pop quiz what is 'The Law of Finite Differences'?