The Little World

Genug ist genug. And when you have arrived at that point with your model build, it’s time to stop.

One bite more than enough pie makes the dish nauseous – one minute more of the best conversation risks hearing or saying too much. The same applies to kit building. There is a point at which you stop gluing on extra bits.

The best kits reach this point when the last piece is painted and fastened. The cardboard box is empty, the sprue trees are harvested, and you can trim the box top art for a keepsake. Some kits have extra parts still sitting there glaring at you… and the worst of the lot seem to have 3/4 of another model unused.

Of course the sensible thing to do is clip off the parts, file them away, and clean up the workbench. Unfortunately there is a temptation to add another aerial or bomb…and you risk ruining the appearance thereby.

Stop.

Quit.

Go to the original plan and no further. If you have a lean and spare machine in front of you – because the prototype was lean and spare – defer to the photo of the real thing.

The other side of the coin comes when you still have more that you can put on, and more to finish, but you honestly do not want to do it. You have seen enough of the model and just want to be shut of it. This is an occasion to put it on the ” pending ” shelf and start thinking about another build. Or going to the pub.

You won’t hate the one that is nearly finished in a few weeks time – it will be simple to re-start and carry through. Give yourself some slack to be slack and step away.