The Little World

The lazy modellers guide to workflow.

We are told that youthful modellers in the 1970’s used to buy a kit at their local shop, have it together by teatime, and destroyed by the next morning. I think this is one of those old-guy stories that is made up of fibs, lies, and political promises.

I was a youthful modeller in the 1960’s and bought Airfix and Revell kits with my pocket money, but it was often saved-up pocket money and unlikely to be wasted in an afternoon spree of destruction. A 50¢ Series 1 Airfix baggie was good for a fortnight of building and painting which was just as well – there was more saving up for another one to be done in the meantime.

Now it is different – we have money and stashes and leisure and might be expected to fill our days with what we all loved to do – and for the most part we do. But we can all encounter the kit that turns sideways in the channel and plugs up the stream. And nothing gets done. What causes it, what do we do about it? Read on:

a. The kit that is too complex for your skill level is the one that either challenges you to rise or condemns you to mooching about the house looking for trouble. I have seen a man unpack an AFV kit with 9 photo-etch brass frets and heard him say ” Goodoh “. I think he was lying through his teeth, but the punishment is already in the box. I do not expect to see that model finished before the Earth spirals into the sun.

b. The model that is too old, crude, simple, or badly-moulded to appeal to you. The outside of the box was what you bought so at this stage of the game you might as well throw the rest of the thing in the bin and keep the cover art.

c. The model that is so uninteresting that you wonder at your own sanity in buying it. If it is a gift kit that has passed through 5 sets of hands before being given to you, you have a clue to how much it is valued by others. I got one of these, built it, and was delighted with the result. You never can tell, and if you are telling yourself, you never listen anyway.

d. The Kit With The Flaw. Perfect in every way until you discover that the two halves of the fuselage can never be joined – due to warpage. The factory did not do it on purpose, but there you are.

Now – what to do when you get to one of these points in the kit journey and discover that your mojo has well and truly departed…

a. Throw the thing away. Literally – open the recycling bin and pour it in. If all you will ever get from it is sadder than you are now, cut your losses.

b. Carry on making it as a sacrifice to your better nature. I do not recommend Joan of Arc armour, but gird yourself with something and just keep on. Sing uplifting songs.

c. Make a pastiche model. I lost the canopy of an A-4 Skyhawk when it was nearly done – good paint and all, and was forced to do the old trick of tarping a canopy shape that was constructed in the cockpit. It is actually a very nice model when done. And I have a place and a story for it in my collection.

d. Go wild – there are enough internet resources out now that you can make something different of anything. You might be hesitant to commit to a strange camo scheme with a model that is dearer to you but why not use this one as an experiment.

e. Start up another build and give it 3 times the work that the current sad one has. It will eventually be done and won’t feel as though it has sucked out your soul in the meantime.