Monthly Archives: October 2015

“Just” a Hobby?

Just-a-Hobby2

“Whatever. It’s just a hobby.”

“It’s your model. Do whatever you want.”

What if – bear with me here – but what if we all agreed to put aside these dodges when discussing various aspects of modeling?

Why? Because they add absolutely nothing to any discussion of any kind. And because, in my opinion*, they cheapen the hobby and our shared passion for it.

*NOTE: When I say opinion, I mean exactly that. I’m not making pronouncements or holding up commandments of modeling. This is not a manifesto. This is my soapbox and I can stand on it and say what I want, and you’re free to agree, disagree, or flat out ignore me. Isn’t that great!?! (more…)

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Fetishizing the Enemy

Fetishizing

Fellow modelers, we need to have a talk. Because…what the actual fuck?

What’s the deal with this hobby’s fascination with German crap?

A 109 here, a Panther there, I get it. In moderation, German subjects can be a nutritious part of a well-balanced modeling diet. But I frequently see it going beyond interest to fascination and, yes, fetishization of the tools and weapons and personalities of Nazi Germany.

Not even the tiny scales are immune!

Running the Numbers

(more…)

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The 4 Key Attributes of Kits – and the 2 Reviews Usually Miss

Butthurt Prevention Note: This hobby is highly dependent upon preferences and perspectives. What follows is my own. Yours may differ. And that’s totally fine.

When I first came back to modeling, I figured I’d start with something simple and cheap. So I picked up a Revell SBD Dauntless. Maybe, once upon a time, it was an innovative kit. But by today’s standards – or even by the standards I was accustomed to as a kid – it was a piece of trash. I quickly christened it the Fail Dauntless and consigned it to paint mule duty.

I think it's vaguely criminal that Revell still charges money for this
I think it’s vaguely criminal that Revell still charges money for this

I moved on to Tamiya’s P-51B Mustang, and the experience of building a good kit was downright revelatory.

MUCH better...
MUCH better…

Since that time, I’ve completed 46 kits (I had to go count!). And I’ve learned a few things.

I’ll be talking about some of those learnings over a handful of posts. Let’s start off with this:

My definition of a “good kit” is hardly ever touched on in reviews.

Kit reviews generally look at two things – detail and accuracy. To me, those are only about half of what makes a good kit good. In fact, I’m willing to give up some of both if other aspects hold up.

To me, the quality of a kit rests on four attributes: (more…)

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