CC welcome... or not?

[lawman56]

I agree with you that there's really no need or requirement to learn how to do something 7000 different ways. My point was really that we, as modellers, should not get so conceited that the only way to prove our own skill, is to put down another. One of the reasons I don't enter contests is for that reason. Had a poor experience once with a model railroad club, (the whole "my way is right and you're ignorant" sort of thing), which is why I believe there's always room to grow or improve.

[RexCag]

"should not get so conceited that the only way to prove our own skill, is to put down another"

Oh yes, Joe, on that I agree with you. Sometimes the responses when a person says they can't get something to work almost look like it is because the guy is too stupid to figure it out. That is very much not helpful to him at all.

Heck, I still get that myself, with Paint range choices. The assumption seems to be that if you don't use Tamiya, Gunze and Mr Paint that you aren't a "good enough modeler". Well, if I could use those here, I would still be painting with Enamels, and not have any "Acrylic problems" at all in the first place.

Oh well, time to pack the truck. I'll be offline for a couple of days while I am at the Nats. I have to sleep at a "strange time" so that I can leave at midnight, drive 7 hours, attend Friday and Saturday, and then gets home before Anne starts back home from New York. (I am her "AAA" guy for her drives)

[BlackSheep214]

I have no problem with "constructive criticism". I know my models are not on par with what I'd like them to be so if someone has a better way/technique of doing something, please tell me. If I missed or screwed up something, let me know cause I might not know about it.

I agree with this. I have no problems with constructive criticism at all.

[mustang1989]

Joe, no offense meant to you at all. But I have always disagreed with this quote.

"The day you think you're above improvement as a model builder, you should move on to another hobby."

A very many things in this world are things that you just learn to do, and then do it for decades, simply because you enjoy doing them. I believe that for me, model building is one of those things.

If this were a competitive sport, then yes, don't get complacent with your tire changing, the angle you attack a turn on a track, or the way you swing the bat. But, changing spark plugs or auto batteries on your hot rod in the garage are things you "just do", you don't learn new techniques each time you do it.

Once a person learns to "do it right",,,,,,,we can just quit learning and go do it.

With all due respect to you, I dunno bout all that. Like working on cars (like I've done for almost 3 decades now) I know that there are many variables that we encounter in building models. It doesn't always have to involve basic techniques. Spark plug replacement on a car for instance is a very simple process ................until you encounter something like the threaded portion of the spark plug breaking off in the cylinder head. Then it's a whole different ball game. This happens in the modeling world as well. What my point is that a person can go from a basic skill set environment to a more complex one that we have to start "learning" how to do in a heart beat.

[RexCag]

Oh yes, I agree, something like problem solving forces us to stretch a bit, and learn something new.

But I've always considered things like fixing stripped spark plug threads, using an easy-out correctly to get exhaust bolts out when they've broken, and unsticking an extremely stuck rear brake drum to be "basic old car skills".

It is the same for modeling, fixing a problem should already be in the basic skill set, because sometimes we start with a kit that needs that knowledge right from the start, simply because of the quality of the molding we are starting with.

I think we are using "basic" in different ways, based on our own backgrounds in the hobby and in life.

But, I can guarantee you that I have no reason to "find a different way" to assemble, prime, paint and decal a Fujimi Intruder or Skyhawk.

[mustang1989]

But, I can guarantee you that I have no reason to "find a different way" to assemble, prime, paint and decal a Fujimi Intruder or Skyhawk.

I can see your point and I think you're right in the fact that maybe we're using the term differently. On a side note I will say that most folks would be surprised at the amount of techs who don't know how to extract spark plug threads from a cylinder head or loosen a stuck brake drum or rotor. It seems the automotive repair market is flooded with "parts changers". Off topic some but I think you understand what I'm getting at .

[Stuart]

But, I can guarantee you that I have no reason to "find a different way" to assemble, prime, paint and decal a Fujimi Intruder or Skyhawk.

I can see your point and I think you're right in the fact that maybe we're using the term differently. On a side note I will say that most folks would be surprised at the amount of techs who don't know how to extract spark plug threads from a cylinder head or loosen a stuck brake drum or rotor. It seems the automotive repair market is flooded with "parts changers". Off topic some but I think you understand what I'm getting at .

The real fun is when you have a full set of metric and imperial tools, and then somebody gives you a russian engine out of an AN-2 with a bent con-rod, and none of your tools fit... I think I stripped that thing down by shear will-power.

Sorry - back on Topic.

We've discussed this at length before - but I think CC is welcome, but you need to choose who you give it too caefully, and how you right it -doing something like that is difficult face to face ( I used to be an inspector before I was a Quality Engineer) but very hard using the written word.

I will always think 'attaboys' have their place though - nothing feels worse than posting something up, getting 20 veiws but no comments. I think that would effect my confidence more than getting some crappy comments - Well constructed comments however are always welcome.

Cheers

Stuart

[RexCag]

ahh, yes the "parts changers", the shop that says "maybe it is the _____, nope, that ain't it, how about the ______?, nope,,,,,,ahh, we got it fixed, it was a 12 cent vacuum fitting, idles great now, ain't we smart?,,,,,that will be $112 dollars ma'am"

I got called that once, while owning a '67 Cougar with a Cleveland swapped into it, a '67 Ford with a Mercury 428 in it, and a '79 Thunderbird with a '68 Merc 390, all sitting in plain site outside the garage. (two of those used to be "impossible" to swap in) I got called that because the guy wanted disc brakes put on the front of his drum brake car, and was balking at the price of the parts.

I might be guilty of one aspect of what you are saying, Mustang. Since I am a "do-er", I might tend to forget that others don't know how to do some things that I take for granted. I hope it is just my not realizing this, and not arrogance or conceit.

Okay, also back on topic,,,,,,,,,there is also the consideration that a modeler needs to actually master some techniques before diving in to learn more. Otherwise, if they are constantly trying and learning, and doing that too quickly, they won't have a baseline to jump off from. Unless they are getting poor results and are hunting techniques in order to get a good build. (this is similar to the racer that changes 5 things at once to make his car go faster, then goes slower, and doesn't know which thing slowed him down so much)

Once they have a baseline system that they can use to produce quality model builds, I fully support the idea that then they can "play around" a bit with other ways to do things, and then if they want to choose one way to use all the time, they can know that that will work,,,,,,,,,,,and go ahead and play around in a different aspect of the building.

After all, this hobby is supposed to be about play time,,,,,,what gets played with is up to each modeler to decide. If that means playing with techniques until "final check out time", that should be okay, and if that means "I got this, so I will just get my play by building this way",,,,,that should be just as okay.

hah, this would have taken about 3 minutes to discuss in person, with the "no, I mean this" and "okay, yeah, that's right" thing happening in real time.

I little "old man's advice" for anyone receiving CC online,,,,,,,assume that anyone giving your model feedback is trying to help, after all he is typing and it is harder this way than if you held the model up to his face in your hand in person. If you see a pattern for any certain person that says he never says anything good, just don't take his post seriously. And know what message board you are on, this one doesn't have anyone that is "always negative" on it, some other boards seem to never have anyone that says anything positive on them, lol. Just be aware of which place you are on. I'm no longer on any "often negative" boards, I only belong to "almost always positive" boards now. (crap, that sure was the long way to type "consider the source")

I just got home from the Nats,,,,,,,,I saw thousands of good results from people doing things thousands of different ways, and every one of them would be as helpful as any given website wants them to be. Just assume that, unless you read otherwise.

[Stuart]

Good advice Rex - that was certainly the advice I was given the most when I asked how to improve - concentrate on the basics - that's were I am now.