Yeah baw 1:32 Saburo Shindo Zeke!

[LyleW]

Kenny, you sure have some interesting discussions with yourself! Your attention to "get it right" or "as close as is possible" is to be commended. Remember paralysis of analysis....This one looks great, though..

[KennyX]

Thank you.

The only “reality” that my models reflect is the reality that I read a lot of things and looked at some references and used my imagination to come up with an end result which I found appealing and pleasing. That’s pretty-much it.

And that’s why you’re not going to see me at a competition. Because I put so much of my meditative energy into this process -painting especially, that’s my Alchemy- that if a judge or passerby commented “Wow, this would be better or more realistic IF—“ I’d probably over-turn a table and beat them with a folding chair, shouting “This came out of my brain and I did it exactly as I imagined it! I was building and painting what was in my mind, not what was sitting on an aircraft carrier, you idiot!” and therefore it would be stupid for me to be there to begin with in this regard.

Based upon some very interesting things which have occurred to me both in my mind and things I’ve encountered in my spiritual life, I’ve come to realize that I use modeling as a form of meditation. My late Zen Master Emma used to give instruction on a meditative practice she called “Meditating On Plato’s Ideal Forms”. You begin by mentally listing attributes of whatever object you’re meditating on, and you concentrate on this proces so completely that you can begin to actually visualize it in your mind, and “see” it in your mind as clearly as if you were looking at it with your eye. This is what I do. I read about the subject, think about it, build a vision of it from this information in my mind and then “project it outward” into “the world” in the form of the finished piece. Sure I try and get as close as I can to what it may have been like in reality but I understand that after all is said and done, the end result depicts the vision I had of the subject in my mind and nothing more. I try to inform this vision as accurately as I can but I can only do so much, and that’s okay. And doing it in this manner creates a very intense and personal connection to it because for me -not for everybody else, just me you understand- it is indeed an ideal form, because it was formed in my pure Buddha mind.

[LyleW]

"And that’s why you’re not going to see me at a competition. Because I put so much of my meditative energy into this process -painting especially, that’s my Alchemy- that if a judge or passerby commented “Wow, this would be better or more realistic IF—“ I’d probably over-turn a table and beat them with a folding chair, shouting “This came out of my brain and I did it exactly as I imagined it! I was building and painting what was in my mind, not what was sitting on an aircraft carrier, you idiot!” and therefore it would be stupid for me to be there to begin with in this regard."

While, not advocating a whoopin'...most of those types of bullies would benefit immensely from this type of response.

As for the meditation and visualization aspects....interesting way to see things. My problem is I want it to be weathered, detailed, etc. I can see what I want but I have no idea as to how to achieve it. The 2-3 year layoff certainly did not help. So, like you, I build what I want, how I want. Love your work.

[jkim]

I think I'm in a similar boat as you Kenny. I try to be accurate but I don't make any claims about accuracy. You know, I get bombarded with corrective suggestions on my builds all the time. I don't deny my own lack of knowledge and am willing to learn but I will also make personal choices and go my own way when I feel that is the right thing to do. Even though there is a social aspect to sharing our builds online, when it comes time to build, I do it alone.

[KennyX]

Lyle,

I run into that too. Currently I’m up-in-the-air concerning exhaust stains. I’m still working out a method I’d prefer in terms of doing them. And I always feel like I miss the mark in this regard. That said, I know that if I keep experimenting, eventually I’ll happen upon a method which agrees with me, one that I can get my head around and use to suit my purposes. It just takes time is all. And plenty of experimentation.

John,

I had a feeling you might be. Your work is far too precise and too well-executed to not have a strong vision backing it up. And it’s beautiful, this work that you pull from your pure mind, that’s one of the reasons I like observing your projects so much. What’s more, observing your work since I’ve been here is part of what pushed me in this direction. And I appreciate your sharing it here for that (and many other) reasons.

[Floki]

I've learned so much from both you and John in my time here I'm truly grateful for that. As for judges at shows most of them I doubt even enter anything or are capable of gluing two parts together.

Almost forgot, for exhaust stains like to use Tamiya smoke and build it up slow then go back in with Vallejo smoke, it has more of a brown tinge to it and hit the middle of the stain with it.

[KennyX]

CLINT! Tamiya Smoke and Vallejo Smoke!!?? DANKE, meine amigo!! I didn’t know those two things existed but lately I’ve been mulling over the idea of airbrushing the stains on instead of using oils or pigments. I haven’t been happy with my exhaust stains game because they haven’t looked “stained” enough for my liking, vis- a natural discoloration due to heat and various sediments. I’m gonna give that a try on your recommendation.

[BlackSheep214]

I’ve got Tamiya Smoke as well. Didn’t know Vallejo had it. Of course, I’m not a huge fan of their paint line. Although I do like their off-white. I use it for hand brushing D-Day stripes on all my WW2 aircrafts. (Weathered black is my go-to black for D-Day stripes)

[Floki]

Love Vallejo for hand brushing but it's royal pain in the rear to airbrush. Use either DI water or Vallejo's thinner. Tamiya thinner and isopropyl alcohol will turn it into a gummy mess, found that out the hard way.

[KennyX]

Oh crap duly noted!