FAR148 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Hello there, Wondering if you all have any personal modeling rules or habits you swear by? For me, before I enter my modeling/hobby room, I got to wash my hands. In the past I've b!tched up to many paint jobs from having not clean hands. Could be grease or oil from food and snacks, thinner or other solvents from cleaning my airbrush. I've been practicing this for over 20 years now and its one less thing to deal with. I have others but this on stands out for me. I'm curious if you all have any modeling habits? Steven Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ExchefAndy Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 I think the only rule or habit that I would swear by is straight forward... and that is to only sit down at my desk when I feel the desire. Never force myself, building and painting gives me joy... it's purely for pleasure. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 DO REFRAIN from trying to catch falling modeling knives. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 In addition to what Andy said above, my amendment to that is to walk away from the bench if frustration arises and to cool off, come back later and try again. Cheers Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airmechaja Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 All the above are sage advice. Also, no beer drinking during workbench time! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 One at a time. I try and stick to one model being built at a time, if I have a bunch kicking around in various stages...one or the other is going to get rushed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 1 hour ago, 82Whitey51 said: One at a time. I try and stick to one model being built at a time, if I have a bunch kicking around in various stages...one or the other is going to get rushed. This, absolutely this. It seems quite a rare approach, but I credit it with me actually finishing stuff. Also, I do force myself quite often to model when I don't feel like it. It's like exercise: there's an activation energy to overcome, but the results are worth the effort and discipline for me. Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 (edited) No alcoholic beverages at the bench. No computer in the shop (too much distraction from actual building). Edited December 25, 2020 by Joe Hegedus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cool Hand Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 12 hours ago, southwestforests said: DO REFRAIN from trying to catch falling modeling knives. As a wise man once told me, "Falling knives don't have handles." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 1 hour ago, Cool Hand said: As a wise man once told me, "Falling knives don't have handles." I'm certainly not going to be the one to argue with him! 😆 As a result of that event I deliberately developed the reflex of lifting my hands when I drop knives. And thanks to some neurological and musculoskeletal troubles I WILL drop knives occasionally. And other things too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 On 12/25/2020 at 3:09 AM, Collin said: In addition to what Andy said above, my amendment to that is to walk away from the bench if frustration arises and to cool off, come back later and try again. Cheers Collin Absolutely!!! If there is one thing I could pass on to my fellow modelers, it would be this! I am not 100% perfect in implementing this philosophy, but I should be, because there is no doubt it helps to work through frustration and anger. When I find myself getting mad over a model, it's time to walk away. After all, this is one of my FUN pursuits...which is why I never picked up golf. I figure I don't need to pay someone or someplace to get P****d off! 😊 Models are SUPPOSED to be pure enjoyment. I really, really want to keep it that way! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsman Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 No carpet in the modelling room. Small parts are very hard to find even on a flat ceramic tiles floor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fulcrum1 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Have a sermon, podcast, or an audiobook playing in the background Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tourist Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 - Gently wash all the kit's parts with dish soap before starting. - Cutting corners never pays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
speedlimit Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Soothing music in the background helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FAR148 Posted December 30, 2020 Author Share Posted December 30, 2020 Bunch of great stuff guys. Thanks for sharing Stay safe and keep busy, Steven Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bangem82 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 I try to play music that was popular at the timeframe of the subject I’m building. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 No cats. Close the door. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cruiz Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Never glue a part that I need to keep in place by applying pressure with my hands while the glue dries...... sometimes I broke it and always pay the price. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 5 hours ago, cruiz said: Never glue a part that I need to keep in place by applying pressure with my hands while the glue dries...... sometimes I broke it and always pay the price. Hmmm, this is an interesting one. I know I could not build a model without resorting to this technique. Oftentimes, in a less than perfect fitting kit, pressure on parts while drying is the only way to join them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Curt B Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 8 hours ago, Bangem82 said: I try to play music that was popular at the timeframe of the subject I’m building. I like this one, though I'm not sure, for me, being a hard rocker, that I could listen to as much Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller as it would take to complete all my WWII airplanes 😊 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SinisterVampire319 Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 7 hours ago, Curt B said: I like this one, though I'm not sure, for me, being a hard rocker, that I could listen to as much Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller as it would take to complete all my WWII airplanes 😊 No Who, Metal or Punk rock as the build would end up smashed. Also NO SEX in the model room! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BillS Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 At the end of a session I clean off my work surface and put everything like tools, paint and model bits in their respective places. I also try to keep the work area tidy instead of having stuff scattered about. Another thing I’m conscious of is quality. If I can see a flaw, so can the next guy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YF65_CH53E Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Mine would be, to not tempt fate, and walk away from the paint booth before I put that...just one more light coat of paint.....dang runs... So I try and remind myself, easy on the paint, let it dry, come back tomorrow.....the model will still be here.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Napalmakita Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 I avoid looking at any other builds of the same plane I'm working on. In the past I spent more time comparing my build to someone else's than I did working on mine. It led to me feeling mine was never good enough. Now I build my model for me, the way I want it. My skills have gotten better n I'm generally happy with my builds but I still don't look at any one else's until I'm done Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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