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Forums - News / General |
For General modelling or hobby-related topics that are not covered by any other specific forum. Please keep to topics concerning the hobby. |
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| Subject: | Re: Your research method translated to accurate scale built kit? |  |
| Date: | Aug 30, 2002 |
| From: | Tim Streeter | |
The first thing I'd do is post a question here asking how accurate the kit is
that you want to build. It's likely many modelers have already built up
detailed versions and will have helpful information about the shortcomings of
the kit and what is needed to upgrade it. Most of the time you can do pretty
well with some aftermarket resin or photoetched brass accessories. Be aware
that even these accessories may contain some differences or inaccuracies, such
as postwar details that may have not appeared in time frame you want to
represent. (And don't feel obligated to use every little piece of brass
doodads in an Eduard or Aber set -- sometimes the kit's details are just fine
or can't be easily changing without marring the kit.)
The next best thing, if you are a real sucker for accuracy, is to go to a
museum and take photos and measurements of your subject. Again, you have to
be careful of postwar modifications, or alterations made by the museum. One
famous example is a Russian tank which had a towing bar welded onto it by a
museum so it could be pulled into place; the bar was included in Tamiya's
kit! Check with the curator on the "pedigree" of the tank you're interest in.
As far as tools go, I'll let Kurt Laughlin, our resident caliper-wielding
maniac, speak to that. He uses magnets with hooks and, tapes and rulers to
help take measurements of museum pieces, and then photographs the measured
areas. This gives a visual record to refer to while building your kit.
The best written resource is obtaining a technical manual or field manual on
your subject. There are a few sources on the web where you can purchase
manuals (Portrayal Press is one I recall), or you can ask here and someone
might have a copy. You might even have some luck working through your local
library on an interlibrary loan.
Modelers here will be glad to recommend specific reference books for your
subject. Some are more technical than others, some do a good job showing
changes in the vehicle over the production run. Many books will have scale
line drawings of the subject, but even some of these may be inaccurate or
incomplete. So keep coming here for good advice.
Photos of the vehicles in use on the front give you a good feel for how
soldiers used and lived in their AFVs, and what modifications they may have
made to improve storage of gear and supplies.
The desire to research and improve a kit's deficiencies is common among many
of us. It's a way to learn more about an AFV and take on new challenges as a
modeler. And it's also common for it to become somewhat of an obsession,
which we call "AMS" -- Advanced Modelers Syndrome. Some of us get to the
point where we can't build a kit out of the box anymore! Some get so hung up
on the research that work comes to a halt and the kit sits on the shelf for
months, even years, while waiting for the definitive book to produce the
answer to some niggling little question.
Personally, I like to alternate or balance building a highly detailed model
with one that I can fairly simply out of the box, with minimal alterations.
When I was teaching my son how to model I actually got a great deal of
enjoyment building some of those old Tamiya dogs from the 70s right out of the
box. It was an antidote to my AMS projects.
Always keep in mind that you don't "have to" do what other modelers might do.
Research and detailing takes additional time, and it may be a challenge to
sustain interest in a project for several weeks or months. Build to suit your
personal level of satisfaction and skill development. If you concentrate on
furthering your construction and finishing skills, the extra detailing you
take on will show to much better advantage.
Cheers,
Tim |
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