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MODELING FOR COMPETITION AN EDITORIAL

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Greetings Model Builders;




I have had one good and one bad experience at local model club contests. Thats my history. I like to go and look at a model show to see what other people have done. I like to build for me. My lack of completion of models has absolutely nothing to do with not building for a contest. It stems from stress and from my body giving up on me. To decide I was going to build to win a contest even if I could would just increase the stress.
To say you cant improve unless you go to contests and learn how to win is ludicrous. Its like saying you cant improve your golf game unless you compete.
I build for me and as my attention wanders so too my modeling subjects. While not happy about not completing I am happy to be sticking plastic together with glue.
Since coming to this forum and meeting such talented modelers I am constantly learning and I even try new techniques, so thus improve.
Personally if a person is building to win a contest they are not building for fun, they are building for accolades and really the hobby is now a sport.
Just my thoughts.
James


I agree,,,,, and forward the Idea ........... (y) ... :mpup ... (y)


Mike
 
I have had one good and one bad experience at local model club contests. Thats my history. I like to go and look at a model show to see what other people have done. I like to build for me. My lack of completion of models has absolutely nothing to do with not building for a contest. It stems from stress and from my body giving up on me. To decide I was going to build to win a contest even if I could would just increase the stress.
To say you cant improve unless you go to contests and learn how to win is ludicrous. Its like saying you cant improve your golf game unless you compete.
I build for me and as my attention wanders so too my modeling subjects. While not happy about not completing I am happy to be sticking plastic together with glue.
Since coming to this forum and meeting such talented modelers I am constantly learning and I even try new techniques, so thus improve.
Personally if a person is building to win a contest they are not building for fun, they are building for accolades and really the hobby is now a sport.
Just my thoughts.
James

I agree also James.
I am building my latest project with the intention of competing with it...and it IS stressing me out.
While I am enjoying it immensely, I am looking forward to being done with it and just building a kit.

Tom
 
I have to ask Tom.....if it stresses you out, why are you doing it?. I found poking myself in the eye with a sharp stick really hurt so I don't do it any more :)
 
Well, I work as an artist, and know all too well about critiques. My subjects are mainly aesthetic in nature, and as all art is subjective, crit comes from every danged angle, sensible or not! It's a way of life, and if you can't take the heat, get a job in a freezer.

That said, I don't model for others- it's my hobby- I do it for me.

As far as contests go, some I will enter- others are pointless. You may know that I'm a bit of a detail freak, and love to make my subjects good and dirty. The local IPMS guys value a simple, clean model. They have a very high standard of cardboardish craftsmanship to live up to- but that's just not my cuppa. Other local shows have different judging standards, and I will enter those on years I have new models to enter. ;)

Like Paddy, I glean so much from the web (and print material)- but I do look at the displays and gab with whoever will give me the time of day to do so. All in all I quite enjoy shows, although my wife trembles at the thought of me loose in a dealers' room.
 
This discussion is GREAT!!!! Talking is much better then setting on the forum like birds roosting in a tree.

It is really beside the point whether or not you like or approve of competitions. The point is none of us were born fully grown as modelers. Something, someone, or some situation has prompted all of us to grow as modelers. Whether it is the challenge of a model contest or the interest in history or art something moves us to excel. We really compete with ourselves otherwise we would all be building models like we did when we were eight years old. Part of our human nature is the need to run faster, jump higher, shoot straighter, and use pigments better than we did before. If we don’t progress we die. With the “Call to Arms” build coming up in October I challenge the Mod’s and the Members, whatever your skill level, to get a model and join the build and finish it. If you make a mistake, so what, let’s talk about it, but don’t stop. Move forward and be the modeler you can be. History research is great! Reviews are great! This is a modeling site. So let’s do some modeling.

Oh and by the way if you think this thread stirred the pot just wait………..

Terry B)
 
I think what it boils down to is just what moves you on as a modeler. Terry you clearly get the challenge from the competition. It's served you well without a doubt. Personally, I get it from following the forums (well now adays only had time for here).

Bottom line is move! grow, doesn't matter where you get your inspiration. I remember building models when I was young and not having anyone to share them with, to get the feed back on what's right or wrong with what I was doing. Now we have these here internets and we can share with the world, man wonder how far I would be along if it were around 30+ years ago..
 
I like Kens quote of I model for myself and compete in shows

I think when it comes to me that I do not belong to a model club which is something I really should get off my arse and do,...plenty of renowned clubs in the Chicagoland area

Even though my wife likes my hobby I know when I ask her what do you think she always says the right things ( she may think WTH is that but never says it ) :lol:

Regarding the internet I just love looking at models

Regarding shows I just love looking at models

I love this discussion Terry, good man :)
 
I think what it boils down to is just what moves you on as a modeler. Terry you clearly get the challenge from the competition. It's served you well without a doubt. Personally, I get it from following the forums (well now adays only had time for here).

Bottom line is move! grow, doesn't matter where you get your inspiration. I remember building models when I was young and not having anyone to share them with, to get the feed back on what's right or wrong with what I was doing. Now we have these here internets and we can share with the world, man wonder how far I would be along if it were around 30+ years ago..

Yes i remember my early dioramas, most of my old models are long gone to styren heaven, mostly because of me trying new things and screwing up... :bang head remember being able to find a book about modelbuilding :notworthy i thought i never gonna build something like that ever. but with internet we all have so much information on forums like this one, and there is always good advice to get from more experienced modellers.
A problem i have is to finnish before starting something new, i have mostly 4 or 5 builds going on and i jump between them as i feel for it, and also searching info on the internet, and there i can be stuck for an entire evening looking at old Photos of the vehicle i'm building and getting new ideas for dioramas.
If i one day have a model that i think is good enough to try in a competition i will try it :hmmm
Nice to see a ddisscussion like this (y) you really started a fire Terry!
//Mats
 
i am one of those who feel outclassed. i see the work here and on other sites and i am in awe.




joe

You have no need to feel that way. I envy you your ability to attempt scratchbuilding and kitbashing techniques that would have me running screaming from a room.

As for contests, I am also outclassed. I feel like a T-ball league ball player on the field in a Major League game when I put my models on a contest table. I go in not expecting to win at all; the fun for me is hearing comments and suggestions from my fellow modeling friends and the chance to get some decent deals in the vendor room. And sometimes it is the fun of bringing in something unexpected and unusual that gets attention that makes contests fun. If I do happen to win; that is just cream. I don't ever expect to get up to the level of almost all you guys, but I will still have a blast attempting it!

Chuck, I do hope to see you at Orangecon. I'm gonna have a few large aircraft on the tables there!
 
You may know that I'm a bit of a detail freak, and love to make my subjects good and dirty. The local IPMS guys value a simple, clean model.

That is why I say i don't enter :) I don't think my latest interpretation of a Spit would cut it as a "clean model" :yipee
 
I've only been to a handful of shows mainly due to being kind of in a dead zone here in capital land NY...there are groups I could join in Albany, but I don't like going down there when I don't have to...and the guy who leads the local chapter of IPMS is kind of a tool. When I do go to a show, it's usually to check the vendors out and discuss models with guys who have the same interest...going down to AMPS in Va a couple years ago was a blast...getting to pick Dr. Steinman's and Saúl's brains for the entire trip down and back and for the weekend was awesome...and meeting all the people I used to just read about with Saúl like Mig, Woody from Archer, Cookie,etc made it the coolest show ever....
 
Yeah, that's the one I should have bit the bullet and gone to. Well...there's Atlanta in 2013..Right?
 
I have to ask Tom.....if it stresses you out, why are you doing it?. I found poking myself in the eye with a sharp stick really hurt so I don't do it any more :)

Why am I doing this?

Because I love to build models and I want to get as good at it as I possibly can.
This stuff ain't easy, and if sometimes it's not coming out the way I want it to, well, I get a bit stressed.
Plus I have a deadline of sorts...I started this project before going to the AMPS Int'l show last April. At the
show I was inspired and thought if I can finish the 1/16 tank riders model by the next show,
I'd really like to enter it.

I've only entered one contest before, AMPS Int'l in Hubbard OH a few years back, and really don't plan on
making a carreer out of it. If I weren't planning to enter this, I would actually probably be building the
same model.

Or maybe my wife can answer the question better..."Because you're insane"

Tom
 
i am one of those who feel outclassed. i see the work here and on other sites and i am in awe.




joe

You have no need to feel that way. I envy you your ability to attempt scratchbuilding and kitbashing techniques that would have me running screaming from a room.

as always mark you are too kind to me. i know i dont build well enough for competition. maybe someday but not now. i have fun now seeing if i can put plastic, wire, glue, and paint together and see if i can get it to resemble in some way the pictures i am looking at.


joe
 
Well, with my limited tipping abilities you are causing me to burn a lot of time that I could spend modeling . Why is that ? After all I post regularly.

I started building when my parents decided I could handle tube glue without killing myself or mamming one of my relatives with it.

My first love is airplanes. I have dabbled in other genders but prefer this .

For years I competed in things that required physical talent and wits and I did quite well. I don't like the primordial being it brings in me when I did these things . I have never learned anything from anyone I squash. That comes from the guys that were far better than myself.
Besides being on top is but a fleeing moment . I much prefer working towards the peace that will last forever.

I never modeled to show or showed to model. It is more like I took some to show . Some I won and the rest placed . Frankly I did not like it since it was not the same across the board. I also find that IPMS judges often don't know enough about aircraft to make these judgment calls that they do.

If I was interested in showing it would have to be with AMPS . most likely judging system to grow in your ability. Fat chance though since they only do armor.

I model because I love airplanes. None are alike enough to get boring . Anyhow, it's an artsy thing. It is the art of making the viever believe he is looking at something he's not.

Honing my art towards that goal keeps me motivated. I very much dislike modeling on your campaigns because it means I need to shelve something to start something new ( i don't like to shelve anything until it's done.
Than you start something new, than you rush to finish it by the deadline. That has never improved any of my models at all.

Nope, I build because of the love of improving myself and furthering my art . Modeling for shows would make me build the best and most popular model to be competitive with less work. Instead I build them all pretty or not. If someone likes it I'm to the good. If you don't like I'll still be fine.

This is how I stay sane and motivated at the same time.

I do like going to shows though and meeting fellow modelers . Always something to learn from.

Cheers, Christian
Frankly though I have learned more on the internet than at show.

Cheers, Christian
 
Well i am going to a IPMS show on Saturday ..... I need to check out this armour game :) see how its done !!
 
Try some of these Youtube videos also Paddy

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=scalemodelmedic&oq=scalemodelmedic&gs_l=youtube.3..0.618.8115.0.9289.15.12.0.3.3.0.305.2403.4j0j7j1.12.0...0.0...1ac.1.hjtmxeJEo8k
 
Never understood why some like entering model contests after reading all the complaints about them from other modelers. Why add stress to a hobby that is supposed to be a relaxing experience?
If anybody builds models for a contest in the hopes of pleasing a judge to win a ribbon or cheap plastic trophy is missing the whole point of the hobby. I have never entered a contest and don't ever plan to do so, it makes no sense to me to spend $20 to $40 on gas and risk breaking a newly built model for the chance to win a $5.00 trophy. :blink

Instead of using competitions as a way to improve my model building I use my reference books as a way to measure how well I did after finishing a model, if the model looks like the photographs of the real thing than its a success, if not, it fails and I don't need a judge to tell me that. ;) This is why I convert some of the pics of my finished models to B/W, its a way to compare the model to photographs of the full size machine in my reference books.


Matrixone
 
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