Critique or rivet counting?
There are all kinds of modeling web forums covering every kind of modeling you can think of. Modelers Alliance is one the friendliest sites on the web. We promote kind and civilized conversation. We have zero tolerance for trolls and flame wars. Everyone here goes out of their way to encourage modeling and modelers. All these qualities are great things, but have we become so sweet that we don’t offer honest advice when we see something is not right or could be improved. Now I’m not advocating that MA go over to the dark side and become a group of psycho rivet counting individuals who won’t build the newest plane model out because the engine cowl opening is a scale inch too small. In 1/72 scale! However are we doing a disservice to modelers if we don’t point out things that could make them better modelers? Do we have a mutual admiration society where we don’t feel free to make constructive comments about each other’s work for fear of hurting someone’s feelings? Or our we just afraid to be labeled “Rivet counter”
Let’s face it this kind of thing can turn petty and mean spirited, and there are other web forums that seem to make it their mission to pick your build apart. Or worse yet they may not comment at all. I have to admit I have posted pictures of models that I have done here on some of those sites just to see what their resident “RC’s” will say and sometimes I have learned some things. It’s not easy to hear someone say “You know that version didn’t have one of those”, but you did learn something you can use the next time. As I have said before I think it is good for us as modelers to submit our work to the critical eye of someone else. They may be able to see what we have ignored.
I think we sometimes have a knee jerk response and move away from an honest critique of each other’s work because of the bad behavior we have witnessed on other sites. However too much sweetness and light can’t be a good thing either.
What do you think???
There are all kinds of modeling web forums covering every kind of modeling you can think of. Modelers Alliance is one the friendliest sites on the web. We promote kind and civilized conversation. We have zero tolerance for trolls and flame wars. Everyone here goes out of their way to encourage modeling and modelers. All these qualities are great things, but have we become so sweet that we don’t offer honest advice when we see something is not right or could be improved. Now I’m not advocating that MA go over to the dark side and become a group of psycho rivet counting individuals who won’t build the newest plane model out because the engine cowl opening is a scale inch too small. In 1/72 scale! However are we doing a disservice to modelers if we don’t point out things that could make them better modelers? Do we have a mutual admiration society where we don’t feel free to make constructive comments about each other’s work for fear of hurting someone’s feelings? Or our we just afraid to be labeled “Rivet counter”
Let’s face it this kind of thing can turn petty and mean spirited, and there are other web forums that seem to make it their mission to pick your build apart. Or worse yet they may not comment at all. I have to admit I have posted pictures of models that I have done here on some of those sites just to see what their resident “RC’s” will say and sometimes I have learned some things. It’s not easy to hear someone say “You know that version didn’t have one of those”, but you did learn something you can use the next time. As I have said before I think it is good for us as modelers to submit our work to the critical eye of someone else. They may be able to see what we have ignored.
I think we sometimes have a knee jerk response and move away from an honest critique of each other’s work because of the bad behavior we have witnessed on other sites. However too much sweetness and light can’t be a good thing either.
What do you think???
i saw another very nice chevy and that guy glued the lid on the wrong side.. so you are not alone on that misstake 
