I'm talking about the Aber etch set for the Panzerjager Ib. I mean, c'mon there are 25 zillion micro-scopic peices. If there is anybody out there that has ever used the whole thing, I'd like to meet him.

I'm just venting a little bit. I used to be happy with kits out of the box - now it seems I have some sort of disease. I physically can't just build a model anymore. These etch sets are the devil, and don't get me started on using Friul tracks.

I have umpteen kits in a pile waiting to be built - but I am somehow magically prevented from ACTUALLY putting anything together, until I amass every aftermarket product available for each kit. What in the word is wrong with me? Is there a cure? Good greif, this hobby is going to make me go broke - if it doesn't kill me first.

However, I do like the end results on the accidental occasion I do finally get a project done.

I feel better now - thanks for listening.

Later-
Jeff

Jeff, I know what you mean!!! My only problem is that my wife doesn't always understand the intricacies of model building and the detail that is required for doing them. Consequently, I usually am not able to get all the after-market pieces that I want for my kits. A barrel for another $20!!!! Zimmerit for another $15!!! Photo-etch for another.......
Sometimes I think that I should just go out and buy a real tank of each version that I would like to build!!!!!! At least then I could get any parking space that I want!!!!

Jeff, I'm afraid i've got some bad news. It is a disease and there is no cure. You will go broke if your really commited and your significant other will kill you if she ever finds out how much money you really spent. As far as the aber PE I have lost more pieces in the carpet than I have ever really used. Great hobby ain't it Welcome aboard

I think that what makes it REALLY sickening is the fact that nobody that will ever look at my models will be able to tell that the breech on the 4.7 cm Pak is exactly right. I KNOW that my little Panzerjager has a detailed drivers compartment inside - but nobody else will.

However, I now find it impossible to KNOWINGLY omit something that I know is on the real vehicle.

Ignorance is bliss - This was more fun when I didn't have any reference materials.

It's good to know that I'm not alone.

Jeff

It gets worse.
I have a Tamiya Panther G (late) that will get the royal treatment- Fruil tracks, eduard PE and barrel, etc, etc.

I just ordered a second Tamiya Panther G (late) so I can build it right out of the box and compare this one to the super-detailed one......

Peter

Thank God I am free from this hideous disease. I usually build OOB and add a few little items that I make or buy. I have bought Fruils for italeri models instead of using their crappy tracks, but unless its blinding me ... I will continue this way. I have yet to buy a barrell. How long does it really take to join the 2 halves and sand them. How many people try first and then buy the barrell because they have not been able to get it near perfect? Not many Im guessing.
But that is a true point about who sees the finished kits. If you compete, i suppose you´ve got to take it seriously. And if thats your thing, then why not? Its your hobby, so its up to you to decide what and how much you want.
I have often seen finished OOB kits by guys, and they have taken my breath away. I have also seen examples where some people think by buying all the extras they will automatically have a stunning kit. Not true. I think I´ll stick to OOB for the time being. PE is a little out of my league at the moment! well I tell myself that anyway!!

You're right about the aftermarket barrels - they aren't high on my priority list. That said, I have 9 "in stock" right now waiting to be used.

When I got back into modeling - I was more of a "collector" - meaning that I would buy a kit to fill a gap in my armored division on the shelf, and build it as quickly as possible. Why spend 20+ dollars on a PE set when that would buy another kit - right? The problem now is that I tried out a PE set just to see what would happen a while back, and I was hooked. Tool brackets and fittings just don't look "good" OOTB anymore (at least to me). The same thing happened with tracks. The vinyl ones just don't cut it anymore.

I mean - if I spent 30+ dollars on a kit, I want it to look as good as I can make it look. This strategy has certainly slowed down my pace. I was cranking out a kit a week for a while there. I've found that I was spending as much, if not more, money than I am now. By the time I get all of the aftermarket trinkets, I've got at least 60 dollars into the model, yet it takes me 10 times as long to finish each one. Try an Aber PE set and you'll know what I mean. I have about 30 completed tanks/vehicles - yet 99% of these were done before I knew what I was doing. They are now in the scrapyard - donating parts to my current efforts. I wish I would have taken my time and utilized the aftermarket stuff on these as well.

Anyway - I'm no PE wizard, but I do know that if you try out an Aber set for your next vehicle you'll be amazed at how much better the thing will look. Not that models OOTB look bad - just that the PE dresses them up drastically. PE is really not that difficult - if you have bionic vision and nerves of steel.

I guess what frustrates me is that I physically CAN'T put anything together OOTB anymore. I feel like I'm wasting a perfectly good model if I don't go all out.

Also - what's up with buying multiple versions of the same kit. Where did this affliction come from? I can't walk into a hobby store with out buying something - even if I already have the darn thing. Do I really NEED 3 PzKpw III L's? I guess I need more, because I keep buying 'em.

Later-
Jeff :-)

A true case of Advanced Modelers Syndrome. There is, unfortunately, no cure, though millions of dollars have been spent searching for one.

I was paid a rather large compliment the other night at my local club meeting when an avid aircraft modeler, who always buys resin cockpits if one is available, picked up my humble little Hasegawa Skyhawk cockpit and said with surprise in his voice..."Is that the kit cockpit?!". It most certainly was, with nothing more than a bit of wire here and there, seat belts fashioned out of paper, and a decent paint job. He was impressed, and I walked a little bit taller having proven to myself that in some cases you don't have to make sacrifices to the gods of resin and etched brass in order to impress.

Having said that...the kit will sport the correct intakes for a Blue Angel Skyhawk, as well as better decals from the aftermarket, but I refuse to buy a resin cockpit, or anything else, simply to say it has it. I also have seen splendid kits built OOB, and I've seen horrid kits with resin this and photo-etched that. It's not the tools folks, it's what you do with them.

You are right - jrnelson -

It is unreal the amount of little detail pieces there are and I know I don't use them all because alot of them ending up being "pinged" across the room never to be found again. (even after 30 minutes of the Stevie Wonder - feel & search - on my hands & knees).

BUT..... to add to your syndrome..... you ought to try some high detail resin conversions for that old stash. Get in there with a high speed dremel & let the plastic fly. Rip 'em apart and make 'em something different.

There's a bunch for shermans, sdkfz 250's, duece and a half, etc..

I share your PE pain

maybe to cure this diseas you all should start building snap fit kits

never seen PE for that

maybe that calms the mind and heart
hehehe

zer0_co0l

You do not want to go there, I recently built a Type 74 for my kids, not snap fit, but a 1/48 Kitech version. Still feel guilty just looking at the thing.

Jeff,
they're right.. it's a disease and there is not cure. give in to the dark side of modeling and enjoy..
It must be a disease since I rationalize my habit so badly..

Before I was married I said to myself " a few model kits in the closet is a good thing"

Then I got married and said, "everyone has to have a hobby, keeps me off the streets and
out of bars and the arms of strange women"

then we had a kid, " I will get these expensive accessories and stock up for when I have time to build" -early childhood being VERY time intensive.

now that the kid is bigger , going on 4, "I when we get a house, I'll have room to spread out. But I'd better get this kit/set now, because I won't find it later"





ohhhh Peter a Panther-itis.. a psychosis near and dear to my heart..
I've got 8 finished with varying degrees of aftermarket madness and another 10 or so to go including 3-4 with interiors and engines.. Anvil-wwII productions-Fruil tracks, Jordi-Eduard -Elephant barrels- Aber-Eduard etch and skirts and fenders- Finemolds periscopes- Karya -Mamut tow cables, Elelphant late fire extinguishers, Archer transfers, Cavalier-Eduard zimmerit...Let's not even talk about 'reference' books

so yeah, it's a sickness.. get over it..

Mike

I think I have to agree with plastic battle.. I still build OoB and enjoy the results.. Ive looked at PE, conversion kits yadda yadda yadda, but think that once you are all done with those, you could of paid off the house... *L* I still build for my enjoyment.. trying out new stuff that Ive read here or somewhere else... Hell, last year I never would have even considered washing or weathering a kit...

Mojo - you hit the nail on the head about weathering a kit. A year ago it never occured to me to add a little "dirt" to a model, let alone sand a seam or fill an ejector pin mark. I must admit that a well done model, regardless of the aftermarket stuff, still makes me go "wow - I wish I could do that". However - I'm fighting a losing battle against myself.

If could build and weather a masterpiece kit out of the box, my thought would be - how much better would it have been if I'd "dressed it up a bit with some PE, tracks, etc."..... Kinda like when I go golfing (on the rare occasion). No matter what score I shoot, I remember the blown putt, or the worm-burner off the tee. I guess that is what makes this enjoyable - never being satisfied keeps me entertained. I'd get bored, I suppose, if I whipped up perfect vehicles every time.

I like the response - "it's a disease get over it." Sweet, my insanity is justified. I'll just keep plugging along, hoarding aftermarket knick-knacks, and enjoy the distraction from the pressures of everyday life.

Thanks-
Jeff

Hi, My name is Jacques and I have advanced modelers syndrome!

We all are not only incurable, but we do not WANT to be cured, which means we are all Obsessed!

I admit to bulding OOB for the painting challenge, to make a kit presentable, but I have been known to go all out on the aftermarket as well. For all the "right" reasons:

-I will never see this kit/conversion again

- this will be my next project, honey! Really

- Once the kids are older, then they can help me build this stuff (yup, this came right out of my mouth...but she remember's it, and reminds me of it...shudder. fool, fool, fool.)

- I have the money, will have the money, know a guy who will loan me the money (Credit card)

- i am buying this for a friend/to resell for a profit (yeah, right)

- it was too cheap to pass up

- I was talked into it by my club buddies (how I got started on anything other than modern)

So we all have many great excuses, (let me know some new ones, mine are growing thin!)

as for PE, I have two comments:

When I looked at my first set of Aber PE for the sherman, i thought "Oh my god!" Then i started to put the parts on...I think I am insane now...real springs for the hatches...working hinges...AHHHHHHH (head explodes)

I have all the aftermarket i could get for the Mi-24 Hind in 1/48 scale. Yup a helicopter that really is a "flying tank". But the intimidation factor is now in full effect due to the massive amount of build up and scratchbuilding needed...eep!

I AM A OOB MAN ,AT FIRST I KNEW NO BETTER,NOW I WON'T LEAVE IT. I DO WITH WHAT FALLS OUT OF THE BOX,AND WHAT I CAN CRAFT BY HAND,THERE IS WHERE THE SKILL ARE I THINK #:-)

I build mostly out of the box except with a bit of Evergreen strip and rod. I have bought some resin goodies from Tiger Model Design which ae great stuff and easy to use.

PE is beyond me as my left hand is impaired.

I build for fun and enjoyment, so if it looks like a tank, I'm happy.

Hello, my name is Chuck, and I have AMS....

PE, scratchbuilding, resin conversions, metal barrels...I did it all.

Strangely enough, after not actually completing a kit for several years, I finally finished a kit...OOB! I was determined to finish a kit, and the Tam T55 seemed to be ideal. (I did add the Fruil tracks, but the doesn't really count.)

Now I am determined to fight the advance of my AMS by focussing on completing my kits. Besides, my wife was starting to ask questions about all the models and why I never finished one...now I have to keep her off balance by finishing the occasional kit. "Ignore that pile of kits behind the curtain..."

I never thought much about PE until I started putting in interiors. It is intense working with that stuff, but I do not use it on every model. It is the only way I can keep some control on my mind and my pocket book. I now make a goal for each model I build. It may be OOB or a partial interior, it now really all depends on how it going to be used.
capnjock

I've been through the hells of various addictions. I'm happy to report that my only stipulation for armor now is OOB plus seperate track-links (me no like rubber-band). I'm about to try my first Frui tracks (will go on a StuG).

I think it was the Verlinden resin and PE interior for a 1/35th Tiger that finally busted the addiction. It looks beautiful inside but I screwed up the exterior, after spending a looong time on the interior, and it was a blessing in disguise. #:-)