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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
giving up on a model...
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 - 08:20 AM UTC

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Tauro A7V WW1 tank. I did, in a fit of insanity, pick up another.
Oh, you sick boy. You need help. Never, never, buy Tauro.....ain't the track just great to make and watch crumble when you touch it?
Ouch! Now you're scaring me. I have one of these unopened in my cupboard. What were your experiences with this monster?
My experience in building the Tauro A7V. Extremely difficult to find reference material. However, I just came across an Osprey series book that details the interior...too late for me. The fit is terrible. The upper portion of the vehicle was off by a considerable amount that no amount of green putty could fix. The track is terrible. Continue to fall apart each time I tried to place it on the vehicle. Easiest fix was to super glue the visible parts of the track and leave the rest off. I can even recall the decals.

This was one of the first kits to include individual links. They were held together with a pin and the vinyl tracks had a tendency to split where you inserted the pins. The fit is bad, but not impossible. It is a neat kit and in an old issue of Military Modeler, someone built one up. I believe that was the one that spurred me to purchase another and try again.
bytepilot
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Karnataka, India / भारत
Joined: June 01, 2002
KitMaker: 381 posts
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Posted: Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 08:41 PM UTC
Well, my 2 rupees worth here too!

Had bought a 1/48 Mig 29 with my first, HARD EARNED Salary. Hand painted it, and just a bit of camo was all that was needed, except for the wheels, ordnance and canopy. Thsi was nearly 3 years back.

Recently, decided i didn't like the planes base color, and applied an acid based paint remover. (Will ya believe that !) Problem was, the b*****d who sold it to me assured me it wouldn't attack plastic. It removed the enamel paint all right, but left the plastic underneath like the cat crapped all over it. Thankfully, I had applied it only to one wing, so only that got burnt off. It could be possible to repair it using sanding paper and putty, but I'm too lazy! Will probably repair the poor thing, but it must wait for quite some time, since I have other kits to do...

Moral : Once you start a kit, DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!!! There's no way back.. SHEEESH!

BP.
CaptainJack
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Luxembourg, Belgium
Joined: March 17, 2002
KitMaker: 793 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 10:46 PM UTC
BP,

I admire anyone who can model in India. I lived in Bombay for a while, and could never have imagined modelling!! You certainly must have patience and fortitiude!

Jack Namaste
Chief
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Washington, United States
Joined: February 07, 2002
KitMaker: 498 posts
Armorama: 193 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 11:11 PM UTC
Ronny - I'm shocked and embarrassed for all modelers out there to hear your experience! Keep on plugging away - and let those slings and arrows sail on by. That wasn't constructive criticisim - that was piling on! We all have different styles, tastes, and skill levels. What I like will not be the same as what someone else likes. Where I look for technical competency and ability in constructing a model - someone else happily slaps on mud, muck, and weathering. Everyone's effort, in the ways they manifest themselves, are appreciated. Thank your wife, and put that model up on the shelf. Look at it the next time you begin building a new model.

Gunnie[/quote]

Ronnie,
I concur with Gunnie on this one! Take your wife out to dinner to say thanks and keep the Sherman as a refrence. YOU and only YOU are the one whom should be happy with your efforts. Heck, strip it if you want and re-pain or use it as a practice hull for weathering etc., or Finish it and put it on the shelf and admire it and the Heck with what everybody else says! Also find another club that is into building peoples skills and talents, not their own egos. I went through a period a few months ago and Gunnie gave me some words of wisdom that got me through. The result is the 2 Shermans on the Home page. What would have happened if I had quit? Keep strokin and building!
AJLaFleche
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 8,074 posts
Armorama: 3,293 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 11:19 PM UTC
"ain't the track just great to make and watch crumble when you touch it?"

The trick is to toss out all those pins they give you. You then get some standard paper staples, straighten one post so it looks like an "L". Insert and trim.
GunTruck
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California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 5,885 posts
Armorama: 3,799 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 18, 2002 - 11:57 PM UTC

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Ronny - I'm shocked and embarrassed for all modelers out there to hear your experience! Keep on plugging away - and let those slings and arrows sail on by. That wasn't constructive criticisim - that was piling on! We all have different styles, tastes, and skill levels. What I like will not be the same as what someone else likes. Where I look for technical competency and ability in constructing a model - someone else happily slaps on mud, muck, and weathering. Everyone's effort, in the ways they manifest themselves, are appreciated. Thank your wife, and put that model up on the shelf. Look at it the next time you begin building a new model.

Gunnie



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Ronnie,
I concur with Gunnie on this one! Take your wife out to dinner to say thanks and keep the Sherman as a refrence. YOU and only YOU are the one whom should be happy with your efforts. Heck, strip it if you want and re-pain or use it as a practice hull for weathering etc., or Finish it and put it on the shelf and admire it and the Heck with what everybody else says! Also find another club that is into building peoples skills and talents, not their own egos. I went through a period a few months ago and Gunnie gave me some words of wisdom that got me through. The result is the 2 Shermans on the Home page. What would have happened if I had quit? Keep strokin and building!


And see what Chief did for me - his two Shermans inspired me to cut plastic on my very first M4 ever! Now I'm having a good time with it!



Thanks Chief!

Gunnie

staff_Jim
Staff MemberPublisher
KITMAKER NETWORK
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New Hampshire, United States
Joined: December 15, 2001
KitMaker: 12,571 posts
Armorama: 6,599 posts
Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 12:13 AM UTC
Gunnie,
Sweet! It's looking good as always.

Maybe the site will get an article out of you someday? hehe

I only ask because I know what good in-progress photos you take.

Jim
CaptainJack
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Luxembourg, Belgium
Joined: March 17, 2002
KitMaker: 793 posts
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Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 12:21 AM UTC
Hi I pointed this out in another thread but believe it might be useful here too. Don't EVER give up!

The only thing I would add, that hasn't already been said in the above excellent advice is the following:

Do not cut corners, or take short cuts. I am a firm believer in doing everything right as possible. It is not because you don't or won't see the underside of a chassis that you shouldn't paint it. The reason behind this is that this leads to something worse than the next model syndrome. This leads inevitably to what the heck syndrome,... it isn't going to be seen anyways. The crux of the problem is that one day you risk overlooking or skipping an important item for the sake of facility. While the primary function is to have fun, there is a more serious side that requires greater attention (if you want your work to be "accepted and respected"). Overlooking a scraped seam, or not filling in a PIJ (Pin injection mark) can add to the overall loss in quality on your models. I think that this love and respect is reflected from the very opening of the box to the final application of the decals. Sure you won't always be satisfied (I neveer am) but that quest for the holy grail is part of what this great hobby is all about. I wish you the best in your endeavors, and am certain you shall succeed. After all seeking is the first step in succeeding. (Geez I think I'll add that one to my signature, quite Zen!)

Kind Regards,

Captain Jack

Seeking is the first step in succeeding!"
"Building small doesn't mean thinking small"
GunTruck
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California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 5,885 posts
Armorama: 3,799 posts
Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 01:47 AM UTC

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Gunnie,
Sweet! It's looking good as always.

Maybe the site will get an article out of you someday? hehe

I only ask because I know what good in-progress photos you take.

Jim


:) - I know, I know, gotta focus and settle down. Actually, I've added three folders of in-progress models to the Workbench Gallery. That's my way of getting towards an article submission. Three in the works right now...

Gunnie
CaptainJack
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Luxembourg, Belgium
Joined: March 17, 2002
KitMaker: 793 posts
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Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 02:26 AM UTC
Gunnie I like and admire your work..That is all!

Jack
GunTruck
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California, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 5,885 posts
Armorama: 3,799 posts
Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 02:30 AM UTC

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Gunnie I like and admire your work..That is all!

Jack


Humbly appreciated CJ - maybe one day you'll teach me how to make better resin tires! Gotta learn that sometime

Gunnie
herberta
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Canada
Joined: March 06, 2002
KitMaker: 939 posts
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Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 02:39 AM UTC
Two points!

Ronnie, take heart! Each kit gets better as you go along. That's what I find. So take what you can from the comments you got, then forget about it with some nice new plastic!!!

And I've given up on one kit. The DML Bishop. I got the chassis built, fillingin all the horrendous sink marks and getting the running gear presentable (with dirt!!). The track links just wouldn't stay together! I tried repeatedly, but couldn't get anything right! We were moving soon, and I just "forgot" that kit. I'm not proud, but I've said my piece...


Cheers
Andy
ARMDCAV
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United States
Joined: July 29, 2002
KitMaker: 115 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Monday, August 19, 2002 - 04:54 AM UTC
Yep, sure did. My fault not the kits. Armor I know. They don't have wings. Should have remembered that. Started the Italeri Herky bird. Started out with hull not lining up (yea, I know fusalage but the I can spell hull) then the wingy things wouldn't sit right and THEN I found out that the model was not very accurate and why was I wasting my time? Side that this sucker takes up a LOT of shelf space and will not go back in the box!
avukich
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Virginia, United States
Joined: April 11, 2002
KitMaker: 760 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 05:34 AM UTC

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Back to your Encore wz. 34. How about this idea. Do what you can for the kit, but build it into a 'knocked out' version, complete with battle damage and burned out markings. This way you can still make the kit productive, and take out some frustration!......Whadaya think?
Heck, the 'knocked out' version would even justify the bad fitting pieces as blown out steel plates!
Just a thought, hope it helps.


Treadhead, a while back you said this to me regarding the Encore wz.34 that I had given up on. Well, I decided to take your advice and start trying to build the little thing again. Now that my skills have improved it isn't quite as daunting as before (still a piece of crap, but do-able). I am going to take this thing slowly, but I have vowed to finish it this time. I got the hull sides joined with the help of a bunch of snadpaper and putty. After the Sherman group build I will try to get the floor of the thing attached to the hull.
GSPatton
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California, United States
Joined: September 04, 2002
KitMaker: 1,411 posts
Armorama: 609 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 07:07 AM UTC
The Dragon Kettenkraftrad stopped me. The tiny track and roadwheels were more than my old eyes could bear. Also the fit stunk, details like the MUFFLER! were missing and it was in my opinion a DOG! It is the only kit I have ever given up on.
MLD
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Vermont, United States
Joined: July 21, 2002
KitMaker: 3,569 posts
Armorama: 2,070 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 07:51 AM UTC
Italeri Corsair in 1/72.. cruddy detail, cruddier fit..
There are a few others, some of the problems with the Academy Blackhawk have it shelved for quite a time now.
Tamiya old Wirblewind and Mobelwagon still sit now that the newer versions are out, and DML's PZ IV J once the Tamiya vers came out

Also DML Stug IV ( poor fit/directions) .

got a lot of poor fitting kits.

M
Kraftstoff
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Canada
Joined: September 06, 2002
KitMaker: 93 posts
Armorama: 37 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 01:10 PM UTC
Hey,
first you lose interest, then you lose a part or two, then you get divorced, move, buy another house, get married again.....if you still got that kit around....I'll give you an A for effort!

Don't feel guilty, if it isn't fun anymore...why bother, ditch the kit...the first time is the hardest....next thing you know your whole collection is on the block

I think the key is to only have 1 project on the go at a time...
At least thats what I'm trying to do now
Cheers,
Dave

Jeepney
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Philippines
Joined: July 22, 2002
KitMaker: 1,538 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 06:57 PM UTC

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The Dragon Kettenkraftrad stopped me. The tiny track and roadwheels were more than my old eyes could bear. Also the fit stunk, details like the MUFFLER! were missing and it was in my opinion a DOG! It is the only kit I have ever given up on.


I agree 100%! I didn't give up though because it was priced a little steep at 10.00 USD. My 20-20 vision and sometimes steady hands helped me with the track links. Luckily there are a lot of spare links so losing a few doesn't mean losing the kit. The muffler hole I filled with putty. Fit was not good around the engine and side sponsons. The front wheel did not reach the ground! I think the DML 'Krad is more at home in a diorama than standing alone by itself. It's cute though. My girlfriend likes it so I'm keeping it

I've kinda given up on my Italeri 1/72 Comanche. Cockpit detail is good. Fit is not good all around. There are a lot of unidentifiable holes. Panel lines are wider and deeper than the Pacific Ocean. It is a prototype though and good measurements and detail are hard to find. Perhaps when I'm more adept with putty and sandpaper I'll resurrect this bird from the Boneyard. Maybe by that time Academy will come out with a better version (:-)
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