Do you have AMS?

Do you suffer from Advanced Modeling Syndrome (AMS)? AMS is a condition known to afflict scale modelers. If left unrecognized and untreated, it can be very serious. As a public service announcement, here are some warning signs:

-Does it take you 6-12 months or more to finish a model that you've worked straight through on (haven't taken any breaks from)?

-Has it been a while since you've built a kit straight out of the box?

-Do you have a backlog of 20 or more kits? 5 or more of one make of car?

-Can you not remember the last time you went to your LHS, bought a cool new kit, and started it that same day? Or even that same week?

-Do you make your own decals?

-Do you make your own photoetch?

-Could most of your models not pass through an airport metal detector without setting it off?

-Do you own/use machine tools to enhance your build?

-Do you never paint your build according to kit instructions, relying on pictures of the actual car instead?

-Do you find yourself in your LHS perusing other genres of kits (planes, ships, Gundam, etc.), thinking, hey, I should try one of these- it would be simple and quick!

-Do you own more than one airbrush?

-Do you regularly spend more than the original price of the kit itself on enhancements/accessories for your builds? (PE, resin, decals, CF, reference material, etc.)

-Have you ever used an owner's manual or a maintenance manual as an important reference for your build?

-When presented with a simple but excellent curbside kit (like the Tamiya Porsche GT3), do you find you're unable to build it out of the box? No, we're not talking customizing it (new rims/wing/body kit/paint job), do you open doors and scratchbuild an engine simply to build a better factory stock Porsche GT3?

-Before you start a build, do you collect 20 or more detail reference pics of the car you're planning to build? Do you feel woefully under prepared if you start a build with less than 200 detail reference pics?

-Do you think nostalgically about some time in your past when you could start and finish a model in a single weekend?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you may suffer from Advanced Modeling Syndrome. Sadly, there is no cure for this condition. However, advances in treatment are being made. AMS is no longer considered terminal, and is now widely recognized as a chronic condition. (In many cultures, victims of AMS are no longer subjected to ridicule, humiliation, or public floggings!) With care and support, symptoms can be treated, and those afflicted with AMS can live relatively happy, successful lives by managing their condition. (I hope.... :rolleyes: )

What if you can answer "yes" to all of them?

Am I going to die?

ah shit, I'm sick and I didn't even knew it !

Don't have all the symptoms mentioned but a lot of them ! Can we die from AMS ? If not... then I don't care... modeling is a great desease !!

Yes, yes and yes. But I´m already aware that I´m suffering from AMS, and I have been looking for a cure, but without any luck. Have´nt tried to do my own PE yet, neither have I considered building military models but exept for that, I´ve got AMS, big time...

Well, I only...only could answer yes to four of them, so maybe I'm not too far over the edge :lol: I generally keep my models pretty simple, I go for maxiumum visual sizzle w/o feeling the need for comprehensive engine/chassis detail. I'm perfectly happy w/curbsides and putting all the effort into paint/body/interior/rolling stock/detailing without giving the model an enema.

I have modeler's ADD. I get sidetracked way too easily, going from hot to cold on a subject when another one comes along to grab my attention. If I spend too long on a model it languishes badly.

Lately I'm suffering MAS. Modeler's Apathy Syndrome. Got fed up w/a recurrent problem on one model and decided to put it aside and wait until I felt like returning. I'm not ready yet. And not worrying over it either :wink:

Perhaps it was MBOS that got me there. Modeler's Burn Out Syndrome. I built 14 models in 10 months (none of them overly detailed, most are curbsides and a few were prepainted) so I think I had too much of a good thing for awhile.

Hoping that visiting w/friends, seeing other buildups on the net and our upcoming show will pull me out of the slump. We shall see. It's always worked before :tongue:

lol i think you can get AMS just from spending an hour or so reading threads on AF

I scored an honest 11. Good thing I still build out of the box, would've easily pushed me past 13... - Mark

-Does it take you 6-12 months or more to finish a model that you've worked straight through on (haven't taken any breaks from)? Yes, I didnt think that was unusual.

-Has it been a while since you've built a kit straight out of the box? Have I ever built anything straight out of the box?

-Do you have a backlog of 20 or more kits? 5 or more of one make of car? Yes, in Hot Wheels.

-Can you not remember the last time you went to your LHS, bought a cool new kit, and started it that same day? Or even that same week? Yes, I open it up and let it sit.

-Do you make your own decals? Yes

-Do you make your own photoetch? Yes

-Could most of your models not pass through an airport metal detector without setting it off? I think all of them would set it off.

-Do you own/use machine tools to enhance your build? CNC Mill, and about to get a Sherline lathe.

-Do you never paint your build according to kit instructions, relying on pictures of the actual car instead? Well, if I finished a kit I wouldnt. So yes.

-Do you find yourself in your LHS perusing other genres of kits (planes, ships, Gundam, etc.), thinking, hey, I should try one of these- it would be simple and quick! Yes, I want to hot rod a Panzer.

-Do you own more than one airbrush? Yes.

-Do you regularly spend more than the original price of the kit itself on enhancements/accessories for your builds? (PE, resin, decals, CF, reference material, etc.) Yes...if it wasnt scratchbuilt.

-Have you ever used an owner's manual or a maintenance manual as an important reference for your build? If it existed, then yes I have.

-When presented with a simple but excellent curbside kit (like the Tamiya Porsche GT3), do you find you're unable to build it out of the box? No, we're not talking customizing it (new rims/wing/body kit/paint job), do you open doors and scratchbuild an engine simply to build a better factory stock Porsche GT3? Yes, but this time my friends arent letting me because they want me to finish something. *cough* ZoomZoomMX-5/BRE350Z/Veyron/mach1_2003*cough*

-Before you start a build, do you collect 20 or more detail reference pics of the car you're planning to build? Do you feel woefully under prepared if you start a build with less than 200 detail reference pics? 20? 20? Is that all? I say add a zero to the end.

-Do you think nostalgically about some time in your past when you could start and finish a model in a single weekend? If I had ever been in that place in time, Im sure I would have. So instead, I think into the future, when I might finish something.


Oh yeah! 17 out of 17! 100%! Do I get a prize? I also suffer from MBOS, and Modeler ADD.

Good to see you're not in denial Mike! I guess the next steps should be easy for you. Me, I'm not willing to to be cured... - Mark

I am suffering from most of those. but there are a few that i'm not.

I'm attempting to build a box stock build right now, a Revell/Monogram 1987 Ford T-Bird Turbo Coupe. . which will be the first for me since about 6-7 years ago. I'm cut down on the number of current in progress builds. and I'm trying to do more involved builds. like this. i'm planning on building a super detail 1978 Camaro Z28 from an MPC kit. and I just ordered the correct decals, I will also have to make a couple decals for it on my own, and I have some PE on the way for it. I prohibably already have 60-70 bucks into the project, including the kit. which was the cheap part. it was 20 bucks. and i'll prohibably 10-20 hours in the body work alone. (nothing fits right on this vintage MPC kit), and I prohibably already have 50+ reference pics for it. and i'm just getting started.

I've never considered building anything but automotive. but I have been looking at some old passenger airplane kits, I may be tempted to try one of those soon.

I'm prohibably at about 65 unbuilts at this time. only kits I have muitiples of is the Model King/AMT Hemi Under Glass. and i'll prohibably get 2-3 more since AMT is reissuing it under just there name. and the AMT 74 GTX, for which i have three of. and I have plans for all three (on a replica of my dads old car. another one will be a petty blue 340 car, and the third one will be a replica of Daisy's Road Runner from the first season of the Dukes of Hazzard)

I'm a full time College student so i'm away from my builds most of the time out of the year. So it takes me a while to finish anything. i've been working on a Tamiya Jeep Wrangler for about 2 months now. luckly. i'm done in May 06 so I'm sure my hobby will get even more involved then.

1 model in all of 2005; I can't finish a model to save my soul. I did save Athens though, I just completed "God Of War"!!!:) I'm going to kick the dreaded disease of which you speak!!

Man, I think I can answer yes to all but one-two.
I'm really sick... :-)

I've got model ADD at the moment.. But I have ADD anyhow... :wink:

We all need help. I need a better paid job..!! :lol2:

1 model in all of 2005; I can't finish a model to save my soul.

I'm afflicted with the same illness. 1-model-itis. I try and try to finish #2, but something ALWAYS gets in the way. I've given up and I'm planning for 2006. :cool:

Sanity is overrated.

If you can answer yes to 80-90 percent of those questions it just means you're serious (really serious) about your art! :)

I wouldn't say that I "suffer" any of those symtoms.....

In fact.... I rather "enjoy" most of them :evillol:

If you can answer yes to 80-90 percent of those questions it just means you're serious (really serious) about your art! :)

So Phil, what if you answer yes to 100% of them?

For all the aforementioned afflictions, ACME has developed a therapy program for members stricken w/them.

They're called "modelpaloozas". We meet a few times a year for several hours or a day of wallowing in our hobby :biggrin: . Sometimes it's at the monthly club meeting, sometimes at a member's basement workshop where a group can convene to work on our projects.

This modelpalooza therapy usually results in more people having a worse case of AMS and/or the other afflictions :icon16:

For all the aforementioned afflictions, ACME has developed a therapy program for members stricken w/them.

They're called "modelpaloozas". We meet a few times a year for several hours or a day of wallowing in our hobby :biggrin: . Sometimes it's at the monthly club meeting, sometimes at a member's basement workshop where a group can convene to work on our projects.

This modelpalooza therapy usually results in more people having a worse case of AMS and/or the other afflictions :icon16:

ACME modelpaloozas are great therapy. And if the modelpalooza isn't curing your affliction one of Waynes martinis will. :)

And if the modelpalooza isn't curing your affliction one of Waynes martinis will. :)

Or a gas leak in his basement.

So Phil, what if you answer yes to 100% of them?

In my books Mike, it means you're a bloody legend! :D
I've still got to work on two or three of them before I can join those esteemed ranks.