Dissapointment

Have you ever had a kit that was just so bad in your opinion that you stopped working on it and a few months later wanted to throw it away?

Well I have a Revell "MCM" '98 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air 2 'n 1 and I think it is just absolutely bland. I had hopes to turn it into a pearlescent WS6 that I found in the pages of the duPont REGISTRY. I just can't work on this thing, everything is wrong.

I just don't have the skill that some of you have to correct all of the imperfections in the kit, and then on top of that create something out of it. So what should I do? Is it really this bad? I am not very good at modeling but I have done it for years and I enjoy it much, but this is a brick wall and it's really turning me away.

Should I toss it or suck it up and do my best to finish it just for the experience of dealing with an unfavorable project? :banghead:

When I get a kit that's a real pain to work on I put it aside and try it again sometime later to see if I can do it any better.If I return to it and I still can't get the motivation to finish it I put it aside and work on something else.I have been known to give up on a few kits that I considered hopeless cases in the past and some have been thrown in the bin.Not something to be proud of I know but you sometimes just get the feeling thay aren't ever going to come good so it's best to move on.

Perhaps I should completely start over as if I was a young child. I could just forget everything I know and start with the good ole snap-tite kits. Hmmm that may work right...I sort of did jump into modeling, never took my time, and honestly never really finished a model...I usually gave up and destroyed it. Painting has never been something I was good at...its actually what keeps me from finishing a model...the body paint. Yeah that does sound like something I should do...I will go out tomorrow and buy a few snap-tites...Should I try different paint? I always use testors and I have never had luck with it. Hmmm I suppose $100 would be a good starting budget. Actually sounds like fun now that I really think about it.

For now the Firebird is going into my closet in the very back on the highest shelf...I don't even want to look at it right now. Hmm I need to buy a camera too.

Don't ever forget that this is a hobby (for most of us, most of the time). It's something to do to relax andput your worries aside. Now, a little frustration and hard work still has its place, but if you're not having any fun, why keep doing what you're doing? Put that one away and start something new. That's not a good or bad thing really, you'll find that the majority of modelers have more than a couple projects in progress so they can let one sit when it gets too frustrating, and work on another. You'll also find that a lot of us have more in progress than we'd like to admit...

If starting over from scratch is what it takes, ok. I would agree with getting a simpler model and just going at it to cure a modeling hangover. Maybe not a snapper, but whatever you need. Use a couple cheap kits to practice your weakness - hell, just spray a couple bodies and not build the kit if you need. Modeling takes practice, and lots of it. You may try switching products. A lot of people (me included) get great results from Tamiya sprays, even Duplicolor. Try them instead, and start with the body paint, and take your time and follow what we've got in the FAQ and if you have any more questions, ask! I reckon that if you paint the body first, and it comes out well, you won't be able to keep your hands off the kit and supplies until it's complete! Talk about a way to get excited about the hobby again ;)

Good luck, keep us posted, don't lose heart, and we're looking forward to seeing what you're gonna come up with now.

Get yourself 1 of the simpler Tamiya kits with a single colour body paint.It should be more straight forward to build and you know with Tamiya products that it is going to fit together well.I agree with Willimo in the use of Tamiya sprays.I always tend to use them and they never let me down.

I have tinkered with a few tamiya kits in the past...Supra, Mobil1 NSX, Savannah RX-7, and I do admit they are superb. What are some good easy kits that tamiya makes, the NSX's decals were insane so I definately want to stay away from things like that. Hmm I guess when I go to the hobby store tomorrow I just need to look and find something that catches my eye but use my brain and say nope that looks complicated eh. Hmm much thinking to do. Thank you guys very much though, I appreciate someone trying to help me. Im sure you guys have better things to do like build killer cars!

Hopefully (within about a week) I will have a camera and some kits to get started with (I know its boring when you can't see what I am trying to do right!)...rolling in money I suppose...until then I am going to study the faqs and continue to think. Again thank you very much.

I am really dissapointed that I have yet to finish my SMS/Enzo after 2 years. All I do is look at it everyday and then continue on another car. It is so damn detailed that I am daunted by it. Someday it will be finished. lol

Try to put it together, then create an accident diorama. you can heat up the plastic and smash it with a rock or get another car and create a head on collision or something, Put it on a piece of wood painted like a street.

If I was to do that I would just let it burn until it was all gone haha! I looked it over again today I just dont want to touch it. I need something else definately.

The tamiya porsche GT3 was the first plastic car kit I bought for myself.
i screwed it up trying to dothings beyond my abilities so I bought another one so that I can get it right this time.

the kit is surpurb with no fit problems and no wierd corners/curves to make polishing a pain. It's "semi-curbside" with just underside of the engine detailed but you can't see much of the engine in real car anyway so it doesn't matter.
The good bits include very detailed suspension, easy to fit, easy to tidy body (as in mold-lines and flash on trees) and it is a very sexy car.

if it has to have a complete engine then how about the 300zx?
RX-7?
R32 GTR?
The Lotus Europa is also a very satisfying kit to put together.

When I get a kit that's a real pain to work on I put it aside and try it again sometime later to see if I can do it any better.If I return to it and I still can't get the motivation to finish it I put it aside and work on something else.I have been known to give up on a few kits that I considered hopeless cases in the past and some have been thrown in the bin.Not something to be proud of I know but you sometimes just get the feeling thay aren't ever going to come good so it's best to move on.

Si SI, by putting it aside lets you work on other projects and makes you better. Maybe there will be a time when you pull it out and finish it up and itll look better than you expected it look like. I sometimes throw models back in the box, then work on them once i feel i have more confidence in creating it just right or fixing the flaws and mishaps it encountered.

Well here is my new project

What I bought today...

Revell-Monogram Dodge Viper RT/10 1:25

Model Master 2916 British Green

Model Master 2937 Grey Primer

Fujimi Forging Wheels & Pirelli P-7 Lamborghini Type OZ Wheel 1:24

The wheels are only 15" but they are in 1:24 and the car is 1:25...conversions anyone? Anyway they look really unique on this car. My sister chose the color and I figured hey British Green and Lambo Style wheels...sounds like a european tuned viper to me! I really like the way the kit looks...everything is seperate and it doesn't look too difficult. There are very few decals as well which is a plus for me.

I am going to use the firebird as a test body so I hope the painting goes well. I am going to use tamiya paint for everything but it's $3 for a 1/3 little bottle of it ::YIKES::

I really wish I had a camera but that's next weeks budget. Just bare with me and things will all fall into place.

I am also thinking of a Tan interior to go with the Green but I am not sure yet...maybe red...haha...hmmm...So basically other than the wheels and the sweet cross-drilled brakes that came with them this will be a box stock build, but thats fine cant try to get too crazy. And theres only ONE window to put in!!! I am excited.

just make sure you warm the paint by partially submerging it in hot tap water. make sure you shake the can well. I mean shake it untill your hand feels like it's going to fall off then switch hands and shake it some more. this does two things. the heat makes the paint flow better, and the shaking mixes the paint, and breaks up chunks that may have formed while it has been sitting on the shelf. model master paint is ok, but I'd rather use an airbrush with any paints other than tamiya.

might I suggest getting any of the monogram mustangs, they all fit really well, and build into superb specimens with very little effort. I have not built one of the vipers you are talking about, so I don't have any advice for you on that. I do have some advice though. don't get AMT anything, unless you are ready for a troubled build. they only make a few really nice kits, and they are all made out of really thick soft plastic, I don't know why. maybe that's why they are the least expensive of all U.S. models.

How about the Fujimi Lamborghini Enthusiast kits? I tried one of these last year and not one body panel fit! I ended up trying to fix it and just gave up! I ended up giving the kit away with a full detail engine that I had finished!

Never bin a kit, flog it on ebay, its incredible what some people will pay for, other than that all above advice is good, but I also find it helps to be realistic in my expectations, remember the incredible builds P64/Alessandro Prini? posted, I stopped building for weeks, my efforts looked so poor, but am building again, practice will hopefully make perfect or pretty damn close :-)

For your next kit, try the Tamiya Nissan 350Z. Excellent kit and an easy build.

JB

Here's my biggest struggle.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=261899


Got in over my head. Been sitting aside for many months now, and I still don't have the courage to tackle it again. My thinking is that if I leave it for long enough, I'll forget what I actually did. Then, when I open the box , maybe I'll be impressed with my work and have the ambition to finish it off.

Or, If I wait long enough and am really, really patient, perhaps Robrex will just show up at my door and offer to help me out with it.... :)


Murray

Model building is supposed to be fun, enjoyable, and a stress-buster. I think one has to be inspired to build. I also feel building challenges your skills, but if the kit is over-the-top aggrivating and causes nothing but stress, toss it. Life is too short!

Good luck, Rick