Oob

Anyone else here find it almost impossible to build a kit OOB (out of the box)? I find myself tweaking something or adding this or that to everything I build. I find the most challenging kit to be the one I build OOB! LOL :screwy:

Anyone else here find it almost impossible to build a kit OOB (out of the box)? I find myself tweaking something or adding this or that to everything I build. I find the most challenging kit to be the one I build OOB! LOL :screwy:

I can't build OOB either. I basically build models because I like how easily they can be modified. Because it's so easy to use one's imagination to make something unusual, I have difficulty understanding how others can build kits without personalizing them somehow.

Also, even if I do want to build the kit as it is shown on the box, I'm sure I'll inevitaby find some sort of error in the details that needs to be remedied. Heck, even if you add a PE photoset, technically your model is no longer OOB.

I can do it, but usually only as a break from all the work that goes into other stuff. I throw a quickie on my bench and just get through it, so I can get something done in 6 months, instead of 6 halves of a model. They usually get something, though, but if a car strikes me, I can just shake a box and put it on the back of my shelf.

There aren't alot of kits I'd do it with, but I definately have some kits I will build straight OOB. Not because I feel some need to work under a keep-to-the-kit constraint, but because the kit doesn't need anything.

Take Tamiya's GT3- there's nothing I can think of doing to it that would really improve it. :dunno: Sure, I'll drill out the rotors and add seatbelts, but the kit doesn't need anything else- and I feel zero need to come up with something to 'personalize' it.

I do enough surgery on builds that really benefit from it. But on a kit that truely doesn't need help, it's a real pleasure to leave it alone and build it OOB. The fact that I could enter it in some show in an exclusive category is entirely beside the point- it's just how I want to build that kit. And I'm looking forward to it as much as any other build I have planned.

Take Tamiya's GT3- there's nothing I can think of doing to it that would really improve it. :dunno: Sure, I'll drill out the rotors and add seatbelts, but the kit doesn't need anything else- and I feel zero need to come up with something to 'personalize' it.

Except that it's curbside. If you're crazy like me you'll scratchbuild a 3.6L boxer motor and all the peripherals, then cut open the rear lid and hinge it. You'll probably then cut open the front lid, build the trunk, and...no longer OOB. But I'm just crazy like that...

Alex

Doing all of that is actually relatively easy.
Doing all of that while making it all nice and tidy and neat is the difficult part and when you have a car like the 996 GT3 where all you can see under the rear lid is the ducting for the induction, not really worth it unless the GT3 is a passionate favourite of yours.

But then again, I've never been a crazy kinda guy.
I'm happy being normal.

I have no problem at all building OOB if it's a subject I like. Sometimes I'll spice it up with a different color scheme or wheels. I'm more into the visual aspects of a shelf/curbside; I'm not really all that interested in modeling every single mechanical/electrical/hydraulic component the car has. I have way to many models to build in my lifetime to take that long on every model.

and when you have a car like the 996 GT3 where all you can see under the rear lid is the ducting for the induction, not really worth it
My friend, I'm glad you see the logic in this. :grinyes:

But as I know what's on your bench lately, I might draw the 'normal' characterization into question. :rolleyes:

I have way to many models to build in my lifetime to take that long on every model.

Absofreakinlutely right.

Building shelf models is one thing. Building lifelike replicas is another.

Doing all of that is actually relatively easy.
Doing all of that while making it all nice and tidy and neat is the difficult part and when you have a car like the 996 GT3 where all you can see under the rear lid is the ducting for the induction, not really worth it unless the GT3 is a passionate favourite of yours.

I'm not here to argue. But does the GT3 have an undertray cover (or does Tamiya just put one there for fun), because if no then there's some complex bits under there. If it did have a cover, I would most likely just build the visible top stuff. And there's actually quite a bit there, including the alternator, power steering reservoir, and many other components. Of course I would do it nice and tidy, or it would be pointless. I just don't see the value of a "replica" with no motor; I can look at a photograph to get that. Of course that's another whole topic of discussion, but I like my models to be lifelike in as many ways as possible.

Alex

I like a challenge. Building OOB just makes the kit look better. Well, depending on the kit of course. If the kit is a revell for example, I can spare the 15 bucks in exchange for learning something new.

Well keeping within the subject or not, I just picked up the Revell 49 Merc and thought that I would TRY to build it OOB, well looking over it and seeing what AndyJones is doing to his, I might just tweek mine some :screwy:
The Testors Daytona Charger that Im working on right now is one of those rare kits that seem to work great as a OBB, but I replaced some items and added a few other. I guess my next build after the Merc will be OBB, LOL

Just my 2 cents:

A long while ago I used to like building lots of heavily modified car models, something like modifying coupe bodies into 4 doors, sedans into coupes, I was doing plans to make a totally different car out of the carcass of several failed car models. Projects like these usually take me close to a year, and even if I did the body nicely, my crappy spray/hand painting/polishing skills would turn all that year's work into an eyesore. There would be smeared glue on the windows where the wipers are, I would either rip the decals when I put them on or would apply too much softener and melted them. I would polish the paint too much and rub through to the plastic. All these incidents were telling me that I need to work on those basic skills. It didn't matter what parts inside the car did I scratch build such as the exhaust system, interior door panels, lowered suspension, or even the rims, so long the body is not in good shape it just makes me want to keep the model back in a box unseen.


Building a OOB with the basic skills consistently done properly (smooth, shiny, chipless paint with no polish burn-through, parts glued together with just the right amount of glue with no excess squeezed out, straight definite hand-painted details that stays within the intended area, scratchless clear parts....etc) is already a very big challenge. While I usually do some minor tweaking to each model I try to do well on the basic things as a priority. Afterall those are the most visible features on a car model. Without them all the mods that are put into the model would get covered by the not as good work on the surface.

Building shelf models is one thing. Building lifelike replicas is another.

... and feel fun in the process without care time is another too ;)


at least I'll squeeze with alcol and fire up when they're done, this is 'cos I finish (almost) nothing :D

If you take a look at my miura in WIP -Street... that will be completely oob.
in fact, i will be changing the color, but thats not really included in the box now is it?

honestly
i love out of box
they train my basic modeling skills