|
Post by mexmarine on Aug 17, 2009 12:22:45 GMT -5
It happens that this week I schedulle my Marines for an uniform inspection, and as it is costumary here, every sergeant and corporal below me held their own pre-inspection before the Marines face me; the more people put eyes on them, the more discrepancies will be fixed and at the end, they all get an outstanding grade on the inspection.
And then I remembered that this last meeting, Gabriel took a deep look to my models and found some mistakes that I Myself missed and could be observed by other judges in a contest.
Maybe we, as a group, we could "supervise", critique or judge and even give advice to our peers during and after the model construction, in order to better them for the nationals.
I know I would like to have every member put an eye on the models I am planning to take to the nationals and hear about the scratch I missed or the bad alignement of my wheels.
Of course this is not mandatory, it's to whom wants some help from the modelers with more experience on a particular category.
This is the way we better ourselves and our models, by accepting constructive criticisim and learning diferent modeling technics.
We always say that the club was made to pass on ideas and to learn new ones, well, lets show what we know and show it in the national contest in Phoenix next year.
Lets talk about what models you would like to take and see who has info, photos and ideas, maybe this way we all have a better shot at one of those awards.
By modelers, for modelers!
|
|
|
Post by Daniel C on Aug 18, 2009 1:31:35 GMT -5
What...... there are boo boos in my models? I am with you Jose, I like to hear what errors others see in my finished models. I have also been surprised when other people see things that I should have seen but didn't. It is amazing what the eye can miss! I do know one technique that helps, taking a picture and looking at that shows some interesting things (oh, and don't forget to post them here!) that might be missed. It kind of gives your own eye a different view. A second thing is to use magnification to build or at least look at them with. If you fix mistakes you see in a pair of 2x reading glasses, very few people will see mistakes with just the naked eye! I know I have asked Gabriel for his input and find it very helpful (just be careful, he hates Shermans...... hehehe) I think my help in this is what I call "common sense", I see alot of models with silly mistakes. For example, there is a very nice tank model on MIG's forum, but as I looked more (which I do when I like a model) I saw a frying pan put on the tank as stowage that as soon as the crew started moving, the pan would have fell off the way it way "stowed" by the modeler...... or how about the belt of machine gun ammo coming straight out of the gun?? that stuff is heavy and would droop down. Anyway, yep, i like this idea because it helps improve my models!
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel on Aug 18, 2009 23:21:38 GMT -5
Count with me guys....!!!.. ;D I love to help find the bad things on the models and also like that you help me find my big errors on my models, and not only for the national...don't turn into a IPMS Modeler...(only build for the nationals)... ... this will help us build better and at the same time have fun... The main idea is to build a lot of models a not only one..enjoy the hobby ;D
|
|
|
Post by mexmarine on Oct 11, 2009 10:36:22 GMT -5
So this idea has been brought up by another member and next meeting I'll be helping him with seams, fillings and scribing panels. I hope this hepls us to have a good participation at the national.
As soon as I decide what to take to Phoenix, I will be screaming for help from you guys.
|
|
|
Post by phantombob on Oct 21, 2009 22:39:02 GMT -5
We can all benefit from some assistance in the construction phase especially when our goal is to compete, not just attend, the Nationals. I think that it's important to define the stages when feedback is most useful and then provide it. It makes little sense to discover a bad seam line, or sanded off detail once the model has it's final paint coat on it, or worse, has been clear coated for decals. If we llok at the rules for the contest, I think we can identify where people should be getting critiques and then correct problems before they multiply downstream.
Establishing a consistent level of detailing is also very important for judges. There is only one concern - we only meet once a month. That can be a long time between inputs, so we may have to look at some additional times that we can meet to exchange notes (perhaps during the SDIPMS meeting).
I support the idea that the guys aiming for the Nationals should present their concpets at the next meeting and we should discuss the strenghts and weaknesses of each concept and each modeler to determine how we can maximize the group support.
|
|
|
Post by mexmarine on Oct 22, 2009 13:12:42 GMT -5
Next meeting I will review seams and panel re-scribing, and we can disscuss other topics like alignement, decals and scale "thickness" of the plastic among other topics.
And as far as the time line, phantombob, you are right, we need more than once a month to hit all these topics, maybe we should use this forum to it's full extend by posting step by step techniks and even video when possible, I'll try to make a run test on this last aspect.
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel on Oct 22, 2009 21:26:47 GMT -5
Guys We need to go back to the club basics and all take more time to talk about problems on the models, ideas and more. Forget about building ONE model for the nationals...(this is not IPMS club... ..), Enjoy building every model and focus on the details on each one. Next time I will bring the list of things we check on the last BajaCon as a guide.... See you guys... ;D
|
|
|
Post by mexmarine on Oct 22, 2009 21:35:18 GMT -5
One? I want to build at least 10...LOL, what we are talking about is to help the each other with our modeling weaknesess, like... I suck at ship's photo-etched, so hopefuly someone can help with that, and I can take a decent ship to Phoenix; and if anyone needs help with their seams, then maybe I can help.
|
|
|
Post by Daniel C on Oct 23, 2009 11:54:23 GMT -5
I have been reading these posts and like the ideas about looking at models and critiquing them at the meeting (I have a thick skin and can take it hehehe) as that helps me make a better model for myself. As far as the nationals, it is true what Gabe said, this club was formed to "get away" from IPMS and their fixation on "the ONE kit for the nationals" syndrome. After finally going to the nats in orange a few years ago and seeing the level of building I found it sad that only 3 modelers in a category would get a prize for their awesome builds. I felt there were many more that deserved something and it seems IPMS has a hard time giving "honorable mentions". That being said, I also understand that most ipms people live for the spirit of competition and that is cool for them. For me, I enjoy the "AMPS Style" of judging .... how did I do on my model? instead of how did my model do versus all of the others. I also really like "peoples choice" awards, what do the non modelers like! It may not be the best built model, but it captures the imagination. I have also wondered about the judging and how in hell they could possibly pick the best? With so many entries and so little time to look at them. I have also been amazed over the years at the subjects that win, not that they are bad models, they are built well. It seems like there is a bias to certain subjects or nationalities. "Hey look at this Me-109" "yea, but it is in Slovakian markings, look at this one here in German markings!!" Maybe that explains why there are so many categories and "splits" of categories. I have wanted to build a modern Ticonderoga class Aegis cruiser and paint it up in a WW II dazzle camo, but it would then not be displayed or compete with the "ships" category, it would be stuck in with the "Sci-Fi" category and what chance would it have against Captain Kirk? (this did actually happen) "You can't enter that as a ship because they are not really painted that way!" "ummm, but it IS a ship" Oops, this post is getting a little long! ;D But I am into building the best models I can! I also wish we could meet more often and bring our projects in as we build them.... Ideas on how we can do that? I have questions on my KV II right now I wish I had another opinion on!! hehehehe, sorry for the rant!
|
|
|
Post by slowbuild on Oct 25, 2009 23:25:37 GMT -5
Gosh! Would this have anything to do with semi=correct colors??Or is that an IPMS thing?
|
|
|
Post by Daniel C on Oct 27, 2009 1:37:50 GMT -5
It's not really a dis against IPMS, they are a fantastic organization for modelers! By the next SSMB meeting I will have experienced IPMS in 3 different countries and enjoyed them all. I do believe they need to update a few rules, but I also know how difficult that is for an organization spread across the US. As far as the ship thing.... Semi-correct colors? What does that have to do with calling it a Sci-Fi category as opposed to a ship category?? Maybe the modern ship kit was assembled perfectly (hmm, wouldn't be mine then!!) but was painted in the correct colors for the wrong period and there was another model of the same kit entered with a slightly askew mast but with correct modern colors, which should win? Oh wait, the modern ship with WWII dazzle is now competing with Godzilla..... I just feel with a 1st, 2nd, 3rd format to much human nature slips in ans to many deserving models go unrewarded, especially for the casual or like me, the lesser skilled modeler. But with the system used at BajaCon ( gold, silver, bronze) this past year, I can see my models thru someone else's eyes and choose to learn from that or not.
|
|
|
Post by slowbuild on Oct 30, 2009 12:16:14 GMT -5
Dan, I appreciate your sarcasm! I think what I was driving at is this: If we are critiqueing models, one basis is always color. I don't neccesarily mean an exact FS number match, cross-ref'd to Methuen standard; rather starting with a close FS number out of the bottle. This would of course be a standard at the competition level.
|
|
|
Post by Daniel C on Nov 4, 2009 13:07:44 GMT -5
Mike I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, I hope you do not think my comment about IPMS being a fantastic organization as sarcastic. I do mean that, they are a great thing for modelers. Maybe it was my comment about Godzilla?? ok.... that was a bit sarcastic, I surrender. As far as color goes, I agree that it is a basis and should be looked at, but not so much for accuracy but more in how it was applied and the overall look of the model. I guess, as in anything in life, once people are "competing" against each other, the nasties come out in some people which for me, takes away the enjoyment of the hobby. As long as it is fair, and an open conversation, I love to hear what other think of my models. That helps me learn what other think and see in them, I can then use that input as I desire in my next kit. This is all hard to explain in typing..... trying to condense thoughts into small sentences. Anyway, I meant no insult to IPMS as an organization, and I know that "other" types of model judging are not perfect either, for me, I just enjoy them more.
|
|
|
Post by Daniel C on Nov 4, 2009 13:11:01 GMT -5
;D Now that I said all of that and started trouble...... After going to IPMS Mexico and looking at the great models there, I want to make an effort in making better bases for my tanks and planes..... Gabriel or I will post a diorama that is 1/72 scale and the groundwork and trees are awesome.... Anyone else interested in improving and showing techniques in this area?
|
|