Pre-painted photo-etched...Is it cheating?

[mexmarine]

As we all know, pre-painted PE has been around 4 a while now...

So far, I have avoid it's use because I consider it to be a way of cheating (like buying a pre-painted model and putting it together)

I must say that the results are very impresive, but personaly, I think that it's use undermines the skill of the modeler.

I would like to know what are your toughts on this matter; I know that ultimatley you can do wathever you want with your model, but, when it comes down to costests, does this affects the outcome?

[Daniel C]

Now, this is a question that opens a big debate..... hehehehe

To me, what is the difference in painted and unpainted p/e, in a way it is not your work anyway. It is somethings purchased to add to a model. Just like resin cockpits, alum. gun barrels and many other aftermarket products.
In the end it is the modeler who has to "apply" it in his building to the best of his skill. What is better, unpainted p/e applied perfectly but not painted 100% accurate, or pre painted p/e put on crookedly???
Scratch built by the modeler should be what wows us...... but, it seems like adding aftermarket is what wins the trophy's.

Phil Toy builds ship models in 1/311 scale, totally scratch built, no p/e and his ships would beat any other that I have seen made from resin or plastic kits. If you have ever seen one, or Phil making a radar screen out of stretched sprue that is better than p/e you would know what I mean.

I like the pre painted aircraft instrument panels, or even the one printed on clear film, and I like some p/e added to a tank model, but while they are awesome builds, people that add ALL of the aftermarket to a kit take the fun away. That attitude comes from a modeler who realizes he does not have the skill or Patience to win at the nationals and can enjoy modeling at a cheaper, oops I mean lower level.

My 2 cents worth..... Next!

[Daniel C]

I guess I was the only one who fell into this mess!!! hehehehe

[slowbuild]

For me, pre painted PE would be cockpit placards, and maybe belts. Adding a resin 'pit certainly dresses up a lot of airplane interiors, but they can be challenging sometimes, and are not immune to errors. I tend to go along with IPMS, and stick with basics of construction, as oppossed to $$ in the kit. I think the Staghound build thread here is proof of what can be accomplished with bits of styrene, as opposed to 30-150$ worth of extras.

[Daniel C]

;D
Well, I have taken the plunge...... after thinking about use of p/e and resin I decided with Airfix re-releasing so many older kits and some new ones and a few other that have "boring" cockpits that I would give some of the Eduard p/e a try.
I have 5 sets (some painted some not) for use on a Canberra B8I, Sea Harrier FRS 1, Buccaneer S-2, F-5E, and an F-14 Tomcat.

Here is what it looks like, I have to admit it looks gooood on the fret!








Now, we'll see if I can get this Buccaneer rescribed and the p/e installed, if so, it should loog pretty good.

[mexmarine]

I guess I was looking it from the "judging" point of view , but if I see it from the modeler's perspective, I would like my cockpit look as real as possible, and these PEs look great

Maybe I sholud try some in a IPMS contest and see what are the comments...