Patience Is The Key To Building Any Model.

Louis Martinez

I myself am more of a model ship builder than say cars, or military vehicles. But I have also built them too in the past. But my heart will always be building sailing ships and luxury liners. I have been building these models ever since I was a kid, about the age of ten or so. I never really did the perfect job or was a fanatic about the detail, for the simple reason that after they were built I had something to play with in the family swimming pool. Now that I'm grown up, my models are for show. But this article is more for the beginner than for the intermediate of the advanced modeler. And it doesnt matter what kind of models you build, patience is the key to building any model. And I'm here to offer you some encouragement, in what may seem to you, as your darkest hour.

Recently, I have been building an Academy 1/350 scale model of the Titanic. I started on this project back in September and for the most part, am not even anywhere near done with it. I am still within the first 6 steps of the instruction manual. The reason that it's so time consuming is because that I want everything to be perfect. And now I'm asking myself if there is such thing as a being perfect when it comes to building models. After all, we do have to put up with imperfections from the molding process, and there are seams everywhere which detract from the appearance of the model that need to be mended, as well as the details that need to be fixed or added. And it's up to our patience and our skills that can see us out of that predicament. Another reason that it is becoming time consuming is because of the added detail that is going into it. Scratch built parts being added, and existing parts augmented, and the incorporation of fiber optics to light up this model as well.

In all actuality, I have spent more time stripping parts of bad paint jobs, applying putty, and sanding than I have actually assembling the model itself. The decks have been stripped at least more thank 30 time, all because of a bad paing job, lost detail or I felt that a better job could have beeen done on it. And there are many times that I get frustrated with this model. That's why I choose to keep hammers and baseballs bats out of my work area, even though I have contemplated using them at times.

"You never have enough time to do the job right the first time, but you always have time to do the job right the second time." These are the immortal words of my father. Basically, what he was trying to tell me was, take the time and do the job right the first time, and not be in so much of a rush to get it done so you won't have to go back and do it again, the right way.

What I have learned whild doing this model is patience. I am the kind of person that cannot wait to see what the finished model looks like, and I love to see it alll come together. But it all comes together in a very slow process. But while I have been building this model I have learned that there are some times that your get burned out from it, wondering to yourself if the model will ever come together, or if it will come out the way you have envisioned it. And with that in mind, I have found out, quite by accident, that there are some motivational techniques that have helped me go on to continue building this model, and maybe they might help you out as well, if you find the right motivational technique.

One of these techniques is, that since I'm building the Titanic, is that I associate building this model with the love song, "My Heart Will Go On." from the movie Titanic, by James Cameron. Every time I hear this song, it gives me some type of inspiration to pick up that putty and sand paper, or paint brush again, and try at it once again. Another type of imspiration that helps me out, is watching the movie again on video cassette. Not only do I get the motivation that I need, but it also gives me a chance to see what kind of detail that I may have missed before, and use this new information to add detail to my model. I can also go flipping around in one of my books on Titanic that I use for research, and this too helps give me motivation.. Hoever, this last technique is not as strong as the first two that were mentioned. Also, I know that once this model is built and completed, it will decorate the mantle of my fireplace, and serve as a memorial to the more than 1,500 people that perished on April 15, 1912. So I have four sources of motivation that help see me through the frustrating, and aggravating times.

It doesnt matter whether you build cars, tanks, planes, ships, or submarines, I'm sure that there is some type of motivational technique that you can use to help you go on when you seem absolutely frustrated because this piece doesn't fit, or the last paint job that you applied turned out lousy, or you accidently sanded down some of the detail while trying to remove the excess putty. There is something out there for everyone to help them reach their goal. You just have to find out what it is, and where it's at. And also keep in mind that the model that your are building is not going to come about in 1 or 2 nights. If you took the time to earn and save sixty dollars from work to buy a model, then it it would only be fitting to take the time to build the model in such a fashion that you could be proud to show if off. It would be nice if the model did come out in 1 or 2 nights, but that just isnt the way it works. I have heard of some others that have built the same model that I am building that it would take about 4 weeks to complete it. Well, needless to say, I have well exceeded the 4 week mark. But then again, I am in no real rush, because I want this job to be perfect. Or as close as I can get.

So if your model building consists of commercial or military aircraft, maybe consider paying a visit to the next air show that comes into town, or head out to the airport and sit and watch planes land and take off, or even go out to the Museum of Transportation. If you're into building submarines, then rent a copy of "The Hunt for Red October" or "Crimson Tide" or some of the later submariner movies that are avaiable. And while you're watching these movies, or out at the airport or airshow, pay attention to the detail of your subject, and see if you can add that detail to your model. I could sit here and go on and on, but I think that you get the point. Just use your imagination as to where or what you can do to find the motivation that you need to help you get through those frustrating times when all you want to do is pitch that model into the trash.

As for the skill levesl that you may lack, well, time will take care of that, and lots of research and talking with others that have done what you plan to do, or are planning to do, will help. Right now there is a guy near Seattle, Washington that wishes he had never heard of me, or that I never knew his Email address, because I found someone that I can ask questions of about this Titanic model. I don't think that he minds, at least he has never really said anything about it. But I, like this guy in Seattle have an open Email door policy: "If you have a question, Ask it." If you don't ask, and you try to do it on your own, then you may be setting yourself up for a lot of needless headaches, that can possibly be avoided. But it also has something to say about experience being the best teacher.

Whatever you do, just be patient, take frequent breaks, and think before you do someting with the model, and don't forget to plan each step carefully. The instruction manual gives you an over view on how to BUILD the model, but they do not tell you HOW, WHERE, and in WHAT order to add the detail to your model. And in order to add detail to your model you have to think things out before you go spray painting parts or cutting parts up with your hobby knife.

I hope that in some way that this article was of some value to you and that you can see the importance of being patient. Even I too, have a hard time of being patient, but I also remember too, that unless I want to go back to fix something the second or third time, that should have been fixed right the first time, I'll be here working on this model till Kingdom Come. Now that doesn't mean that you let your flaws go. If you feel that you could have done a better job, then by all means, fix it. Because if you do, then later on, after its completeion, you will have a show piece that you will be proud to show off.

Happy Modeling,