[WWI] More on big Rodent Pfalz

[Stephen Auslender]

T.O.M.
I think nit-picking and whining and carping is all a matter of degree.
What is critiquing to one person is carping to another.
I guess it is all a matter of semantics.
People who make static scale models tend to be interested in accuracy to a greater degree than those who make models that actually fly.
It seems with the later group the purpose is to achieve better flying qualities and to hone ones skills in controlling the airplane model in flight. So abcolute accuracy is of secondary importance.
The modelers who specialize in non-flying models concentrate their efforts in making accurate renditions of the real thing. So to them accuracy is of greater importance.
Personally, I have a relaxed attitude towards accuracy in static models.
For example, the fact that the Revell 1/32 scale model of the Saab Grippin is inaccurate because they did a prototype, rather than the production model, does not bother me at all.
It looks like the Grippen, it is pretty darn close to the measurements, so who cares? It's a Grippin. I will not go nuts measuring and fretting that it is wrong and therefore I cannot build it. The Revell model is the only one available in 1/32 and I will not spend my valuable time making a scratch built version to get a better degree of accuracy.
However, again, it is all a matter of degree.
For example, the old ITC kit of the Staggerwing Beechcraft in 1/32 scale was sooooo wrong that I actually traded away my model of it many decades ago. It stunk! Period. It was a toy, not a model. The fact that  someone made their own resin version of the same ITC model and marketed it does not change the fact that it is so wrong in so many respects that even I cannot stomach it. 
Accuracy is all a matter of degree.
So why do I carp and whine and complain because others carp and whine and complain?
I really don't know. 
Maybe because I am a crusty old geezer?
Durned if I know.
Stephen
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Mason 
  To: World War I Modeling Mailing List 
  Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 10:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [WWI] More on big Rodent Pfalz


  Stephen,

  What some people call nitpicking or whining is really no more than  a model being critiqued. I for one read model reviews so I know ahead of time what to expect. Examples inaccurate shape to some area, inaccurate details, and the quality of the decals. Nitpicking to me is someone gripping that a 1/32 scale models wing span is off  by 1mm as it is to small an error to worry about fixing. 

  T.O.M.
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Stephen Auslender 
    To: World War I Modeling Mailing List 
    Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 6:46 PM
    Subject: Re: [WWI] More on big Rodent Pfalz


    Yes Tom,
    One thing about this site that is so good, aside from the good humor, is the fact that here are a bunch of guys who can scratch build and kit bash. There are also a  bunch of guys who like to build "out of the box"
    Its just a hobby. There is room for all modelers.
    But I do get tired of the tendency of certain modelers to nit-pick each new kit that comes out.
    On the one hand, the carping does tend ot keep the smaller and newer manufacturers on their toes and producing models to a higher level.
    On the other hand no model kit is going to be perfect, there will always be flaws of one type or another. 
    Not only that, some of the details in question are really debatable.Take the issue of rivets and panel lines.
    If the rivets were made to scale, in some cases they would hardly be visible at all on the model. So the manufacturer makes them slightly exaggerated to please the rivet counters. But then the rivet counters criticize the model because the rivets are the wrong size. 
    The whole situation is really very silly.The manufacturer cannot please everybody at the same time. So what are they to do?
    To further complicate the situation, the vast majority of the kits are sold to parents and relatives who buy the models to give as gifts. They certainly don't know anything about rivets and panel lines. Also many are bought by children from toy and model stores. Is any manufacturer going to listen to a bunch of little children?
    Shoiuld the manufacturer listen to a bunch of nit-picking adults who have childish mentalities?
    If I were a model manufacturer I would make a line of models and sell it primarily to toy stores for sale to uninformed people who are buying the kits as presents for others. 
    I would not even bother with the modeling community. It is impossible to satisfy them because they area always carping about things.
    I do not carp about models. If I like it I'll buy it and change anything I do not like.
    But I do carp. whine and complain about modelers who carp whine and complain. So that makes me a carper, whiner and complainer, too!
    Its a good thing I do not take hobbies very seriously. 
    Otherwise I'd have to carp, whine and complain about myself.
    Stephen





      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Tom Mason 
      To: World War I Modeling Mailing List 
      Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:18 AM
      Subject: Re: [WWI] More on big Rodent Pfalz



        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: Stephen Auslender 
        To: World War I Modeling Mailing List 
        Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 8:37 AM
        Subject: Re: [WWI] More on big Rodent Pfalz


        Warren, 

        One problem with the internet is it gives us the time and place to complain, whine, carp and nit-pick. We seem to do that more and more in the plastic model groups.

        In the old days of wood kits and flying models if there was a problem with part of a kit one would mention it at a club meeting or amongst a few friends and then they would try to build a solution to the problem.
        That way the carping was held to a minimum because we were all too busy fixing the problem  We were used to constructing everything from scratch anyway so complaining was held to a minimum and building took almost all the time. Also there were very few forums for sitting around and whining.

        However, most of today's plastic model builders cannot fix anything, they cannot create anything, their hobby consists of putting together a box full of parts that others have created for them. 
        There is nothing wrong with that, I'm doing it myself, all the time. It is fun, quick and easy. I like today's crop of model kits.
        But, being from the old school if I do not like something or if I need something else I will make it myself.   
        I am pleased as punch that a company came out with a new model airplane in 1/32 scale. I will complain about nothing. If I like the plane and I can afford the price I will buy it. If there is anything about it I do not like I will either ignore it or fix it myself. 

        Yes, if the guys could scratch build their own parts and were not so dependent on what others create for them then there would probably be a lot less complaining. But the younger generations of model builders seem to be totally dependent on others for their models so I guess their helplessness just feeds their frustration and leads to carping.

        Its really sad but that seems to be the reality of the situation. Perhaps 
        the IPMS should be giving trophies for complaining, whining, nit-picking and carping as those activities seem to be an important part of today's  plastic model scene.

        Stephen
        P.S. No, I am not a nice guy!

        Stephen,

        I agree with you to some extent, but this not apply to the Listees here. Go to the website gallery and see what is done to some models, such as adding detail, changing detail, scratch building interiors, and scratch building the entire model. I think they have the right to complain. To show my perspective. When I started building models some of them came with only 8 or fewer parts. Accurate color schemes? Flat paint not glossy? There are some out there who are looking for more than what's in the box or there wouldn't such publications a Windsock Datafiles.

        T.O.M.
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