What am I building?

That may seem like a simple question, but it can also be one of the toughest ones to answer. 

No matter if you are building an airplane, a car, a truck, a tank, a ship, or even a building or Diorama, you still will be making the same decisions.  Is the model going to be box stock? Completely detailed? Slightly modified? Heavily modified with a good bit of scratch building? The list can go on and on. Without a good idea of what the finished project will be, you might as well stop now and go purchase a finished dicast model because 9 out of 10 times you won't be happy with the final outcome or will give up on finishing it.

I'm not going to say that a nice, well detailed model can't be built just by sitting down at the work bench and going to town as I know it can happen because I've done it myself on more than one occasion. The idea of what the finished model would look like developed as I went along though, and by the time I had some of the smaller items done I had my plan of attack. 

However, I am going to say that it will be less frustrating by having the general idea of what the finished project will look like before hand. Stripping a paint job because you decided to go with a different color may be easy enough, but filling in a hole you have cut in the model because you no longer want to go in that direction and making it look like it was never there can be trying at the best of times.


What if I cant decide just by looking at the model?

Well, there's an easy answer for that question. Hit the Internet and do a web search. Once you wade through the always present (and often unrelated) "Buy Me" listings and the Internet porn advertisements, you should find plenty of things to look at for ideas. Facebook has groups you can look through and web forums can be a good resource too, but you might have to join them to be able to see the content.

Another option is to take a trip to your local library or book store and start looking through books and magazines related to the subject that the model represents. When you find something that looks interesting to you, pull out that annoying electronic device that everyone has today called a cell phone and take a picture of it if you don't want to, or can not purchase the book or magazine (as in the case of using a library). Keep the pictures, magazines, and / or books you have readily handy so you can go back and look through them when you need to see something that caught your attention or you need a reminder of how something was done. Unless you're trying to replicate a specific subject, get as much information as you can on the subject and sit down later to go through everything and write down what you like in each image. Before you know it, you'll have a final vision of your project.

Be forewarned though, combining different parts of designs from different eras can be dangerous to the looks of finished project. You might think that a machine gun and rocket pods might look good on a 50's lowrider, but unless you're building a Death Racer or a Zombie Apocalypse vehicle, it just isn't going to work. Putting neon colors and a hot tub in a World War I or II battle scene isn't a real good idea either. Basically I would suggest trying to keep everything matching and visually appealing as much as possible.


I have a basic idea of what the finished project will be, now what?

Great! the hard part is over. If you know how to complete your vision, you're golden. If you never have tried something that you want to do with your project or are doubtful on how it should be done, its time to hit the books again.This is where Reference Material really comes into play!

The first thing I am going to tell you is the most important thing I will tell you:

DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE SOURCE OF INFORMATION!!!

Just because you're building a car, truck, or even a building don't forget about the Military and Train sections! They have been building structures along with detailing and weathering models for a long time. The same thing goes for the Military and Train modelers, the car and truck people have been working with shiny paint and detailing things to look like it came from the factory for a while themselves. Trust me, you can learn from each other without fighting over who's subject matter is the best. I've seen it done and everyone survived!

Old Model Magazines can also be a goldmine of information and ideas! Just because it was done in the 60's with privative tools by todays standards doesn't mean it can't be done today. The only difference is you'll have an easier time with it than they did since you have access to all those fancy tools on your work bench. I just wouldn't expect to find the kits they were using back then because many of them were discontinued or the companies went out of business long ago.

Do not forget about real world sources either!

A building or repair manual can show you more than you would think. How To books on the real world subjects are just as good as the ones for the scale world, and sometimes they're even better! You just have to remember that you're working on a smaller scale and will have to adapt the techniques and measurements in the resources to your smaller subject matter.

Sales brochures are another excellent source of information if you can get one.

I've said for a long time that if you broaden your searches, you'll always find new and interesting things to look at and try!


Now I believe that I know how to do what I want, where do I find... ?


If you can't find what you're looking for in your spares box, a fellow modeler, or from a Resin Caster, here is your opportunity to really think out side the box! (literally)

Do you need corrugated roofing for a building or shed? Look no farther than that soda can sitting on your table. CAREFULLY cut a piece out of the side of the can and run it through a paper crimper commonly found in a scrap booking section of a well equipped store and you have what you need. BE WARNED THOUGH, THE CUT ALUMINUM WILL BE RAZOR SHARP!

Need a scale pole for something? Grab a set of Chop Sticks the next time you go out for dinner and sand them down to the size & shape you need.

Like I said with the reference material, don't forget about other types of models either. G Scale rail road items and 1/2 Scale Doll House items are roughly 1/24th ~ 1/25th Scale.

Don't forget about other size scales of the type of model you're building. For example, 1/32nd truck and trailer rims and tires work excellent on a 1/25th dual wheel pickup.


Just keep your eyes and mind open to the other possible uses of common every day items and before you know it you'll have what you need to complete your model and people will be wondering how you did it.