It’s almost as if I’ve turned the clock back to the start of my modelmaker journey and I’m once again I’m the beginner, not someone who’s been in the game for five decades or more.
7th May 2025
If the last week or so has taught me anything, it is that I’m not great when it comes to learning new tricks. There’s something to be said about an old dog, but when that old dog thinks he knows it all, it’s not always about can’t, sometimes it’s about won’t…
Here’s the thing, and I’m happy to be hauled over the coals for this opinion: I don’t find building models all that taxing. After 50 years building kits, well over thirty of those as a full-time job, there isn’t much that gives me cause for concern. There may be the odd kit that offers a degree of challenge when it comes to a colour scheme here and there, but assembly and detailing across most genres, is not that hard to me. It’s why I tackle older more demanding kits, because I need the challenge that they present; it’s why I step out of my comfort zone with dioramas or when really in need of something to get the old grey cells working overtime, I build a biplane.
Most of the time I’m happy with what I know, what I do and how the models turn out. Trouble with that is that my arrogant assumption that that’s enough, has proven of late wholly wide of the mark as I see more and more modellers leaving me behind, with models that are simply on another level to those that I’m producing.
That in mind, I’ve started to rethink my work and how I go about building the models that I do. This week I’ve talked about learning Fusion, a step into the future that I am finding incredibly taxing, but when it works and the ideas make sense to me, utterly fulfilling. Yes, the designs I’m coming up with are nothing to write home about, but I have to start somewhere even if that particular thought is fighting against the one that keeps asking over and over and over again: why the hell can’t I just do this to the levels I achieve with the rest of my day-job?
Truth be told, I could do without what I know is going to be a very long period of study, practice and failures, none of which sit particularly comfortably with me. I’ve never been one to practice techniques, as I find it so utterly boring. If I’m going to use an idea that will be brought into play on an actual project, not something that I have no use for. But that isn’t going to work here. It’s such a complex set of ideas it feels as though I am learning an entirely new job not just a small piece of it, and that’s a real facer. It’s almost as if I’ve turned the clock back to the start of my modelmaker journey and I’m once again I’m the beginner, not someone who’s been in the game for five decades or more.
Sitting here writing this it’s painfully obvious how much I have to learn, but learn it I will. Later this year I plan on getting my own 3D printer, so I really want to be able to use it as well as many of my friends are able to do. I have to put my ego to one side, keep reminding myself that I really don’t know it all and just get on with it. Maybe then, after all the time I’m spending in front of the computer is but a distant memory, that part of my day to day job will come as easily as the rest that I so take for granted.
See you tomorrow.
I’ve just completely revamped mine, and I’m still refining it, and making a few 3D prints that will fill some…
My sympathies- I’m on day 6, and feeling just a bit better. Good luck!
Hope you get over the flu but soon Spencer. Without sounding a bit, how can I put it, full.of doom.…
That’s a great kit, enjoy.
Hope you feel better soon!
I’ve just completely revamped mine, and I’m still refining it, and making a few 3D prints that will fill some…
My sympathies- I’m on day 6, and feeling just a bit better. Good luck!
Hope you get over the flu but soon Spencer. Without sounding a bit, how can I put it, full.of doom.…
That’s a great kit, enjoy.
Hope you feel better soon!
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
Vaya con Dios….. I saw the learning curve for 3D printing and the problems many starting 3D modelers have experienced and, at my age, decided Evergreen stock and perseverance would suffice for most tasks. I am now having 3D printed parts done for my 1/32 Sherman interiors, but even so, it will involve a lot of resin casting for multiple sets. We all have our limits and opportunities, and generally things tend to work out for the best….. I am sure when the trials are over you will enjoy being able to create and produce whatever you need for a unique model, and most of us enjoy having unique models in our collections…..
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Kudos for jumping into the CAD realm of 3D design. I’ve been using 3D CAD for the last 20 years in my job, but in terms of learning to do complex surface geometries (such as aircraft, cars, etc.), I have not dived into that yet. I bought a 3D FDM printer about 4 years ago, and a resin printer just this past year. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but for highly detailed model parts, resin is the way to go. I sometimes get exasperated when a print fails, but I found that watching several YouTube videos aimed at the beginner has been instrumental in having successful prints. It’s still a PITA to deal with the chemicals and clean-up, but that’s the price you pay.
Keep up the great work!
~Ken
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