Planning
with Geoff Coughlin
Over the years I’ve had plenty of chats with fellow modellers – some prolific in their output through to others who seem to be stuck, unable to decide whether to re-engage with a hobby they enjoyed many years ago to those somewhere in the middle who have lost their modelling mojo – succumbing to “Modellers’ Block”.
Then maybe you fall into the category of modellers who get so far with their models and just can’t finish anything?
And so I decided to pen this entry in your TB to try and help you move forward and keep modelling and having fun doing it and maybe even help you kick-start what is such a great hobby we all share.
How about I just explain how I approach most of my modelling projects and then offer some ideas that may help you move forward from wherever you are ‘on the scale’?
What I do
Looking at what’s written above I have honestly dropped into most of these categories at some time or another. OK, sure, since starting SMN around 8 years ago (at the time of writing – Jan 2018) I have had to juggle lots of balls in terms of scheduling different projects not only for me but also our great team of contributors and so my approach has to vary from time to time depending on what I think we need to prioritise.
Mostly though I now usually have no more than 3 model project on the go at once – this is too many really but I find by doing this I can have:
• a more advanced complex longer-term project on the go – I will have bursts of activity on this one at regular intervals and that means the project does get finished – eventually. The one on the go here is my Trumpeter A-10A Thunderbolt II with aftermarket extras
• a second project that’s a ‘Speed-Build’ – I love these and is a new approach I’m trying where a new kit comes in and/or I usually buy and just build it straight from the box. I take care to do the best I can with it so that I’m usually pleased with the result and it gives me a real boost to get through and complete different projects quickly. Here’s my recently completed 1:72 Airfix Messerschmitt Me262A-1a
• a third project (never more than 3 projects on the go at once, my brain can’t cope with more!) This project can be anything and is usually a kit that I have wanted to build for a while or just takes my fancy for whatever reason. This third project is the nice TAN Model 1:48 scale Republic RF-84F Thunderflash
You may have spotted that each model is a different scale and has a completely different purpose behind why I’m building it – this is intentional. I mean, can you imagine 3 big complex projects on the go all at once? This may be fine for professional model makers, but for the vast majority of us, I think it may just cause me to blow a gasket!
So what’s my approach to any model project?
This is a really important stage in my build – the planning process and has a few simple steps – the big thing is, it means I know exactly what I want to achieve with each project right at the start and this saves time and money, believe me!
Step 1
Decide which of the 3 categories above I’m going to build: Complex, Speed-build or something in between.
Step 2
Decide exactly what, if any, aftermarket and detailing I want to add to the model. Can I scratch some of the items and get a decent result with minimum outlay and cost? Or, do I need/want to buy some extras. Check out and see if you can find any reviews and at least chat to other modellers (even ask questions on forums if you frequent them) about the extras you’re interested in before buying anything. Then buy what you need.
Increasingly, I am happy to add the minimum to many modelling projects (except the occasional complex builds above) and hardly ever bother with areas that can’t be easily seen. A good example is on my big current 1:32 A-10A Thunderbolt II project and specifically the wheel wells. This is a big model and when it’s finished it isn’t going to keep getting lifted up – it’ll sit on the display stand and then go to my friend I’m building it for so why waste time and energy detailing areas you can’t see? Never did understand that one but I guess we’re all different :)
Step 3
Get on and make time for some modelling time, even if it’s an hour or two here and there. The good thing about having the 3 projects on the go at once is that there’s always a number of smaller modelling tasks that you can complete in limited time and I line up sub-assemblies and parts of the build ready for when I can give a little more time to them – and it seems to work really well.
I get “Modellers’ Block”, what can I do to get through it?
This is a really common question and I’ve given it a lot of thought because guys talk to me about it at the shows and Modelling in a Day Workshops we attend with the SMN stand. The problem is that they get to a certain point, say at the end of construction, and can’t get motivated to press on through the painting and weathering to get over the finish line?
The first reason this seems to happen is because they haven’t been clear right at the start what their plan was going to be and so have changed the goal posts as they’ve gone along, encountered a few difficulties as a result and now have hit a dead end, not really happy with where they think they want to go. Sometimes it can be whether to add accessories and details, sometimes the final scheme and so on – all in all you are just messing with your head so why not try the approach I set out at the head of this entry – be clear before you start what type of project you’re going to undertake and then apply Steps 1-3 (above).
If you find yourself with Modellers’ Block a good tip can be to just put that project aside – clear your head and get on with something more straightforward – probably from the box and I find Speed-Builds are great for getting through the block.
You can always return to your original project later and when you do just try and decide what the next step in the build is and crack on with it. This small step is incredibly effective at getting progress moving again and once you are moving… you’ll be able to press onto the end :)
Is there a common theme with your blockages?!
It’s really worth thinking about this from time to time, and be honest with yourself, really honest. For some modellers, it’s the painting that they dislike, the weathering or even construction – I guess we all have our pet likes and dislikes?
So what are you going to do about it? The short answer is, when you know what the problem is, you have a choice about how and when you want to solve it.
SMN Techniques Bank
The solutions and ‘fixes’ are exactly what the SMN Techniques Bank is here to offer you and that’s not a bad place to start – check out each of the three areas and help is at hand. If it isn’t and you can’t find what you are looking for just drop me an e-mail and we’ll create an entry with HD video demos to help: geoff@scalemodellingnow.com
Skills Workshops
Come along to one of the SMN Modelling in a Day workshops – they offer fantastic value for money and real hands-on opportunities to develop your modelling skills, whatever level you are at.
Join a modelling club
Do you belong to a scale modelling club? Have you seriously though about doing so? If not, I recommend that you do – it was the single biggest and most useful step I ever made to improve my own modelling. Check out the IPMS UK website for details of all the branches and Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
Forums
Consider joining one or more of these but beware, I’ve seen so much contradictory ‘advice’ coming from modellers that I honestly wonder how helpful and practical some of this information actually is.
And remember…
I think that you should build for yourself and what I mean is that as long as you are happy with your results, frankly, that’s all that matters!
Good luck…
Geoff C.
PSSST…
Have you seen The Greatest Showman (starring Hugh Jackman)? No? Then do if you want to feel the adrenalin coursing through your veins and get the motivation back on line!