Incomplete SBS Threads

[joelsmith]

To start with, I have not contributed a thread to this site, or, any other site. However, I am a rabid reader of threads, primarily "Ste by step" or SBS threads. My thought is, why are there so many "incomplete" threads? I understand "life gets in the way", but it seems there is a tendency to have a burst of postings on a thread, then it slowly dies out and disappears. What do you more "Prolific" posters do to keep up the energy, enthusiasm, etc., to continue to post. I am sure it is a pain to build, take photos, describe what and how you built, then post. I for one are greatly appreciative of you "Power Posters" who see a project through to the end, and would like to know what you do keep up. Thanks for letting me rant/ask silly bugger questions, Joel.

[TRM]

Hello Joel,

Interesting thought. I can't speak for everyone now but I do know that I will SBS some blogs form time to time and that there are a couple of few that may have not moved forward for a while. Sometimes projects will get started for various reasons but lack the "fun" mid way for the builder or became too frustrating and whatnot. Sometimes the individual has personal issue, to which I know a few here have had in the past year or so and can no longer build or blog until life levels out. Sometimes...the mojo just ain't there. This seems to be the unanswerable question for the modern modeller.

MSC is, as you know, a fairly laid back community of like-minded individuals. If there is a particular thread you are interested in bump the thread and ask what is happening with it or send the individual a PM...I am sure they will respond to the status. If any are mine...let me know!! I may not be able to finish it up quite yet but can certainly answer the question.

Let me know which ones you are curious over and we can see what kind fires we can start!!

[bbd468]

Hey Joel,

I can say that i always complete my build threads here. Why you say....Because i absolutely love building models and sharing it as well as a laugh or 2 with these fellas here on MSC. Im a member on a few other sites that im no longer active on....with the exception of armorama. MSC IS my modeling home and for many reasons. I have a Spitfire thread on hold due to shortage of funds to aquire something i need to complete the Project. Other than that, I finished all my threads here with support from all my brothers in modeling and my friends. I could go on, as many of the members know, ;D But i think ive made my point to ya.

Gary

BTW, I hope that made some kinda sence to ya....i tend to ramble on.... ;D

[panzerjager]

My trick is not start another model until I finished the started one. Or perhaps I start a second models when the first one present many issues or requires paint drying time, but never more than 2 models at the same time. This is not applicable to figures or accesories: sometimes I start one or two figures and then abandoned them, but...who cares, my figures are horribles

Darío

[bbd468]

Great point Dario ....i too generally keep it at one build at a time. Thats one key element that helps me finish Joel.

[wbill76]

I'm a one-build-at-a-time guy also so that helps keep the discipline going but I also have other competing priorities that also interrupt or delay things from time to time as well. It used to be that I could bang out a completed build every 4-6 weeks like clockwork but those days have been gone for a while. Still, being able to complete 3-4 builds every year remains the goal so having one in progress means that it must be done before I can start the next one, ensuring it gets completed as opposed to languishing!

[deafpanzer]

Same here... I am only one-build-at-a-time thing since my wife won't let me have a girlfriend. And it takes me forever to finish... 3 or 4 months if you have noticed. At least I can keep my thread alive for that long... LOL

[eastrock]

sometimes there are issues in life that need to be attend to, TRM is right you can ask the guy via PM what happen or if he will continue his blog, MSC is always here and its a home for us...

Build what you want, when you want and how you like it...

[tonylee]

I got started in the hobby late and have a lot of catching up to do but the manufactures keep turning out SPGs i've just got to build and I have a tendency to not completely finish one and start another.

Most at least get paint but not weathered completely and i'll go back to them later.

Sometimes I don't eat everything on my plate and I get left overs, I hate left overs.

Tony lee

[bullardino]

Same here, I don't do two projects at the same time, unless one is so fast that it won't interfere with the other, like painting a figure or retouching a base.

[fightnjoe]

joel not a bad question.

in the last 8 years i have had four builds that have not made it to completion. two were victims in vicious attacks and were abandoned (although one may end up resurected), one was such a poor build all the way through it was abandonded and then parted out to friends, and the last sits here and mocks me. it is a build that has me intimidated by what i had planned. i keep thinking i can tone down what i do to it but then i stop and dig in and say no, it will not defeat me. it still sits here in the box, mocking me.

i try to have only one project at a time. i have on occasion gone to multiple builds at once and gotten confused.

edit:
to answer the question though, at least for me, i try to modify the kits. building oob is wonderful and many do fantastic work oob. i love to try new techniques. i was in a slump for 3 years, had trouble focusing long enough to finish a build, what seems to be helping to pull me out of it is working at the details. i have built 2 p-40's that i have tried to detail as much as i could. the have helped to bring my enthusiasm up. i have also been spending some time researching some different techniques for adding detail, that has helped. different methods for painting, weathering, and such has also helped.

of course i also joined some new forums and have recieved some very warm welcomes as well as tips and suggestions. it helps when the folks you show your work to are of a very high caliber of builder as well.

joe

[thenylongag]

Great question. ;D

I'm a one at a time guy also.
I am current scratch building an original space ship, it holds my attention because not all the details are fixed. I have a simple sketch of the basic idea of what it's going to look like but some things are still a mystery, i don't have a final colour for example.
I know the look of the finish i want but as for specifics of the paint job I'm still not sure.
This motivates me to keep going so i can find out what it will finally look like, like i said i have a vision in my head but to see if the reality will match up, that is what keeps me going and keeps me focused.
Scratch building is such a slow process because you have to build everything and when you get impatient it seems to take even longer.

Gag

[joelsmith]

To all who replied, Thank You!! Not only for the great insight that was presented, but the understanding that the question was not intended as a criticism, but, a request for information. I have about 5 projects underway, but have not finished anything for a couple of years. the insight given will help me to pick a "easy" project and finish it, then, start on a more difficult project and finish that one. Again, thanks for the help and understanding, Joel.