The ultimate rhetorical question.... Why do we do it??????

[panzerjager2]

So, here is the ultimate rhetorical question........ Why do we go out of our way to add detail to builds or parts of builds, where that detail WILL NEVER EVER Be SEEN....   I speak now only for me, my last say four or five builds I have spent hours on details that nobody will ever see. Parts that will be hidden by figures or engine vents. Now I don't claim that these unseen parts are 100 percent accurate.... more that "Shep Paine" concept of shadows you think are...... Now I can't be the only modeler in the universe that does this...am I??? Now the really sad part is that if I am the only one, the only people,(well not people..jackassess), that will ever see elements of these details are the evil IPMS-ers with their sticking penlights and forking dental mirrors....are they who i really built these details for.... OH GOD the horror..............

[Tobi]

Because we can! 
Others are less fortunate.

It's kind of the "if it were easy everyone could do it"-thing. 

[thechaos]

Even if you do not see it anymore you know it is there.

[Tojo72]

Because we know it's there,I know it's for me because I have never bought a model to a show to be poked and prodded at.

[dierk]

Personally I have a bit of a schizoid attitude to 'invisible, insane' (Chinglish for 'out of sight out of mind') modelling: sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. All depends on how I feel at the time.

[Leon]

I do it sometimes! Knowing the model is complete.

[adt70hk]

Interesting question and I have often thought the same thing too but at the moment I have enough to worry about with the outside, so the inside will have to wait a bit......

[joelsmith]

The main reason we do what we do, is the fact that if we are busy building details that can't be seen, we are not out strangling jerky judges with their mirrors and lights! ;<)

[k1w1]

Obsessive Compulsion Disorder. Commonly known as OCD.


Most model builders also have 3x more kits than they will ever have time to build but still continuing buying .... OCD

[John Everett]

Scale models in general are the realm of anal retentive weirdos. We can't control the silly crap which happens in the outside world. But this...one...little...tiny...thing...

[mrversatile]

I used to do things like that, now I "cut corners" and leave out the unseen detail. (Please refer to the former comment regarding "having more kits than we can build").

[willc453]

Frankly, some times I wonder if we're all subconsciously kind of beat me, whip me, tie me up kind of people. Think about it....we do a bunch of research just to make sure we get the right kind of paint for the interior of whatever, adding hydraulic/electrical lines, resin/pe parts so everything's more to scale, adding detail no one's ever going to really see, more kits than we can ever build, etc. As to OCD, that abbreviation should be spelled out not only in full, but in capitals when it comes to me.

Last time I checked my stash listing was about 15 years ago and had just over 1,500 aircraft/armor kits with some sci-fi kits and resin fantasy figures. Now add about 300 decal sheets in all 3 aircraft scales PLUS 40 years worth of collecting reference material to this "simple & cheap" hobby.... And now that I'm getting back into it, spent a bunch of money on more kits, figures and diecast vehicles....plus sheet styrene, tubing, etc. And let's not forget the new kids on the block: 3D printers & scanners.

[sturmbird]

I'm strange;

*I like WWI stuff because of all the history. I once read Quenton Reynold's book "They Fought For The Sky", and it was a learning experience. Have had a love affair with WWI airframes and their pilots ever sense. Yet I rarely attempt one anymore.

* believe it or not, I like the odd ball looking between the great wars aircraft. This started while smoking a good cigar with a professor who taught air frame technology. He brought in a couple books on the subject, and I was hooked.

* WWII is nothing but a form of reliving an era of history for me. I don't take sides, and really don't care. I'm also an engineering fanatic (hey I do have a degree in engineering), and love to disassemble a tank in my head. This is more important than building the kit to me. I watch an evolution of equipment.

* Korea is something I don't know enough about. Yet I plan of taking the challenge soon. Much to be learned here.

* Vietnam sorta forces history back into me; even though I won't do many kits. No history to learn here, but every once in awhile I get an urge. It's mostly to force me to never forget. Subjects are often generic unless you really dig into the mountains of data.

* I'm just not all that much into modern equipment, but still find myself doing them. Guess I need to give these modern times a chance.


I've watched folks on various modeling boards say they'll never do this kit because of their political views. I find it sorta funny. I share a bond with every combat veteran, and always find their struggle interesting. This kind of makes you want to do something in their era. Yet we all have our hero's will sooner or later become subject matter. I prefer to model a subject that really existed. Who used it doesn't factor into the equation.

glt