The Imperfect Modeller

Welcome to this week’s Musings!

Fantasy Knights?

In bed the other night I mentioned to she who must be obeyed that I was thinking of a fantasy knight.  Judging by the look on her face it was clear we weren’t on the same wavelength.  I was thinking modelling while she … well lets just say she wasn’t!

Having been married for 36 years the need for words at a time like this are unnecessary.  Quietly we slipped into our well rehearsed fantasy ritual, one I’m sure you are familiar with.  Yes, I’m talking about the one where one of us pretends to be a sleep while the other reads a book.

Timescales

Something I am occasionally asked is “how long did it take you to do that?”.  The answer to this question is purely guess work as I do not keep track of such things.  I typically sit down at my desk and work away to a background of either music, a film or football.  So was when I was asked recently “how long did it take you to tile that roof?” I replied – “Well, the front took me the entire time it took to listen to the Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers album followed by David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The back took as long as Sgt Pepper by The Beatles, Tina Turner’s Greatest Hits and Thriller by Michael Jackson”.

I’m not sure this was the answer the guy was expecting but undeterred he then asked “Is there anyway to do it quicker?”.  “Yes” I said “don’t sing along at the same time!”.

Don’t blame me blame the dog!

Let me introduce you to Buddy.

Buddy is a border collie and he is largely responsible for the creation of the Mid Week Musings.  But how can this be, he is only a dog?  I shall explain.

Like most dogs Buddy needs to be walked and like most men of my age I need exercise.  I don’t think I’m in bad shape but let’s just say if it came to running for a bus I would fall into the wait for the next one to come along group.  In a typical week Buddy and I walk around 35+ miles.  Sometimes more, sometimes less, much depends on the weather and how wet I want to get.

The amount of walking we do in a week has a significant bearing on how much thinking time I have to myself.  It’s when I’m walking the dog that I either problem solve or simply allow my mind to wander aimlessly.  Much of this thinking time is devoted to modelling which in turn often gives rise to Musings.  

As Buddy and I get older the walks will get shorter and so I expect will the Musings.

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Until next time.

TIM

 

 

Welcome to this weeks Musings!

Some recent posts by others got me thinking this past week, not a good thing I grant you.  This led me to ponder two things, the first of which was …

How expert are experts?

Red, White or Rose?

I am referring to wine.  Now I like wine but I am no connoisseur.  I willingly buy into Red for red meat and White for fish and cheese (I never drink Rose unless I’m drunk and it’s all that’s left.  Is it for surf ‘n turf’ or just the dregs of red and white mixed together?).  A grape variety grown in different countries with different soils and levels of sunlight logically gives rise to a variation in taste.  Wine left in an oak barrel for several years will taste differently to a newly casked wine and wine with a greater infusion of fruit will similarly be distinguishable when comparisons are made to less fruitier examples.  Similar things could be said about beer I’m sure.

So what is my point?  Well the basic taste differences I get, they are logical and not beyond the limits of my pallette.  Some are less obvious to me but I become appreciative once explained and pointed out by others.  Thereafter we are beginning to talk about very subtle changes.  Some I can pick up on, others simply fly over my head.  All of which gives rise to the following question.  Is my palette lacking in sophistication or is the wine expert simply being pretentious?

I suspect the answer lies somewhere in between.  I am not the product of a privileged upbringing so my exposure and understanding of some of the finer things in life are often lost on me.  This is offset by the fact numerous experts I have encountered in my former professional life love nothing better than to show off their expertise, something which I have found to be directly proportional to my lack of knowledge on the subject.

And the relevance of all this to modelling?

Well the way I see it is this.  Let’s take paints just as an example.  The differences between oils, acrylics and enamels is clear to see, just like Red, White and Rose wine.  The effect of washes is also evident and the impact of colour is a no brainer.  Some of the subtle variations and techniques are either obvious when applied or obvious once explained.  However, for me, and it is only me I’m talking about here, there are some things which are simply lost on me (for now).  For example, paint brands and manufacturers.  Do they really differ that much or are they all made in the same factory and put into different pots with other labels added to them?

Brushes potentially are the same.  Big differences at one end of the scale but so subtle at the other end that I suspect I would not be able to tell the difference.

Some of the experts (or is it the manufacturers?) would have us believe these things make a difference.  Perhaps they do but I cannot help but think some of it, to put it bluntly, is bullshit.

So am I knocking the experts?  Far from it.  The proffesional advice offered by the folks in the video link that Azazel recently provided for example was excellent and I have every intention of following through on some of them.  These people should never be ignored, they are professionals and make a living (presumably) from what they do.  They have my respect.  The issue is that even the experts do not agree on everything.  In fact some of the opinions offerred were polar opposite and this is the crux of the matter.

So what do “I” conclude?  There is great advice out there but it can be conflicting, potentially even false.  Listen to it all, try some of it or even all of it if yiu have the time but at the end of the day it’s what works best for you.

The beauty of our little community is we get to share our thoughts and experiences.  We won’t agree on everything, there is after all more than one way to skin a cat as my grandmother God bless her would say.  So to those who pass on their tips and experiences for us to check out, THANK YOU.  I will give them a try.

On to my other thought for the week …

Lionel Messi

Yes we are talking about the footballer (soccer player).  If you prefer feel free to swap Messi for Ronaldo.  In any event we are talking about the two best footballers currently playing today.  And what does this have to do with modelling?  I shall explain.

If I remember correctly the eighty/twenty rule goes something like this.  It takes 20 percent of our time to learn 80 percent of something and 80 percent of our time to learn the other 20.  In reality few of us if anyone at all ever learn the other 20 percent, 80 percent is often good enough.  It’s why computer systems have errors in them.

This rule in general can be applied to modelling.  A novis can learn very quickly.  We’ve all been there, we’ve all done it and now we are all trying to bottom out the remaining 20 percent.  Some of us are closer to that goal than others but none of us are or ever will make 100 percent.

There are two realities at play here in my opinion.  Firstly, the more you put in the more you get out.  Attaining 80 percent is achievable and further hard work will make advances into the remaining 20 percent.  Secondly, 100 percent is not achievable but only a natural ability will take you as close as it is possible to go.  Do other professional football players train and practice as hard as Messi or Ronaldo?  I think they do but they just don’t possess that extra something which elevates them to a higher plane.  That said neither Messi or Ronaldo are perfect, they miss goal scoring opportunities and fail with passes, they just don’t do it as often as other players do which is why they are better but not perfect.

My conclusion is a simple one.  Work hard and practice.  It is not a coincidence that the more you practice and the harder you work the better you become.  Perfection  is beyond mere mortals (that’s why I will always be the Imperfect Modeller) but it should not stop our pursuit of excellence, to be the best we can be.  Above all enjoy what you do.  Life’s to short!

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Until next time!

TIM

Welcome to this weeks Musings!  

A problematic week, allow me to explain …

Problem No: 1 – Hitting the wall!

It’s happened before and it will happen again, I’ve hit the wall.  Not physically but mentally.  I’m happy with the models I’m working on and happy with one or two things I have planned.  I also have a list of things I’ve jotted down in respect of potential future ideas and projects.  The problem is nothing on that list is jumping up and down at me saying “do me first, please, please, do me first!”

I’ve methodically trawled through the various book marks I’ve saved but still nothing.  Don’t get me wrong, plenty of great figures and a few additional ideas but nothing that’s got me truly excited.  I’ve looked over things I’ve done and it’s tempting to do one or two again, especially as some older models are poor relative to what I feel I could do now.  The trouble is it is reworking and not the same as doing something for the first time.

It’s not a problem in need of an urgent solution, well not yet it isn’t, but I’m a planner and there in partially lies the problem.  It’s not good enough for me to know what the next few models are going to be I need to look beyond that.  My first mistake was not biting the bullet and going to Salute 2018 at the Excel arena in London this coming weekend.  I’m sure that would have done the trick but to be fair I didn’t envisage the problem until after I’d made other arrangements by which time it was too late.

I think the best idea is not to think about it, it’s an approach that’s worked in the past.  In the meanwhile all ideas gratefully received!

Problem No: 2 – To Ebay or not to Ebay that is the question!

There are pro’s and cons of being virtually retired as I’ve been discovering.  On the positive side I get to spend much more time on my interests, in particular modelling.  On the negative side I get to spend much more time on my interest, in particular modelling!

You see the problem is this.  Like all hobbies they don’t particularly come cheap.  What generally costs, say fifty pounds is often rounded down to costing just over a fiver when explaining to Her Who Must Be Obeyed what the postman (oops, politically incorrect, should have said post person or more accurately “the twat who doesn’t shut the gate so the dog can get out) has just delivered.  

Now having Fathers Day in June, a birthday in August and Christmas in December helps things along a fair bit but the bottom line is I am at risk of spending more than I feel can justify.  Put another way, I am at risk of running out of excuses as to why it’s not a good idea for why She Who Must Be Obeyed shouldn’t waste money on something for herself.

There is another problem too.  I’m creating figures and dioramas to the point where I am running out of places to put them.  The china cabinet, more a model cabinet if I’m being honest, is increasingly becoming the subject of matrimonial angst.  Clearly something has to be done and I’ve been told in no uncertain terms that the models have got to go.  Sadly I wasn’t given the choice between the models or She Who Must Be Obeyed, life’s not that simple!  I seem to recall a similar conversation over whether or not I should have a vasectomy, I lost that one too.

So what is to be done?  Putting vignettes or dioramas on Ebay isn’t going to work.  Firstly, they are one offs and far from easy to post, secondly I couldn’t part with them so they may have to be stored which seems a shame.  Figures on EBay on the other hand are more easily replaced and arguably I might replace them with better painted ones.

It’s a dilemma and one to mull over.

Problem No: 3 – Dubious “Likes”

Over the last week or so someone by the name of “sexy” something or other has been liking my posts.  Not only does she like my posts but she is willing to have carnal knowledge with me to show just how much she likes what I do. All very flattering given we have never even met for a drink but it just goes to show I’ve still got it!

Now call me naive but my curiosity did tempt me to follow her link (you would have done the same!). Apparently what was on offer was the opportunity to “f..k” a lady from Southampton. Imagine my horror …. Southampton!  That’s getting on for a four hour drive!

Despite being a legend in my own pants I grew concerned that the lady from Southampton might not be serious about a formal relationship and worried that she might be attempting to hack into my account.  To be on the safe side I contacted WP Support via a chat room.  A very nice lady, in Canada I think, told me that all was safe and sound and that such things were to quote her “a pain in the butt”.  This left me wondering if she had gone a step further in such a relationship but after further consideration suspect something got lost in translation.

I’m reminded of an old joke (apologies in advance to any ladies) – “If all the women in Southampton were laid end to end nobody would be at all surprised!”

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Until next time.

TIM

 

Welcome to this weeks Musings.  

This week there is only one topic, more a question really but a significant one and a subject which all of us are likely to have an opinion on.

“What is Cool?”

I suppose the first thing to address is why ask the question?  Well the July challenge is to do something “cool” which got me thinking what in modelling terms does this mean?

Away from modelling it is easier to identify, the cinema is a good example I think.  At some point I’m guessing we’ve all been to the pictures (movies for those in the US) and wished to be the guy (or girl) up there on the screen.  I for one would have loved to have been Bond, James Bond.  The girls, the cars the don’t give a damn attitude to authority which can only happen knowing you’re the best and that the authorities have to accept you no matter what.  Then there’s The Man With No Name played by Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns or Steve McQueen riding the motor bike in The Great Escape.  Go back further and you have James Dean and the young Marlon Brando.  Another actor not to be forgotten is Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke.  He was so cool in that film that they even put “cool” in the film title!  The list goes on and on and for younger readers there are numerous current hero’s with which to identify with.  The point is they are easily recognisable.  They look sharp, get the girls and best of all they don’t give a shit!

Music and dance are also relatively easy areas to identify with as well.  Think Elvis, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, etc, etc.  The list is endless but we can all identify with someone “cool”.  When I think dance I think Patrick Swayze and John Travolta.  Forget Travolta in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, I’m talking Pulp Fiction.  If you’ve never seen it check out the dance scene.  Again we can identify cool as people doing what we would love to do but can’t.

Now fashion is a lot tougher.  We’ve all known someone, male or female, who could wear a bin bag and carry it off.  Key here I think is body shape and good looks.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but as a general rule hero’s aren’t to thin, fat, short or tall.  What they are is perfectly proportioned.  They are also drop dead gorgeous with good bone structure and perfect teeth and hair.  The only slight alternative to this is to be tough and hard.  People wont take the piss out of you to your face if you dress badly but stand six-foot six and are built like the proverbial shit house door (although they may do behind your back!)

Another area of “cool” is to be very, very good at what you do, exceptional would be even better.  You don’t have to dress well or look good but if you are the best in your field then plenty of people will think you are cool.  This is why even geeks and nerds can be cool.  Mark Zuckerberg springs to mind.

Money and plenty of it can also go along way to being cool.  I’m reminded of the English football (soccer) player, Peter Crouch.  He stands about six-foot eight inches tall, thin as a rake and looks like he fell out of the ugly tree and hit most of the branches on the way down.  However, as a professional player he earns a fortune and has a model for a wife who when walking arm in arm makes him look good.  Asked what he would have been if he hadn’t made it as footballer he reportedly said “a virgin”.  Says it all about money.

So, back to modelling.  Why is “cool” important?

Quite simply as figure painters, gamers and modellers it’s nice to do something which our peers think is cool.  Cool is everywhere, even in our niche hobby.  We like “cool” figures, vignettes or dioramas.  We do our best to achieve excellence and perfection and feel we have achieved it when someone says “that’s cool”.  It makes us feel good to hear those words (or similar) and for that reason “cool” is important.  But how do we go about painting or building something cool in the first place?  What makes for “cool”?

Well, in no particular order these are my thoughts on what makes for a “cool” model.

• Paint work.  It doesn’t have to be the best paint job but I think it’s fair to say we all admire well painted figures or base work.  Put another way, we notice it when it’s not that great.  Further more we are our own worst critics and don’t usually need someone to tel us!
• The figure itself.  The pose can be significant as can be the “attitude” of the figure.  Something different and unusual often stands out for me but the more the figure has Hollywood looks, which is to say it has been sculpted well, then so much the better.  As the saying goes, “you can’t polish a turd!”
• Detail.  I think we all admire detail.  Wether it’s in the paint work, the conversion/sculpting or base work we all have an eye for detail.
• Simplicity.  Sounds like a contradiction to Detail but sometimes the simpler something is the better it looks.  Goes for base work as well as figures.
• Something different and original.  Many of us are copiers having been inspired by the work of others to do our own take on something.  Nothing wrong with that, even the Beatles had their influences.  But coming up with something truly creative and original has the potential to be the coolest thing of all!

So there you have it.  Not an original list by any means, nor is it a definitive one.  It’s also a question for which there is no right or wrong answer, it is subjective.  That said I would really love to know what others think makes for a cool model.

Please discuss!

Until next time.

TIM

 

Welcome to this weeks Musings.

The List!

The to do list for the coming weeks/months, in no particular order currently looks like this:

• Complete WW2 US Winter Diorama – Done✔
• Get figure(s) done for The Good, The Bad and The ugly
• Complete 2 x WW1 vignettes/dioramas to complete timeline
• Complete Willys Jeep kit (for April challenge?)
• Start Wood Elf figure (for April challenge?)
• Sort out neglected figure(s) for May challenge (plenty to choose from!)
• Something “cool” for July challenge
• 3 x SAGA Gripping Beast figures to be started/completed

Now anyone who followed last weeks Mid Week Musings is probably wondering what was all the fuss about a list if the above is all I had to jot down.  A fair question deserving of an answer.

The thing to note here is that the above list is only one list and is also a high level list.  It is not the list I have of the things I need to acquire to complete the list.  It’s not the list of models that I wish to do at some point in the future, neither is it the list of things I would like for father’s day or that I aim to buy with my  birthday money (no real rush as it’s not until August but I like to be prepared).  It’s not the list of materials which I need to buy to replace used items nor is it the list of things relating to the model club or the list of potential future blog posts.

Putting modelling aside there is the list of indoor jobs and the list of outdoor jobs.  Both of these lists have yet to be merged with the indoor and outdoor jobs lists which She Who Must Be Obeyed has prepared for me.  Then of course there is the holiday list and shortly after that there will be a need to start the Christmas list and sitting above all of that is the list of the lists.

What can I say, I’m a lists person.  I just have to remember where I left them.

Willys Jeep Update

In the first of my Mid Week Musings I mentioned that I was planning to build a Rubicon Willys Jeep kit which I had purchased.  The main idea behind buying the kit was to try to encourage the folks at the model club to base their vehicles instead of building them to just stand alone and, if I’m being honest, to have a go at kit building for the first time in more years than I care to remember.

I’m not entirely sure why I set myself this challenge because since I bought the kit I’ve been putting off getting started. To say I’ve not been looking forward to it is an understatement, however last week I knuckled down and took the first bold step.  It didn’t go smoothly.

The first issue I had was shortly after I had opened the box ands started to assemble the kit.  The following conversation with “She Who Must Be Obeyed” provides an insight.

Me: “This kit is shit!”

SWMBO: “Why is that dear?”

Me: “There are far too many parts and I’ve no idea where half of them go. Some of them look like duplicates.  It’s crap!”

SWMBO: “Are there any instructions with it dear?”

Me: “There’s a bit of paper here somewhere.  Yes, it says instructions on it and has some pictures too”

SWMBO: “Have you read them?”

Me: “Of course not!”

What can I say? I’m a guy and I don’t do instructions.

Turns out there are four configurations to chose from hence the additional parts.  Progress promises to be painful.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Have managed to find and purchase two figures for this challenge although they both fall under The Good category.  Both look pretty cool to me but we’ll see how they paint up.  Hopefully I will have one of them ready for next week if all goes well.

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Until next time.

TIM