I enjoy researching and detailing my models rather than building them out of the box. I enjoy discussing such things with like-minded individuals.
I don’t criticize or evaluate other people’s models unless asked. I freely criticize and evaluate kits and other commercial products. I try to put the criticism in perspective to the overall model and visual significance, and provide remedies where I can for those who might want change things.
Enjoying the hobby the way I like seems to bother people, and based on what they say and write they appear to be bothered because they simply cannot believe that what I do can be enjoyable. Because they do not like what I like, I cannot be having “fun”, and therefore must be doing something wrong. I’m somewhat hesitant to say that I also think there are modelers who view increased accuracy as some kind of a “threat” to them, increasing the visible difference between other’s detailed models and their OOB builds.
It seems that there is a desire to keep kit errors hidden, either because of a fear that this information will be used against them in contests or to maintain confidence in their own builds. This last point can be exemplified by statements such as “I was looking forward to building this kit but now you’ve ruined it for me” and “I had started this model but put it away because you pointed out all the things I have to fix.” I have to wonder how much enjoyment they are getting from OOB building if knowing about errors shuts them down.
I want to point out a statement in the original post of this thread that is both ridiculous and common coming from OOB builders:
“I have a conflicted relationship with all you rivet counters out there. On the one hand I despise the know it all type who is quick to point out errors or omissions but who never or rarely show his own work. If you’re gonna talk the talk you’d better walk the walk.”
The existence of an error in scale model is a fact, independent of the reporter’s willingness to correct it. Is it your view that facts disappear, or should remain unnoticed and unremarked, if found by non-builders? That someone who doesn’t fix the error and post about it, whether for physical infirmity, financial situation, time constraints, skill limitations, or simply a lack of desire to build models, should keep their mouth shut? Why do you have a “conflicted relationship” with other modelers anyway? I have no issues with other styles of model building, simply because the way someone else enjoys the hobby has absolutely no effect on how I enjoy it. I don’t care what others do and continue to be amazed that there are people out there who are.
Time and again you’ll see threads and posts where “fun” builders complain about “rivet counters”, but I don’t recall seeing a single post where a rivet counter rails against those who build OOB. Why is that? Why does it seem that the rivet counters are perfectly content to let others enjoy the hobby however they please but the fun builders are only happy if everyone models like they do? It really comes down to a simple adage, in my experience:
Rivet counters criticize models; fun builders criticize modelers.
KL