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Competing with Yourself


MikeC

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15 hours ago, John1 said:

 

That actually rings very true.   One of my first WIP's ages ago over on ARC was a 48th conversion of the Kinetic S-2 Tracker to a US-2B utility version.  I had decided on a whim to try to replicate a US-2B that crashed at a nearby NAS when I was a kid, killing both crewmembers.    I did a FOIA request, got a copy of the crash investigation and more than enough info to complete the build.   The Navy's investigation was fascinating.   Essentially, while out on a local training flight over Cape Cod, the crew lost an engine.   They headed back to base with their one good engine starting to smoke, and through a series of miscommunications with an escorting helo, they were never informed that their good engine was having issues.   The remaining engine failed 90 seconds before they would have made the runway.   The crew overflew a crowed ball field and deliberately put the aircraft down into woods to avoid the field and nearby homes.   Both crewmembers perished.   

 

Turns out that both engines were severely damaged by improper maintenance by short staffed, apathetic personnel at the base.   Follow up QC/QA measures that would have caught this were also ignored.   After the crash, the former commander of the air station argued that because of the complexity of those old radial engines and being short-staffed, it wasn't surprising that the aircraft didn't receive proper maintenance!    

 

Anyways, a few months later, I was contacted by the son of one of the deceased pilots.   His family never knew the full story behind the accident, they were told it was crew error and possibly drugs were involved (they weren't).   The WIP gave them a great deal of closure and a year later, I met the son, another son and the pilots widow to hand over my model to them.   It was an amazing moment.   Later on, the WIP ended up as the source for an article in Flying Magazine.   

 

That build made every WIP I've done since worth it. 

 

Great story!

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My carrer in medical product development engineering was complicated enough. I am retired so I am done with crazy schedules and hurried completions.  I build to learn new things about the craft, conversions interest me the most. I share those things during a group build.  I am happy when people show interest but it’s not a driver. 

 

I generally do not build things that will be covered up during assembly. Details for a controlled peek inside is my limit; through doors and hatches.  This in theory will speed things up but not a rush.  I will try to complete a model or two for the 2023 IPMS Nationals.  
 


 

 

Edited by Rick Griewski
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WIPs is about the only thing i ever post, besides commenting on other builds. i have done close to 40 since i joined this site in 2006

i tend to do subjects not done very often, to generate some interest. this is the only place i show my work anyway.

i tend to get frustated when i see the abilities of some of the members on here, mine seem to degrade. trying to have fun though

 

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Have really enjoyed this discussion. In most submissions I can truly relate.

 So allow me to relate a recent psychological bump that I have run into since my last build. That was the Cyber hobby Bf109E-7 trop that I submitted to LSP recently. This was #13 since returning to our hobby a few years ago. I know, I'm slow.

 I had put forth a more determined effort to improve my work and the Cyberhobby kit was great. This effort paid off with a 1st place at the recent Atlantacon last March. Honestly I must say that the large scale guys didn't show up in force. Let me also say that I don't enter contest with any need to compete or to win. 

But what I have found is a sudden need to do better. To step up my game. I am competing with myself. Good enough is no longer good enough.  Fine and well; to a point. 

 So here I am, up to my neck in Revell's big He111 H-6 and it has become a chore. Mojo heading to empty. I need to come to terms with what level of modeler I will be. 

 I truly admire all those fantastic museum quality models. There are those who have taken modeling to high art. My hat is off to you. But I will not ever be one of those people. Maybe I am just lazy. That will have to be okay because if I am not enjoying myself then I won't be modeling much longer. I cannot push myself to the point of no fun anymore. I will finish this Heinkel eventually and will be happy with it. 

 Happy modeling guys. 

John

 

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4 hours ago, John Stambaugh said:

 I truly admire all those fantastic museum quality models. There are those who have taken modeling to high art. My hat is off to you. But I will not ever be one of those people. Maybe I am just lazy. That will have to be okay because if I am not enjoying myself then I won't be modeling much longer. I cannot push myself to the point of no fun anymore.

John, you've just summed up how I feel too, although with one difference: I don't think "Maybe I'm lazy", I know I am. :coolio:

 

This has certainly been an interesting discussion, and I hadn't anticipated quite such a response, so thank you one and all for your thoughts.  For myself I do like to try and push myself to improve, but as others have said, there comes a point when it's not fun any more. 

 

Modelling really is all about the journey rather than the destination.  I have a display cabinet in the man-cave, but most of my models sit in boxes in the garage, and come out to play for the occasional show.  I'll carry on trying to improve, and I'll carry on posting, although I think my modelling skills don't need as much significant improvement as my photography skills and knowledge. 

 

Thanks again for your thoughts, please keep 'em coming.

 

 

 

 

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Oh lots of good comments.  I have been posting at LSP for 6 or 7 years now I think.  Why do I do it.....I mean it takes some work to take pictures, upload into Imgur or something like it, and create a coherent post.  For all the reasons already stated I think.  Like so many of you, I was a modeler as a kid, left it for decades, and returned just because hobbies are fun and i have some time to devote to it.  Also, I am a retired engineer, who loved engineering and still does.  The models I make theses days require engineering solutions, so the projects are a bit of a link back to my working days.  As for competing with myself - every project I take on, for some reason, I feel I must best the last one.  LSP has given me access to some of the most talented modelers on this earth, who actually pay attention to what I am doing, and help guide me towards a better outcome.  The more I learn from the masters, the better I am able to best my last effort.  That is what I really like about LSP.  All the little blue hearts are also cool! 

Edited by JayW
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