Newbie learns a lesson.

[Guest]

The instructions clearly stated some parts needed painting before assembly. However, I knew better! Why not just press ahead and get the build completed then paint those parts when in situ, how hard can it be? Oh boy did I give myself a heap of grief or what? Never again, next time I will follow the instructions. Other newbies please take note, they know what they are talking about, it cost me literally hours of extra work, and a few temper tantrums, to make a half decent job of it. We live and learn, hopefully

[Guest]

We have all been there Keith Some still don't learn

[takeslousyphotos]

Don't worry Keith .......... We all think we know better than the "destructions". Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we bollix it up.

[stona]

I think that the instructions offer a good guide to most kits. They are not all error free! More experienced modellers may well not follow them religiously as they tend to plan or 'see' further ahead.


I would still encourage those less familiar with a kit, or type of kit, to follow instructions.


I must confess that when building aircraft models I often treat instructions as little more than someone elses opinion of how the kit should be built


More seriously, some problems can be avoided or minimised by not following instructions. For example,on aircraft you can sometimes transfer a nasty step at the wing/fuselage join, which is hard to fix without a lot of collateral damage, to an easily fixed gap at the wing leading edge simply by attaching the upper wings to the fuselage before adding the lower wing.


Cheers


Steve.

[eddiesolo]

Yep, as Terry point out I think 99% of us on here have done the same thing.


As Steve states, it is a learning curve regarding instructions-I tend to look at them and use for reference and dry fit parts, if they need painting I do that prior to fitment.


Si

[PaulTRose]

i think of instructions as merely 'guidance'

[Guest]

From reading your replies it appears that blindly following instructions is not ideal, one should use common sense and experience and make a judgement call sometimes. However, those of us just starting out on modelling have no previous experience to call on so have to take the instructions as given. The only reason I "disobeyed" is because I was impatient to finish the build. I am working on my patience, it is a work I progress at the moment. I had no idea it could be such a fiddly and demanding task at times but have to admit I am really enjoying it and already planning my next build. I think I've found a new hobby.

[Guest]

Have done the same with my Subaru in my recovery thread. I changed my mind and glued a couple of bits on after removing primer and ended up with lots of scribing to do, chips to fill and lots of sanding. Way too much primer coats on too. But I haven't got uptight as I went make the same mistake again - he says. Embrace the pain.

[Guest]

Every build is a learning experience for me, I haven't ound the same method with each build

[yak face]

Dont worry about it Keith , you will find as you do more kits that you develop your own system and order of doing things , as many others have said the instructions are more of a guide and reference to what goes where , as Steve says sometimes doing things slightly out of sequence can save you a lot of hassle later, cheers tony

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice guys.