One of my many shortfalls is trying to gather the proper information and photographic references pertaining to the subject that I am trying to replicate and I think I have some of the basic techniques required to complete a subject in a semi satisfactory manner. I have been trying to see if I can gather books and articles from people like Tom and Jerry Crandall for some time now but the price of these books are rather out of my reach.
The photographic evidence supporting different lay out and colors of all instruments in cockpits and panel lay out baffles me because I dont know what to choose for the colors and I want to produce as accurate and subject as I can.
This is a huge challenge to me because I have lost interest in reading and my patience is growing thin with my results and my inadequacies. This is mostly concerning painting and fine details, sink holes and pin marks. I have a difficult time identifying which is which as I look at them. I know what they are by definition and what causes them but I seem to by pas those all together.

As for the reference material, I either don't have any idea what-so-ever where to find those or what is a good price for information that I may not ever use again. I guess I am venting this because right now I feel inadequate in my hobby/art and am kind of looking for support and ideas where to turn.

Hello Paul, Subject accuracy, like weathering, is an ongoing topic of differences of opinion. As I've said on another post of mine, I'm not a rivet counter, have nothing against them aprt from at times, their access enthusiasm to criticise. I are definately interested in accuracy, but to a point. For me, if a model "looks" right, I'm happy. Take the Revell 1/32 Spitfire Mk24. Yes it has some glaring faults to the nose and canopy shape. If modification kits were freely available without hunting for limited issues of them on the net etc, or if Revell re-issued the kit with corrections, I would be very very happy. However, I have one of them and despite it's faults, it still managed to convey the look of the bulged Griffon engine cowlings, and the beauty of that long elegant nose. All painted up, it looks the part. So I can live with it.

My point when it comes to subject accuracy is, I have been involved with aircraft as a career. Take the Harvard for example, which I flew with the SAAF. Do you know how many different shades of black instrument panel I saw in those great (but old!) aircraft? How many shades of cockpit green I saw, depending on when it was last painted? How many strange little brackets and shell casing deflector bulges on the wings some had and some didn't? How many little dents and knocks the airframes had? That's why the odd sink mark doesn't bother me, I say those can easily be a dent or ding, "when the cowling or wing fairing was last removed".

So for me, I can live with small differences, because in my experience, arguably that's how real aircraft are?

Well this clears up quite a bit of confusion about a list of subjects that I am currently lusting to accomplish. OK, There are some kits out there that really try my patience and usually wind up in the circular junk yard. I just hope that the further along I venture in this hobby that I have a some what accurate representation of the subject that I am replicating.

One of my basic flaws is that I no longer care about the history of my subjects but rather the important thing to me is the build. I find also, that the variety of subject seem to be limited. You can only build so many Spitfires, Mustangs and 190s before you hit a stone wall. WWI aircraft just doesn't interest me and neither does armor. Now there is a whole different animal all together.

I suppose when it is all said and done that the research for some guys and gals is the interesting aspect and is a hobby all together.

Paul,

I feel your pain, my friend! My method of dealing with this when I came back to the hobby was to decide first to build models I had never done before. As you said, everyone has Mustangs and Spitfires and you can only do so many before they get dull. The other thing I truly love is the really oddball airplanes with completely non standard paint schemes or weird modifications.

My second goal is to build models of airplanes I worked on before I screwed up my career going to work for an airline. It's a short list right now, as there aren't kits available of many of them. But I hope to eventually get around to my favorites.

I don't go looking for specific subjects anymore. My A-26 build was a spur of the moment decision brought on by a cool set of two dollar decals I found on clearance. Some of the others were brought on by neat photos that were either sent to me or that I found while looking for something else. And if the finished product looks like what it's supposed to, I'm happy. One of the things I've noticed in working on airplanes all those years is that a lot of the "experts" and "definitive" references aren't always right. Many of the rivet counters have never seen rivets. So I tend to use my experiences as a guide to my models.

Bottom line - build it how you like, the way you want, and have fun doing it!

Paul,

I got very discouraged with my models a while back, and was unhappy with results I had achieved with a few kits that i ended up binning, which was a waste of plastics and my time. I've looked back over the articles you have shared on imodeler and think they are all great efforts, especially the 1/32 P-40 & Trumpeter Hurricane (loved the paint job on that one). Many of the contributors to this site have said the same thing - build for yourself, and enjoy it. It is after all a hobby, ie a passtime, source of relaxation. Getting uptight about exact colours, infinte detail isn't worth it. It will ruin your enjoyment. A lot of modern kits are more than adequately detailed straight out the box, and rarely need all the expensive extras. I went back to building really old kits just to experience the simple joy of sticking components together, and painting the constructed item to the best of my ability. This has renewed my enthusiasm no end, and can reccommend it to anyone who gets a bit downhearted when things don't turn out as well as they should or could do. I am amazed at all the guys who can got the extra mile for ulitmate accuracy, and pristine finishes. Their models inspire me to greater efforts, even if i can't match them. I agree with theother guys on this point - enjoy doing what you do.

This is very informative for me. I have a gist on how most modelers feel about the subjects of this hobby and passion.Maybe some time soon I will figure out how to do scratch improvements that looks authentic and very plausible. Thanks for the input guys..