Kits On The Shelf

[MSzwarc]

Greetings Everyone,

Had a bit of a strange day today, and I thought I'd drag y'all into it if you want to play. I couldn't get motivated on my few works-in-progress today, so I thought I'd browse through the kits I hadn't started yet to see if I could become inspired to either continue on with something in the works, or to see if something "on the shelf" grabbed my attention. I was rather surprised to discover that I had something over thirty figure kits on my shelf, many of which are far beyond my current skill level as a painter. I began to wonder (an idle mind is the devil's workshop, they always say) just how "optimistic" others were. I wanted to post this as a poll, but that option doesn't seem to be available in the "General" category, so I'll just pose a couple of nosey questions:

1) How many figure kits do you have waiting to be started?

2) How many projects do you work on at a time?

I know it's none of my d**n business, but I am curious.

Mike Szwarc

(By the way, I was inspired to move on with a work in progress, so the day wasn't a total loss)

 

[Guy]

Hello Mike,
With this being my 30th year in military miniatures, I have accumulated quite a large inventory of kits I bought but never painted. I have in the works, about 12 ongoing projects which is why every once in a while I finish 2 or 3 in a weekend. Working with paint that requires drying time before the next step, I would clean up another and start on it too. So that any given weekend, I could sit down and paint all day, having enough to work on. Maybe a bad habit, but my way never the less.

Guy

 

[yancy]

Mike-

Seems as if we all have many unfinished projects and an abundance of kits on the shelves. I for one have over 200 figure kits and five projects ongoing.

Sadly, my time is often eaten up by this thing we call life, but I find most of my inspiration prior to shows. I particulary like the Atlanta Show and MasterCon.

 

[Edson]

hi im one of those guys who have many unfinished projects too jejejej, and tomorow i will start another hahahah


Regards
Ed

 

[simon1969]

I've not been back in the game long enough to have collected too many figure kits, but I have 8 figures at different stages of painting plus my first scratchbuild (which is taking all my time at the moment!) plus a load of styrene figure kits (WW2 DML mostly - probably won't go back to those for a while yet )
A few years ago, when I was into Games Workshop fantasy figures I had probably close to 500 - 600 unpainted figures!! (all got "lost" when all our stuff was in storage when we were temporarily homeless! - not a happy bunny :angry: )

ah well, them's the breaks!

Simon

 

[gforceman]

I have over 200 figures still in the box waiting for their "treatment". At the moment I'm painting at 6 figures and cleaning three up. I do work on them about 8 hours a day, so it moves realy fast.

Greetings,

Gino

 

[JohnLea]

I have over 100 not counting United Empire kits or grey army sold or given away. I have a dozen or so inprogress and work on zero at one time. I haven't touched a brush in some time (years) and am struggling to get started again.

 

[Guy]

I think alot of us go thru a period like this and the desire is there in the back of our mind, but the motivation hasn't caught up with the desire. Keep struggling....the time will come.

Guy

 

[yancy]

All-

I am curious of what gets you going on a kit? Is it seeing a kit that has been painted very well by a fellow modeler or watching a great movie?

For me I am deployed so often that when I get back it seems diffiuclt to get into the swing ofthings. Although as of late,I am moving towards painting again.

The last kit I completed was a Karstein on a casket and prior to that 1/1 scale gremlin. That was over year ago.

Since that time, I have moved into the historical arena purchasing kits as if they will never be sold again. Chuck from Red Lancers loves me.

 

[poch mahone]

Too many

Brian

 

[mikec55]

When I first started painting, 4 or 5 years ago, I met a gentleman through eBay who had a dealer's discount with Imrie/Risley & Shenandoah. That, plus other purchases on ebay & at the Chicago show over the last 2 years or so gives me at least 75 figures waiting for paint. I usually work on 4-6 figures at a time. Four or 5 years ago, I had a straight day job but now I work shiftwork which takes a big chunk out of my painting time. I'm guessing that my kids will wind up painting ( or hammering) whatever's left when I go to that big historical miniature show in the sky.

 

[Guy]

Hello Yancy,

An interesting question you posed. What stirs us to open a figure, or let alone, buy a figure and paint it. I know we each have our interest in history, some in medevil roman times, some in the more modern threaters. I guess I can only speak for myself when I say there are alot of periods that interest me but now it comes down to the sculpter and the casting he produces. I love the era of the American Fur Trade and have over 30 painted Mountain Men in my collection. I bought S&T's Mountain Man and have seen it take best of show and numerous awards by different artist. Today I see this kit in the gallery painted by Chris Whitaker. Now I want to take mine down from the closet shelf and do it. Why did it take this long. Who knows.....just glad I bought it when I did.

Guy

 

[MSzwarc]

I am curious of what gets you going on a kit? Is it seeing a kit that has been painted very well by a fellow modeler or watching a great movie?

Yancy,
I usually get inspired by seeing the work of others, whether in magazines, on the internet, or in box art. I haven't been able to make it to a show, yet (maybe this summer!), but I expect seeing other's work in the "flesh" would be particularly inspiring.

I read alot, too, so sometimes my reading will get me moving on a kit.

Another old standby for me, as I mentioned earlier in this topic, is simply to pull my kits off the shelf and browse through them.

Like you and others have mentioned, though, sometimes the daily grind can be a real creativity sapper! :angry:

Mike Szwarc

 

[yancy]

Guy and Mike-

I often find inspiration in other people's galleries. I recently moved from Florida and was associated with the Panhandle Miniature Figure Show.

If you get a chance you should drop by their website www.master-works.net and take a look at Mike McCowen and Bob Waltman's areas. These two guys can sculpt and paint.

Just the thought of their work inspires me as I type. Maybe I will go out to the workroom and start a kit or maybe I will just pull one from the box and admire its fine detail.

 

[bobparker]

Hi I am very new to pf, but a old hand to modelling over thirty years, and i dont have a single kit unfinished ,ah, the joys of scratch building.
Bob

 

[Guy]

Hello Bob and welcome to pf

Glad to have an experienced modeller with us. What type of scratch building have you done and what period is your favorite. Would love to see some of your work.

Guy

 

[yancy]

Bob-

What's your poison? What was the first kit you built?

Boy things have changed in 30 years.

Yancy