Hi everybody,

I am starting a new topic here, which is actually a century old modeling dilemma. It is Diversification vs. Specialization - which is right for you? I am no longer a teenager, though the modeling back then was a bit of fun, too. Serious modeling, I guess, comes with years... but, even better and more attractive models are being released every second, thus making your choices somewhat hard. Yes, we all want them, don't we? But the time is very limited, and life gets in between. Therefore our stocks keep piling up, and we soon find ourselves participating in the consumer society. It is no secret that large companies are diversifying their product offerings so they can capture a larger market share. No problems with that. Of course, there's a personal tweak involved here... as my available time for effective modeling rapidly reduces, I am wondering how many of you feel comfortable with this dilemma? I am really considering to specialize and discipline my interest to the specific era, but specialization may also be in terms of a specific modelling niche. Is that stupid, or what?

PS. I might end up selling my big pile of models and re-orientate towards a specific niche. Not even mentioning how much money I invested to obtain it... a fortune. The emotional part is not to be discussed at the moment.

Please, share your thoughts on this...

All the best,
Entoni

When I returned to the hobby as an adult, I was aiming to be a specialist: British PR aircraft in 1939-40.

I soon diversified into WWI, and I have several unbuilt Roden kits waiting for me to have some free time. About the same time, I was attracted to the Hawker Typhoon, and since then I have not finished a PR subject. I also have a couple of modern helicopters on the go, which are quite fun as they are so different.

I have convinced myself that being a specialist is a good thing, but I think everyone needs some fun builds outside their area of expertise, if only so that they can get the satisfaction of finishing something quickly and without modifications to the kits.

One of the greatest challenges is to remember to look over the kits that I already have to remind myself of the plans I have for them, and to reinvigorate my enthusiasm for those subjects, rather than thinking about new possibilities (and purchases).

Ben, thanks for your thoughts, and it only reiterates the dilemma I am facing myself. However, the quote may be a guidance, at least not to spend more

... this may actually develop in interesting conversation!

First, I think collecting model kits and building model kits are two different (though related) fun activities each with their own merits, so I would never say, "you should not buy something if you never expect to build it." I do plenty of that myself.

Now as for what you actually do build, limited because of time constraints, I lean toward specialize, with reservations.

I like to have a unifying theme so that each project I build become part of a larger whole.

As an example, Model railroad builders, in general, contain everything they do to a particular time and place. They build variously trains, buildings, vehicles, scenery, figures, sometimes even ships and airplanes, all in the same scale, that will fit into the desired world. That's one type of framework. there are others.

I have three such ongoing, framed projects, mostly to do with airplanes of particular times and places, each in a specific scale. Ive gotten quite engrossed in these little worlds.
Now I can tell instantly what I will not be building, by whether of not it will "fit" into one of my groupings. That doesnt prevent me from buying something I fancy anyway, but as said at the beginning, that is a different problem.

Jonathan, thanks for joining in, and sharing your perspective. The quote really describes my intention as well. I like building subjects under a larger whole, but isn't that exactly the specialisation?

All the best,
Entoni

yes. you asked, which way, and I prefer that way.

Hi,
I have two different perspectives about the issue, specialization and compulsive buyer behavior

First, I built Aircraft (Airplanes & Helicopter) in 1/48, whit a few exceptions like some 1/72 airplanes made whit my older son, or so… I like too much the WWII era, but it’s not an exclusive theme… Argentinean Aircraft are another subject matter, but, again, always in 1/48… and not exclusive…

Because my job, like many of you, I buy more than I built… (Internet is the other reason, but Internet is the way to develop my skills, because I’m a lonely wolf without any model club on my town ...) I feel is O.K. to buy any subject that I likes, but always ask to myself How Much is enough…?

I have to policy parameters… If I feel good whit my purchase and I have covered my other more important needs... It’s O.K. to me...
Nobody can build all the kit purchased, that is a fact, but if you feels that you never will sells your kit because are too special… They are on your stash for a reason… If you don’t need that amount of money for an important reason to your family, “they” are important to you…!!! Enjoy it…!

For a separate control system, I always talk whit my wife about any modeling purchase… We have ALL the money in the same “box”… And I like to share my model-duties whit her and of course whit my two sons, built or not… She likes to share her plants whit me…

I hope my English do not ruin it the general idea… ENJOY...

Diego

Diego, thanks for your comments... you made me laugh this is exactly what I am trying to avoid, but now the issue is hotly debated in our home. The only problem is that I like both kits and plants.

All the best,
Entoni

Hai,

Compulsive buying is a "disease" quite common in modelling circles;

when you are single then you are hurting only yourself and it is probably not that much of a problem (unless when you can't buy any food anymore).

However, if buying of useless kits (because they will never be built anyway) brings limitations to the family then it is nothing but normal that it will create friction.

This goes for modelling as much as any other form of compulsive buying.

I also have a "limited" stack and I am trying to build it away before buying anything new. That is difficult but still a lot better than to throw out the stash and loose a lot of money.

Throwing out the stock is not going to cure the desease, probably you are just going to build up a new stack in no time.

Instead, get disciplined and pick a model from the stack that is in your current sphere of interest and build it.

This is cheap, the stack is reduced, and everybody happy.

I recently started a "Stack war" and until now, its a lot of fun, not only because I discover that I bought all those models because I am really interested in building them.

As for building around a theme. I luckily decided years ago to only build 1/48 scale airplanes and diorama pieces that go with this.

The consequence is that I now have a fairly coherent collection with which I am very happy and try to expand; this also influences my buying behaviour strongly because I am not interested anymore in anything but 1/48.

Further, I am member of a local hobby club and am fortunate having a very good modelling shop not too far away; I pretend that this shop is an extension to my own stack.