The kit in your stash that you're afraid to build!!

[Impisi]

There is no "kit" in the "stash" that scares me such that I wouldn't build it, or at least try. I like to think that kits don't get into the stash without that factor already being considered. If there are any (mostly vacform biplane flying boats), then they are waiting until I build myself up to that level so I can address then with hope of success.

I liked James' answer, paraphrased: "I think the kits that scare me are the ones I want to make a commitment in time to get it right regardless of the fiddliest bits of fine resin and PE." Compound that with my own propensity to turn a "kit" into a "project" through conversions, modifications, add-ons, etc, and sooner or later I find myself in way over my head before I even start and I cannot bring myself to scale it back to something within my current skill (& health) set.

I am concerned that some of these GB proposals are getting away from the old UAMF definitions found in the Guidelines.

I for me can only agree, John. It is not the kit that scars me, it is what I want it to be in the end, what scares me - you are right. So my proposed 1/32 Mirage would most probably go way ahead of your mentioned UAMF definitions.

[PaulBradley]

I am concerned that some of these GB proposals are getting away from the old UAMF definitions found in the Guidelines.

Well, I guess we need to get wild and crazy every now and again...

But seriously, we'll see if this works. If not, a lesson learned.

[PaulBradley]

Here's a revised GB schedule for 2024:

[PaulBradley]

I liked James' answer, paraphrased: "I think the kits that scare me are the ones I want to make a commitment in time to get it right regardless of the fiddliest bits of fine resin and PE." Compound that with my own propensity to turn a "kit" into a "project" through conversions, modifications, add-ons, etc, and sooner or later I find myself in way over my head before I even start and I cannot bring myself to scale it back to something within my current skill (& health) set.

I am sure that applies to most of us - I certainly am not afraid to admit that I have FOMU - Fear Of Messing Up!

My first thought for this GB was the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire, a kit that apparently is a lovely build and which online results appear to be uniformly excellent. Can I reach that level, or will I somehow mess it up? Compound that with the fact that I've bought aftermarket bits that exceed the value of the kit, and that fear increases. And fear of messing up an expensive kit is very different from messing up a $5 kit. I think that's a perfectly valid reason to be afraid to build a kit, and one that I feel most of us will attest to. Nothing wrong with that in my book. So this GB gives me the opportunity to confront that fear, with others. I think that is a positive.

Yes, the premise of the GB does allow for basically any kit to be built, but that's not a bad thing. We are a small forum - we are not BritModeller with umpty-hundred active members able to participate in 7 or 8 diverse GBs simultaneously. An opportunity to 'let our hair down' with a very broad GB once and a while might be a good thing. Let's see how it goes.

[PaulBradley]

Oh, and I think it would be nice if participants, in their opening thread post once the GB starts, explained what it is that scares them about the kit they chose.

[JamesPerrin]

What if I can't participate because I am too afraid to build it?

[iggie]

What if I can't participate because I am too afraid to build it?

Ebay?
It's a fair question! I suspect that I have a couple of kits that fit that description and that ultimately I'll reach the same conclusion about (as opposed to only suspecting) and they'll get moved on to make space for others

[iggie]

Oh, and I think it would be nice if participants, in their opening thread post once the GB starts, explained what it is that scares them about the kit they chose.

Agreed

[PaulBradley]

What if I can't participate because I am too afraid to build it?

Marjorie Proops, that well-known modeller and agony aunt, says: "Only you can work through those issues, but this is a perfect opportunity to participate with others who may be in the same predicament."

Yoda, that other famous modeller and agony aunt, says: "Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Build tanks do not, yes..."

[AndrewR]

What if I can't participate because I am too afraid to build it?

To quote the Bene Gesserit:

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

[JohnRatzenberger]

What if I can't participate because I am too afraid to build it?

Ebay?
It's a fair question! I suspect that I have a couple of kits that fit that description and that ultimately I'll reach the same conclusion about (as opposed to only suspecting) and they'll get moved on to make space for others

This is an interesting discussion. I tend to be unafraid to build/attempt/ruin something. It's my kit and I'll do what I want -- and I do not compete against others. Fear or scared is on another level, perhaps that I reserve for people - my family - certainly not a model kit; I don't even like the adopted Calendar name for this GB.

But James throws a new quirk into this and as I parse it, it introduces that the real scare/fear is not failure but success - and that is interesting. I have a few kits that might qualify - if I build it then I'll no longer have it -- and simply buying another is not the same thing, if even possible. I will have to think about this. It is not the same as being a collector.

[wokka]

Talking of fear in kit building, a couple of years ago I tried building the AMP Bristol Sycamore. I persisted with the kit even though I knew I had messed it up and in the end I binned it. I said then I'll have another go and maybe this GB will help me put my demons with this kit to bed. First of all I need to pluck up the courage to take part.

[iggie]

Blimey, this is getting very philosophical
If a kit box falls from the stash but there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?

I have a few kits that might qualify - if I build it then I'll no longer have it -- and simply buying another is not the same thing, if even possible. I will have to think about this. It is not the same as being a collector.

And there you have possibly my real fear John...and very succinctly put too, if I may say. And I agree regarding not being a collector, except if it is the rarity that stops one from building a kit, then almost by default, doesn't that make me a collector? And it's not just big kits that fall into this bracket either; one of my smallest kits (Pitts Special in 1/72, Rothmans scheme) is a bit hard to find nowadays, so I'm scared or should that be reluctant,
to build the one I have in the stash...

[beany]

What if I can't participate because I am too afraid to build it?

To paraphrase Al Murray (as The Pub Landlord) - that is a perfectly reasonable statement James and I'm sure we could help you with that and maybe even offer some counselling, or, alternatively, you could just

SNAP OUT OF IT - SNAP, OUT OF IT!

[Stuart]

one of my smallest kits (Pitts Special in 1/72, Rothmans scheme) is a bit hard to find nowadays, so I'm scared or should that be reluctant,
to build the one I have in the stash...

Oh don't get me started on those, they're like rocking horse poo - and the Microlease boxing is next to impossible to find. My wife used to work for Microlease when she was younger and I'd dearly love to build one for her. It's getting to the point where I might have to kill someone to get one (kidding... just...maybe).

I'm not sure if I'll take part in the GB, but I have a lot of kits that scare me - mainly ones that are far larger than my usual builds and a lot more complicated - the Airfix V-bombers, Tamiya Tomcat, Kittyhawk SU-17 and a few ship kits to name a few. Basically the stuff that's outside my scope of experience.