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Ray Dunakin
Crew Chief
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Posted - 09/28/2011 : 02:19:37 AM
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I love scratch-building! There are many reasons why...
First off, it's a very creative endeavor, and I've always been drawn to creative pursuits. Especially anything visual. I consider it an art form. Creating a realistic miniature environment is like painting in three dimensions. (Which is why I also love making scenery. Structures are just an extension of that.)
Second, I like the control, being able to make exactly what I want, the way I want it.
Third, there is great satisfaction in building something that is uniquely yours. Even the few things I don't scratch-build, such as locos and rolling stock, are at least weathered, and often modified or 'bashed, to make them my own.
Fourth, I like reproducing specific prototypes. Even when I'm freelancing a structure, it's designed to be true a specific style, period, and degree of weathering.
Fifth, it's relaxing.
Sixth, it's cheaper than buying kits.
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| Visit www.raydunakin.com to see pics of the rugged and rocky In-ko-pah Railroad! |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 827 |
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railman28
Fireman
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Posted - 09/28/2011 : 03:04:59 AM
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well said Ray.
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It's Only Make Believe
Bob Harris |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1726 |
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Nelson458
Crew Chief
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 Posted - 10/05/2011 : 07:41:15 AM
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Although I didn't see the poll to vote, my reason is the challenge. So it would be other. I have always loved a challenge. I look at something that I really would like to have as a model and tell myself, "I want to do it". Then the excitement of the challenge, the exploration of research and the sheer joy of accomplishment is what it's all about. My wife can tell you how wrapped up in all of that I can get, fortunately, she is very understanding.
The other reasons are to do something very unique (Cain's Ballroom, Bulger's garage and my version of Sassan's Vinegar to name a few). I have seen too many layouts where I can recognize most of the structures, and that tends to get boring. No offence to those who do that, as the layouts are sometimes a lot better than I could do. But then, I pretty much gave up on layouts as I prefer the individual dioramas. I really don't have the space for a layout, which is another reason.
I have built kits, and they can and have been very rewarding. But I still prefer to scratchbuild, and even when I do build a kit, I will change it to look different, partly to be more prototypical, and partly because I don't like some design factors of the kit. And to be different.
Tony
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Country: USA
| Posts: 810 |
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Frank Palmer
Crew Chief
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Posted - 04/01/2012 : 09:42:27 AM
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I have to agree with Ray. He pretty much said everything I feel about the subject except for number six. I don’t even consider buying kits so the price thing doesn’t enter into my calculations. This is the reason I enjoy the hobby. Now on the other side of the coin, I don’t think they offer kits in Fn3 (1:20.3) unless you consider Home Depot and Lowe’s, since that’s where I get my modeling supplies.
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| Frank |
Edited by - Frank Palmer on 04/01/2012 09:45:46 AM |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 565 |
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Wallace
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 04/09/2012 : 12:17:10 AM
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I prefer the feeling of accomplishment one gets from scratch-building. It is far better than that available from assembly of somebody elses creation, (a kit).
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Country: USA
| Posts: 356 |
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look4trains
New Hire
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Posted - 05/03/2012 : 10:37:59 PM
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First, I'm cheap. Since I can build things on a shoestring it's a good way to "scratch that itch".
Second, there are a lot of nice kits, I have built a couple, and will build more. However it never seems just the right kit is available for the space I have. I didn't design my layout around available structures, so now I have to fit the structures to the layout.
Jim
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Edited by - look4trains on 05/03/2012 10:39:29 PM |
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Country:
| Posts: 5 |
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IAISfan
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 05/11/2012 : 1:12:03 PM
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I voted for "I wanted something unique for my layout", but that's not really the whole answer. First of all, I want to recreate my prototype as closely as possible, and kits just don't get me there. I use them for more "generic" items like grain bins, grain elevator legs, etc., but for normal structures and such, nothing gets me the look I'm after.
Secondly, although I've only scratchbuilt the structures for one scene so far, I've found that it's easier than kitbashing. To me, it's more like assembling a kit, but I just need to cut the parts out of styrene rather than removing them from the sprue.
Finally, with two kids in college and a daughter who just got married, cost is a factor. I bought a 4'x8' sheet of styrene from a local plastics distributor for around $23, and it's probably enough to stratchbuild every structure on the layout.
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Modeling Iowa Interstate's West End, May 2005
http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/Sub4WestEnd |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 206 |
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mark_dalrymple
Crew Chief
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Posted - 07/25/2012 : 05:17:57 AM
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I very much like to create my landforms first. All my curved steep roads leave very defined (and unusual) building sites that will fit very few kits, and so scratch-building or severe kit-bashing is necessary. The result is (hopefully) a scene in which the terrain looks as if it was there before the structures were built, and they were built specifically to suite the slope and shape of the different sites. This is the main reason I like to scratch-build.
Cheers, Mark.
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Country: New Zealand
| Posts: 519 |
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Atlanta
New Hire
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Posted - 09/24/2012 : 09:41:40 AM
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I voted for:
I want to create my own structures.
Not all available structures fitting my ideal type of building I want to model, so I prefer create own styles of buildings, using some structure materials from kits or other stuff.
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Nice Greetings,
Ingo
All Aboard! Take a Ride on the G.W.&.A.R.R.
Atlanta - Duckburg - Peachtree City
H0/H0n3/H0n30 Freelanced RR - Georgia 1928
DC/DCC Roco MultiMouse - Interlocking with machanical Levers
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Country: Germany
| Posts: 3 |
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tankcarsrule
New Hire
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Posted - 02/16/2013 : 6:55:36 PM
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I checked other because it didn't mention building rolling stock for the pleasure of it. As far as cost, it cost me more to
build most of my cars than they would cost if I bought them, that is if they were available. And yes, it's nice to have something no one else has. The bottom line, It's FUN!!!!
Bobby
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| bobby pitts |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 28 |
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wabashbanks
Section Hand
Premium Member
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Posted - 03/13/2013 : 7:11:12 PM
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2,3,4 all apply equally to me.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 80 |
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Stoker
New Hire
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Posted - 04/26/2013 : 3:02:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Ray Dunakin
I love scratch-building! There are many reasons why...
First off, it's a very creative endeavor, and I've always been drawn to creative pursuits. Especially anything visual. I consider it an art form. Creating a realistic miniature environment is like painting in three dimensions. (Which is why I also love making scenery. Structures are just an extension of that.)
Second, I like the control, being able to make exactly what I want, the way I want it.
Third, there is great satisfaction in building something that is uniquely yours. Even the few things I don't scratch-build, such as locos and rolling stock, are at least weathered, and often modified or 'bashed, to make them my own.
Fourth, I like reproducing specific prototypes. Even when I'm freelancing a structure, it's designed to be true a specific style, period, and degree of weathering.
Fifth, it's relaxing.
Sixth, it's cheaper than buying kits.
I voted for option #4, but Ray spelled out exactly what I was thinking as well.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 8 |
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