Today, Im supposed to relax to keep Gunpla burnt-out at bay but i cant help but notice a blog post being shared by a couple of my hobby mates. It is a rather good insight from a fellow modeler and I can really relate to it. Here is the blog post: otakuonabudget.blogspot.sg/2014/10/basics-or-bust-reflections-on-custom.html The author spoke about the importance of basics, custom modifications and the experience of joining competitions. The comments are honest and brutal at the same time. Why? Because it is the truth. I have being saying this since day one, if you want to learn advance skills, make sure you get your basics right first. A structure with poor foundation is weak and crumbles under pressure. Can your work withstand the scrutiny of fellow modelers/experts if displayed in public? This is a question long forgotten by many modelers. And I cant tell you frankly even I do not have that kind of confidence. So why basics? Or rather what are the basics? Most people will say seam lines, nub marks and paint job. This is true to a certain extent. As you progresses, scribing lines and adding details become YOUR basics. That is how I look at it. So if you have not achieved a certain level of proficiency or mastery on the basic basics, dont even think of the more complex stuff. I have seen fantastic builds with modifications and kit bashes only to be let down by an untreated seam line or even a silvered decal. So why I do not openly criticize people for that? Because I am guilty of it sometimes. If I cant practice what I preach, why the hell am I reprimanding people for it? It can be an genuine oversight or blatant ignorance, but a basic mistake is a mistake no less. There is no running away from it. No amount of justifications or excuses can bail you/me out. When you start to give yourself excuses, you will never learn from it. You want to impress people with giant builds and outrageous modifications in a competition. So you will try every trick in the book. Splash cash on numerous kits for kit bashing. And inevitably, you neglect the basics. If it can be ignored, it will be ignored. If it can be covered up, it will be covered up. That entry can be the most impressive in the whole competition. But if I can spot elementary mistakes, it is as good as gone. Why put in so much effort in a kit only to be let down by poor basics? Or basics are not important to you? Because I still get placed at the end of the day? But to me, it is what that separates the masters from the pretenders. The author also poached the subject on clean builds. To me, the toughest builds are of course clean builds. This is because there is practically no room for errors. The tolerance for such blemishes is literally NIL. A bad paint job will stand out as clear as day. That is why OOB or Out-Of-Box builds are good for training basics. My advice is work on the basics. And when you think you got it, fine tune it and revisit it. A person who thinks that he got it doesnt. This is because learning is a never ending process. Basic skills are perishable. If you stop doing it, you will get rusty. So why become so stressed over basics? Its just a hobby anyway. Well, you put you and your works out there to be scrutinized. So be prepared to be judged, chewed upon and being spat at. You want to be good, you got to deal with criticisms. What doesnt kill you, makes you even stronger. And when you are that resilient, you WILL become better. And that is when you will truly enjoy the hobby. Not being smug about superficial wins or works but gaining the true respect and recognition from your fellow modelers.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 15:50:02 +0000
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