What happened to the Wowee?

How often have you seen any of these:

• A modeler with a parking lot of abandoned half-built kits on the shelf;
• A modeler who is always shifting gears and often buys armfuls of kits in a different category, or scale, or, a completely different scale modeling subject; or
• A modeler who constantly buys every new-fangled tool, apparatus or electronic device.

…and add to this list anything else but actually finishing a model.

I see it all the time. Now, you don’t see this from new modelers. It’s only those who have been at it for a few years. Generally speaking, these modelers were banging out kits a while ago. If they weren’t production machines, they were steadily producing kit after kit with ever better results. They had successes. They built on those successes. Hell, they might have even won awards.

But then, gradually, the assembly line shut down. The stash got exponentially bigger. The shelf queens piled up.

So…. what happened?

I think these modelers got bored with their hobby. And it happens over three phases.

Phase 1: WOWEE!

Think back to the days when you first got into models or back into the hobby. Those were the days when you couldn’t wait to start a kit. Each kit you tore into had great detail and impressive engineering. And if it didn’t, the kit had challenging problems to solve and creative uses of styrene, putty and CA. Then there was the painting and decals that really brought the models to life. A risk or two was taken and eventually those simple finishes turned into complex finishes featuring panel line washes, faded paint, post-shading and weathering.

In short, the finishing of these kits and modeling in general was in the “Wowee!” phase. And I tell ya, it is a great phase to be in. There is a vision for every kit. There is a desire to push the envelope with each build. There is a voracious appetite for model related magazines, videos, and blogs (especially blogs featuring smart mouthed and devilishly handsome authors).

It is all blue skies and unlimited visibility.

In the Wowee! phase, the modeler’s skills are building. There is learning. There is fascination with how some new techniques can elevate the build experience. And those new techniques are trial-ed and error-ed until the modeler nails it. Mistakes are ignored, or ‘weathered’ over at first and improved upon in the next build.

Phase 2: Models Become a Serious Business

But then, at some point, the Wowee! fades a little. Model building, while still fun, is no longer pursued with reckless abandon. Now there is careful thought put into it. There are plans! Now the builder believes life is too short for shitty kits.

Which Olive Drab is the “right” Olive Drab? Which model kit of the Bf-109 is the “good version” according to the conventional wisdom? Who makes the exact correct Gloss Sea Blue? What finishing techniques and products are currently en vogue?

By this point the modeler has developed a quiver full of finishing skills that can be used to ensure consistent success. And ‘consistency’ is key. The thought of new and untried techniques invites anxiety. Where before there was always another model to make. Now going one step further means extra risky risks that could ruin everything at any point of the build.

Models aren’t torn into with reckless abandon, they are a serious business. The opening of the kit is now the fifth step in a 783 step journey in pursuit of the perfect scale reproduction. That is, after collecting reams of references, pouring over period photos, downloading images of similar builds, and assembling every piece of aftermarket in the known universe.

Phase 3: Boredom

And then, well, that’s it. The modeler has reached a skill plateau and is seemingly satisfied with where he or she is. But the magic is gone. Whenever it becomes obvious that perfection won’t be obtained, or there is a modeling gaffe, or if there is a challenge that simply “can’t” be overcome quickly and perfectly… well, down goes the scalpel and up goes the model box onto the shelf…. right next to all the other misfit models.

Kits are started regularly but there is less and less steam to see them through. All of a sudden the idea of collecting kits of a completely different scale or category becomes attractive. After all, it’s far easier to buy and pile new kits rather than to make perfect scale reproductions.

Now, in some cases there is actual anxiety and stress. Perhaps this is linked to greater psychological issues and those are subjects far beyond what a scale model blogger should be opining about.

As well, there are modelers who believe that unless he or she is pursuing a hobby at the elite level, then he or she is somehow inferior. And some have suggested that a certain amount of paralysis happens because of the proliferation of amazing model content on the socials. What I call the “I can’t measure up so why bother” theory. After all, there are scale model greats who amaze us with their content and their talent on the daily.

But so what?

Barry Bonds was an absolutely amazing baseball player. Light years better than me in pretty much every possible way. I was not able to hit 500 foot moon shots off of 100mph fastballs but that did not stop me from playing baseball and enjoying every minute of it.

So, I don’t think the fear of not measuring up affects many of us. I think the main culprit is that the builder is bored with the model building process or bored with the results. Either way, this is not a fun phase to be in. Especially when the Wowee! phase was so much fun.

So, can we get that Wowee back?

How do we go back to that phase where we rip into kits, where we just enjoy building and experimenting and surprising ourselves with our new tricks and a desire to keep going?

Maybe it is a change of approach. Maybe the serious business of modeling with its self-inflicted pressure of a “push to be better” is the wrong approach. Honestly, we get enough of that at school, work and otherwise.

Maybe we shift this to just building and experimenting and seeing where things take us. I’ll admit, this is a subtle shift. But this subtle shift will change the pressure “to do better” into a feeling of excitement to find out “where can I go?”

Isn’t that a much better feeling while you rip into a kit with reckless abandon?

Why not try it on your next build. Just ditch the hand wringing and the pressure. Just get the kit opened, built, and try something completely different technique or product or whatever. All without caring about the results.

See where that takes you.