What type of modeller are you?

Kit modelling offers a broad variety of buildable topics that require different skills and approaches, as well as different levels of complexity.

Modelling is thus a very diverse hobby, and so are the modellers. Nevertheless, a certain number of typical modeller types has crystallized throughout my modelling career.

Here is an overview of the identified types – not to be taken too seriously :

The Anarchist

It was probably an anarchist who invented kit bashing. Anarchists fancy “what if” builds as well as pink Spitfires and blue/yellow dotted B-24’s when sticking to a regular model kit, which does not frequently happen. They usually modify their kits with any appropriate or inappropriate materials.

Often highly skilled, these modellers don’t care about authenticity and go their own way in both life and modelling. Had the anarchist not opted for scale modelling, he could have become the next Steve Jobs or Elon Musk.

Personality: Nonconformist, creative

First action upon opening a box: Bin the manual

Favourite brands: Amusing Hobby, anything that can be built into a model

Super power: Can mate a pair of B-29 wings with a Bf 109 fuselage

Where to find them: At the local hardware store

The Collector

This (non) modeller generally owns tons of books and a stash big enough to open several model stores. He is a precious source of information for both theory and accuracy, although he has never accomplished a single kit.

However, he has good reasons for this:

·         The perfect shade of Interior Green has not been invented yet

·         No available documentation for his intended P-51 project

·         Time constraints, such as appointments at the hair dresser or walking the dog

Usually totally deprived of any basic modelling skills, the collector secretly envies all other modellers.

Personality: Intellectual

First action upon opening a box: Read the manual

Favourite brands: Tolerates Tamiya due to missing acceptable alternatives

Super power: Knows the content of every publication on modelling that has ever been written

Where to find them: In modelling contest juries, at hair salons, in the streets walking the dog

The Bargain Hunter

The bargain hunter is always on budget, either by conviction or by personal constraints. His approach in modelling is to get the best results with minimum usage of resources. He is generally not limited to dedicated topics, but flexible depending on the opportunities that present to him.

He will look for second hand kits that have been started, with missing or damaged parts inside and give them a second life. He is not picky on available kits and gear and willing to make compromises on accuracy.

After all, RLM 02 is an appropriate colour for all German, Russian and Japanese cockpits, isn’t it?

Personality: Thrifty, economical

First action upon opening a box: Check for missing or damaged parts

Favourite brands: SMER, incomplete or crashed boxes

Super power: Spent $ 7,50 for his entire stash

Where to find them: On auctions sites, at trading fairs, in discount stores

The Fanatic

This poor fellow modeller is perfectly unable to make choices in life. His wife and family – if he ever had one – made the choice for him and left when the available household surface for living turned to zero.

Being a total addict to modelling, his goal is to build every kit that has ever been produced. Unfortunately, manufacturers keep releasing new kits all the time which leaves the fanatic ambivalent.

If you look for a fanatic at an exhibition, it’s usually the long-haired guy in training pants and sandals.

Personality: Enthusiastic, passionate

First action upon opening a box: Remove all parts from sprues and start the build

Favourite brands: Every brand that has ever existed

Super power: Immortality

Where to find them: Your best chance is to cross one in the street. He will either be on his way to the hobby store (hands empty) or on his way back home (hands full).

The Pragmatist

Often at beginner level or slightly above, the pragmatist is the classic occasional model builder. He will chose his topics just because they look good to him, or he may have received a model kit as Christmas gift.

Having other priorities in life, he only owns a small stash, but has all basic materials available. His builds will mostly be done OOB, trusting the manual for correct colour references.

Still, he will be proud of his achievement and just stare at the finished kit for hours, with a borderline moron grin engraved in his face.

If you know a pragmatist, take him to an exhibition. You may be able to turn him into a realist (see below)!

Personality: Undiscerning, economical

First action upon opening a box: Discover what exactly he has purchased

Favourite brands: Whatever is available at the local hobby store

Super power: Awareness of real life, job, wife and family

Where to find them: They are hard to identify, as they only shortly show on some evenings after work.

The Realist

This is the most common type of modellers that have reached a certain level. They have usually been modelling for quite a while and amassed an impressive stash over the years and decades, also being well equipped with high quality gear and wide ranges of colours and documentation.

They have references for each of their projects and will use a historical template for their chosen build. Often upgrading regular kits by aftermarket parts and decals, the realist can be qualified as “serious modeller” that still considers it as a hobby.

Driven by the ambition of improving his skills, the realist is still slightly aware that a model kit is not a 1:1 recreation of the real thing.

Personality: Down-to-earth, aspiring

First action upon opening a box: Compare kit with upfront-made research

Favourite brands: Tamiya, Eduard, Accurate Miniatures

Super power: Has found the perfect modelling-life-balance

Where to find them: at the local hobby store, at modelling exhibitions, on internet sites like this one

The Perfectionist

This is the highest level one can reach before transcending into modelling Nirvana. As the name indicates, the perfectionist will strive for perfection with any model he builds, while the kit parts are only considered as an acceptable starting base.

The perfectionist is a big fan of any type of aftermarket and masters every discipline of modelling skills, including full scratch builds. If you sometimes wonder why some sought-after resin or PE parts are untraceable: he owns them all.

He has published multiple articles in modelling magazines and accumulated more trophies in his hall of fame than Real Madrid.

Personality: Thorough, demanding

First action upon opening a box: Check parts that need to be rectified or replaced by aftermarket (usually all of them)

Favourite brands: Eduard Brassin, Aries, Evergreen

Super power: Can tell a brand by the smell of the sprues

Where to find them: On the winner’s podium of modelling contests, in their 200 square metres hobby room

So, have you recognized yourself or some of your fellow modellers in this list?

Whatever type you are – novice or professional, focussed on accuracy or fantasy, occasional or full-time builder – always keep in mind that making a model kit is mainly about having fun!