2015 is nearly upon us (how did that happen?!?), and looking ahead, I thought I’d throw out a few modeling resolutions for the new year. Hopefully these have more staying power than my personal resolutions, which usually fall apart around the time Girl Scout cookies make their annual appearance!
Buy only new kits (and be more judicious with those)
I’m not going to kid myself and say I’m going to stop buying kits. But I do want to knock down the stash and slow the pace at which I add to it. A quick way to do that? Stop buying existing kits and save it for the new tools. And be more picky with the new releases I spring for. Case in point – earlier this year I snagged Trumpeter’s new 1/48 A-37A Dragonfly. WHY?!? I don’t care about the -A. I want a Dragonfly, but I want the -B. Which as it happens is coming out early next year.
Of course, at the way manufacturers keep dropping amazing new kits…
Write more technique posts
I started this blog for two reasons. First, to chronicle my adventures in scale modeling…initially as a return to the hobby and now, well, I guess just as part of the ongoing journey. Second, to give back. The internet has had an enormous impact on my building and painting. So as I have tips and techniques to share, I like to do so. And those of you who stumble across this blog seem to like the technique posts, too – the Black Basing and Multi-Layer Chipping pieces are the two most-viewed posts I wrote in 2014.
So in 2015, more of that. If you have any techniques you’d like me to cover, please speak up in the comments or over on Facebook.
Make fewer false starts
Some years, it feels like I start and then abandon as many builds as I finish. I need to do better, and part of that is being more disciplined in how many kits I have on the go at a given time. In 2015 I’m planning to be a lot more strict on my “Rule of Three” – no more than three builds on the go at once, ideally with them spread out among 1/32 props, 1/48 jets and 1/35 armor to keep things varied.
Lighten up
Over the past year, I’ve been really focused – at least on my aircraft builds – with achieving good tonal variation in my paint jobs. I feel I’m at a point now where I’m getting pretty adept at overcoming tonal crush. But I can take it further still by being more aggressive with how I mix paints up front, adding in more lightness early on rather than trying to enforce it through oils. This would also free me up on the weathering front to play more with filters to further dirty things up. Stay tuned!
That’s it for me. What are your modeling resolutions for the new year?
Doogs Models 
I would definitely like to see more posts on technique..especially in the areas of washes and filters. I know the difference just need to learn application. My biggest resolution will be to apply newly learned techniques.
Just changed my name on the blog..formerly rcflyerguy101
I resolve to spend more time on my builds and vow to improve. I know that only comes with more experience at the bench. My motto? Sit down and build! Thanks Doog, love your blog and your wealth of knowledge.
My skill-set is slightly above the Amateur range, and it’s Blogs like yours that have helped me to progress at a faster rate than I would have done through just trial and error. I thank you for that. I resolve to spend more time in my workshop actually working on a model (or two). Over the last six months I returned to plastic modeling from a long hiatus, when I traded some of my R/C stuff for plastic. Now I have a “stash” and need to put a dent in it. I was only able to complete a 1/35 UH-1N that I had started some years back. Time to get more serious in 2015!
Thanks Doog for your work and posts in 2014. Like you I have decided to mark out some goals (resolutions are too scary). One of which, is to put to use some of the fine,informative information I have gotten via the inter-web and your great blog, (as apposed to the past years, just reading the screen and not going to the bench to apply my new found knowledge-sigh).
I wish you well in your 2015 resolutions, and me in mine…..
…now to read just that one more post………;-)