Armorama
I'd like to write a letter to this club. Yes I said club. That's what it is to me, a club. One with over seven thousand members but a club none the less. I consider myself to still be a newbie here, but that doesn't mean I'm new to the hobby. I've been building off and on since I was 16 I'll be 51 in October( I'll let you do the math .) My first model was Revell's 1/32 scale P-40. Yes Jim I smile whenever I read your bio. Seems like decades since I built it( oh right it was decades ago). In that time I've met my fair share of rivet counters, glitzers, trophy mongers and all the others.
But never have I met a more diverse group of people as I have here. Or a more helpful or instructive group of people either. I've put pics of my models in my gallery and some on Rivet Review. Now if I didn't expect it to get critiqued I wouldn't have put it there or put my pics up in the gallery. I have learned alot here in the short time I've been here. I like the nightly meetings, the chance to look at some of the best models I've ever seen. Every question I've ever asked has been answered. Did I like all the answers; no. But I got answers. I wish to thank all of you for allowing me to join your club. And to just be a member in the back. I'm our club president so I have to play head referee at our meetings. Hey it's nice to sit in the back sometimes and just watch and listen .
I will keep building and I will keep posting pics of my work here. And I hope that all of you will keep giving me the honest opinions you've given me so far. Will I like all of them, probably not. Will I fix everything you find wrong,lol, oh more than likely not. At least not on that model but perhaps on the next. BUT I will listen.
I build for the love of the hobby.
On a personal note: I was brought up to believe that " sandpaper is abrasive, people are rude."
From the new guy in the very back row



Jerry

All i can say..is Ditto...

When i post pics of my work, i , like most everyone, want to hear the good comments, or the praises..but honestly..the critiques are the ones i pay most attention to. Those are the ones that will help me to learn and grow as a modelor. I , like you, dont necessarily agree with everything or like everything that is directed..but in a site like this..it comes with it. I feel that when reading any post, keep in mind that they are basically opinions, and everyone usually has one.
Mary

I couldnt agree more with your sentiments, when you get a critique here I never feel any malice only helpful comments.Just love this club.

Jerry,

Well said. I like the honest, constructive, critiques, I love the feeling of camaraderie and most of all, I really applaud the willingness of others to go out on a limb to try and help you with a problem. No matter how trivial it may seem

It's an awesome crowd here.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...If the rest of the world could be as cohesive, think of the possibilities.
Steve

One thing I always try to remember is that not everyone speaks and spells English as bad as I do, and I have a natural tendency to misunderstand.
The second thing I always remember is that everyone is entitled to express themselves, and for many English is a second language, but it's a lot better than the only one I speak, and I have a natural tendency to misunderstand.
The third thing I try to remember is ........ hell, at my age, remembering the first two is hard enough....... :-) :-) :-)

:-)
Dave
This is just a bit off subject, sorry.
I have a much easier time understanding the members here that don't speak or write English as their first language than I do our engineers here at work .
Aren't aviation engineers required to take a sub class in babble .
Jerry

:-) :-) :-) I'm an engineer.... not avation.... stationary.engineer, and that's exactly what I am at work, stationary in my chair building models on the midnight shift..... :-) :-) :-)
But "Excessive Babble- and the over use of Buzz words 101" was a required course....... followed by "Dazzle them with BS 102"......... :-) :-) :-)

ya see thats were we mechanics get confused. We're only required to take basic Babble and Dazzle :-) :-) :-) :-)
Jerry

LOL..... yep........ :-) :-) :-)

Ciao everyone,
Okay, I am starting to understand. If I post nothing but "good comments," then they are worthless. Perhaps, but I am just trying to reinforce to someone that what they are doing is one step in a long journey of what, I hope for them, will be a fun experience in modeling. I'm not pretentious. I just want to be supportive and enthusiastic about someone's work. If posting "great job" on this site is not a good use of the resources, then I guess I'm looking at it all wrong.
Ciao for now
Rob

Rob, there is nothing wrong with showing your approval of someones work. We all like to be told occasionaly that people like what we do.. . And it must not stop..What is meant by that is that there has to be a balance, not just congratulory posts. I myself reply on occasions with critique, even if the majority of the replies are in the ' wow, great, wonderful' leage... not to run people down, but to help them improve their models, and maybe their enjoyment of the hobby. You must remember that those of us who sometimes critisize somebodies work, show our own work aswel, and expect the same in reply. As much as I like it when people like what I build and say so, I realy appreciate the post where people point out what they think could be improved. The experience available on this site is enormous, and should be used for improvement.
Just for example, on this site you can upload your own pictures, and show them, without them having to be vetted by a 'senior member' of the site needing to deem your model worthy of inclusion..

We all like to see each other improve, and enjoy watching the resulting better models..

Cheers
Henk

Ciao Henk,
I appreciate what you are saying, and of course, I realize that constructive criticism is best for someone to grow. I just don't want people to think that if all I do is post "ooohs" and "aahhs" that they are empty compliments. I consider myself an average modeler, and any suggestions that I might have had are usually covered more quickly and eloquently than I ever could have. So, I post a "BZ" to bolster.
Believe me, I feel very much at home here, and I appreciate what everyone has done for me. Heck, I even joined the A Guard to "put my money where my mouth was" so to speak.
Ciao for now
Rob

Rob, I don't believe that for one minute...... everyone needs to hear an "atta boy" and "nice work."
I try to keep my constructive critiques to the RRB and Critics Corner. Which were originally set up for exactly that purpose.

Being someone who mainly does softskins, I have a pretty good knowledge of them, (NOT AN EXPERT) but when I do an armor piece I have very limited knowledge of them, so when I post an armor thing, I really do need to hear the mistakes I made, and what I need to do to correct them. Anything German I'm totally lost since I really rarely ever do German subjects. Again, I need to hear, and believe those who have been building them for years, just may know a little more about the subject than I do, and the small amount of research I did on the web.

I remember the first campaign I entered.... on the M-1 Abrams..... I never built one, and had no interest in it, but through out the campaign, the leader, and others who knew more answered all my dumb questions, and pointed me to hundreds of photos to use to build a subject I knew nothing about. And gave constructive remarks on how to improve the model along the way. All I did was take suggestions, and apply modelling skills developed over the years to finish a fairly decent model. And I never took any remarks as a personal insult as to my abillity to model.

I've also developed many good friends here, and even met many old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. We sometimes get a little carried away with some light hearted banter- that to those that do not know us just may confuse it as nit-picking, or rivet counting, but 90% of the time it's simply busting each others chops, just like we do in person.

My profile clearly states " I'm a firm believer in edification, not degradation, lead and guide, not push and shove. Feel free to say HI when you see me on line via instant messenger, and yep, you can even call me "Fluffy-Grumpy"....

I don't believe that encouragement to improve ourselves, our lives, or models in wrong. We only learn it, if and when someone has the courage to tell us.

Hey Dave---- you got the tracks on Backwards-----
Thanks John.......
Hey Dave----- the headlight guard is crocked .....
Hey Ken... better it than me......
Hey Dave ----- you got the tail light painted wrong, here a photo of how to do it right.....
Thanks Cliff.......

Like everyone else stated as well, those "Way to Go" and "Wow, Great Job'..those are very needed posts as well. I would have to say that probably 85% of what i post are those kinds of remarks. I think that the main to do is when critique is necessary, do it with tact. Don't just slam a person into the ground. You can give someone honest critisism without telling them, "Man that looks like CRAP".
Mary (++)

Hi all
When I started this thread it was in a way a response to the T-Terrific thing going on.
Do I like a good pat on the back, or a well done hmmm let me think??YES. But seriously ; doesn't everyone. But I learn from the constructive critiques.
Forgive me but I'm going to be a bit serious for a moment or two.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion just as everyone is entitled to either listen to it or ignore it.
What I was trying to say is that I always want all of you to feel free to be as honest as you can on what I present. And I will free to either listen to it or not.
Of course I am rather partial to the ataboys
Jerry

I admit that while constructive criticism is most useful to improve my skills, the simple congratulatory remarks are also more than welcome, particularly when they come from people with broad knowledge of the subject of my models.

What annoys me sometimes is that posting a critical remark, when others are sending only compliments, can make you a subject of attack for being a nit-picker or rivet counter... Luckily such attitude is not as common here as it is on other websites, where any form of criticism is considered a bad thing.

Pawel

As far as the RRB goes, (man this thread has gone way OT but it isn't my fault) I usually comment about what I like and I what I would have done differently if I was building whatever it is. Also, I uusally only comment on the technique end of things. As far as historical accuracy goes I leave that to the people who know way more about those things than I do.
If something is posted in 'General Modeling' with a topic like 'The panther I am working on' then I think the oohs and ahs are okay. I figure if they would have wanted constructive critism they would have posted the pictures in the RRB.

This is just the Lortabs talkin'

Shaun

Everybody, this is to you.
I have NEVER seen a badly done model here in Armorama. Ever.
I've seen Beginners and I've seen Masters.
I've heard beginners look at a master's model and say "How?"
I've heard the master smile, and tell "How."
I've seen the beginner embrace this new knowledge and apply it to his next model.
I've been the beginner.

I'd like to say "Atta Boy!" to EVERY member here for being the master and for being the beginner.
You're all here to learn and teach and part of that is the asking of critique and the recieving of it.
And I think here at Armorama, an unspoken agreement is to generally follow "The Golden Rule" and literally "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
As T Terrific's actions dictated, he was treated correctly by his own standards and I applaud Jim for his action.
Now, be nice because I like you guys.
And I appreciate you guys

Cuhail

It takes a brave man to admit he's stoned. :-)

Seriously, everyone enjoys an atta boy every now again.....human nature. I have never, nor will I ever answer a post or critique a model with malice. I have worked on things for hours, only to find a spot of bare plastic in a photo after I post it. That's why we ask for help or suggestions. Two heads are better than one you know. I think all of us are here to help and to be helped at the same time. Now, where did I put those Lortabs?

Patrick

I have an easier time getting lost in modeling with a BIG FAT JOINT!

Of course I have an easier time getting lost period with that same method.

And don't give me any grief concerning political/health/morality issues about marijuana, I've heard them all and I always counter with a hearty "I LIKE IT!"

I don't drink
I don't push
I don't share
I am a Stoner!

Cuhail

Thanks Murph
Thanks for saying what I was trying to say. and not quite making it.
I have learned more from all you here than I have from all the contests I've ever been in.
The kid in the back row
Jerry

You guys slay me... Maybe I should add that I had really major surgery and just got home from the hospital Wednesday...

They wouldn't let me take the Morphine pump with me. I asked...

Shaun :-)

:-) :-) :-) 20 years ago, I would have stole it...... :-) :-) :-)

I need a pot pump...




Gotta go!
Cuhail

Take care of yourself. We will try not to make you laugh until you are healed.

Patrick