I only recently started building armor. I saw the Trumpeter 1/16 T-34, the Dragon Flak88 and pnzIV and before I knew, my closet was filled up with armor kits.
Since right now I'm building tanks, helicopters and airplanes, it's interesting to compare these.
What do you like or dislike about armor/aircraft/ships/spacecraft/car/figure?
My list so far:
Armor pro: big scale, yet doesn't take up too much space, lots and lots of weathering and mud and rust , you don't have to worry about seams too much, lots of tiny details everywhere

Armor con: mostly German subjects, tracks (doesn't matter, indi or rubber), wheels (too many of them)

Aircraft pro: beautiful, lots of interesting aircraft, relatively quick to build (lets face it: once the cockpit is done, half the job is done).

Aircraft con: canopy masking, seams (must be really smooth, yet you have to be careful not to "oversand" the contours of the fuselage, few parts can be superdetailed (cockipt, undercarriage), painting must be really smooth, raised/misplaced panel lines, and in big scale they are huge.


I haven't built anything else yet, but would be interested in opinions.
(I guess shipbuilders have a lot of PE, and the problem of painting aircraft realistically in 1/800 for carriers.)


(About that size-issue: I was shocked when I put my 1/72 T-34 next to a 1/72 Mi-28... These aircrafts are huge compared even to the biggest AVFs...)

Andras,

I build both AFVs and Aircraft and love doing both. To me there is nothing better than taking a break with an armor kit after a long run on aircraft and vice versa.

As to the pros and cons I think you've pretty much nailed it but there, especially my two pet hates AFV road wheels and aircraft canopy masking.

definitively aircraft.

I prefer armour and helicopters. I stay away from fixed wing aircraft and naval vessels.

Since getting back into the hobby, I've dabbled in a little bit of everything: armor, aircraft, civilian vehicles & semi's, as well as Star Wars ships. I've even got a Tamiya PBR and a couple of Macross kits waiting their turn in the stash as well. The only thing I haven't gotten into is large ships and figures. Figures scare me as I just haven't gotten the hang of painting them just yet.

As for preference, I tend to focus primarily on armor of the WWII variety (either Axis or Ally). I do like to build aircraft, also of the WWII era. I'll get on kicks and go back and forth between them as the winds of creativity change.

I have to agree that road wheels and tracks are the biggest bummers in building armor. For me, it's the repetitiveness of the tasks. Just feels like you're not getting anywhere even though you are. And I'll agree that canopy masking for aircraft can be a pain as well.

In the end, though, I like to build and will go wherever my interests lie at the time. It keeps things fresh and fun!

- Frank

Good question, mate!
I model in all genre's, scales, types, subjects. . .whatever I feel like building at the time, (although I do favor the wetter side of our hobby! ).
For instance, at the moment, I have two sub's, two ships, three figgie sets, a Russian APC, and an M47 Patton on my bench in all different stages of development, and depending on my mindset at the time, decides which one I'll be working on first.
~Gunny

I like modeling, period. If it's WWII related, I do it. I have to say you nailed the problem areas of aircraft and armor. I'm on about my 1 millionth new technique to mask canopies...still trying to get it right.

I'll also attempt naval projects, and I like to try little vignettes as well, so figures get thrown into the mix.

What can I say...I really enjoy this hobby.

Mike

I prefer the wingy thingys...

AFV's and Softskins for me (And I am dabbling in Figs too)!

Thank you for the answers, everyone. But the question remains: WHY do you like to build airplanes/softskins/or yet another Tiger?
Why do you think an engineering truck is more appealing than a WWI airplane? I know most of this is subjective, yet I'm very interested in reading how the others feel.

Simple question, tough answer. Going back to my post:

* Star Wars - because I grew up with the movies and the vehicles hold a special place for me.

* WWII Armor & Aircraft - I've always had an interest in vehicles and weapons of this era. A lot of it came from my late grandfather who served in WWII in the medical corps. He always found ways to introduce me to history and his stories kept my interest. And to me, the equipment and vehicles just looks "cooler".

* Modern Armor & Aircraft - I don't build as much of this, but it's odd because seeing modern military aircraft at airshows and demonstrations just thrills the heck out of me. I guess on the armor side, there's really not a lot of kits out there, at least not to the variety of the WWII stuff.

* Everything else - only build it because it strikes a chord within me. My father-in-law is a former trucker, so that interests me in the tractor trailer kits. Everything else is just because it's interesting and is a change of pace.

- Frank

Ok, I'll go back. I build armour, softskins, helo's and figures. Mostly because I like to think that one day they will all make them into dioramas, and I love the modern stuff. I like to look at the new tanks like the Leopard 2, the latest in design armour and firepower, that can reach out and touch another tank miles away. Others, because they sdupport the moden tanks or infantier. The helicopters.....well I love how fast they took off and were developed, and the roles they play in modern warfare.

But like I said, I like to think they will all make it into a diorama sometime, and all of these come in 1/35, which is my prefered scale. I kind of lose interest in larger naval ships and fixed wing aircraft when I realize they don't match anything else I have, and I probably won't ever use them. As it is, I have way to many dio ideas to financially support, I couldnt imagine what it would be like if I work with everything.

I model mostly armor and softskins. Both WW II and modern. I'm drawn to them because of my interest in military history. But I also have a few copters in the stash and even one mostly finished on the bench right now. Don't know why, they just caught my eye and seemed interesting. And due to my being somewhat of s sci-fi geek, I also recently purchased the Enterprise NX-01. A really huge kit that I can't wait to get started on. And then there are all the figure kits and even a battleship.

I think one of the most enjoyable aspects of this hobby is the incredible variety of subjects and sizes available. Usually the way it goes with me is I see it and if it looks interesting I buy it. And hopefully one day I'll find the time to build it!

I like to build whatever tickles my fancy at the moment.
I'm more into A/C right now, but my next project is a Porsche 911.
I like A/C mainly because I was around them most of my life and have always appreciated the sleekness and uses for them. Besides, my father was a navigator in the old C-119 in the RCAF.
I like building tanks because if you mess something up, then you can attribute it to battle damage! :-)

Because armour subjects are easier to fix or cover something you screwed I prefer building vehicles but I love watching someones else superb models of aircrafts. That's why I often check what's new on Aeroscale and vote for Aircraft of the Month.

I have my stash set up so that i alternate from 1/35 armor to 1/48 aircraft with every new build. Sometime I may do 2 smaller aircraft kits before going back to armor

Armor first, WW1 aircraft second
capnjock

For me - it's "subject" or "story"

Whatever the vehicle is works for me. I guess that's why I 'work' for ModelGeek.com. I do railroad models, AFV, Aircraft both civilian and military, figures, sci-fi.


To directly answer the question of AFV or AC - I'd have to say AFV and I'd qualify it to WWII.

Well the reason for me is habit I guess. I have been building AFV's and Diorama's for 35+ years. While I did build planes ages ago, they just don't apeal to me now.

I like them both I have to say....

I have a question that made me "revive" this topic: I've been looking for some aircraft kits lately (Revell Intruder, Monogram F-5, OA-4M -old kits, not particularly good, and -in my opinion- valuable.) Anyway, when the offers come in, the asked prices are higher than new DML premium kits go for in the LHS... An intruder and BB cockpit for $120 -I'd rather buy a 1/16 Tamiya Tiger for a little bit more (or two 1/32 Trumpeter aircraft).
Is there something I have no idea about that makes these kits so valuable?

In this order...
World War 2 ships
Figures
Aircraft - again, WW2

Kenny

I build both AFV and aircraft. If I had to pick one, I would build AFV's.

#1: Aircraft -- British WW1 to early WW2, with focus in 2007 on "Silver Wings" in the 20's and 30's ...
#2: Softskins & Artillery -- Brit & US
#3: Ships: RN & RCN

I can build better Softskins & Arty than I can build aircraft & ships, but my preference is aircraft ...

John