When you start building a model, what is the first thing you assemble?
My work area, because it is a mess from the last one I built. Actually, when I first began building a couple of centuries ago, I started by following the instructions. At that time the engine was normally the first thing on the instruction sheet, so even now, six decades later I will usually start with the engine. Of course when you throw in curbside builds (Tamiya, Aoshima, early AMT) that plan goes out the window.
I am like Rick. I have always followed the instructions, and built the engines first. But I have built so many, I got tired of that, and now I don't build them at all, unless they are going to show. I just glue the hoods shut.
And I don't do much under the chassis anymore either. I'm just looking for a nice shelf model these days anyway, and I figure I am old enough to do it that way if I want to. I think Rett and I are the oldest people around here. I'll be 80 in 2 months.
Seem to remember usually going by the instruction sheet as to what to work on first....depending on the kit....
I think I'm like David...whatever piqued my interest is usually where I begin! As a kid I pretty much went by the instruction sheet but as an older adult in my 50's and sixties I rarely even refer to the sheet when building unless it's for some weird part I don't understand!
Yeah, John and I the oldest. I just turned 79 Sept. 18th. I usually start with the chassis and go from there.
Rett
What I do first will change from build to build, subject to subject. As for my habits, I have good ones and bad ones so my results vary. I can still barf up a kit as well as anyone.
I pretty much follow instructions. The thing that I keep seeing more and more online is builders who paint the body and decal it then start the building process. Even if you are doing a box stock build this is a bad habit and if you're doing a kit bashing build or lots of scratch building this is a formula for disaster as far as I'm concerned. These are the same builders who will get online and whine this and that don't fit and when someone suggests they grind here or there the builder loses his mind and goes off about he can't because it's already painted and decaled. Models are just like the real thing only in scale. When is the last time you saw a show car being built and the first thing they did was the body and paint work then went, gee, what chassis, motor, suspension, etc should we do. I personally think this is why more and more projects go back into the box never to be seen again and before someone goes off I've been in the collision repair industry for 40 years and built and raced my own cars for 25 years. In both cases you try to mock up as many things as you can before things ever get close to going to paint and models are no different.
The only habits I got I wish that I had never picked up......things like glue control and body prep....I'm getting better but still a lot of room for improvement.
Every build with me is different since I scratch build....I guess the only thing that is habitual is that I start with a body and go from there with an idea of what I want the finished build to look like.....kind of like writing a 3 chorus song and starting with the 2 chorus and alternate working your way forward and backward.