(Login PaulBoyer) HyperScale Forums from IP address 75.86.146.7
FineScale Modeler is in need of a kit reviewer to handle plastic ships in all scales. We're looking for a modeler who can: build and finish a plastic model to good quality in 30 days using only the kit's contents; can write an informative review in plain English; can either provide studio-quality photos to our specifications or ship/transport the model to the publisher for photos on deadline. FineScale Modeler (Kalmbach Publishing) pays for kit reviews. If you feel you have the chops, please contact me by e-mail: pboyer2 at wi.rr dot com (replace the usual) for more information. Thanks, folks.
Paul Boyer
Senior Editor Emeritus
FineScale Modeler
most of the ship kits hitting the market these days are pretty complex, and this website is mainly Advanced modeling syndrome types in the bargain. Getting a kit built in 30 days---sounds pretty much like wishful thinking to me!
Yeah, even a straight OOB build, inn 10 days, just not
April 25 2009, 3:05 AM
gonna happen. Given that most people don't build models full-time, and even then, you have to allow time for paint to dry and cure, Plus, most modllers here wouldn't wste time just doing a straight OOB build, without ading etche for at least railings and ladders.
Last ship review build I did, the Tamiya 1/72 Perkasa-classs PT boat for SMMI last October, took me well over a month, and that was a fairly simple project, with n etch and a moochrome hull and superstructure. For a 1/350 cruiser or larger, 10 weeks is much more like a realistic target.
. . . however, it can be done. Not everyone can do it. Not to toot my own horn, but I built the Trumpeter 1/350 Nimitz inside the roughly 30-day window, and the 1/32 Trumpeter A-10 in nine days (spare time). The point that you made is valid - not many "here" would want to do it out of the box without adding parts and make it into a contest model, etc. That's the thing about pure review models; you use only what came with the kit, and make shortcuts if necessary. Several models that are quickly made to appear in magazines and on-line reviews have shortcuts such as one finished side, some unpainted parts - I mean gray paint that is close to the gray plastic can be skipped as I did on the Nimitz. Magazine reviews have a built-in handicap in that there's another 30 (or so) days between the completion of the review and the publication release (setup and printing time, not to mention shipping), so going even longer on build time just makes a "new" kit review an "old" kit review. It's tough work, and takes a certain mindset and skill set to accomplish. I have received one volunteer for ship models so far, and three for the WWI aircraft solicitation (Plane Talk), so there are some who are willing to give it a try.
and if you can find reviewers who can build to an acceptable standard for FSM and turn round a review in 10 days, including photos and write-up, then good luck to you. I could certainly slap together an OOB reveiw build of a 1/700 warship, using acrylic paints, and write it up in the time available. The photod in the magazine would be small enough for the bothces not to show. But it wouldn't be fun, and the work doesn't pay well enough to do if it's not fun.
I currently do to review builds a month, each taking 3 -4 weeks, and couldn't do it to what I regard as an acceptable standard in less than that time.
I'm not going to comment on the standard of the models, reviews and articles in FSM here - it's been done to death already, and clearly your business model works for you. But it is soemthing which might usefully be discussed off-forum.
I feel like crying. Where was this offer back in November?
April 25 2009, 11:09 PM
I had just been laid off, and had all the time in the world to build models. I build almost exclusivly OOB, and have nearly as many ships in the stash as anything else. 30 days to build and photograph? Almost easy. Especially OOB. However, now that I'm back to $27.00 an hour at the paint plant and shift work, it doesn't leave much time for building. I even have a half way decent digital camera and a very good film SLR and a scanner. I would just have to invest in a pro photo set-up. Errgh!
Good luck Paul. I wish I could have said yes, but I just don't think I have the time anymore.
But, all that being said, is there a possibility of this position, or, being on the West Coast of Canada, is it only a pipe dream?
I have about 90 people doing reviews for IPMS now- let me see if I can get one o fthe ship guys interested. Maybe and maybe not. I have some that are decent builders and very fast (1/48 planes are 3-4 days) so we'll see. I'll be in touch
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