Kit, Bash or Scratch

[Anonymous]

When I started modeling years ago I used kits only. Then found myself kit-bashing by using pieces from other kits. Now what I find most satisfying is to create structures/buildings from photos and I detail my trains using manufacture's drawings (i.e. Baldwin, EMD, Alco, etc.).

[Anonymous]

I submit that no body can build a nice complete layout without doing all the answers. FRED

[Anonymous]

It depends on the car I want. Most often a suitable kit is available. If I have a kit I add missing details, and any other missing parts that are present on the prototype but not on the model. I consider my self a detail oriented person, but I generally do not go out sanding down grab irons to replace them with their scale sized fine wire replacments. If its there to begin with Its good eneugh for me. However, I am not one bit sqeami***o chop, hack, or just outright make anything in order to achieve my modeling objective.

[vsmith]

There are very few kits in 1/2" g guage so bashing or scratching skills are a must.

I generally start with a common item and then bash parts onto it. I have added cab details to 4 locos 3 diesels and added details to other cars and scratchbult a Dunkirk type Shay from a bachmann flatcar and an old "General" steam loco model kit.
I have fun adding these details, if it isnt fun I dont do it.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what the situation requires. If a kit will do, then a kit it will be. If I need something a little different and can get it by bashing a kit, then I'll bash away. If the only way to get what I want, then I'll scratch. It is like I said, it is what the situation requires.

[tomwatkins]

I agree with Pop and with Fred. It really does all depend. Frequently a kit is accurate enough and detailed enough to build from the box, except for possibly trucks and couplers. Sometimes minor or heavy kit bashing is needed to get the model I want, and sometimes only scratch building will get me there.

Tom Watkins

[vw-bug]

Most of the models now a days are pretty good. But every model I make I give my personal touches too. I really enjoy remember buildingthings and the fun that it was. In my eye models are models until they have that little bit of life that we give them. If they are right out of the box, or built strickly by instructions. They fill layouts with lifeless garbage. I always want people to think of my layouts as being miniatures of the life that surrounds us.

[relucas]

I do what I must for what ever I'm putting in place .[kit ,bash ,scratch or all three] What ever it takes to look good to me.

[AggroJones]

With Athearn blue box kits, I usually shave off the molded on grab irons and hand rails. Then I drill holes, touch up the paint, and install seperate parts. The weathering helps hide the difference in the stock paint and my paint.

[Jetrock]

I'm definitely in the "all of the above" category.

Occasionally I'll build kits straight out of the box, although sometimes not for their intended purpose (I'm waiting for the paint to dry on a Woodland Scenics gas station that I'm using for a background residential house, and the gas-station parts will go nicely with a scratchbuilt art-deco gas station I'll be building soon.) Much of my rolling stock at this point is straight-from-the-box, other than a little paint & decal work.

Kitbashing is my default modeling operation--usually there is some part on a model that doesn't suit my fancy, or I'm trying to approximate a specific prototype and the kit is close but not quite close enough, or I just have parts in my parts box begging to be used. Sometimes the line between kitbashing and scratchbuilding blurs--what percentage of the project has to be from the same original kit in order for it to still be considered a "kitbash"?

I must admit that I'm not much for scratchbuilding rolling stock--although I'll have to do some of that if I stay interested in traction--but I love to scratchbuild buildings. Given the cost of craftsman kits, I'd rather buy the raw materials anyhow.