Thoughts on Studio Scale Elitism Disease (and treatment options)

These are all good points. If I didn't think I'd be drawn and quartered, I would merge the two forums and add in prefixes (like you see in the Junkyard) for at least three variations of models: Studio Scale Replicas, Non-Studio-Scale Replicas, and General Models (non-movie specific replicas). As Beaz pointed out, this IS the RPF, but that doesn't mean we should ignore great models from other sources. It makes the same skillset and often the same kind of challenges arise from ANY type of modeling that could help out fellow members. Beyond that, I think it is an absolute disservice to you, the modelers, that some of you feel you need to go to another site to show certain models, while coming here to show others. In my mind, this MUST be resolved.

robn1 said:

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A similar subject came up a year or so ago, about what is "studio scale". I asked this question: if one were to build an X-Wing by scratch building all the details instead of using donor kits, but replicated the size and appearance of the studio models, would it be considered "studio scale"? The consensus seemed to be "no", because "studio scale" is more than just size and appearance, it also involves materials and technique. But there is an X-Wing thread currently in progress where someone is doing just as I described, scratch building most of the greeblies. It's in the studio scale forum, and everyone seems fine with it. I am as well, great work there But the acceptance of that build seems to contradict the response to my question. Not that it matters, it's just curious.

I guess my point is that movie and TV related subjects are all worthy topics, regardless of scale or materials used. It's just a matter of building the subject, or a replica of the screen used models, and placing it in the appropriate sub-forum. But they all belong.

And if someone wants to show off their WWII models, I say go ahead I'd love to see them And if it's a Monogram B-29, it's a studio scale replica from "The Right Stuff"

Having built both types of studio scale models, resin and from the ground up reproductions including all kit parts; there is a major difference and an almost cult mentality behind reproducing a studio model down to the smallest detail. If the Studio Scale section were limited to the latter, it would be a small section without much traffic. I've noticed sometimes even now the General section has 3 times the traffic this area has.

Having made a few forums over the years if it were left to me, I would make Studio Scale a subsection in General modeling, give it a dedicated moderator like Beaz, then make it true to form. Only full on 100% Studio Scale Reproduction area. No deviations, no interpretation.

All the kit scan threads could be moved there, make stickies discussing the history of the models, scratchbuilding tutorials, how they did the paint, etc.

Sounds good to me.

REL said:

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Having built both types of studio scale models, resin and from the ground up reproductions including all kit parts; there is a major difference and an almost cult mentality behind reproducing a studio model down to the smallest detail. If the Studio Scale section were limited to the latter, it would be a small section without much traffic. I've noticed sometimes even now the General section has 3 times the traffic this area has.

Having made a few forums over the years if it were left to me, I would make Studio Scale a subsection in General modeling, give it a dedicated moderator like Beaz, then make it true to form. Only full on 100% Studio Scale Reproduction area. No deviations, no interpretation.

All the kit scan threads could be moved there, make stickies discussing the history of the models, scratchbuilding tutorials, how they did the paint, etc.

REL said:

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Having built both types of studio scale models, resin and from the ground up reproductions including all kit parts; there is a major difference and an almost cult mentality behind reproducing a studio model down to the smallest detail. If the Studio Scale section were limited to the latter, it would be a small section without much traffic. I've noticed sometimes even now the General section has 3 times the traffic this area has.

Having made a few forums over the years if it were left to me, I would make Studio Scale a subsection in General modeling, give it a dedicated moderator like Beaz, then make it true to form. Only full on 100% Studio Scale Reproduction area. No deviations, no interpretation.

All the kit scan threads could be moved there, make stickies discussing the history of the models, scratchbuilding tutorials, how they did the paint, etc.

How is that different than what we have now, aside from Studio Scale becoming a subforum, which would only continue to decrease the traffic to it.

I would definitely support that. I also think other models, ie non sci Fi or non movie specific models should be included. Somedays the general section feels like the Enterprise Builders Club. Much like the Studio scale could have been mistaken for the X-wing Builders Club years ago. Sooner or later with the studios pushing for CG we are going to run out of Studio Models to replicate. People are asking "who's gonna build the Prometheus?" seriously? How do you scale that with no kitparts or dims to work from. You could print it ( which is obviously becoming the future) but it will never become studio scale. It will just be a model. My kids will go home from school and print an accurate model from files they sketched at school. Maybe that's the problem. It's a dying art that is being kept alive by a relatively small group of artisans. Grumpy ones.... Get off my lawn!!!

If anything a studio model reproduction forum could be added under the studio scale forum but are we back to being elitist wanting to seperate the 2?

How about........."Filming replica forum" if it really has to be meddled with?

Guy's points are sound, we see studio "scale" builds a lot, that contain NO real production tool kit ID's or dimensions, they just become "studio size" which IMO, then belongs in General, because its NOT a replication, of a filming tool.

Then, who are we to look down, on such creations as Lasse's Tantive? Were nobody, because NONE of us "studio scale" builders, have even achieved such a feat.

I really cant say what the cure could be, but seeing for example Lasse's work, which is jaw dropping, and a free hand filming tool replication if you will, and comparing to the guy that pulled out a Polar Lights......sorry, chalk and cheese!

lee

lee

Art Andrews said:

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How is that different than what we have now, aside from Studio Scale becoming a subforum, which would only continue to decrease the traffic to it.

It would definitely decrease the posting traffic, no doubts there. But it would concentrate the lost art of studio scale reproduction into one area. I think it would increase viewing traffic, though.

It does sound elitist, but the truth is there is a difference between building a kit and making building a scratchbuild using original kit parts.

The difference between that and what we have now is the Studio Scale section paints with a broad brush anything that is the size of the studio model. In the new section, a scratchbuilt reproduction of an X Wing would be in the SS section, a resin kit of the same would be in General.

Let's just add a new section called. Forum for people who want to build a studio scale model but not necessarily studio accurate.

This is fugding ridiculous!

lee

REL said:

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Having built both types of studio scale models, resin and from the ground up reproductions including all kit parts; there is a major difference and an almost cult mentality behind reproducing a studio model down to the smallest detail. If the Studio Scale section were limited to the latter, it would be a small section without much traffic. I've noticed sometimes even now the General section has 3 times the traffic this area has.

Having made a few forums over the years if it were left to me, I would make Studio Scale a subsection in General modeling, give it a dedicated moderator like Beaz, then make it true to form. Only full on 100% Studio Scale Reproduction area. No deviations, no interpretation.

All the kit scan threads could be moved there, make stickies discussing the history of the models, scratchbuilding tutorials, how they did the paint, etc.

I cry bull**** Rich im afraid!

lee

IEDBOUNTYHUNTER said:

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Sounds good to me.

We ALL know what YOU want Al.

lee

And we all know what a crank you are.

Wait... I think my head just exploded a little. Now Beaz corrected me a bit earlier, but let me see if I understand. The main difference between the Studio Scale forum and the General Modeling forum is that Studio scale is specific to models that are being built at roughly the same scale as the original props used during filming. General Modeling is any model that is NOT the same scale as the original prop. Is that correct or not?

If I am reading this right, what is now being argued is that resin kits that are made TO STUDIO SCALE SIZE should not be allowed in the Studio Scale forum because they aren't scratch built? What does being scratch built or a resin kit have to do with scale? Either it is roughly the same scale as the model used during filming or it is not! If it is, regardless of origin, as the forums are right now, it belongs in Studio Scale. If it is not the same scale, again, regardless of origin, it should be in general.

This argument is only furthering my belief that dividing Studio Scale from non-studio scale is virtually pointless if we are going to continue to try to subdivide an already infinitesimally small niche. Are those arguing for this really wanting to drive the final nail in the coffin of movie replica models?

REL said:

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It would definitely decrease the posting traffic, no doubts there. But it would concentrate the lost art of studio scale reproduction into one area. I think it would increase viewing traffic, though.

It does sound elitist, but the truth is there is a difference between building a kit and making building a scratchbuild using original kit parts.

The difference between that and what we have now is the Studio Scale section paints with a broad brush anything that is the size of the studio model. In the new section, a scratchbuilt reproduction of an X Wing would be in the SS section, a resin kit of the same would be in General.

ralphee said:

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Then, who are we to look down, on such creations as Lasse's Tantive? Were nobody, because NONE of us "studio scale" builders, have even achieved such a feat.

I don't think it's a matter of looking down, most people see it that way though unfortunately. Dedicated studio scalers are just sticklers for details, that's all.

Sometimes it's frustrating after staring at kit scans for 8 hours to find a part, holding up the project when you know you could just put anything there and it would look good, in fact sometimes you could put a better looking part there, in your own opinion, but if you did that, it wouldn't be an accurate replica, so the search continues, and when you actually find the part it's like winning a jackpot at a casino, it's a rush.

That's what it is to me, and I don't feel better than the next person because of it, it's just what I love to do and it would be cool to have a section where there's guy's that feel the same way. Where I wouldn't have to explain to them why I'm on ebay all the time looking for some kit that I hope has that elusive jewel on its sprue.

jedimaster said:

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Let's just add a new section called. Forum for people who want to build a studio scale model but not necessarily studio accurate.

That's where all my stuff would go!

IEDBOUNTYHUNTER said:

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And we all know what a crank you are.

Self confessed mate, but snobbery isnt the way foward Mr " go big or go home"

Lee

You got a problem with me. Use the PM button. If not go call some one else out. So what i build big. We all cant build little PD legs

Like I said, leave it as is. I don't think it needs to be messed with further. Sure, it would be nice to try and coax some to post work that they don't think is "worthy" of this site (something WW2 German related) and that isn't really the site's problem as I see it, but rather the person who thinks that. Most of our problems are in our own heads and self inflicted.

As for this idea that there should be a "Studio Replica" section open only to "100%" replicas, I can see that get boring pretty quick. Reason I say that is there are some models out there which have had the good documentation (i.e. quite a bit of the OT Star Wars stuff). But there are others that are going to be judgement calls due to a lack of research available. So whose judgement do we go by? Do we go by the builder's or some other standard? And what if the builder doesn't go about mounting any practical lights in his model or animation rod mounts, yet otherwise built and painted the thing to look dead nuts accurate to a studio model... is it 100% accurate? Where do you draw the line on what is an arbitrary standard at best?

In my opinion, if you limit things too far, some modelers will be reluctant to push the edge and just work on the same ole things. And when the same ole projects pop up, the browsing traffic goes down.

IEDBOUNTYHUNTER said:

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You got a problem with me. Use the PM button. If not go call some one else out. So what i build big. We all cant build little PD legs

Al ill say it here thank you very much, as stated, we know what you want, you want it all divided into a little snobfest, well, i thought you had your own forum for that no?
Sure you build big, and its impressive, but hardly a reason for you to cll dibs on a separate section because you feel above all this, which is a common trend, and the reason for this thread no?

Thats it, said my piece, so i welcome your witty retort, that will just now, eat static sir!

lee

JMChladek said:

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Like I said, leave it as is. I don't think it needs to be messed with further. Sure, it would be nice to try and coax some to post work that they don't think is "worthy" of this site (something WW2 German related) and that isn't really the site's problem as I see it, but rather the person who thinks that. Most of our problems are in our own heads and self inflicted.

As for this idea that there should be a "Studio Replica" section open only to "100%" replicas, I can see that get boring pretty quick. Reason I say that is there are some models out there which have had the good documentation (i.e. quite a bit of the OT Star Wars stuff). But there are others that are going to be judgement calls due to a lack of research available. So whose judgement do we go by? Do we go by the builder's or some other standard? And what if the builder doesn't go about mounting any practical lights in his model or animation rod mounts, yet otherwise built and painted the thing to look dead nuts accurate to a studio model... is it 100% accurate? Where do you draw the line on what is an arbitrary standard at best?

In my opinion, if you limit things too far, some modelers will be reluctant to push the edge and just work on the same ole things. And when the same ole projects pop up, the browsing traffic goes down.

Yes, leave it alone, my thoughts exactly, but, we go through this in spurts it seems of late, some think they are above the resin and kit builders etc etc, and demand there own island for some reason, maybe they are of a higher calling LOL.

lee

Maybe make a labeling system like in the junkyard? I don't know.

ralphee said:

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Yes, leave it alone, my thoughts exactly, but, we go through this in spurts it seems of late, some think they are above the resin and kit builders etc etc, and demand there own island for some reason, maybe they are of a higher calling LOL.

lee

Sometimes it takes more skill to make a resin kit look good than to build a model from scratch. I'm constantly amazed at what some guys do with a resin kit they buy.

Three things you just don't talk about in a bar religion, politics,
and the Studio Scale Section on therpf.......it's a fight every time!

3d-builder said:

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Three things you just don't talk about in a bar religion, politics,
and the Studio Scale Section on therpf.......it's a fight every time!

Roger that bro !

lee