And even as I tried to get into ss modeling, I found it really strange that people were making secrets about the kit part IDs (in my eyes really unneccessary ***). This and the price of the donor kits make it just very hard to get into this.
Yes this can be frustrating... However, I understand the secrecy. and here's been my experience.... a few dedicated people spend literally hundreds or thousands of hours pouring over every reference pic and model kit they can find built in the correct time era that the original model was built... they have devoted tremendous amounts of time and energy in learning what various parts really are. Then Jedi Dade comes along Newb to the hobby and says "Wow man that thing is totally awesome what's it made of... I'd like to make one". realize I'm one of hundred of emails that these guys got stating almost exactly the same thing... The response is usually something like - "Thanks, it s made of WWII kits and a lot of scratchbuilding... Study the reference pics and have at it." Some people (usually the ones that are not serious) are flattered they got an email back at all and a little pissed that they really did not get much info... others take it as "WWII kits huh", and start combing ebay for kits and start building "something close". At that point the original master builder usually takes pity on the novice and starts to offer tid-bits to see if they are really interested. The tidbits move to outright help...then move to casting up known parts.. and before you know it the novice is ID'ing kit parts collecting hard to find reference and returning the favor.
Now that was the beginning of the RPF... things have changed since the beginning for better and worse. there was a HUGE influx of new people. Most not serious modelers making all those requests to the few who had info... I'm sure it was overwhelming. The Flood made it a lot harder to tell the serious few from the dabblers who wanted some cool models, usually as kits. somewhere around there was when the forums got split into general and Studio Scale modeling forums.
The ONLY way to tell the serious from the dabbler was if they had actually built something - correct or not. Now the influx was not all bad. a side effect was that there were a LOT more people willing to attempt to collect reference photos, scan hard to find kit parts... Buy that stupid expensive rare kit and split the cost between. Eventually 3D model parts that were impossible to find.
But the evolution left some of the original guys with a TON of "secret" knowledge in the position of dealing with an stupid number of people that expected them to provide knowledge and expertise for the price of an email. Some of them stopped participating focusing on their own projects. Some of them embraced the challenge of having a large group of people to help them. Some of them started Replica model/prop companies. At this point in time there is more information about what part X is out there than at any point in this hobby...
But I totally understand the person that spent years acquiring the knowledge not wanting to send it out to "everyone". If for no other than the practical - as soon as kit XYZ is known to have a coveted part - the price goes out of control, as everyone and their mother tries to go get it... and it suddenly becomes scarce and hard(er) to find than it was.
So My advice - pay your dues a little bit. Build something and ask for advice. Build relationships and friendships, and you'll find that the people holding secrets really are not jerks... they just don't feel like spending their time with people who are not like-minded and willing to put in the requisite time to build the ultimate replicas. Building the ultimate accurate "anything" is a act of love, obsession, insanity... pretty much in that order. and if you're not willing to put in the effort - they are not willing to share. At least that's my experience
as with anything that deals with people, some of the replica Sages are more approachable than others. more willing to share than others. More willing to help than others. so in short - your mileage may vary
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Jedi Dade