About Me
Hi there and welcome to the Ben Builds Modeling Blog! Let me introduce myself, my name is Ben and I am a scale model builder. I started building models at the young age of 7 and I can honestly say that without a doubt, it was the start of something beautiful.
My very first model was a 1/48th scale, Monogram Ju-87D Stuka. My Dad and I built it at the kitchen table, with no paint or decals, just a little bottle of liquid glue and a Testors plastic drop cloth. We completed the kit in one evening, just a father and son, bonding and building under the glow of our kitchen light. As luck would have it, that single kit would help shape the next 30 years of my life! It kick started a lifelong love of history, airplanes and styrene!
Since then, I've built a lot of different models, from a variety of eras and subjects, but I still tend to focus on airplanes in 1/48th scale. More recently, I've been branching out and building 1/35th scale tanks, 1/24th scale cars and a host of various sci-fi kits. No matter which kit I build, I always try to learn something new and to test out different techniques. I consider that aspect, one of the perks of our hobby. It is never a dull moment on the bench.
Now trust me, even though I’ve built countless kits over the years, I am no expert. In fact I simply consider myself a well practiced amateur. I'm not quite a beginner, but I am in no way a pro. I can honestly say that this is a difficult hobby and one that requires a steady hand, loads of patience and a cool temper. No two models ever come out exactly alike and despite how hard we may try, kits are never without issues or challenges. But, therein lies the fun; you never know what you are going to get and that is exciting. At the end of the day, after all is said and done, being able to create something unique, from little bits and pieces of plastic, never fails to amaze me and I hope you will enjoy my approach to this awesome world of Scale Plastic!
My very first model was a 1/48th scale, Monogram Ju-87D Stuka. My Dad and I built it at the kitchen table, with no paint or decals, just a little bottle of liquid glue and a Testors plastic drop cloth. We completed the kit in one evening, just a father and son, bonding and building under the glow of our kitchen light. As luck would have it, that single kit would help shape the next 30 years of my life! It kick started a lifelong love of history, airplanes and styrene!
Since then, I've built a lot of different models, from a variety of eras and subjects, but I still tend to focus on airplanes in 1/48th scale. More recently, I've been branching out and building 1/35th scale tanks, 1/24th scale cars and a host of various sci-fi kits. No matter which kit I build, I always try to learn something new and to test out different techniques. I consider that aspect, one of the perks of our hobby. It is never a dull moment on the bench.
Now trust me, even though I’ve built countless kits over the years, I am no expert. In fact I simply consider myself a well practiced amateur. I'm not quite a beginner, but I am in no way a pro. I can honestly say that this is a difficult hobby and one that requires a steady hand, loads of patience and a cool temper. No two models ever come out exactly alike and despite how hard we may try, kits are never without issues or challenges. But, therein lies the fun; you never know what you are going to get and that is exciting. At the end of the day, after all is said and done, being able to create something unique, from little bits and pieces of plastic, never fails to amaze me and I hope you will enjoy my approach to this awesome world of Scale Plastic!
The Blog
This site originated as merely an alternative place to post my YouTube videos. I never really gave it much thought, I just treated it as a dumping ground, another doorway that led to my YouTube. But now, I think I want to try and utilize it a bit more and not just as a catchall for my video content. Hence the redesign...
For the most part, I want to try and post more in-depth looks at the kits that I build and the projects that I finish. I plan on posting mostly the final episodes of my different build series and include a write-up of my thoughts and feelings on the kit and the build. Of course, this is nothing revolutionary, but it should be fun. Plus, it is another way to access my content and a window into the madness that is scale model building.
For the most part, I want to try and post more in-depth looks at the kits that I build and the projects that I finish. I plan on posting mostly the final episodes of my different build series and include a write-up of my thoughts and feelings on the kit and the build. Of course, this is nothing revolutionary, but it should be fun. Plus, it is another way to access my content and a window into the madness that is scale model building.
YouTube
Besides this Blog, I also run a small YouTube channel devoted to the art of fine scale modeling (and yes, I consider model building a type of art). It's primary purpose is to be a visual diary, a continuing build-log of all of my recent projects and builds. However, it also serves as a way to interact with other modelers and to be a part of a larger community. Model building can be a very solitary hobby, but by using the power of the internet, we can all build with individuals from around the world, and that is amazing!
You will find mostly 1/48th scale aircraft on the site, but from time to time, I will also build 1/35th scale tanks, 1/25th scale vehicles and even a few sci-fi kits here and there. I try to show as much of my process as I can, speeding up the more monotonous aspects, like masking, applying decals, weathering or detail painting, but I always try and explain what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. More importantly, I will always try to explain the though processes behind my actions, in hopes that it might help other modelers and strengthen the wealth of knowledge in our vibrant community.
Over on my channel, you will find a wide assortment of build logs, chronicling my various endeavors as a model builder. You will also find stash updates, kit unboxings and tutorial videos, so I hope you will stop on by and checkout my content.
Mondays are my primary upload days, but I also will sometimes upload on Wednesdays and Fridays if the time frame requires it. Since I have a wide variety of modeling interests, I've also started a few specific build series that try and focus on each of these interests. They may not all run every week, but here are some examples:
- Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Since I enjoy all things Science Fiction, I will sometimes devote Wednesdays to builds that are sci-fi oriented. Kits will range in scale, but they tend to come from popular series like Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and others. Future builds may include lighting effects, but I am still new to that process, so that is on a case-by-case basis.
- 4WheeledFridays - Since I have been getting more and more interested in cars, I decided to start a series dedicated to cars and non-military vehicles. I've built a few so far and I've had a lot of fun, so I'll be doing more as my car stash grows.
Anyway, I hope to see you over on my channel, but until then, have fun, build something cool and enjoy my little world of scale modeling!
No comments:
Post a Comment