Does painting mean covering the mistake?

[Turkic]

Hello everyone

 

First of all, I searched the forum but couldn't see a title. If there is and I didn't open it in the right place, I'm very sorry. 

 

While chatting with my instructor at the workshop today, I said that I wanted to paint the Taka I was working on. He also told me that you did good planking, I think we shouldn't paint it. He added that the painting process is to hide the error and defects, the wooden image reveals the quality of the workmanship. 

 

I would like to ask you if this opinion is valid only for my country or for the entire model shipping community. 

 

Yes, the wooden look looks very natural and beautiful, but I also want to paint my ships. I also want to make money in this business. What would be your advice on this issue? 

 

Yours truly. 

[Alvb]

Without knowing more about your specific case, I can say that color shows flaws more clearly rather than hiding them.

 

Bela

[JacquesCousteau]

I can't speak to what would make more money (from what I understand, model making is quite a tricky endeavor to make profitable). But as for paint vs natural finish, it's really a matter of style. Most workboats would have been painted or otherwise at least partially covered with some sort of material, like tar, as a protective measure. So if your goal is to make an accurate representation of what one of these vessels looked like, paint would be necessary. But modelers frequently avoid straight realism for something more stylized--think, for instance, of the many models out there with exposed framing. Highlighting the natural colors of the wood is a stylistic choice that can be quite nice. All of which is to say, painting isn't just to cover mistakes, but whether to paint or not is a stylistic decision for you to make based on what you're going for. 

[Ronald-V]

For me it's just a matter of taste/preference...that's all. Do you like a painted ship or just natural? But in terms of making money I wouldn't know to be honest. And yes you can cover mistakes with piant and filler, that's one of the benefits from painting a model  

Edited October 1 by Ronald-V

[OllieS]

If you want a model to look like real life then very good painting technique (weathering) can make it real.

Otherwise whatever is the most beautiful to you is best, painted or not.

[John Fox III]

Greetings,

I was going to paint my Lexington model but my wife complained that the woodwork was so nice, so I painted it right down the middle.

 

Anchor's A Weigh!

John Fox III

[ccoyle]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you like painted models better, then paint them. If a paying customer wants bare wood, then leave it bare!

[Dziadeczek]

Painting means painting...

[Dr PR]

If you want to make a living at modeling then you need to know what the customer wants.

 

It seems to me that there are three types of models. One is what the builder likes. The second is an attempt at historical accuracy. The third is a product that will sell commercially. If you want to sell your models you should investigate what is selling.

 

Some commercial models are cheap junk intended  as "souvenirs" for the average tourist who wouldn't know a ship from an elephant. Accuracy isn't important. "Pretty" is. They are for the tourist market, and are produced in large quantities.

 

At the other extreme are the very accurate models built to order for specific customers. These are representations of vessels in the state the customer wants them built. Look at some of Valeriy V's exquisite models for examples. These are one-off models built for a single buyer.

 

In between are builder's models and "Admiralty" style models intended to show the buyer of the real ships what they would look like. These tended to have lots of polished brass and varnished wood that wouldn't be seen on the real vessel.

 

What do you want to do?

Edited Saturday at 06:02 AM by Dr PR

[modeller_masa]

My understanding of modeling and painting is growing as I build more models. I said that the weathering is covering a mistake a year ago. Now I make a flawed surface to build intended weathering effects.  Control every mil and 0.01 millimeter.

[Paul Jarman]

I believe it is all down to personal choice. I personaly prefare to paint my models. The ones I have made from wood do look nice unpainted, but I find them much better looking painted. And also what type of ship you are building. I look at a lot of models  here on MSW and online and usually find that most of the masted ships do look better unpainted. However when I go on holiday to a coastal area and visit one of the harbours, especially a working fishing harbour I enjoy lookig at all the boats in all  their different colours and find a lot of inspiration for my own models. 

Paul

[Turkic]

Thank you all for your answers. As far as I understand, the responses vary depending on how we approach the subject. If there is a commercial concern, it will be about how to speed up the sale. I enjoy painting. Since it looks more appealing to me when I paint, I think that if I decide to sell this model as well, others who see it the way I do will also like it.

[bushman32]

For me, it depends on the wood I am using and what I am building. If I am using "cheaper" woods, such as basswood or poplar, or I am building a steel ship then I paint. If I am using finer woods, I leave natural. Personal preference to me. If you plan on doing commission work, then it would be up to the client.

[paul ron]

there are models that replicate the actual ships, where details matter to keep it authentic to its period and style. this takes alot of historic research. you wont see shiny brass cannons and beautiful woodwork, sheething plates are weathered and ropes are rigged for work instead of neat bundles. some go as far as making beautiful diaramas of battles or sails set to weather, even ships under construction. some show cutaways of lower decks and stowage areas with cargo n men at work all accurate to the mm.

 

then there are models that are considered craftsmen's ships. it doesnt have to be authentic to its period, not an accurate rendition; the builder took artistic licence for a particular look, such to show off the wood or  brass or sail configurations... a demonstration of his artistic skills. 

 

then we have artistic representations of what the builder imagins his ship should look like. maybe using plans as a starter but with frills n ornaments that didnt exist at the time but they look great. 

 

what it comes down to, its up to you! its your work of art and the only one to please is you. we are craftsmen, we are artists and recreators of time and imagination, dreams of the past. 

 

you have stepped into the twilite zone. 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 11:39 AM by paul ron

[GrandpaPhil]

I learned to paint from tabletop wargaming 30 years ago and I treat my ships as gigantic wargaming miniatures, and paint them accordingly to make them look as realistic as I can.  Mine usually featuring medium level weathering and techniques such as drybrushing and highlighting to bring out the detail.

Edited 6 hours ago by GrandpaPhil

[Ab Hoving]

What's wrong with hiding mistakes in model building? I make mistakes all the time and with every next step I try to cover up what I did wrong. Is that bad? At least it challenges my creativity.

As long as one likes what he is, doing every trick in the book is allowed.