In both videos and blogs I’ve discussed my notion that finishing a model is not always a single point, but rather a sort of continuum. At some point a “zone” is entered that represents a place that it could be declared complete, or the choice can be made to keep going.

It has been years since I built aircraft. Earlier this year I built a Trumpeter Seahawk. I enjoyed it, though admittedly it was a bit boring. So I chose this P-39 not only because I had always liked it, and it was familiar, but because I know that there would be more weathering opportunities.

Yet when I hit the “start of the continuum”, I had to face an uncomfortable realty: It was still kind of boring.

Certainly nothing was stopping me from just doing completely over the top weathering. (Other than me!) But it just didn’t fit rightly in my mind. And having done over-the-top aircraft weathering, I knew what it looked like, and how much fun it was.

It dawned on me that my initial enthusiasm in the fall of 2024 for getting back into aircraft builds simply did not stand up to the reality of doing them again. They’re not hard. They are fun.

Yet I discovered that my definition of “fun” has changed.

I will do aircraft builds again. But not with the frequency I’d anticipated this time last year. I have fully realized what Jon in 2016 would have found astonishing.

I’m a scifi builder.

One who is having fun.

Build where your joy is, friends.