Sprue Cutters Union March 2015

Is Aftermarket the death of “real” modeling, or a boon to the builder.

I don’t know.  Am I allowed to say that?  I guess a lot depends on how you approach the hobby.  Are you a modeler who likes camo and markings and just wants to get as nice a looking model as possible in a reasonable amount of time so you can move on to the next kit you’d like to do?  Are you trying to produce an exact miniature replica of the prototype item?  Do you enjoy the scraping and scratch-building?

I really think that how you answer the questions above affects your attitude regarding aftermarket.  For me, I have different thoughts on it.  I think canopy masks are a gift from God.  A lot of resin is hit or miss, especially “upgrade” parts that are  no better than what they replace.  I think a huge amount of photo-etch is a waste, especially trying to reproduce a three-dimensional object with 2D piece of etched brass.

I guess my feeling is that if it helps you finish a model and helps you enjoy modeling and your finished model, then it is all for the better.

Another take.