Conversions: Can you "see" the end result?


This thing looks like a joke

I was thinking about this while I was working on a Land Raider Crusader. I'm at the point where I'm painting it, but I stopped and looked at what I had sitting on my desk in front of me and thought about how it's going to look in the end.

I realised that the steps I'm taking now, while they don't immediately make it look finished, are smaller steps towards getting there. But it's not just the painting, it's the construction of the thing to.
Following the instructions in the box gives you the results in the picture. Converting is another thing all together. There are no instructions to follow, no guidelines to get you to the results you want.

But I know this model will work because I can "see" the end result in my head... despite what's sitting in front of me.

I always figured everyone could do this.
You know, imagine what something will look like when it's finished.
But not everybody can. I can only "imagine" that it's that much harder if you can't see the end result in your mind while you're working on something, especially a conversion or scratchbuild where you may not have directions for the thing to begin with.

So I stand here at my desk, frantically working, jumping from paintbrush to paintbrush, color to color, working on this Crusader. Some parts I know to wait until later to paint, some parts I finish right now.
Certain things are left until the end to build, some are complete but just not attached to the model.

I think if my Wife walked up right now, she'd ask,
"How do you even know what you're doing?"

I'd have to tell her, "Hmmm... good question Dear, I'm using the force."
Actually I'd ask her, "What, you can't tell?" and fake some kind of disgust to which she would probably just smack me and tell me to get back to work.
I wish I could have seen that coming.


Ron, From the WarpIf you've got any questions about something in this post, shoot me a comment and I'll be glad to answer. Make sure to share your hobby tips and thoughts in the comments below!