What do you skip when building model kits?

[seadude]

Exactly as the thread title says. For one reason or another, some of us will tend to skip certain building steps and processes when making a model. It could be anything from certain photoetch parts to not painting certain areas which may be hidden on a model to lots of other things. And the reasons could be either due to time constraints or "I don't feel like doing it." or something else.

Anyway, what things do others tend to skip when building model kits for various reasons? One of the major things I tend to skip, especially on aircraft, are all the damn "NO STEP" decals/stencils.  I once did an F-4 Phantom a long, long time ago that must have had at least 75 or more of those bloody things! Never again!         

[Weaver]

The thing I want to skip is cockpits (and just paint the inside of the damn canopy black or blue), but I can never quite bring myself to do it. The cockpit is the number one reason why I lose enthusiasm and get stalled on a what-if build, because you can't do anything else until it's assembled and painted, but it's almost never the 'point' of the build, i.e. it's a modified airframe or markings that are the point, and the fictional aircraft would still have perfectly ordinarly cockpit.

[Steel Penguin]

generaly if it cant be seen I don't paint it, if it cant be seen and its not vital I provably wont even add it.

but undercarriages  defiantly them, it a good thing I make most of my planes as in flight for wargaming otherwise theyd go even slower 

[PR19_Kit]

What Weaver said, I generally DETEST cockpits, and avoid as much detail in there as possible.

That goes for any internal detail that you can't see once the model's on its wheels too, what's the point?

I try and avoid plastic aerials too, they only break off, so either I fit metal ones or leave them off.

[Gondor]

At the moment its finishing them     

Gondor

[zenrat]

 

On model cars I never fit the lower radiator hose or the interior rear view mirror

[ericr]

I tend to skip more and more 

[Army of One]

I love painting cockpits and bomb bays n stuff like that if it can be seen. I have to say wire Ariel leads and some of the multitude of miniscule that apparently cover modern jets are left off by by me...

[NARSES2]

I find painting cockpits and interiors in general quite relaxing.

But what do I skip ?

Stencils, unless I'm really in the mood and there aren't to many of them. My recent 109H is a good example. Some Phantoms are just daft 
Aerial wires, unless I'm in a really, really good mood.
Tiny parts that are way to small for my fingers/tweezers, again unless I'm in a really good mood and the model has gone well, then the "sticky pencil" will come out.

[Mossie]

Ejector pin and sink marks.  Not sure why but I've got an irrational dislike for sorting them out, I only fill them if they're really prominent, they might get a light sanding if I'm in the mood.

At the moment its finishing them     

Gondor

With you there!

[Leading Observer]

Stencils, cockpit interiors [I only do the bare minimum] and Pilot/Aircrew figures - I just don't have the eyesight or fingers small enough to make a decent job of them. which is surprising considering the years I spent painting and detailing Warhammer figures

[JayBee]

At the moment its finishing them     

Gondor

That is the one thing that really gets me.
Why?
Well I really hate masking and painting.

Mind you I also get fed-up with cockpit interiors, but most of that can be hidden with a suitably painted pilot/crew member in place.
Ah. Did I mention that I hate painting!

Then of course UAV's do not have on board pilots, so there is an idea for a diorama, A UAV with a somewhat remote driver/pilot/operator (don't know the right term to use there). One positioned on one table and the other on another table. 

Jim

[scooter]

At the moment its finishing them     

Gondor

Same here

Mind you I also get fed-up with cockpit interiors, but most of that can be hidden with a suitably painted pilot/crew member in place.
Ah. Did I mention that I hate painting!

For me, it depends on the scale.  1/72?  Transparencies get blacked out usually.  1/48?  Yeah, I do the interiors.  When I get to that stage.

Something else that drives me crazy is the chassis and drivetrain fiddley bits on wheeled vehicles.

[sandiego89]

I usually don't buy aftermarket detail kits.  I will buy special pops such as armament kits, alternate air wings in 1/700, or to make a different version etc. but not resin improvements, hyper details etc.

I also avoid radio wires, and other very small antennae.

I keep pilots/aircrew out. I usually display with wheels down. 

I also avoid hyper decals/stencils such as "no step" markings. 

I prefer realistic weapon load outs- not everything that COULD be carried. 

[Rick Lowe]

Yep, agree with not hanging everything off the airframe, just because it's in the box (though weapons are becoming rare in the base kit these days).

I like detailing up a cockpit, but sometimes I'll pose an aircraft in flight to avoid having to deal with painting and assembling landing gear and their bays.
Specially with a Whif, where I haven't given enough thought as to where or how the gear should go... 

Aerial wires don't usually work for me; I usually try using stretched sprue and if I don't over tighten it to snapping point, I'll knock the thing off in transit.