Old dog, new tricks

It's 2015, and the Sprue Cutter's Union is back baby! This time around Jon has kindly promised only a monthly topic, presumably so we bloggers have time to actually build models and not just write about them. Thank you, Jon! This month's topic, Old Dog, New Tricks, or, what new products and/or techniques will you purchase or attempt this year?

My friends know my biggest weakness. My basic assembly skills are mediocre at best. I'm not as diligent as I should be. I'm sloppy. I can do better.

It's with this self-awareness that I begin this new year as a scale modeler. I need to double-down and focus on the basic assembly and seam filling skills that many of you have mastered. I struggle with it, and I feel like it's holding me back, particularly at contests. (Not that I'm a trophy hog, which is one of those things we all need to forget about in 2015.)

My friends also know I'm not a big fan of the off-the-shelf finishing and weathering solutions that many of my Sprue Cutting colleagues have written about. But if there's one product I intend to try this year it's the building and painting stand that I bought at the IPMS Nats last year. I'm not sure it provides the precision alignment that I need, but I hope it helps me yp better assemble my aircraft.

Here are other Sprue Cutters who've written about their upcoming tricks.

Doogs Models
The Museum Modeler
Yet Another Plastic Modeler
Kermit's Bench
Motorsport Modeller
Shutter Ace
Eternal Wargamer