Overcoming the wall

Let's start by saying that hitting a wall is perfectly normal and you shouldn't feel guilty about it - it doesn't make you less of a modeller.

Hitting the wall typically happens during a particularly challenging phase of the build - maybe a fiddly, highly detailed cockpit, maybe a radial engine with more parts than the rest of the kit in total! In fact, it can strike at any point - even during painting or decalling (an F-4 Phantom with 104 stencil details springs to mind!).

The wall is that point where you sigh inwardly and think, "I've had enough of this" and come close to throwing the kit in the bin!

For some people, the remedy is just to take a break from the workbench, but for others it can mean days or weeks away from the build, and it's in the back of your mind constantly nagging you and making you feel guilty - the longer you leave it, the worse it gets.

Here are a few tactics for overcoming the wall.

1. The instructions are a guide. You do not necessarily have to follow them slavishly from 1 to 1,412. Most kits can be built in modules. You can usually build the engine, cockpit, gear bays, ordnance, wings, tail feathers etc. in isolation. So, if you get bogged down on one thing, put it aside and go do something different for a while. Maybe make some bombs, paint some wheels, glue some wing halves together - you get the drift? All you have to make sure is that you inspect the instructions carefully to make sure you're not building yourself into a corner that'll require major surgery to rectify.

2. Some modellers I know have several kits on the go at the same time. Maybe a relatively simple build alongside a long-term mega project. This isn't a bad strategy if you have the discipline to go back to the mega build and not abandon it entirely. I advise no more than 3 models underway at any one time, otherwise you're well on the way to creating a "shelf of doom" which still be there in 5 years time and until you decide to consign the unfinished kits to the bin!

3. Just take a break from modelling for a day or three. Just until you find the mojo beginning to return. At that point, give your work area a good tidy, put a fresh blade in your scalpel and confront your demons. You'll most likely find it's not quite as tough as you'd imagined.

If losing momentum comes with perfectionism, distraction or overwhelm, our article on modelling with ADHD, OCD and a busy brain offers more practical strategies. For a manageable fresh start, see our guide to choosing an approachable aircraft kit.