What is your AM / PE decision making process?

[LyleW]

At what point do you stop buying for a build? Is there a kit price to PE price, AM price ratio? What guides your process? The cost of the Eduard set (50$) versus the cost of the B-29 (40-ish) got me to wondering...

[Medicman71]

Depends. I get most of my AM/PE at the model show. I can get most everything cheaply that way.

[RexCag]

I decide entirely according to what is needed.

1/72 Tigercats that I have, have crappy "revell-o-gram" donut tires, so I got resin wheels for all three. They don't even have crude wheel wells, so I got those. The engines are those nasty "molded bumps cast right into the cowlings" things, so I got those. And the kits come with NO cockpit at all, just pilot glued on a peg. So, I was glad that the two conversion sets had cockpits included in them. Then I had Vac canopies for the new rear seater, but, injected canopies for the front,,,,,,,so I got vac front canopies. All three kits came with those Monogram "three nose number" "as delivered" decals,,,,,,and they are Monogram decals from the old "thick, milky" days, so I got two Starfighter sheets for two of them, and the Lone Star F7F drone controller came with decals.

I am now within one front cockpit set, and one front vac canopy of having all that I need for the three different versions of Tigercat that I want to do. (F7F-3, F7F-3N, and F7F-2D)

(and as for coincidences, I just this morning started a "how much do your models cost" thread over on MM, haha)

But, really,,,,,,,I only buy AM for the places it is needed because something got left out by the model manufacturer, or for conversions. (F-4B/J right side consoles for the back seater come to mind)

[Medicman71]

I guess that I didn't really answer the question. Like Rex, I buy AM/PE if I know that it can enhance or replace a crappy or missing part on the kit.

[Thomas_M]

I am afraid there is no definite answer, at least for me. For Zoukei-mura kits I usually only buy the cockpit PE set, because the colour instrument panel is better (and faster) than anything I would paint.

Mostly my after market for an aircraft kit starts with precut canopy masks. For most tank kits with Friul metal tracks. To be followed by needed paints, if not in my stock. Recently I got a fan of Legend resin tyres for military vehicles.

I only stop with stuff that is not better, more detailled as the kit part. Or PE sets that are mighty expensive, as Lyle´s B-29 set.

[Tojo72]

I always try to build out of box.Some of the things I will add are: PE screeens,for me a must,AM indie tracks must replace crappy rubber band tracks.Some AFV's look better with a little stowage or a figure or two,But thats pretty much it on armor.

The last few planes I did were totally out of box as were the ships,but I did buy a wood deck for a future build,and I am interested in trying out some railings.

[mustang1989]

No barriers. Decision making process??? I just go for it.

[Stikpusher]

No real process myself. I look at what the kit offers and if I can dress it up some without breaking the bank, I will. On aircraft kits I am real fond of resin seats with harnesses molded on. They usually improve the cockpit by that simple addition. I am not overly fond of PE for aircraft and armor, but I do dabble in it on occasion. Replacement canopies I also dabble with now and again, usually because there is a serious problem with the kit part and I can not get a replacement from the manufacturer. Now AM decals, oh I am all over those!!! I have more for some of my kits than I have of that kit type. Guess Ill have to buy another kit of those. Don't tell mama. One other resin thing I like- Quick Boost stuff- they rock! I really love their .50 cal. barrels. Just adding those to any old Monogram bomber build improves the look bigtime. I mean their receivers look great- it is a big shame the molding technology of the time did not do so hot on the perforated barrel cooling jackets. Quick Boost replacement engines- sweet! I really do wish that they could come out with a nice set of USN twin mount .30s that were used on so many aircraft types in WWII.

Where I really have fun is coming up with stuff on my own instead of AM to dress up a build. But that is a dangerous path to go down. Well I added this, so why not add that... oh yeah, somebody with a penlight and dental mirror may be able to see in here so I should add something there...

[Jeeves]

If it comes in the kit I will definitely use some of it-- like was mentioned before- definitely grills on armor and fenders and the like. But to replace every clamp or lever- no never. I will occasionally treat myself to cockpit details in planes and such- love the Eduard painted stuff- but I will never pay more for the AM stuff than I did the kit. For armor and the like, I'll grab a Black Dog set since I love the look of them....having good tools has stepped up my game. My model buddies have provided great tools in sales- like the Ausfwerks Bendicator and the Grab Handler tools-- makes me be a bit braver in what I try...

[BlackSheep214]

I will use AM parts if I don't like the kit version - be it gun barrels on aircraft, engines, tires, or whatever. PE parts I will use if I want to add a little extra goodies to the kit. Aftermarket decals? Definitely. I will try and find them depending on the subject I've read about or seen pics of.