. This is beyond the skill of some modellers whilst others are put off by the mere mention of things like soldering irons and airbrushes. If only they could psyche themselves up they might well be surprised at how much easierit is than they imagined and, more importantly, how much more satisfaction they will get, even if the results fall short initially. You only find out what you can do by trying!
I sense this moving into a whole new can o' worms now
I agree entirely with the sentiment, but as to specific skills, the details differ from person to person. I'm a reluctant solderer (wiring only AFAIC, cos glue wont do that job
), and I havent used an airbrush for years (too much faffing about for the type of work I generally do). But there are plenty of skills that I do enjoy exercising, so I concentrate on those rather than my deficiencies or 'blind spots'.
But I think you've hit an important point in that the main reason preventing people trying new skills is fear - and I dont think it's really the fear of wasting a few quid on a model or materials, but a fear of failure. And that's something they have to address for themselves, no amount of discussions on forums will push through that particular barrier.
I understand that not everyone has the same aptitudes and that craft skills like woodwork and metalwork are perhaps not as instilled in people at an early age as they once were, but it does baffle me why someone comes into a creative hobby without wanting to use or develop some sort of skillset.
Something topical and that's sort-of relevant here is the S4 Society's recent marketing of Bachmann 25s, ready converted with Ultrascale wheels. Now I've no doubt that this, just like the Dapol wagons, will be hailed by some as a praiseworthy move to get people involved, but I have my doubts. Rewheeling a Bachmann diesel is one of the easiest things you can do to get started in finescale (other than perhaps putting EM or S4 wheels in a wagon kit - but some wont even try building a wagon kit...). But anyway, if they're put off by a simple hurdle like that, how will they cope with point construction or other practical skills?