Does extreme realism outweigh artistic license when modeling large naval vessels?

I think a lot of people quit when the project starts demanding real dedication to detail. For me, fidelity is the only way to go. When you are working on a massive piece like a carrier in 1/350, the tiny things are what communicate the quality of the build. It is easy to want the final result to look 'dramatic' on a shelf, but that usually involves rounding off edges or obscuring hard lines.

My rule is that you should aim for absolute accuracy in the panel lines and structural components. On my latest ship, I spent nearly a week just focusing on the weathering of the superstructure using thinned pigments to simulate rust bleeding from various fittings. That stuff looks more realistic than any pre-fab decal. It is the precision of those little mechanical details that makes a difference in the overall presentation. Yeah, it takes a lot more time than what many of the casual hobbyists invest. But when you look at the finished model, you realize the accuracy is what transforms it from a piece of plastic into a genuien representation of the history. I find that making those tiny compromises in the detail ruins the entire effort.

I usually lean towards the artistic side when I get to the painting stage. After spending weeks perfecting the structural lines of the superstructure, the choice to slightly soften the overall look isn't about disrespect to the historical model. It's about how light interacts with the finished piece. If every panel line is razor sharp and deep, the model can start to look a bit like a blueprint, losing the sense of being a powerful machine at sea. I've found that when I start using a more diffused wash technique instead of aiming for perfect panel lining on every rivet, the whole scene feels much more cohesive and less aggressive.

I'm pretty new here so not sure if my take even counts, but I mostly build small stuff like 1/72 planes on my desk, and honestly I flip flop depending on my mood. Some weekends I'm counting rivets, other times I just want it to look cool from a metre away. What helped me was deciding before I start who the model is actually for. If it's me, I take shortcuts. If it's for a contest or my dad's shelf, I slow down. Maybe that's a cop out answer for a huge project like yours though. Do you find your answer changes the longer the build drags on?

Honestly it depends how far away the thing will be viewed from, ha. My Hiryu sits on a high shelf and I swear nobody can see the details I lost sleep over. I'd say figure out your sightlines first. If it's a coffee table piece, sure, go wild with the drama. Mine's basicly a silhouette from where people acutally stand, so the tiny stuff was mostly for me anyway.