Losing interest in modeling

I loss interest all the time. I usually will split up my seasons. Spring and Summer I will spend most of my time flying R/C Airplanes then in the Fall and winter I work on the models on my bench and go to a model train club and do things there. This way, where ever I go I see others working on their models in one form or another and I keep my interests to a certain level.

It's called depression, man! get some meds-or beer! Remember, if a kit has you bogged down or frustrated-toss it or hide it. Life is short! try watching a favourite war movie-then modeling a tank, plane or figure from it (even think Civil War or Napoleanic).

I stopped building in 1980 and got back in about 16 years later. Like the others, when I feel a slump coming on, I build something totally different. I got in a rut with my planes, so I started building cars and sci-fi again. Had a blast. Built some fluff too, like the Jetsons spaceship and the Scooby-Doo Mystery Van for my son. Keeps you fresh. If that doesn't do it for you, then just go fly-fishing for a weekend. That always gets me going again :)

that's a good way for me to do it too, switch armor scale!!

I think it happens to all of us now and then.

Every once in a while, I'll switch to a different subject and build one (Heck, even changing scales can help) If you normally do 1/35 Armor, try 1/72.

Go into an actual hobby store and look at the different kit, maybe something will spark your interest. It doesn't matter that you may know nothing about the subject, just give it a go.

Happens to me all the time. Things I do during my 'slumps':
- read old copies of magazines. You forget about some of the cool articles.
- bench clean-up and reorganize
- practice painting (grab an old kit from the junk box and start practicing air-brush stuff.)
- spend more time on the forums
- test new techniques/tools/products - grab junk kit parts and test out new ways to mask, scribe, fill, polish ,weather, etc, etc.
- buy/build a new tool - a spray booth? a small hobby lathe??

Just a few ideas/things that work for me. They all keep me close to the hobby, but away from the frustrations of building the kit. Eventually the motivation returns and I charge head-first into building another "masterpiece" that falls short of my hopes and intentions! They may not be perfect (in my eyes), but they are getting better...

Murray

get pulled over by something that seems like a cooler model to build, is what makes most of my half--built

finescale brought me back home. I was discouraged by trumpeter's extremely bad representation of a T-72. I got a finescale of the month and something clicked. Right now, I have 1/72nd scale M-109 that needs tail elevators and canopies installed and paint to be applied. My main project right now is a BT-5 tank (coming along well.) After that, I have my precious to build, the IL-2 Sturmovik I got for christmas.

thingd that discourages me as an intermediate modeler is A) Models too hard to complete B) all those models SO close to being done when something goes wrong or you just got a cooler kit to work on C) MASKING CANOPIES and trying to close LANDING GEAR DOORS which are only supposed to be open but they have NO detail.

I stopped building models in 1990 at the age of 20. I just started again in 2003. Seems like that is common, stop modeling to enjoy those 20's. But now i enjoy building more than ever.

I hit the same phase at times, like others said I tend to switch genre or even material will help.
To be honest I tend to buld kits in waves current phase is plastic Bike Models, before that it was Resin Anime Kits, before that Plastic Model Robots, .....

Seems to be circular somehow and problem is I don't stop buying so when I hit a phase I tend to have a few kits waiting on the shelf, buld them till the subject matter bores me and switch again.

I also suffer from this problem for time to time, sometimes trying something different works for me (that why I got in to fiqures as a break from model railroading, its now one of my main interest). Another thing that helps to motivate me get is visiting hobby shops that display built kits or going to a modelling comp or display.

I lost interest in modeling in 1989 and then got back into it in 2002.
mark956

Yes I agree almost everyone goes through that phase. Youre still very much interested in models but not inclined to build. It could mean a lot of things, not least of which is the fact that you may be burned out.

What I usually do is start building small and simple kits (usually figures as I dont have to fire up the compressor and airbrush and clean afterwards). Finishing one kit gives me a sense of accomplishment and I end up wanting to do better. That would get me in the groove again.

The problem with shows and magazines is that you get inspired by a great looking model but then, just as you cut open the plastic packaging of the kit, begin to realize how tedious the process is trying to replicate the feat (not necessarily the same subject). You can then fall back into the slump and simply look at the next great looking model that comes along.

I've just recently returned to modelling after taking a 6 month break from modelling. But it does help to switch subject matter like others have stated on here...Don't worry you have plenty of company!

Regards, Dan

Oh Ya ..... sounds familiar .... my last major slump lasted for 5 years. Then it was a non-modelling friend asking 1,000's of questions that kick started me back into the hobby.
You never know exactly what will get you going again .... staying in touch with other modellers will certainly help so stick with the forums.

Happens to me on a regular basis, which can be a problem when customers are awaiting patterns..! Thanksfully, my #bad' spells never last very long. Even if I'm not wanting to build a kit, I'm always getting mags (such as FSM) and books because I'm really interested in history, and I always end up seeing something that I really want to model...

Do not despair! Look out for inspiration.

I would have to agree with Mark. I think everyone suffers through this at some point and time to some varying degree. I got burnt out on cars upon my return, so I went back to AC, and have also been working on a tank as well. Switching subjects may not work for everyone and it doesnt always for me. Another thing you may want to do is try something that might be quick and easy to build, that away you've built something and its done. Magazines modeling or not can sometimes cause sudden spurts of inspiration. Right now I have a few kits stuck in the motivational void, they've been started but I just can't seem to get them finished.

Try switching subject matter. If you always build aircraft, try a car..
If you get bogged down by superdetailing, try box stock for a change.
Go to a show. When I lose my motivation to build, I go to a show or buy a new model magazine to get some inspiration. It works for me.

Best of Luck