Here's one for you :
Why do we seem to be more relaxed when we can build models ? Good question, right ? Well , I think it comes down to many things starting with safety .Safety you say ? Huh ? Well think about it . You are in your home which you are working to keep up for your family and yourself .Your family members are around and the world is shut out for a time .Your Missus is doing her thing and you yours . What's wrong with that ? That is the Safety of a man's castle and those within .
Sanity :Well this is open to conjecture .Many folks think model builders , both male and female are nuttier than fruitcakes .Why ? Well , look at us, We quibble about paint , parts , accuracy, authenticity etc .The last two are NOT the same either . How many of us quibble about price ? Everyone . I think I can safely say a few hours a week at the bench on my own projects gives me satisfaction that I can still create sanely and sufficient to my emotional needs .And what are those you ask ?
They are quiet , gentle music in the background and a furry critter sitting or laying between my feet , purring , and just the me time . I get my thoughts in a line instead the day's jumble and actually solve problems not of a modeling nature while putting , say those w/t doors on a scratch-built ship . I am not dealing with taxes , groceries , laundry , roofs or car problems or health matters .I am just sitting making this item come alive with detail . Just like I planned !
There are those of us who worked hard till a few years ago and we had High Burn-out jobs .Did we cave , Nope ? Why ? The sanctuary we could go to in our homes and create whatever to get our minds calm and secure that we did the right thing this day .How do we end it ? Calmly saying G'Night to our spouse if we have one and cuddling our way to dreamland .
If we can go to sleep not worried about things we will sleep better and sounder . Sleep also gives the mind time to do two things .Prioritize the days problems and then to solve them and also to allow new ideas or old ones in a new jacket to pop in and help solve those mental dilemna's we faced in the day and in our modeling .
What can satisfy a model builder more .? this is up for grabs , But I should think it is completing another miniature of what we like , to our expectations and then putting it out on display for everyone to admire .C'mon now , don't tell me you don't like praise ! everyone does. Maybe your praise is inner .This is allowing you to go to your LHS and by the new one you have had your eye on .After all doesn't a well built model deserve a reward .Like say a new one to build or add to the stash ?
Me , now : what do I build them for ? Sanity , Heck No ! I ain't got any of that left ! I just build and scratch - build because I don't know any better ! Really as the days get shorter in number I feel driven to create just about anything . Just to leave my mark on the world .
Why ? have you seen a grave yard ? Not one stone says " I Lived well as I could and enjoyed life " See there is a unique thing about creating .Whether it is from a box of parts or a pile of raw materials .I do believe modeling one's favorite subject says it all .
I would soar in the heavens .I would take this heavy machine and make the world safer .I would drive this car if I could and I would captain my own ship on the high seas proudly . Models enable us to let our mind travel those places we haven't yet .So let's do it ! Happy Modeling !! .T.B.