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Bad habits!

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Bad habits!
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, May 3, 2012 8:49 AM

I have two bad habits/problems when I sit down at  my workbench to work on models.  First, I have a pair of high-power reading glasses that work much better for close distances than my regular bifocals.  However, at least half of my building sessions I find after working on real sensitive stuff with small parts, I realize I put on my regular bifocals. It is just such a habit to reach into my shirt pocket for glasses, instead of reaching up to the tool backboard where my "modeling" glasses are.

Second, I have an apron along the front edge of the modeling bench.  I find time after time I sit down and my knees push that apron in under the bench, instead of taking the time to drape the apron over my lap.  It is not until I drop the first part on the floor, during each session, that I remember to drape the apron right.

I guess I am just too old to develop new habits :-(

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: near Nashville, TN
Posted by TarnShip on Thursday, May 3, 2012 7:20 PM


Don, don't feel too bad

I have at least one recurring habit,,,,that one that happens every start of session

The very first time I go to paint with the airbrush, every single first time,,,,,,I get it all set, and push the plunger down,,,,,and nothing happens,,,,,,,then,,,,,I connect the quick disconnect on the other end of the braided hose

after that,,,,,not every time, but far too often,,,,,,I push the plunger again,,,,,,,and realize that now might be a good time to start the compressor up and fill the tank

once I am over those two humps I am pretty much good to go,,,,,,unless I use a paint brush and go to clean it and find out I didn't get a jar of thinner to swish the brush into,,,,,or something equal to that, that should be automatic each session

 

Rex

almost gone

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Friday, May 4, 2012 9:13 AM

Don Stauffer

I have two bad habits/........

....... It is not until I drop the first part on the floor, during each session,....

I'd say you have 3 bad habbits!!!

1.Glasses...2.Apron...3. Dropping parts

Toast

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, May 4, 2012 9:18 AM

fermis

 

 Don Stauffer:

 

I have two bad habits/........

....... It is not until I drop the first part on the floor, during each session,....

 

I'd say you have 3 bad habbits!!!

1.Glasses...2.Apron...3. Dropping parts

Toast

Show me a modeler who doesn't occasionally drop parts and I'll...I'll....- heck I probably couldn't see him if you did show him to me- I couldn't find my glasses :_)

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Friday, May 4, 2012 9:34 AM

That's why I must have about ten pairs of Wally World cheaters around the house, getting old bites.

My biggest bad habbit is getting in a hurry and forgeting to test fit things..... ALL things, which would save a ton of sanding and "adjusting" later.

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 4, 2012 9:35 AM

I have three:

1) living life on the razor's edge

2) booze

3) drugs...

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Friday, May 4, 2012 9:51 AM

A little time in a Russian "work camp" will take care of the last two.

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Sarasota, FL
Posted by RedCorvette on Friday, May 4, 2012 10:04 AM

Modeling while drinking red wine.

Trying to catch Exacto knives when they roll off my workbench.

Mark

 

 

FSM Charter Subscriber

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Maine
Posted by Stage_Left on Friday, May 4, 2012 10:23 AM

RedCorvette

Trying to catch Exacto knives when they roll off my workbench.

Oops.... Black Eye

Tried that myself a couple of times, and discovered it's not beneficial to the continued pursuit of modeling.....

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, May 5, 2012 9:49 AM

RedCorvette

Modeling while drinking red wine.

Trying to catch Exacto knives when they roll off my workbench.

Mark

That is another advantage to having that apron in place. It has saved me from thigh stabs several times on occasions when I did remember to put it in place. My reaction times are not enough these days to catch the knife before it hits my lap.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

AT6
  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Fresno
Posted by AT6 on Saturday, May 5, 2012 1:54 PM

Never tried to catch the knife. I tend to keep my lap as far back from the bench as possible so I won't get a free vasectomy.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Carmel, CA
Posted by bondoman on Sunday, May 6, 2012 12:52 AM

My worst habit? I get that great new kit and my mind starts racing with all of the things I want to add. So I crack it open and pull the instructions and decals, then retire to the reading area and start to pull down books and old articles. Before you know it, I've lost either the cartoon pages or the decal sheet, or both. Can't tell you how many times.

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by mitsdude on Sunday, May 6, 2012 1:38 AM

Bad habit!!

Rubbing my eyes when I take my glasses off to do close up work!.............Not a good idea when you have an x-acto in hand or glue on your fingers.

Nothing has happened yet but I've had a few close calls.

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by waynec on Monday, May 7, 2012 9:13 AM
i do that too. get the squadron books and history books and carry the whole pile with me when i go out so i have something to read or from room to romm. opened a new set of instructions for lcs-1 while basking in the tub and the decals were inside and fell into the water. fortunately dragoncare sold me a new set. i have started making a copy of the instructions so i can write all over them. i also will carry half built models upstairs to work on when it's cold and downstairs when it warms up and some little part will fall off. i have corrected this by always putting the model in a box before moving. yesterday i spent 20 minutes looking for a part, decided i would have to fabricate one, looked again and i had already attached it to the hull. i do the same thing w/ xacto's, close in work, and no glasses. i can't use magnifiers, my eyeball/hand boreesight range is wierd. and i have "caught" a brand new xacto sideways with my thighs when it dropped. i am breaking this one. when wet sanding a small piece sometimes i just lick it instead of dipping it in water.

Никто не Забыт    (No one is Forgotten)
Ничто не Забыто  (Nothing is Forgotten)

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, May 7, 2012 11:30 AM

Probably giving up and moving on to another build rather then just finishing. I have improved in this area over the past year or so.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Monday, May 7, 2012 11:38 AM

tigerman

Probably giving up and moving on to another build rather then just finishing. I have improved in this area over the past year or so.

This is sort of on my list. Although it's not usually "giving up". I routinely get 99% done something, then start on the next kit... and realize weeks later that I still haven't finished the last one that only needed a pitot tube or other fiddly bits attached.

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: Bent River, IA
Posted by Reasoned on Monday, May 7, 2012 1:49 PM

tigerman

Probably giving up and moving on to another build rather then just finishing.

Hey, not sure of the armor version of the Mono B-36 but I'm THIS close to "moving on".

Science is the pursiut of knowledge, faith is the pursuit of wisdom.  Peace be with you.

On the Tarmac: 1/48 Revell P-38

In the Hanger: A bunch of kits

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 9:19 AM

Yesterday was a disaster, working on my Olympia battleship.  Was doing the PE railings.  Lost the first small section when I dropped it and it bounced off the bench surface.  Looked down- did not have the apron in place so it must have gone on floor.  Picked up the next piece, same size, figuring I'd look on the floor after putting that piece in place (I had gotten the message and arranged the apron), and quickly managed to drop that piece too!

It must have bounced off the apron, 'cause it was not on the apron.  So I have now lost three small sections of the PE railings, and Encore does not provide any extra!  Maybe canvas is not the ideal material for an apron, since it apparently does not catch PE perfectly.  On the other hand, I have found several PE pieces I did drop in my lap, but it is certainly not perfect.  Amazing how that stuff disappears.  Was actually thinking, maybe PE suffers from the square/cube law, like dust particles.  Because of the low mass per surface area, maybe it kid of floats on the air and slowly settles out, landing far from the location from which it was dropped.

I guess I need a check list-

     Apron in place- check

    Supplemental glasses in place- check.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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