Modeling Blues

I think weve all had this problem. Im going through it myself at the moment. I usually just wait it out till the inspiration hits again.

Well, it's fairly simple for me. I have a few different hobbies, but rarely all at the same time. When I don't feel like doing one, I switch to another for a while. Then when I get tired of that one, I do a different one, and so on. I rarely stick to one hobby for more than a few months, so when I come back to it, it feels new and fresh to me!

Could be it's just that particular kit?

Sure have. Had a Dragon Panzer IV that I was working on late last spring and just flat out lost interest, so I left it alone until sometime in November. One day I walked by it and it looked cool again and I sat down and finished it, have been going strong since. I'm sure that I'll have another lapse but I really am not concerned since this is a hobby, it's supposed to be enjoyable. When it gets to the point where it's not a hiatus is in order. Don't worry, it'll still be there when you get back to it.

Mark

I sometimes have the same lack of enthousiasme. I often just start a new kit, something quick and easy. Or I read some books/ watch movies about my modeling subject to rekindle my intrest.

I mostly had this problem when I tried to build models for contest. Each discovered flaw was a huge mental setback for me because I tried to build a perfect model. As a result my building slowed down to a glacial pace. Each stage of building was redone in trying to achieve "perfectness".
Nowadays I build with a different mindset, I want to enjoy the proces of building, not the endresult. The funny thing is, as a result of this change I build more models a year and there genaral quality has gone up. This is because my skills have gotten better from building more models.

I quite frequently take a break from a complicated project to work on easier projects.  For instance, my ship models are all pretty complex, long-build-time projects. I have two shelves above my bench for work-in-progress kits. I dump everything in the box (sometimes need a larger box) and put it up on one of those shelves while I do a simpler project.

Trouble is, now, those shelves are full.  I will have to figure out which is the oldest project and come to grip with the fact that I probably am not going to return to it, and dump it.  I have done this before.  You do have  to occasionally cull out those never-to-be-completed projects.

I find after taking a sabbatical for a simpler project, when i do return to a WIP I am more refreshed and can move along.

Do something else,You don't want to force yourself to do a hobby.It will come back sometime.

I get it with every kit. I get all excited when the build starts then my interest wanes. That is why I build so slow.

Been there and done that. I usually come out of the gates strong, then slow down when it comes to the tracks or painting and weathering. Good idea on reading some books or watching some documentaries.

Perhaps switch to another subject. If you burned out on tanks, perhaps build a plane.

Play Panzerlied on youtube and crank up the volume.

I've come to realize that ANY hobby is a long story of ebb-and-flow interest, and that keeps the batteries fresh.

Change genres, try a car, or a plane, or something completely out of the ordinary,. That usually works for me.

Just do it...

[quote user="the doog"

I've come to realize that ANY hobby is a long story of ebb-and-flow interest, and that keeps the batteries fresh.

Change genres, try a car, or a plane, or something completely out of the ordinary,. That usually works for me.

[/quote]

I agree. My interests are more centralized around WW1- WW2 period, though an occasional MiG jet or car helps relive the boredom. Since I like pretty much most types of equipment, I can fluidly switch from armor, ships, and aircraft. If I really get into a rut, then I do two or three projects. That way it keeps interest up. I am currently working on a Revell 1/48th Dornier Do. 335, Trumpeter 1/ 350th Pola 1941, and a scratchbuild of a towed gun. Plus, if you get annoyed with a kit, scratchbuilding is entirely freelance and doesn't require resources, only your head, you can build anything you want!

If you think as a hobby scale modeling is monotonous, then think again. One of the few reasons my Dad stopped was because he worked at a hobby shop in Northridge. He said all he really built was German armor, Panzer 2's, 3's and 4's. It became so boring he stopped and is now into woodworking.