why?

Karl,
It's really good to know that someone else loved the carriers as much as I did. 2 deployments to the gulf, and that was enough for me. At least my food was free...

What squadron do you fly with? Maybe we've served some time together.

I fly EA-6B Prowlers. 500 or so hours and 160 traps so far. If the docs let me back in the saddle I'll be adding to that shortly.

Why Navy? because ANYONE can land on 2 miles of concrete

Seriously, I always wanted a part of carrier aviation. There are drawbacks - having to pay messbils instead of getting per diem, longer deployments (though for me its not the length of deployment but the coming and going itself that sucks), and oh lest I forget the inky black trap on the pitching deck. But when I was a kid I remember thinking "hey flying looks pretty cool - but flying from a ship, that looks REALLY cool!" And at least in this one case, I managed to prove myself right for once...

I like how it puts history at my finger tips and the feeling of obligation to do history justice. Having said that I am not a rivet counter, I figure they are putting undue stress into a relaxing hobby. I guess I do it for the history and brief moments of solitude it provides. Model building also balances nicely with my other two passions-furniture building and firearms.

Karl, you know my wife was smart in making me do my modeling in the basement with the washer and dryer. She finds that I can manage to get the laundry done at the same time too. Oh, and I actually more listen to the race than watch it. Allthough I look right up to catch something quickly (crash, pitstops, etc).

Karl, which aircraft did you fly for the navy? And, what made you choose the navy over the af ?

One of these days I need to figure out an arrangement that will allow me to see the tube (read: ball game, NASCAR, etc) from the workbench. Oh well, guess that will be the NEXT move....

No come back to the zinger though - ya got me. Maybe I'll think of something when I'm doing laundry.

Leave it to an officer (airdale no less) to be LONG winded.
Sorry Karl, but it was an open invite.
Seriously I wanted to say something like you did but being an enlisted the only thing I got to fly was the cargo compartment of helo's off of an LPH. As a PC I got to fly ashore from time to time.
Your right about the modeling & tunes. Only with me I found that if I have a TV right beside me with the NASCAR race on it's just as good. And that 4 hour race seems alot shorter.

Gee Gus, that's funny - I think the same thing about flying from a "real" runway! Call me crazy - after my first cruise and first 160 traps, I found 2 miles of asphalt to be rather anticlimatic... :)

OK, in the spirit of the thread, my reasons can be lumped under the "for enjoyment" department.

-It's relaxing. Just me, the kit, and the tunes. It can go as fast or as slow as I want - there's no deadlines.

-Creative outlet. I get to see it go from a pile of plastic to a 3 dimensional replica of something from real life - and it's MY abilities that determine the quality of that replica! Along with that, its fun to see my completed projects on the shelf and to share pictures of them with supportive friends and other modellers. The way the displayed projects and pictures start conversations is pretty rewarding, and it's a private thrill to see the progression of my skills.

- The subject itself. I mainly build jets - some of them ones I've been in, other's that I've been in some sort of proximity to (ie, I never flew in an F-18, but I've been in the pattern and on the flight deck with 'em). I guess it goes in with the creative outlet thing, but it's cool to bring to life a mini version of the same machines I've worked in or alongside (well, OK "work" is a bit of a stretch). I've also started building WWII and early postwar birds, and when i do those I really enjoy learning about them, and watching planes I've only seen in books or on the History Channel come to life in "living color" is really fun - at the same time, I can't help but feel a bond, a sort of "institutional lineage", with aviators of yore. Like when I build a Wildcat or Hellcat (since I too fly a Grumman product from a flight deck), it's a really neat feeling that's sort of hard to describe. Or when i do an RAF warbird - Churchills quote about "The Few" sort of echoes when I do one of those.

Oh, and there IS a sense of accomplishment when i finish one. That way I don't feel quite so lazy for not doing dishes! :)

Well gregers, I will bet money that if I did bring my models outside, in about an hour they would be a pile of bubbly plastic, but i dont do that. Being inside with my good friend the a/c unit running at 68 degrees is why i love modeling, its indoors. Therriman, i think when I wrote that my mind was in one place and my fingers typing something else, I meant to say the f-16 workhorses of the airforce. Refering to the f-18's i would want to fly those to become a blue angel but, to get there i would have to fly them off of and land on a runway the size of a couple of football fields and i dont want to do that.

i build to for my own purposes (relax, get away from school, etc)

and for money: i sold a couple for a healthy profit... and im a control freak when it comes to models.

my models are SO MUCH BETTER than "The Pro" on ebay (Pro built model) but i ocasionally leave a joint or two unfilled cause its like 3x3 mm

Hi Gus. Not meaning to nit-pick, but F-18's are flown by the Navy and Marines. The Air Force doesn't fly it.

Hi Gus. 110 degs? howdya stop your models from melting? LoL Greg

I model for a couple of different reasons than others. The main one is.... it's so dam hot here. I live in AZ and maybe some of you know on an average day it get into the 110's. The second reason is I like the subject content. I want to go into the airforce and fly f-18's so I love modeling any airplanes. One day I hope to be good enough so people will want to buy my models.

I'm pretty much the same as the rest.
I find it relaxing
I have a sense of accomplishment when I complete the kit (especially if I'm pleased with the result)
If a friend looks at one a "gushes" over it, I feel quite proud. (not that I get a big head or anything, I wouldn't do that! )
As others mentioned, I consider it my "artistic outlet". Since I have no real artistic talent of my own I can build someone elses kits and make them resemble something!

Besides what else could I spend thousands of dollers a year on beside women and alcohol!!!

Eric

As suspected, every one posted pretty much the same response. But, there are several out there who build for others. I know of several who are exceptional builders that will build custom models for clients. Why not, if you are that talented, make a few bucks, or a bunch. They also build for themselves. Me, I am not talented this is my "creative" outlet, and when one of the pros says my stuff is really good, well that's likethe proverbial gold star award.

I agree with oz1998 no pressure you can just focus on what your doing and let the little kid in you come out. Plus its cool when your friends see a finished model and say things like "wow i wish i could do that" ! Now if i can just keep my friends from trying to pick a model YIKES!!!! DONT TOUCH THAT!

Hi All.

I build kits because I enjoy it. It takes me away from my job and helps me chill out and relax. I do it because I love it.

Regards,

Darren.

I build mostly for the same reasons everyone else has mentioned. For me, it's also an outlet for creativity, expressing yourself and promoting all around "wellness". As a WW II buff myself, it's awesome to see your favorite ships and planes come to life by your own hand. But, building also brings me back to a time in my life as a youngster when there were no pressures, deadlines, or other things that we have to deal with as adults. With every project, a little bit of the kid in me comes back. And that is good.

I feel the same way as you, Piers. I build models because it's something that I am in complete control of. I don't have to worry about whether someone else is doing their job or whether I am doing a good enough job for someone else. I set my own standards and like Piers said, if it doesn't meet my standards I can redo it until it does.

Ray

Simply - I like airplanes - and since I can't fly by myself, I build models ! Aleksander

Me, i'm a self confessed control freak! When I close my hobby room door, open the window and turn on the tunes I'm in control of what I'm doing! If it turns out the way I wanted it then great, on to the next step; if it didn't, so what, tear it down and start again. to me its the process I like, I'm not as interested in the end product!

I've got bad eyesight, so models are probably as close to any sort of military equipment as I'll ever get

I like to build cause it relaxes me from a pain in the arse day of being a soldier!
jk, it relaxes me and gives me something to do with my hands, I love building things so it goes along great with my lifestyle.
Also I enjoy trying to get as realistic with the kits as the vehickles I've driven:M109A-5, M-109A6, M-113, M-577, M-1074/1075 PLS's ( if someone ever makes a kit of one!!!) etc etc etc........ or been on, I know that almost all the kits aren't 100% authentic so when I find the differences from the real ones learning how to build that section or item is a great learning experiance for me.

May St. Barbara watch over us all!

I like to build WWII aircraft because I like WWII aircraft. Since there's not a whole lot around these days (and I can't always make a pilgrimage to an air museum) I built models to bring me closer to them. This article written by Lee Kolosna at modelingmadness.com says it best for me:

http://modelingmadness.com/musings.htm

As Hanibal from the A TEAM said " I love it when a PLANE comes together " feeble jokes aside i build for my own enjoyment and relaxation, to get away from everyday life and work and to experience the buzz that creating something gives. My other hobby is vehicle resoration and that gives me just the same feeling but it is much more long term. one of my current projects is a 1957 landrover that i have been working on for two and a half years and it will be at least another two to three years before it is complete so modeling is a sort of "quick fix " for me . as i said on another thread its "whatever rows your boat". Have fun and never mix up your eye drops and your superglue!...Greg

Tigerman said it all...

I enjoy the research as much as I enjoy the building aspect of it. I think of it as art and its enjoyable to see it coming together just like it was being built at the factory. As a history buff, what's better then seeing the tools of war in miniature come to life right in front of you. Of course its a great excuse to getting out of chores around the house. Seriously, its a relaxing, enjoyable hobby that you can do into your Golden Years. I hope to pass my love of modeling onto my grandkids someday.

I build subjects that I'm interested in and ones that I can add a little bit of "me" into. In turn I always learn something new about the subject I've built. I also love to open a new kit and look over the pieces and think of what it will look like when it's done and that gives me the chance to go through my spare parts box and after market pieces to find things to make the kit uniquely mine.

I find my Zen(happy place) when I build.
I am able to focus on only only one thing and theirs no deadlines,budgets or quality problems to worry about.
I am one with the model.
(Wow that sounds a little earthy does'nt it)