A 'just wondering' poll

Shellback wrote:

My time spent at building models varies with the weather outside . This time of the year (its snowing and below freezing )i like to spend 2 to 4 hrs a day working on models . But when its nice outside (sunny and warm ) i'm lucky if i get an hour a month in on a model .

When it's nice and sunny and warm, an easy way to get in more modeling is to do it outside! You can enjoy the fresh air and work on your project at the same time! Here in Phoenix, today was a good day for modeling outside (low 70's) and I would have set up the outdoor workbench, but I only had an hour or so for working on the model and so I stayed indoors. Usually December and January are a bit too cold (low 60's--yes, I know that doesn't compare to snow and below freezing temperatures, but I'm a warm weather person) for modeling outdoors. On the other end of the scale, June, July and August frequently see temps over 110, so I hunker indoors with the AC.

I even have a separate set of modeling tools for my outdoor workbench, so when the weather's good, I can set them up without having to figure out just what I need from session to session; it's all there outside. The same portable toolbox is used for road trips; I've taken my project to California three times now and am planning to take it there again over the holidays.

OK, back to the original topic: My modeling time varies from week to week, but I probably average an hour and a half per session. After work or on my days off, aside from modeling, I like to listen to music or watch sports or do the occasional stint on the computer. 

I do a lot less now than used to due to my injury.  I have just recently  regained full use of my hands so I have been playing in my workshop for about an hour each afternoon. Any more than that and my hands get sore. I did three hours today and my hands are really aching Still, at least I'm happy!

berny13 wrote:

Some times I may go one or two weeks without touching a model and at times I spend all day working on one.  A lot depends on the mood I am in, other commitments, or how motivated I am on finishing what I have started.

That's pretty much how it works for me, too.

Any where from 5 to 20 hours a week.  I may be retired but I still have things to do around the home that keeps me busy every day.  Plus, I have other interest that takes time away from the model room.

Some times I may go one or two weeks without touching a model and at times I spend all day working on one.  A lot depends on the mood I am in, other commitments, or how motivated I am on finishing what I have started.

an hour during the weekdays... and then if I go on a sleepover to a friends, usually 6-8 hours that day.

So about 7-9 hours a week

While my time for modeling is pretty limited, I still don't spend as much time as I could.  Lazy?  Hard to think of it in those terms since this activity is supposed to be the antithesis of work.  So I try not to impose any schedules on myself, but I'm probably in the middle of that 5-10 hour a week range.  Since joining this forum, however, I have changed my modeling habits based on ideas from others, and that has actually increased the time I spend on modeling.  For instance, (I know this sounds stupid...) it never had occured to me to build more than one model at a time, until I realized that lots of you do it.  Consequently, my interest level now is sustained for much longer because I can get stuck on one thing and then work on another until I figure out what to do.  And I have something to do while waiting for paint to cure now.  I'm spending more "non-workbench" time on modeling now too, by checking in with this forum almost daily, reading more, and generally thinking ahead more about what I need to do and how to do it.  Mining this forum for advice has really reduced my trial-and-error time, so I'm enjoying the time I spend at the workbench more.  I won't always be able to control the amount of time I have for modeling, but I can control things like how many kits I build at a time, buying high quality kits, having the right high quality tools, and learning as much as I can from others.  This makes the time I do have more enjoyable, and I believe that ultimately that will also make me more "productive" (if that really matters). 

TomB    

Gee, since I started college I haven't had time to even touch a model, that's been months now.

Between school, homework, working on the building for the hobby shop, my kids and helping them with their homework, doing the Mr. Mom thing, wife coming home from work late and waking me up to tell me how her day went... oh heck, just shoot me already! 

Sad thing is, I pre-painted somewhere between 15 & 20 car bodies so I wouldn't have to spray them this winter. I just can't seem to find the time to work on any of them now.

Before all this crazy stuff, I would spent probably an average of maybe 15 to 20 hours a week modeling. An hour or two each week night and a few hours on the weekends with my son modeling with me. Now I just supervise him making a mess in the kitchen.

zokissima wrote:

I used to spend about 10-20 hours a week modelling. Slowly that's dropped down to 5 or less per week. I do consider myself a 'serious' builder, whatever that term means. Problems are work, school, and namely the girlfriend. I can go without watching TV or playing games, but I don't do too much of that as it is. Problem is, even if I'm in the same room with her, and we're both watching TV, just on the side I'm working on my model, she considers it as time not spent together, and bit#$3$, so the modeling time is going down further and further. Last week I spent no time on it whatsoever.

IMHO, I think you need to explain to her about "ME" time. That you can't spend every waking moment of everyday pleasing her, don't try to, its not fair to you. Don't neglect her or be a jerk, but be reaslistic, you do need time to yourself, that is one of those things that people start to crave after awhile. I would just explain to her that you need that time, and a few hours every couple days would help. Your relationship will improve, trust me, its something that you must have, the more she pushes you towards her, the more you will resent her, I can tell you already are starting to, just by the things you said. Trust me, if its a problem with her, there is a problem deeper than just you working on models. Trust can be an issue with some people, actually most, I struggle with it from time to time with my fiance, as does she... of course, being 350 miles away from each other for 3 years isn't helping that, but still! You need to sit down and have a serious heart to heart with her, don't be mean, and don't be a jerk or unrealistic about what you want, but be firm on what is important to you, and comprimise on the things that don't matter, and don't dismiss her feelings as BS, cause if she does feel them, they are real to her, and they should be to you to.  Granted, I don't know how serious your relationship is, but if it is worth keeping, then it is something I would do now, rather than waiting until its pushed you two apart. Remember one thing though, be honest, and don't let her guilt you into something you don't want to do! Good luck bro!

I used to spend about 10-20 hours a week modelling. Slowly that's dropped down to 5 or less per week. I do consider myself a 'serious' builder, whatever that term means.

Problems are work, school, and namely the girlfriend. I can go without watching TV or playing games, but I don't do too much of that as it is. Problem is, even if I'm in the same room with her, and we're both watching TV, just on the side I'm working on my model, she considers it as time not spent together, and bit#$3$, so the modeling time is going down further and further. Last week I spent no time on it whatsoever.

Jeez I wish I got that much in. Im lucky to get in two.

Maybe that needs to be my resultion, spend some time OFF the computer and away from the TV and on the bench.........

David

I`ll get in a hour or two in the evenings after work.

That can vary slightly depending on if I`m waiting on something to dry or set up.

If I`m not doing anything else on the weekend (smallbore, housework,yardwork;etc.) I`ll spend several hours on a project at one sitting.

I`m only doing one kit at a time so my builds take a bit longer. I`ve timed a couple and I take WAY longer than the build times listed in some of the FSM reviews.

With my work and college schedules, the earliest I get home is 6:00 at night, and that's only for two or three days (if I'm lucky!).  Many times I'm out until 9 or 10 at night, and usually have to get up at around 6 or 7 the next morning.  I try and get about an hour a night in if I can, but I think this last week I only got about 3 hours worth of modelling done.  (This week it's picked up a little, because I just began a rather extensive project, my Bv 222 Dockwagen)

I'm working on two projects right now simutainiously, but I only get about 15 min worth of work done on either project each night.  Unless I'm REALLY motivated, projects go really, really slow.  They pick up right about the time I prime them for paint, and after that I squeeze in every opportunity to finish them that I can.  It can take me a year to build something, and a week to prime, paint, and detail it.

Which reminds me... I get home early tonight.  Gotta get some work done! 

When i first start the build it's 1-2 hours a night.  When it comes to the later stages it's on the whim of the drying times.  I'm kinda weird in the aspect that i only have one build going at a time   I have to see it to the end or it drives me nuts

Wulf wrote:

Just a curiousity poll. Over a seven day period, how much time do you spend building

For me, there's no "standard" for the amount of time at the work bench. My building time will vary between 3 or 4 hours in a week to over 60 hours in a week. The amount of time really depends on several factors including such things as the specific point in construction, outside commitments, and my overall interest in the current subject. I would say my average time at the bench is somewhere between 21 and 35 hours per week. However, since I'm retired and not married, if you account for sleeping/eating/etc, I could potentially spend over 200 hours a week at the bench and no one would care...

i am with tigerman all the way on this one 5-10

now how about this guys how much time is spent on the forum vs actual modeling time   i see here on this question including myself some heavy duty posters

btw wulf  what is  w.o.w