Phycological Profile

I'm not sure, I was thinking perhaps the descriptive "small minded" (pun intended) works well. :-)

My wife would probably say obsessive compulsive (gotta build....gotta build), anal retentive (super detailing freak), parochial (is there a more beautiful aircraft than a P-51? And how many 1/48 P-51's can one person build?), and sometimes selfish (it isn't a team sport, is it?).
At least I can remember my daughter's names and birthdates...............and my wife's.
Cheers
LeeTree

Don't forget we are prone to have sticky fingers.

Along the same lines. When you tell non-modelers you build models do they give you that "look". I get it all the time so I must not fall in the category of "Tipical Modeler"

Oh, yeah, the 'Airfix' kind of look... "Poor guy, he's still playing with Airfix models..." That's when I get the closest to being a mass murderer...

I mentioned it to a cloeague at work and was promptly labelled an 'Anorak'

A deeply derisive term in the UK, usually reserved for people who collect train numbers!

Oh well he spends all night in front of his PC at home writing programs!

Yup.. I get the same thing. Thats why I don't mention it normally, until I get to know the person a bit better. And still.

I'm an anorak and proud of it! And if anyone has any trouble with that, I can always scratch build a teeny tiny voodoo version of 'em.. Muhuhahahaaaa

I think a lot of folks (who are ignorant of what we do) tend to view this hobby as infantile. I've had quite a few folks tell me that they used to do this when they were kids, using the attitude and speech inflection that maybe I would do well to grow up and get a life like them. Sorry. I'll just be content to remain a kid, thank you...

Of course, the other side of this tends to be amusing. My family will receive phone calls from acquaintances wanting to speak to me, and my wife or daughter will say that I'm modelling, and these folks suddenly get the mental impression that I'm out doing a men's clothing catalog shoot for Sears or something!

Gip Winecoff

I usually don't tell people I am a modeler. I just wait until they come to my house where they can see my work. Once they see I am not just playing with toys they respect my hobby. The few I have told about this hobby have also given me the "look."

But to answer the question:
I have notice primarily two groups of modelers at the model shop. There is a very closed minded group which thinks if you don't build models their way you are doing it wrong. Luckily this group seems to be the minority. Often I hear modeler friends refer to some of these guys as "rivet counters." And it is true these guys are always "rivet counters" but "rivet counters" are not always these guys. These guys are only interested in the finised product; "how accurate is it" "are the colors right" etc....

The second group, which seems to be the growing majority is a "build what make you happy" group, like most on these forums seem to be. Don't get me wrong many of these guys are obsessed with accuracy, but they have the ability to respect the work of others even if that work doesn't meet their personal standards.

My wife says I regress to puberty whenever I get out the glue ...
Not sure if that is typical or not but there you are.
Bruce

Well, my missus just thinks i am totaly mad (she being a nurse), be it with kits - buy plenty - start quite a few -finish a couple, cars( recently bought a leaky, cold, slow, noisey,draughty old landrover and am selling my rangerover -very cheap if anyones interested) jokes-the ruder and cruder the better, and even my eating habits, i can't see what's wrong with fried egg and cheese sandwiches????. i must admit that i havn't had anyone that i have told about my hobby give me "the look" i supose that most folk fall into one of two catagories, those that have built some kits when they where kids and have some respect for the skills that are involved and those that look on them as toys that are just for kids. i even took one of my kits into work to show a college of mine he is into space and nasa in a big way and i took the monogram X15 to show him and he was rather impressed, he even told me about a model shop within 10 miles of here that i didn't know about and he was off there to buy a kit and have a go himself. anyways i talk too much (another symptom i suppose) so i'll sign of now. Greg

I wargame, play Dungeons & Dragons, paint all kinds of miniatures and I do scale modeling. I probably watch the History Channel more than any other.

I guess I learned a long time ago not to worry about what people may be thinking about me

DJ

Here's an observation I've made:

- put a bunch of model builders in a 'forum' like this and you won't be able to shut them up. Some of the nicest, most sincere, and interesting people you will ever meet. Always willing to reach out to a fellow modeller and offer advice and/or support whether or not it's related to models, or just life in general.
- put 'em in a big room together (in real life) and you'll hardly hear a peep out of them. There are obviously exceptions to this, but in general my observation is that they are hard to get to know (in person).

Personal observations.

Murray

I think you are right Murray... But put models on the table and pass beer around and things will get a little moe intimate soon...

I concede to that Domi. A little 'catalyst' gets things going pretty quick...

Murray

Am I an "Anorak"? I collect the serial numbers and registrations of all the planes I've seen. And then I try (try being the key word here!!) to build a model of it! My wife doesn't mind one bit because she says she know where/how to find me!!

Gregers:
Nothing wrong with fried egg & cheese, I have it all the time. Better with onions though.
You should try Newfie Steak ...
That is a thick slab of bologna fried up with your favorite accessories. Personally I like mine with pickled eggs and sausages.
Bruce

Gosh, those culinary messages are getting too much. I'm off to the bathroom! By the way, ever tried a pickle (guerkins) and peanut butter sandwich??? My wife is into that... And she gives me weird look when I slap 1/2 inch thick layer of Nutella on my bread (without butter nor margerine!)...

I've gotten that "look" from lots of people surprised that their priest "plays with toys." I ran into a member of my parish in a hobby shop and he looked at me as though I had grown a second head. The look changed when I showed him my USS Oregon in the store's display case. Hey Gregers, fried egg and cheese, it isn't just for breakfast anymore. Monsieur LeCren, you are a culinary genius.

I definitely fall into the obsessive/compulsive category.

It manifests itself in the little things like keeping my cds in alphanumerical artist/release date order.

Also the attention to detail in modelling tends to bring out the scientist/engineer in me and I often have trouble deciding when a model is truly 'finished'.

At work I do get some funny looks when I mention my hobby and several of my colleagues consider me a 'spotter' (Not a particularly complimentary term used within the industry).

I take comfort from the fact that quite by accident I bumped into my head of department at the IPMS UK nationals last year.

I guess it's all in the detail.

Cheers,

Rob M.

Rob, we must be made from the same mold...

(So easy to find a CD, that way, isn't it??!)

It don't matter. as my aunt (now passed away) always said "ya better enjoy it now boy, cause youre a long time dead". So when I mention to someone that I build models and get the "look" I realize that within their own mind they are as warped as I could ever be (are not we all?) Model on.......
G.L.
(although sometimes I feel like saying "Hey I also ride horses and carry a big .44 so %*#+ $@@)

QUOTE: Originally posted by pavlvsmax@cox.net I've gotten that "look" from lots of people surprised that their priest "plays with toys." I ran into a member of my parish in a hobby shop and he looked at me as though I had grown a second head. The look changed when I showed him my USS Oregon in the store's display case. Hey Gregers, fried egg and cheese, it isn't just for breakfast anymore. Monsieur LeCren, you are a culinary genius.

Thanks Paul;
Nice to know I'm a genius at something ...
Bruce

djmodels1999

The last time my wife was into pickles and peanut butter, she was preggers with our youngest son.

So what is your excuse?????

Funnily enough, she started that when pregnant with Will (17 years ago now!), but it's still on the menu...

Is there some other way to do CDs but Artist/ Release???
Think you guys get funny looks for "playing with toys" try having been born "with alternate equipment"lol. My college roommate shook her head at me everytime she saw me tinkering at my desk. 'Course this may have been because I was using sharp tools and flamable chemicals and had dropped a dresser drawer and broke my foot within a week of us living together and am (you guessed it) accident prone

here's an idea: let's put together a list of questions and survey the people as to what they think the average modeler is like and answer them our selves to see the difference is. Anyone game??

Fumed induced wackjob, how about that one for a profile.

I dont need other people to tell me i am crazy.....i know that......my reaction after spending hours to scratchbuilt a model after thinking that i had misplaced the PEs and finding them once the canopy was closed affirmed this.....

MMMmmmmmmm......the typical modeller?

From life experience, I find that people who know nothing about our hobby do not see it as a hobby. They see it as a childhood passtime, hence when they learn that I'm a modeller they let out a high pitched "I did'nt know you did that!"
This is always followed by "is'nt that a bit nerdy?"

There seems to be this problem that the rest of the world has with us: We're all loners, we're all unhappy/moody types with no friends, we never do anything or go anywhere. I think that's the sterotype dealt with.

Now, the reality. We are all free-thinking individuals with varied experience in life who exchange intelligent points of view on a global communications network. We are an incredibly resourceful body of people who whatever or wherever or place in the world are ready to lend a hand to another person we have never met before.
That makes us a special bunch of people-and an example to others

Now if only all the politicians who run our planet were model builders...........
Think about it.


Later,

Darren