Whats your occupation?

Here is a version of this question that was asked in 2005. Many of the responders are still active members of the forum, others have gone their ways.

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/54465.aspx?sort=ASC&pi240=1

Many responses need updating, like mine on page 6. I am now retired and not doing anything for a living and am pretty dang good at it!

Lee

Little Timmy,

I was thinking that "professional modeler" means a primary occupation for pay, like the guys who make those big fancy architectural/industrial models for developers or fabricate prototypes for manufacturers.  But I suppose a hobbyist who builds for commission would also qualify.  That does raise the question of when a hobbyist becomes pro.  Is it money?  Scope/complexity?  The credentials of the client?  Too much to think about before I've had my morning coffee... 

Of course, some of the glue-bomb aberrations you see on FleaBay by supposedly "professional" modelers will stretch the definition.  I'd never try to sell my junk, as I dilly-dally too much to finish anything on time.  And I would really have a hard time switching the motivation on for building a model that I wasn't interested in.

This sounds like a good subject for a new thread:   When does a modeler turn pro?

As for "junk"  yeah ...  what some guys pass for quality is a joke.    And I'v seen some stuff thats sold for  TWICE    what I charge for the same thing!   And I agree with you on the motivation.....  sometimes you just want to build what you want.    Sometimes demanding high dollar amounts are a way to get people to leave you alone.    And they STILL throw money at you !

I worked as a Land Surveyor for 35 years.  Now I "work" at  a site just outside Denver called Dinosaur Ridge as a guide and Docent at our Exhibit Hall.  Most fun I've ever had.  We have school classes come out and we show them our Bone Quarry (established in 1877) , and our over 300 dinosaur tracks, along with a lot of cool geology.   I finally get to use my college degree!

Of course, I still have to deal with Rattlesnakes now and then.  No biggie.

Doug

Great thread Joe. I currently work full time at the local Ace Hardware store and part time at the used book store. I really enjoy both my jobs. Prior to that though I was a Wildland Firefighter for the U.S. Forest for 25 yrs. Resigned in 2008 due to personal issues and most of all I was tired of living 3 hrs from my wife and being gone all summer. I now enjoy my modeling now that my life has slowed down although I still don't have a whole lot of bench time available.

Hey Nathan T., One of my duties with the U.S.F.S. was as a SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker) Manager i.e. retardant toting crop dusters. Absolutely one of my favorite jobs.

I'm a pilot for US Airways...soon to be American...and formerly America West.  One interview and three airlines.  How'd that happen?

I’m retired … do (sequestration) yourself.

I started out life working on ranches in Alberta and later on became a Forest Technician and spent my career working in western Alberta for a large forestry company - as a supervisor and mostly as a  planner of logging operations. Our forest management area covered 7,500 square miles and was right up against the Rocky Mtns to the west. Beautiful area - lots of fishing and hunting, photography and hiking.

My job required a lot of time in the bush and I spent a lot of time in a 4X4, on quads, on snowmobiles, walking and also quite a bit of flying in Jet Rangers. Just a great career.

I started as a merchant marine navigator. When that went downhill, I worked as a waiter and for the last 12 years as a personal fitness trainer. I am now in school (but still train clients) and will become a physiotherapist.

Cheers...

Police officer.  Starting my 30th year in October.  Will retire in March 2017 at age 55.

castelnuovo

I started as a merchant marine navigator. When that went downhill,......

RMS Titanic....Exxon Valdez......or Costa Concordia!?

Active duty US Navy for the last ten years. I push submarines around for a living. :)

Lots of great jobs in here that I would love to have! Pilot, teacher, a freeking dinosaur field guide?? I'm jealous.

dpty_dawg_ca- I'm curious to know a little more about your history, since you are right up my line of work...

I'm a school teacher at a school for Autistic children in the TB area.

pyrman64

castelnuovo

I started as a merchant marine navigator. When that went downhill,......

RMS Titanic....Exxon Valdez......or Costa Concordia!?

I said "downhill", not "underwater"

Castel: only 1 of those is actually under water.

So glad you have a sense of humor.

You say this like going underwater is a bad thing....

Self employed small engine mechanic and welder here.. I repair mowers and such for  local landscapers.I also make parts for local short track racers,rub rails bumpers body parts etc. pays the bills (somewhat) Worked as a mechanic for 16 years at a rental store then got laid off so I started my own gig... I also crew chief on two cars but thats a freebie....

John

retired disabled Viet Nam vet worked as a nurse in surgery at baptist hospital in Winston Salem.served 3 years in the army 4 in the air force an 23 with the coast guard auxilary

pyrman64

Castel: only 1 of those is actually under water.

So glad you have a sense of humor.

Ok, ok...one is underwater, one is partialy under water and Exxon has been broken up...

sub revolution

You say this like going underwater is a bad thing....

From a merchant marine's point of veiw, the water should be below you, never above you. Took me a while to come up with this

Retired truck driver. And NO i will not build a scale version semi...lol

I'm a Route Sales Rep. for Schwan's Home Delivery. Never thought I'd be there, but I was laid off from my great gig at the big newspaper after a 21 year career.

Still good stuff coming through here!! It's really interesting to see where everybody is coming from in their backgrounds. Currently I am in Dallas until tomorrow for training with General Motors. Sucks in the respect that I miss a day building but will gain extra $$ for buying.

I'm a former auto tech, 15 or so years in dealers, then a couple at an independent off-road shop. From there, my own shop doing off-road stuff like gear changes, roll cages, engine swaps and the like. That morphed into a gear shop for all kinds of stuff, until we sold out, after ten years, a couple of years ago. I'm now a liquor/wine/beer store manager for a couple of old friends that bought an old neighborhood store and are going "up-scale".

Along the way, I've cooked, driven a truck, worked in a grain warehouse, sold auto parts, and sampled institutes of higher learning all over the country. But I don't do windows.

Hi, folks. Here's my go at the question:

During and after high school (I graduated back in 1982 from Westside High School in Memphis, TN), I was an ASE-certified (back then it was known as NIASE) auto mechanic  Got tired of that after a while, so I joined the USMC in 1984 to learn electronincs, and was trained as a Deceptive Electronic Countermeasures Tech (6482) on the Harriers, Skyhawks, Intruders, & Prowlers. Spent 11.5 years in the Corps, with 9 of that at Cherry Point, NC. Got out in July 1995 and went to work for a company called Nucletron, installing and maintaining brachytherapy (cancer treatment) equipment. Worked for them for 10 years, and now work for Elekta (last 8 years), which manufactures linear accelerators for external beam radiation therapy treatment of cancer. Elekta bought Nucletron, my former employer, last year, so I now get to work on the brachytherapy equipment AGAIN   , in addition to the linear accelerators. Dang it! Didn't think I'd ever see the Nucletron stuff again. Oh, well...... that's life.  Been in the medical equipment repair field for 18 years now. 

Been modeling since I was 6 (I'm now 49). My first model was a 1/72nd Hasegawa RA-5 Vigilante that my dad bought for me (he built most of it, too). I don't know why I can still remember that, but it stands out. I can barely remember what I had for dinner yesterday.... .

Media Specialist at Oneida County BOCES. I've worked there for 23 years.

This will give you an idea what we do:

www.oneida-boces.org/media

Hi I'm Herb. retired 24 yrs US NAVY and Doctor of Theoretical Physics with emphasis in Aeronautical engineering. ( Yes...I am a Rocket Scientist, so hold the jokes.)

Started as  Police Officer with The Dade County Public Safety Dept. in 1976 (currently known as The Miami Dade Police Dept.). Retired in June 30, 2006 after 30 years of active law enforcement service.

Hey Joe,kinda like you i work as an Auto collision tech and painter at a local dealership.Thats why i never do car models.............reminds me of work to much!!!!!!

Boiler Engineer, Process Tech, Maintenance. Tech, . . .  among other things.  Between jobs  at the moment. 

hmmm.. maybe if I wasn't spending so much time in here .........