What do you do for a living?

I am a doctor, an Adult Neurologist specialist. Graduated from it in 2003, am 43 years old. (and counting...LOL!)

I currently work in an ACE Hardware store. I have been there for 5 1/2 yrs. Fun place to work especially if you build plastic models. Discount  on all sorts of handy material. Prior to this job I worked in wildland fire management for the U.S. Forest Service for 25 yrs. I worked as an eingine boss, crew boss, assistant fire management officer and battalion chief. Absolutely loved that job but, I resigned in 2008 so that I could be at home regularly and enjoy life with my new wife at the time. No regrets.

Yes,there is an old thread floating around somewhere.

I was a HVAC Service Technician with the local utility for 27 years,this also included repairing other gas and electric appliances and responding to emergencies like gas leaks,co leaks,delayed ignitions,and explosions.

For the past 10 years I switched over to planning the work assignments and dispatching those same techs.I work an around the clock swing shift.

Well ;

  Let's see .13 1/2 yrs Navy - 13 yrs Marine .Then Aircraft transport pilot  , Contractor , Truck Driver ( my own Company ) .Wrecker driver- Ditto , And Real Estate developer .and Teacher .  Liked being teacher best . I worked with our Boys and Girls who lost hands and fingers in Desert Storm .

    Best group of students ANY teacher could have . And taught Reading and Writing to Adults in the business world . Then and now I still do Model Building commissions . Primarily ships . Started as a hobby at 7 and stayed with it through all of it . Now 72 and still going kind of strong .

       I did forget one very important time . My eight years with an Oil Company as a ship captain then owning oil skimming , spill clean -up boats. A lot of these jobs overlapped in time because I didn't believe that sitting on ones duff made any real money !

My first job was working for a sign company.  At the time I started, painting signs by hand and mixing paint to match colors was still the norm.  Vinyl decals was in its infancy.  I did this job off and on for about 10 years.  I then worked at a cemetery for about 3 years.  Was a professional firefighter/EMT/hazardous materials technician for 12 years until I had to get out due to a medical issue.  Now I am a supervisor for the State of Idaho Emergency Communications Center.  We are a one-stop-shop for assisting local, state and federal resources in the event of an emergency.

Howdy!

That's right, this thread is really interesting! I, for myself, graduated electronics engineering in Poland where I live. Then, for some time I went to Germany to develop electronic "black boxes" for the new Volkswagens. Then returned to Poland while keepieng the job. Last year I switched jobs and now I work for Volkswagen directly in my home town, helping to introduce new car models to the production line. And I see modelling helps me do a better job at work. Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

To my fellow forum members,

Played jazz starting at 13yrs. old, executive chef, executive sushi chef, waiter, Sears paint dept, restaurant manager, general contractor, factory worker, and now retired starting from this date 5/5/10.  Now I'm just learning how make model kits and trying to keep up with everyone at this wonderful forum.

From '89 to '95 I owned a small commercial cleaning company. But, since '96 I have been an Engineering/CAD/PLM  Systems Administrator for many different automotive and aerospace companies. Right now, I'm back in school to get an associates in Software Engineering and Mechanical Design.

I enlisted in the Army right out of High School and served 24 years between Active Duty and National Guard before retiring from Uncle Sam After my stint in the Regular Army, and a few jobs I started in Law Enforcement and have been doing that for over 26 years now... 

33 year career commercial pilot, age 74, long retired in wet Western Oregon. Active modeler since about age 7 or 8, mostly WWll and some modern military/civilian jets. Many years a volunteer mentor for children in public schools, those that have fallen behind in academic abilities and at risk of failure. Wonderful experience, highly recommended for anyone that has the time to devote to it.

Patrick

I'm a professor at a private university, teaching graduate classes and doing academic research.

Chrisk-k

I'm a professor at a private university, teaching graduate classes and doing academic research.

So am I; in the field of Microbiology.

Don

Licensed Architect, work for a firm that specializes in architectural signage and graphics. Do cool stuff like AT&T Park.

When I got out of grad school (Ohio State, 1980) I landed a job in a maritime museum. Three years later I got hired to teach history at East Carolina Univversity. I'm now on "phased retirement," teaching half-time and collecting my pension. Next May I'll retire completely.

While in my Junior year in H.S. (1957) my dad took me to the personal director of the refinery where he and my grandfather worked and said "This is my son and I would like him to work here".  As Nepotism was alive and well back then, the director said "The day you graduate, come in and you have a job".  As a result, I worked for the same company, in many different positions, for 36 years, ending up as the Senior Lab Technician in their Chemical Division labs.  My dad retired after 50 years with them (started @ 15) and my grandfather retired after 53 years (started @ 12).  You can't do that any more.  The only reason I retired early was due to health related issues.

Jim   

I've been a stock broker since 1976 and started building models around 1958 at 10 years old. I've stopped a few times but I'm still building and helping people to invest.

Registered Professional Electrical Engineer, State of Wisconsin.  I worked for big world wide corporations ( Eaton, Siemens, Philips) as an application engineer for adjustable speed drive systems and controllers for many diverse industrial applications, as well as surface mount technology for high speed circuit board production.  Retired in 1999.

Media Specialist in Instructional Support Services for BOCES for 25 years now.

Carpenter. 35 years .retired

Health issues (Lymes disease and R.A.) have me retired since 2013,though i'm only 51

spent most of my working years as a trim carpenter,and/or trim contractor,though i also worked as a surgical assistant,screen printer,cook,shipping clerk,assembly tech.,and apprenticed to a luthier in 2008......which i still do,luthiery that is,i just dont make any money at it

Currently I build wings for 777's

I work part time selling firearms, just graduated in may and still looking for something

First job was a navigator in a merchant marine, busboy/waiter/bartender, personal trainer for 15 yrs, now working as a physio.

Marine Biologist PhD with NOAH for 5 years. Had a young family and wanted to settle down. Got tired of being at sea for 1-2 months three times a year. Young and single when I started. Turned out to be not what I expected. having said that I do wonder where I would be now if I'd stuck with it. Science/technology  teacher retired after 30 years. Currently working in IT/tech support.

Airline pilot. 737's for the last 23.5 years. 8+ years in the Air Force before that. Flew C-23 and C-5 after training.

Professional chocolate taster for Hersheys.  Just kidding but I sure wish!

I graduated from college in '96 with a degree in urban planning but right around the day I graduated is the same day when I realized I didn't want to deal with that for the rest of my life.  

I'm a CAD Designer for a large commercial furniture manufacturer.  I create 3D solid models on the computer using Creo (formerly known as Pro-E).  It's pretty neat when, every once in a while, I get to see some of the parts cranked out on the 3D printer.

Eric

Hey Stik ;

Thank You .There's not many that would do that job ! My respect is there and my hat is off to you !

Thank you Tanker. I cant see myself doing any other careers than the ones that I have done. I've been fortunate enough to do those things that I played at as a young boy. And make a living while doing so! You cant ask for much more than that.

Stikpusher,

I second Tanker! You guys have a tough job, my thanks to everyone in law enforcement.

You guys keep us safe.

I spent 5 1/2 years in the Army after high school (graduated in 1999) and got out with back problems.  Went to college on the GI Bill and I now teach high school US history and other social studies classes in a small school.

Working on my 18th year as a design engineer with Caterpillar.  

John

No Stik ;

   You are right there .Teaching military folks how to use prosthetics easily , and live with the change was a rewarding type of teaching  , I do believe . Funny though . I was never trained as a therapist  Or physiologist . I just went on Gut instinct and in doing so , drove their shrinks nuts LO.,.LOL . !

One year of Chemical Technology training made me decide I was a Graphic Designer at heart. Been doing that since spring of 2000.

Such a wide range of occupations here, and some very interesting ones at that.

After leaving school I had a couple of jobs while I was kicking my heels until I could join up. I then spent 22 years in the British army, Infantry, doing various jobs. I know do building maintenance at RAF Lakenheath.

Bish

Such a wide range of occupations here, and some very interesting ones at that.

Yes, this is fascinating. I read them to my wife and she is amazed at the diversity.

Steve

Read all entries and this kind of gives you the "oh I see why" on some of the names and their builds.  Also gives you potential resource persons on certain projects you may have on the pipeline.

Im a corporate lawyer working for a steel company.  Used to be a trial lawyer for 11 years until offered a juicy post in the corporate world back in 09.

And yes, the bosses have been urging me to build a model of one our the company's steel plants. From scratch.  I told them I'll agree. But Id have to work from home for about a year.  They havent gotten back to me on my counteroffer.  LOL.

allan

And yes, the bosses have been urging me to build a model of one our the company's steel plants. From scratch.  I told them I'll agree. But Id have to work from home for about a year.  They havent gotten back to me on my counteroffer.  LOL.

Good luck!

BTW I build architectural models on occasion. I charge $ 125.00 per hour. No I'm not soliciting the job, but think accordingly.

Ahaha. Honestly, I dont think I have the patience, or skill, to build a miniature of any of our company's mills.  And I dont think they'll take my work-from-home proposal seriously too.

Commercial carpenter,35 years. Retired

I am retired now, but was a scientist/engineer in the Aerospace Industry.  Interestingly, I found a large percentage of my peers were model builders- mostly flying models, as I did before I moved to a weather-challenged state.

Now I supplement my income writing an occasional article for model magazines to help pay for my modeling.

 I worked for my mother's brother who was a paint contractor while in high school and between semesters in my first college "career".  After uh, "leaving" the University of Texas in 1975 due to their disappointment in my grades (Austin, Texas held just too many distractions for me in the early 70s, ) I went back to work for my painter uncle.   In October of '76, I started learning the sheet-metal/tinsmith trade while working for a great guy in a small shop here in my hometown.  I worked there until 1990 when I returned to painting.

I worked for a couple different contractors until "the stars aligned" and I decided to return to college in order to become a teacher. My two children were then both in high school and after my wife and I attended an "open house/meet the teacher" night.  I remember telling her, "You know?  I believe I can do that job."  So, in the fall of 1994, I started the process of re-entering school for the first time in 20 years.  I started full-time classes at Texas A&M University in Jan. 1995.  That was a 50 mile one-way commute for me; on alternate days, I commuted to Temple, TX (30 miles) for my painting job.

I graduated from A&M in December 1997 (3.915 GPA-I am proud of the change from the .80 GPA I finally accrued at ol' UT back in the '75) with a BA in History.  I will be starting my 17th year as a social studies teacher, 7th and 8th grades, in a small, rural district about 20 miles away.  If all goes as planned, I can retire after the upcoming school year.

A we discussed before Tex, you and I have walked the same dirt, at different times, but the same areas. I graduated from a HS in Austin in 79, and my brother graduated A&M in 80 I believe.

technical illustrator and graphics artist. retired unless i get offered a good gig.

The majority of my full-time working career has consisted of supply chain/distribution, now in my 13th year. I have multiple years in most functions, with the notable exceptions being truck driving and inventory procurement (buying). I've spent 2 years managing a convenience store, and a year working with my dad helping to install a new 2-way radio system in the vehicles of the local electric company among an assortment of odd jobs. I've also been a part-time professional musician since 1990.

Dave

Let's see I started as a volunteer firefighter when I was 16 (my parents we city police and county sheriff thought it would keep me out of trouble), went full time firefighter/EMT when I turned 18. Joined the US Navy at 21 and served for 8 years as a Cryptologic Communications Technician and as a Boatswains Mate 2nd class (by my own choice). Went into building luxury yachts after I got out as a marine mechanic and a marine electrician, did that for 3 years until the economy did a down turn. Moved to eastern Oregon with the ex and went to college for Civil Engineering. Unfortunately life and divorce happened, moved to the surface of the sun aka Las Vegas and am currently working security to pay down debt to be able to finish my engineering degree. Been building models seriously since I was 12, had to take breaks when I was in with the exception of when I was stationed in England and Greece. Iraq and Afghanistan put a hold on my building for a while. Just started back up in the past three years, with the urging from my fiance and the docs at the VA. And recently I have gotten my fiance into the hobby as well, she has found that she likes building Gundams and SciFi kits, and aspires to own her own hobby shop.

Maritime College- Conscription Army service- Merchant Navy (cargo ships, 3-rd Mate, Navigation) - all sorts of jobs done during the break-up of the Soviet Union (docker, waiter, croupier, bodyguard, etc.)-Head of Security with a transport/logistics company, immigrated to U.K. in 1994, worked for various private security companies until the end of year 2000, worked for an exhibition company called ITE Group Plc, organised various security and fire safety events in former USSR republics (in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine), was made redundant in May 2014 for spoken out laud anti-Putin views concerning Ukraine (though I am a very much Russian myself :) ).

A the same time bought the Copper State Models in Sept. 2011 together with my friend and business partner, moved it to U.K. and working hard trying to make it work introducing new topics/products using new 3-D technologies.

I have built my first scale model at tender age of 7 or 8, that was a 1/87 railway station and cottage for the Eastern German HO scale railway set. The next kit was 1/30 Russian KV-1s and bunch of others models (mainly ex-FROG/NOVO and Eastern German PLASTIKART) between 1974 and 1983. Got back to the scale modelling in 1988, true believer the God created a man and 1/72 scale and that everything else is secondary :).

Thanks to hobby-turned-business met absolutely amazing people from all sorts of walks of life for which eternally grateful to them and to the God for changing my life to the best despite tough material and emotional moments and challenges the life through at us from time to time :).  

Airline pilot. First officer on the 737. I exceeded my wildest dreams. A small, lumber mill town kid who would run outside and watch planes fly over, from my earliest memories. I started building airplane models at age 5. Enlisted in the USAF at 17 and got a great job as a crewmember. I've been around airplanes ever since, working up through the civilian route as a pilot, from Cessna 150 on up.  I'm 45 and still not sure what I'll do when I grow up.

Pretty interesting and impressive lineup of professions here. I always wondered what you folks did. Good thread.

panzerpilot

Pretty interesting and impressive lineup of professions here. I always wondered what you folks did.

Yes, I agree. It also gives me a point of reference to know were you guys come from, work wise that is.

panzerpilot

  I'm 45 and still not sure what I'll do when I grow up.

LOL, Snap.

Right after high school, I worked as a housekeeper at the Children's Hospital here in Ottawa.  After four years of that, I became a police officer, carrying on in my father's footsteps.  I completed my 30th year of service in September 2014.  I will be retiring on 29 February 2016.

Those four years at CHEO were better for my personal development and for my policing career than any university education could have ever been.  It taught me how to interact with people and that is the major part of a copper's job description.  I learned how to speak to people from every socio-economic, cultural, professional, age, maturity, etc background in what was usually a very difficult environment but more importantly I learned how to listen to to people.

When I retire, I will always count myself very fortunate to have had the privilege of serving my community and the citizens of Ottawa for 31 1/2 years.

Extended my service by a month.  Officially retired on 01 April 2016; no fooling!

US Navy Aviation Electrician, burger flipper, avionics tech, truck driver( lower 48), odd jobs, single color die cutter printer press operater, college student, now an A/P avionics tech. If I get bored with this job maybe I'll run for president.

I think I am the third microbiologist in here... PhD, did academic research for many years, also 14 years in US Navy (Reserves & Active Duty). Have been a college professor for the last several years, as well as writing articles in Biosecurity & Homeland Security. Recently moved to NJ, setting up my new work area/mancave and looking forward to re-start (again!) my modelling hobby after a 2-3 year break.

Started my working career as a retail clerk in a drug store during high school.  Worked in a railroad freight yard and car accounting after failing in my first year of college.  Joined the Marines and became a hydraulics mechanic on KC130's.  Went on to indoor destructive testing of experimental tires, from pitching machines to open pit mine tire sizes, at several different manufacturer and testing companies.  I also watched the mixing and calendaring of the rubber.  I sold paint and glass retail.  I worked in development and QC for an adhesives manufacturing company.  Now I use AutoCAD to draw the different parts that make up the various tires my current company test for the tire industry.

Have worn jump boots since age 18 while in various jobs. Have been a police officer for past 16 years, best job I ever had.

I see that we are a good community of different professions!

Another physician... More precisely - a surgeon. PhD. Working for 33 years in the department of vascular surgery.

Model making keeps my hands efficient and skillful - at least I hope so (this is a good explanation to my dear wife too).

Maybe they will , Maybe they won't ;

      But , you can't say you weren't aware of the offer . ! My charges range from $150.00 hour to a full bore Amount in three payments equaling time , times four !

Jump Boots aside ;

 Behind the badge Hmmm, Thank You Sir !

Hey

   I work for the Navy as a civilian engineer.  I manage the technical content of the flight manuals for Naval helicopters.

Phil

My dad owned an automotive repair shop in Memphis, TN, so I got my start working on cars there after school. Did that for a few years after graduating high school, even working at a couple of Ford dealerships in Memphis, and managed an Expert Tune for a bit. Got my NIASE (remember that? It's called ASE now) certification in brakes, front ends, engine performance, and engine rebuilds. Got tired of coming home smelling like grease every night (just got married, too), so I decided to join the Air Force, just like my mom and dad. For some reason, the Air Force recruiter didn't want to talk to me, so I went next door and joined the Marines. Best move I ever made. Went to Parris Island on 22 February 1984. Became a Deceptive Electronics Countermeasures Technician (6482) on AV-8As & Bs, OA-4Ms, A-6Es, A-4Ms, & CH-46Ds. Spent 9 years at Cherry Point, NC, with two years recruiting duty in Albertville, AL. Served in the 1st Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), spent six months on a det in Iwakuni, Japan, and got out of the Corps on 06 July 1995. Started working for a company called Nucletron installing and maintaining radiation therapy simulators and brachytherapy systems (all are different types of cancer treatment machines) for 10 years. Quit them in August 2005 and went to work for a company called Elekta, servicing radiation therapy linear accelerators, CT equipment, X-Ray, and brachytherapy (all cancer treatment machines, too). Three years ago, Elekta bought Nucletron, so I get to work on all the equipment that I never thought I'd ever see again. Go figure...... During that time, got divorced, and remarried on 07 June 2007. We now live in Indian Trail, NC, which is just east of Charlotte. LOVE IT here! All the kids are grown and gone, so it's just the wife and me!! Woo Hoo!!!

Software developer when I am not building

While in HS, worked at a county engineer's office in northern CA running closures and plotting survey maps.  4 years in the USAF as an ECM tech on B52G's, F4D,E, and RF4C's

40 years doing auto body and paint with 6 years in floor covering sales and measuring with a smidge of installation in there. Also did a little over 2 years painting Safari motorcoaches in that 40.  Almost completely retired/disabled due to heart condition and only running about 20% function on the old ticker.

goldhammer

While in HS, worked at a county engineer's office in northern CA running closures and plotting survey maps.  4 years in the USAF as an ECM tech on B52G's, F4D,E, and RF4C's

40 years doing auto body and paint with 6 years in floor covering sales and measuring with a smidge of installation in there. Also did a little over 2 years painting Safari motorcoaches in that 40.  Almost completely retired/disabled due to heart condition and only running about 20% function on the old ticker.

 

I hear ya, goldhammer. Got three stents in mine, keeping everything open so the blood can flow.

WOW!! F-4s, huh? That is COOL!!! I would LOVE to get a ride in one of them!

After high school i did four years in the military as an avionics mechanic. After the military I went and got my airframe and powerplant license. Did some work fixing and doing inspection on civilian aircraft. Worked at a plant that did composite structures for the airlines until I got laid off after 9/11. For the past 12 years I have been testing combat vehicles. I love this job.

I've been running 6, 8, and 10 color printing presses for 25 years.

I do this so none of my kids have to. I've told them repeatedy, " I didn't pay attention in school, and you see where I ended up. Your job is getting your grades so you can do whatever you want for a living."

Happy to report my 2 youngest (twins) are about to start their senior year at university.

Joined the Army in '89 as a medic, re-enlisted in '92 for the nuclear medicine program. When the Army had no further need of my services in '96, came to central Texas with the family and have been working at the same hospital as a nuclear medicine technologist ever since.

Wow this is an awesome thread that's going! Thanks for everyone for sharing and special thank you to the guys who are serving or have served in the military (U.S. or otherwise) and police officers. I really respect you guys. As for me...if not for a medical problem I would have loved to go into the airforce but it would never have worked. So I'm currently a Process Engineer/CNC Programmer for a company that makes parts for the aerospace industry. We make a lot of very small, very improtant parts that go into the fuel system of engines. We have parts on most civil and many military planes, F-18, F-15 etc. Very cool work I thing! And you want to know what the most ironic thing is....I've never even flown in a plane

I build models for a living.

I'm a route sales rep for Schwan's Home Service. Been doing it for three years. 

Happily retired now living in a small mountain community west of Boulder, Colorado.  Served 10 years US Navy;  2.5 years school, 7.5 years as a combat aircrew member.  40 years as a Defense Contractor in Military/Government Space Programs.  13 years overseas on Remote Tracking Stations from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific followed by 17 years at what was known as "Oz."  It was the Air force Satellite Test Center aka Onizuka Air Force Station in the SF Bay Area.  There, I was a resource system controller as well as a Mission Controller for 7 families of Air Force and NATO satellites and the Space Shuttle when carrying DoD payloads.  Also a member of a Titan IV launch and early orbit crew and Boeing's "Inertial Upper Stage."  Military base closures took Onizuka in '04 and I moved to Boulder, Colorado and joined the Space Based Infra-Red System as a Satellite Systems Engineer and Combat Crewmember.  Retired in 2013 as a Staff level Engineer.  Been building models of all types since around age 7.

Ray

I forgot to mention that In my younger days I flew F-100's,F-105's,and F-4E's.also retired chemist.

I joined the US Air Force in 1989 at age 17. I spent 20 years as an Aircraft Structural Maintenance / Corrosion Control Specialist. I retired in 2009 at age 37 and now I work Civil Service DoD teaching my job to Tech School Students right out of Basic Training. As my wife put it, I don't get paid for what I DO, I get paid for what I KNOW.

Building, painting and applying markings to model airplanes from age 6 to 17, I think the Air Force picked the perfect job for me. I was in AWE the first time I was standing under a REAL A-10 Warthog in S. Korea at age 18 about to paint 3-color European Camo on a REAL bird. Perfect! Maybe it's why I like teaching it so much now; it's such a cool job!

i worked in a rstaurant my family owned till 2008 when the economy tanked i then started detailing cars at a hyundai delearship then went to maaco and now i am currently unemployed

Silver

F-100's,F-105's,and F-4E's

Which did you like best?

Hey everyone, it's been a couple of years since I was on this forum.  (been busy elsewhere)

I am a watchmaker  and what that means is that I repair watches for a living.  Before that I was an electronics draftsman where I designed circuit boards and sheet metal for a small electronics company.  The fun part of that was that I also got to make all the prototypes by hand.     Before that there were several plain (BO-RING) drafting jobs that went back to high school.

Along the way there was some time spent going to school where I initially took a number of technology courses and then finally spent 2 years in watchmaker school.

The neat thing about all that is that the skills for building models and for watchmaking compliment each other and then there is knowledge and skills unique to each that help the other.

well, I'm a teenage student currently in the 10th grade and living at home with my dad and my adorable black pug, Harry.

Various hourly jobs until I landed in an iron foundry.  9 years was enough of that.  Currently service copier, printer and other electronic office equipment.

 Hi I'm Rob and I am a Quality Control Manager / Welding Inspector for an industrial construction company.

Well, I'm Sergeant Major of an extremely busy Signals Squadron. Army background, but, this Squadron is a Forces wide unit, thus, it doesn't belong to any specific service. Love it, been at it 27 years!

I'm a Project Manager.  I develop Walmart retail stores with my primary scope of responsibility being Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets.  Mostly though, I get yelled at by angry neighbors.  Oh well...

Retired form the airforce Crewing B-1B's, now working as a hazmat inspector for the FAA.

Well, 20 years Navy as a Gas turbine controls guy, second half of that career was as an LCAC Craftmaster (Limacharlie48 was my last call-sign). Built out a plastic bottle plant, ran a small city water utility and now run maintenance operations for a major grocery retailers logistics operation........would take that hovercraft job back in a flash...

8 Years USAF here I think that's why I like modelling planes so much ( especially ones that I have put gas on).  After that I went back to get my degree in Networking.  After that I have been working in the IT industry ever sense than.  

My longest job was Pizza Hut. Mostly I was delivery, but I did everything there was to do there except being a waiter. I went to truck driving school but then I hurt my back so that wasn't happening. So, now I'm on Social Security Disibility.

I ran a performing arts center with apartments, commercial property and movie theatres.  Now I run two public housing authorities and an affordable housing non-profit.

I fly for a charter company in the right seat of a Learjet, mostly air ambulance ops. Out of high school, I did six years as an infantryman in the Marine Corps, including OIF in 2003, then went and spent my GI Bill at the airport. Got an AS in aeronautics at my local community college, and became an instructor for them for awhile. They eventually decided that maintainig an aviation program was too expensive and cut the whole thing, which sent me 1000 miles across the country to work as a civilian contractor flight instructing for the Navy's IFS program. Did that for three years before starting my current job a year ago. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up, but flying is pretty darned fun for now!

I've had several jobs since graduating from Central Connecticut State College (now University!) mostly dealing with the construction industry.  Currently I'm a Purchasing Agent/Contract Administrator for a general contractor here in Connecticut.  Retirement (dare I think about it?) is 3 to 7 years away.  I also have a couple of people I do yardwork for that helps expand the modeling related procurement budget.

I was an Aircraft Mechanic for 10 years(A&P) until my wife became ill and unable to care for herself,now I stay at home and I am paid to take care of my wife and mother.

25 years in the Navy/ Navy Reserve, E-1 to O-5.  Started as an Aviation Electronics Technician on the S-3A aircraft and graduated to shipdriver.  For the last 17 years I have been an IT System Analyst.

Rick

Just to add my list in here goes

Worked road construction then a bank for 13 years. next I went into insurnace for 10 years and been in IT for 5 now. At the same time I've worked in online games for 10 years (see the profile pic for a clue).

Only "real" job was the road construction since then I've been warm and dry all the time.

I dont get time to build much with two jobs now but once I retire (if I get there!) I'll have a stash to work from.

Phil

Heavens Eagle

Hey everyone, it's been a couple of years since I was on this forum.  (been busy elsewhere)

I am a watchmaker  and what that means is that I repair watches for a living.  Before that I was an electronics draftsman where I designed circuit boards and sheet metal for a small electronics company.  The fun part of that was that I also got to make all the prototypes by hand.     Before that there were several plain (BO-RING) drafting jobs that went back to high school.

Along the way there was some time spent going to school where I initially took a number of technology courses and then finally spent 2 years in watchmaker school.

The neat thing about all that is that the skills for building models and for watchmaking compliment each other and then there is knowledge and skills unique to each that help the other.

 

 

Hi, Heavens Eagle! Whereabouts are you in Memphis? I grew up in the Frayser area from 1966 till I left for the Marines back in 1984.

Gary Mason

Hey Gary!

Just got finished installing a new garage door opener.  The old one was basically Kaput!  Then a few other things in the garage needed doing since I was out there.

Vegging out now and reading e-mails so I saw your post!   

I work in Germantown and live in the Cordova area.  I suspect things have changed around here a bit since you lived here.

How 'bout that? My brother used to live in Cordova for many years, then moved to Fairview (just west of Nashville) about 5 years ago. And, yep, Memphis has definitely changed.......for the worse, in my opinion. just amazing how bad the crime is compared to when I grew up there.

What a cool post!

Thanks to all those military, police, EMT, Fire, etc.!  Tough jobs, exceptional people!

I went to the U of Florida for Aerospace engineering, decided, it was too boring and decided to see the world.  Did 21 years in the Air Force.  Was an F-15 Avionics Tech and finished my career as an Instructor Supervisor teaching avionics! 

Retired and continued government work by getting an engineering techs job with the NOAA/National Weather Service!  Love the job! 

Just recently I've become a single parent.....toughest job yet! 

Very interesting post!  Thanks for doing it!

Eagle90

I was an electrical engineer and worked for Westinghouse Defense for 8 years before going to Hughes and working on terrestrial and satellite comms – although mostly on the software side in recent years.  I was very lucky and got to travel all over the world. 

I'll be 50 this year and I guess mid-life crisis set in : a lot of things changed at my job and I was feeling like life was too short, so last year I resigned and started my own IT company (which I've had for many years on a part-time basis). Along with that I started building again and became more active in our IPMS chapters!

I work as a seismic data analyst in the Oil & Gas industry.  Basically when a company wants to explore a new area for O&G they do something called a seismic "shoot" whereby they send sound waves into the ground that bounce back and are recorded on geophones (kinda like earthquake sensors).  The company i work for takes that raw data and creates a model of what it looks like below ground so they can decide exactly where they want to drill. 

Sounds kinda like what my brother does. All I ever get from his is "I find oil and gas", I suspect he does something similar.

USMC 12 years active/reserve. Infantry company commander.

Retired homicide detective, 35 years in the business. 

"I see dead people..........................."

Gaduated HS and worked as a shoe salesman for 3 years for the old Jordan Marsh stores here in Florida and yes I had a green Dodge just like Al Bundy. In the mid 70's I got hired by Dade County Public Safety Dept. (now callled Miami Dade Police) while in College and spent 30 years as  Deputy Sheriff there and retired.

Worked my way through high school working at a full-service gas station (remember those?)  Then worked through college at a local automotive parts house (before the days of computer anything). 

After graduating college with two degrees in geology, spent a few years as a high-resolution geophysicist, until the first oil patch bust in the mid-80's where they closed the company I was working for.  I then started working at a major oil company as a Kelly Girl, building up their physical records database (well logs, maps and seismic data).  Then I got hired on as a geotech with them, until the second oil patch bust of the mid-90's. 

So, I started working keeping these new-fangled computers running, and haven't looked back.  I'm now a unix systems administrator, supporting customers using just about all flavors of unix on their servers.  It pays the bills and keeps me off the streets.

Been building scale models off and on since I was about 5.  I don't get to build as much as I'd like, but have one heck of a stash for when I retire. 

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

The short short version. Never finished college. Hey sandbox. CCSU. Home Depot 4 years then auto body mostly vettes and commercial trucks joined postal service in 96 been a carrier ever since.  I guess the best thing is I still have the same size waist as I did in high school.   Walking 13-14 miles a day

technical illustration but now retired unless a cool gig appears. prior to that 16 years in and around the army in armor and teaching MILES starting with the original NETT.

Hmm...let's see how much I can remember.

I loaded crop dusters after high school (wet and dry chem) and then roofed houses. That got old so I joined the Air Force as a Aerospace Ground Suppor Technician. (I fixed all the equipment the crews used to fix the jets) Did my time and got out just before Desert Storm and became a technician for Ford at the Dealer level until I hurt my back doing construction side work. That moved me to the Ford parts department where I sold Ford, GM and Nissan parts for 11 years. 

Life tossed me a curve ball so I took the chance and changed my career over to a new opportunity as an independent insurance agent. I deal with Medicare and seniors only and I have truly found my calling, now at over 10 years. I love the work and I love the people I help even more. Truly wonder!!

I went back to school in 2000 and got about half my degree done and took 5 years off to focus on my work needs and management that I was thrust into. I went back in 2011 and finished my BBA in 2013, just for my own satisfaction and pride. Graduated with a 3.759 that I am very proud of. I am the first person in all of my family to get a degree. 

We certainly have a wide range of skills in this mottly crew. My hats off to all the law enforcement and retired military, as well as all the former military members of any length of time. We are certainly wired differently than the rest of the population.

BK

I was four years Canadian military, then 30 years police officer and retired in May 2014 as a platoon sergeant. Two UN missions, Kosovo, 2000-2001 and Haiti 2007-2008. Born and raised in Canada but I just don't want to see snow ever again so we now spend our winters in Florida!!

Danny

Great thread! I started off as a UH-1H Huey Crewchief in the active duty Army for 8 1/2 years, then got out in 1995 and went in the automotive business in the civilian world starting off working for my dad. I did that a year and then went to General Motors dealerships and I did that for a little over 18 years. I did end up getting into the Army National Guard in 2000 with a field artillery unit until 2007 and that was totally different than active duty I can tell you that. Now I work at a local refinery as a Fleet Maintenance Service Dept Supervisor and happy as hell to be out of dealerships.

" happy as hell to be out of dealerships."

BK

I'll see your and raise you one . LOL. Thank God is all I gotta say!!! It seemed like every week I was holdin' on for dear life to make an honest 40 hours.

mustang1989

I'll see your and raise you one . LOL. Thank God is all I gotta say!!! It seemed like every week I was holdin' on for dear life to make an honest 40 hours.

It was really fun many years ago, but it is an utterly miserable way to earn a living now. It sucks the life right outta ya. I feel you pain.

BK

 

Great life stories here. I love the fact that so many of you have tried your hand at so many different careers. Mine is much more straight forward but I am thinking about going back and getting an MBA. Anyway, I got my BS Degree in the mid 90s in the Earth Sciences. I immediately got a job after graduating with an Engineering/Environmental Consulting Firm where I began investigating environmental sites (assessing contaminated soil, groundwater, streams etc. and coming up with solutions to remediate them). After five years of experience and taking a couple of hard tests, I got my Professional Geology license. I have been doing that ever since.

I actually just got back into the hobby earlier this year. I originally got my start as a kid of the 80s building mostly armor but probably stopped soon after getting my Driver’s License. I was even featured in the now defunk Military Modeler Magazine with a dio of the M1 Abrams and a knocked out T62 (fictional of course). I miss that magazine and was sad to find it had gone out of business. But I am glad that FSM is around. Looking forward to many more years of modeling.

I've been a journalist most of my working life. I started out on motorcycle magazines and worked for several years road-testing bikes all through the 1980s (as well as writing columns and other pieces).

Then I got married in 1989 (still married to her, a great girl), and while I am still a motorcyclist after I got married I decided to keep motorcycling just for weekends, and do something else a bit quieter from Mondays to Fridays. And that's when I started working on gardening magazines, and have become a very keen gardener and garden blogger. That was until 2 years ago, that is. The gardening magazine I had been on for 15 years closed down, and since then I've been working freelance for whoever wants me, on any topic at all, from gardening to bikes, business and finance to art, travel and cars. They all pay roughly the same, but as I am 62 now, I'm really looking forward to retirement, as it seems like it's impossible for me to find full-time work. They're always looking for someone a couple of decades younger than me!

Fortunately, I have found a fair bit of freelance work on motorcycle magazines, so I've turned full circle. Several of the older editors remembered my work well, so I'm back writing articles for them and now have my own column in one of the mags.

Isn't Military Modeler now with Tamiya Publications? I still find the mag in Barnes & Nobles.

I have been working in a comic store for the last thirty years, and may finally be the owner soon. Modeling on and off since I was five, just turned 50 and think this is the golden age of modeling.

At the moment I am doing variuos Jobs. I work looking after Vending Machines as well as working in a Local Club. I will have my Hands full shortly as I have 2 solid Months playing Jolly St Nic at some of our major Department Stores.....Ho Ho Ho from Mark

Model builder since 8. Now 60. First job was airport attendant while also training to be an A&P. Got my pilot's license while doing all that. Flew 150's, 172's Citabria, Tri-Pacer, Cirrus, Archer and Comanche. I own and barely operate a PA24-180 Comanche. 

After A&P training and finishing up the degree work I wound up doing another 4 years training to be a tool and die maker. I worked the bench, machine shop, tool room, production trouble shooter, leader and supervisor. Spent 35 years in automotive T&D. Retired early in '12. Went back to the local airport and rediscovered that old cliche, the first answer is usually correct and got a part time, temporary, seasonal, almost trained job as airport attendant. It's my hobby job and keeps gas in the Comanche. 

I never quit model building although often I only found time in the winters. Now I am teaching 5 g'boys and 1 g'girl how to and building many more models for myself. 

I'd like to sit down with each and every one for a conversation. Your posts are all interesting.

I spent a few years wasting time after high school, then went to a marine college and studied Engineering for 4 years.  I graduated, worked worldwide on oil tankers for 5 years, then settled down in Canada with our Coast Guard.  Presently, I am a Chief Engineer one of their smaller oceanographic vessels, working 28 days on and 28 off.  12 hour days at work.  Home is my modelling time, usually 2 or 3 hours in the morning over a coffee while the dogs and I wake up.  Then it's housework and eventually preparing dinner for when my better half gets home. 

I had built a lot of plastic models as a kid, and started back into it to fill a bit of time and work on my patience, never my strong suit. I have been back at it for 4 or 5 years now, I think. 

Really interesting thread by the way.

Joined USAF In 1987, worked as a crew chief on A-10's and then F-15E's. Got my A&P license while I was in. Got out in 1995. Became an automatic and manual transmission builder for automobiles and light trucks owning my own business which I still work at part time. In 2000 I opened a second business building racing engines(specializing in 410 sprint car engines) and that is where I spend most of my time now.

25 year old Achitectural Draftsman.  Mainly work on details and constuction plan the window companies will use.  Work on Dealerships, Schools, Hospitals, Universities, and retails stores.

Use mainly AutoCAD, but have a large amount of expirience with Revit and presentation renderings.

I am an attorney focusing on civil disputes and small business representation. I would call myself a civil trial lawyer,   but actual trials are few and far between these days.  I built a lot of models as a kid (10-14) but stopped until this year (age 38).

My passion is anything military, probably because of my family (gdfather was SeaBee in WW2, father and his brothers fought in 'Nam, brother in 1st AD in 90's). I love planes of all types, but am intentionally working on other kits to diversify my portfolio.  But I'm jonesing for a jet.

I haven't had a job that required hand skills (other than typing) since the 90's so my modeling is suffering.  But i hope that practice will change that. 

I'm a mason. Not the secret society, but a bricklayer. I live in central PA where in a month or two it'll be too cold to work reasonably, so more modeling time. 

Hello everyone,

I am a firefighter/paramedic, and my wife is a 3rd grade school teacher. We both love our careers and wouldn't have any other job. I am new to modelling so with my rotation schedule I'll have a lot of time to model. This is a great discussion.

Hunter

I graduated with a degreee in mechnaical engineering, worked the field for six years, went ten drawing plans for commercial kitchens and bars, then another eleven (so far) drawing up supermarkets.  The company I work for operates around 30 markets and over 100 retail shops, so I am kept quite busy.

Well currently I'm a Aircraft Mechanical Parts Repairer, specifically gear boxes, and TMS specific I am one of barely a handful of wrench turners (4 left in the world) that repair and overhaul the Rolls Royce Pegasus engines accessory gear box.

I am proud to turn out a good to go box for my Corps...........

This thread is getting a bit old, but what the hell.

I'm a machinist, basically a failed mechanical engineer. I never finished school (shame on me) but I did grab cerifactes for machining along the way. I now program and operate fanuc and mazak machinery. I have been doing this for close to 25 years and have just discoverd I truly hate it!

Long and varied career. U. S. Navy - 22 years 6 month and 9 days of undetected crime. Volunteer Firefighter/EMT in Virginia Beach from 1982 - 1992 Over the Road truck driver for J. B. Hunt and Schneider National. Currently Orange County (Florida) Sheriff's Office as a civilian supervisor (fingerprint Unit)

That's quite a spread of jobs there Mark.

Wow!! It's been a long while since this thread was active.

mustang1989

Wow!! It's been a long while since this thread was active.

Never gets old. People love telling their stories. 

Hi,

I hadn't seen this thread before, but since its recently been reserrected, I'm a Naval Architect.  Mostly since I  graduated in 1988 I've been working for various design firms in and around Washington DC (with a very brief stint at Military Sealift Command).  The job has given my a chance to work on some interesting projects, including the LCS1 class, some NOAA research ships, some stuff in support of a Maritime Museum out in San Francisco, the LCAC/SSC program, some stuff in support of the AAAV/EFV tracked vehicle program, some Coast Guard Deepwater Program stuff, and some Military Sealift Command/Auxiliary ship stuff.

In addition the job has given me the opportunity to travel to some interesting places like Japan, Korea, Norway, and the UK.

Pat

Graduated from community college in 1988 with a degree in architectural drafting.  After graduation I was hired in the land surveying field in the spring of 1989.  Since then I have gained my professional license in land surveying in the states of Washington and Idaho as well as being certified as a federal land surveyor with the Bureau of Land Mangement.  Still with the same company I started with in Northeast Washingtson State - its been a great place to spend the last 28 years at.

PFJN

Hi,

I hadn't seen this thread before, but since its recently been reserrected, I'm a Naval Architect.  Mostly since I  graduated in 1988 I've been working for various design firms in and around Washington DC (with a very brief stint at Military Sealift Command).  The job has given my a chance to work on some interesting projects, including the LCS1 class, some NOAA research ships, some stuff in support of a Maritime Museum out in San Francisco, the LCAC/SSC program, some stuff in support of the AAAV/EFV tracked vehicle program, some Coast Guard Deepwater Program stuff, and some Military Sealift Command/Auxiliary ship stuff.

In addition the job has given me the opportunity to travel to some interesting places like Japan, Korea, Norway, and the UK.

Pat

 

 

modelcrazy

 

mustang1989

Wow!! It's been a long while since this thread was active.

 

 

Never gets old. People love telling their stories. 

 

ExtremeTeam

Graduated from community college in 1988 with a degree in architectural drafting.  After graduation I was hired in the land surveying field in the spring of 1989.  Since then I have gained my professional license in land surveying in the states of Washington and Idaho as well as being certified as a federal land surveyor with the Bureau of Land Mangement.  Still with the same company I started with in Northeast Washingtson State - its been a great place to spend the last 28 years at.

 

My brother and I invented the aerospace industry

Wilbur Wright

My brother and I invented the aerospace industry

 

arent you retired yet?

Let's see:

17 years as an Aeronautical Engineer

2 years as an IT Specialist

7 years in wooden boat building and repair

1.5 years as a Project Engineer in the shipbuilding industry and still going...

13 1/2 AD USAF as an Avionics Guidance & Control System Specialist (KC-135A&R, B-52G, U-2). Thanks to Uncle Sam got to travel the world, and my PCS locations were England, New Hampshire, Texas, California, Korea, & California, with TDYs  all over the world. Somehow that lead to Network Engineer, and then to Cisco VoIP Consultant. 

PontiacRich

Let's see:

17 years as an Aeronautical Engineer

2 years as an IT Specialist

7 years in wooden boat building and repair

1.5 years as a Project Engineer in the shipbuilding industry and still going...

 

Hi,

That's an interesting career path.

Pat

The names and dates may have been changed to protect thefoggy memories of me. 

Early 70s: landscaping assistent for multiple Gull gas stations.  Paperboy for the Seattle times.

78 thru 84:Goofing off and odd jobs including cleaning up the memorial colliseum in Portland OR. after rock concerts.( I met a lot of "interesting " people backstage and broke a few laws but its ok......I dont remember half of it.)

84 thru 86 :worked at American steel as a slag boy( scraping slag off hot metal parts) then got promoted to crane operator.   Its funny how everyone gets out of your way when your moving a 40 ton slab of steel from one end of the plant to the other.

87: Hitchhicked around the U.S. with the Grateful dead......the best vacation I never rememberd. What I do remember cannot be repeted here.  Sorry.

88 thru 92:Part time machinest. odd jobs in a variety of metal shops. Janitor at Portland city hall.

93 thru 96: Started as the janitor for a chain of movie theaters and worked my way up to general manager (this just means when sombody didnt show up I had to )

97:Worked in a foundry turning scrap aluminum into1700 lbs ingots   HOT!!!

98 thru2002: decided to get married (BAD IDEA!!! ) had a baby girl so I got serious and started driving passenger busses for the airport

2002 thru2010:Cross contry truck driver.

2007:Got remarried. (Definetly a GOOD idea!!)

2010 thru2013: short time in a trailer manufacturing plant. short time driving school bus ( kids suck when their confined in a 50 foot tin can! ) and driving a water tanker for the forest service

2013 thru 2016 : Driving a cement truck.

September 2016 to now ; Moved to southern Arizona and am now working as a dump truck/cement truck driver.

Their were all manner of odd jobs thru the years ... most in some sort of steel mill or janitorial but I cant remember them all.

PFJN

 

 

PontiacRich

Let's see:

17 years as an Aeronautical Engineer

2 years as an IT Specialist

7 years in wooden boat building and repair

1.5 years as a Project Engineer in the shipbuilding industry and still going...

 

 

 

 

Hi,

That's an interesting career path.

Pat

 

Thanks Pat.  Yes, it's been a long strange trip.  Chronologically, it went like this:

4.5 years at a jet engine manufacturer

10.5 years at an airplane manufacturer

7 years in wooden boat building 

2 years being laid off - getting IT certifications & Project Management training

2 years in a start up General Aviation company doing IT and Engineering

1 year unemployed

1.5 years doing IT contracting

and currently almost 1.5 years in Project Engineering in the steel shipbuilding industry

DDonSS3

Did 20 years in the USN as a P-3 Aircrewman doing Non-Acoustic and Acoustic Sensor Operation. Worked at a electronics plant as a Rent-a-Cop. Seven years for the USPS in a big distribution center outside of Philadelphia. I just couldn't take working there anymore. ATTEMPTED to sell cars for about 1-1/2 years. Been a loss- prevention camera operator since 2014.

 

Thank you for your service!

And to everyone who has served...thank you.

I think I replied to this thread the first time around, now I just bellyache to my wife about my commute to work where I really make ALOT of people mad by kicking back aircraft parts that look like they were "repaired" by a hamfisted gorilla. I now work as a QA inspector for an FAA part 145 repair station. FYI not real sure how I got here LOL.

I get to build jet engines. 

ridleusmc

I get to build jet engines. 

 

 

Oh...you're with that "other" jet engine maker 

ridleusmc

I get to build jet engines. 

 

 

Do you in Evendale, or do you work out of CP or NP? 

Yes sir, Evendale