How to tell someone that..gasp..your a modeler

" everyone here knows me, knows what i do fer a livin'..."
just quote (or paraphrase, in my case since i'm not a pro ) Captain Quint's line from 'Jaws'...
and yeah, when i once told a certain snobby girl at school i did modeling as a hobby, she kind of turned up her nose & said : "No way ! " i think she thought i meant fashion modeling... i was LOL too hard !
frosty

Sometimes I cringe a bit when my girlfriend drops it into a conversation, like when she's telling someone how we need an extra overhead light in our dining room so its easier to do paperwork and for when I'm doing "my tanks and soldiers". Occasionally it goes over their heads but sometimes they'll ask what I build soldiers for. Some understand better when you explain about the work it takes to make a realistic model but often they go away with an image of a grown adult playing armies on the loungeroom floor.
Jeff

Its easier than telling them some of the other stuff I do for fun.

Dress in armor and fight medieval tournaments.
Dress in 18thc. military uniforms and fire cannons.
Run German shepards and let them bite me while I wear a bite suit or sleeve.

So what can possibly be harder to tell them other than that?

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by renarts Its easier than telling them some of the other stuff I do for fun. Dress in armor and fight medieval tournaments. Dress in 18thc. military uniforms and fire cannons. Run German shepards and let them bite me while I wear a bite suit or sleeve. So what can possibly be harder to tell them other than that? Mike

Hmm. Well the armor part sounds like fun; I guess we've all wanted the chance to bash someone over the head with a mace. And don't the neighbors complain about the cannons? Actually, Mike, your pastimes sound more harmless than a lot I could name.

Actually I haven't had too many negative comments, head shakes, or the like. Anyone who sees my models, books, magazines, etc. lying around my den seem more or less impressed. I even get 'cool' a lot from my kids' friends. Most people figure I can crank them out at about one or two a week and seem surprised that it takes me months ...

Just my experience,
Bruce

When you are 5 years old they laugh...how qute
At 10 they say you are our little mechanic........
At 15 they say when you are going to study.....
At 20 they say grow up.......
At 25 they say get a life......
At 30 they say you are pathetic
After that I willl let you know as time goes by.....

I try to avoid using the word "model" when I tell someone new what my hobby is.
"I biuld static displays of.....(insert topic such as historical aircraft,etc)" or
"I build scale replicas of....(again, insert topic)"
Generally the conversation stops there as they don't have a clue how to respond.
If they do ask something like "what do you build them out of?" I tell them that I usually
start with a kit and add from there. This is basically true as I do add paint,glue,time,
effort,blood sweat and tears . The blood and tears are added every time my hobby
knife rolls off my work table and lands point down in my thigh or foot. I haven't quite
figured out how the lite end (blade) always ends up pointing down but it must have
something to do with "the modelers curse" that also includes flying and disappearing parts.

not sure why that is but you throw knives handle first.

My friends still think I model that black spaghetti strap number when I mention my modeling skills.



Phil Dunkel



PS not the most flattering thought since I'm 6'2" 300#

QUOTE: Originally posted by link955 They say "THAT'S relaxing??" And I say yes, because when you're that deep into something it's almost impossible to concentrate on your troubles, and often the distraction allows you to come up with solutions to problems. Ever wonder why women who knit and crochet seem so relaxed? Same idea here.

Hey, great response! Gonna use that from now on!
When I got a new job almost two years ago (in TV news) I started bring a small toolbox to work. When I was working nights, I had about 40 minutes to kill between the 10 & 11 live shots. The one reporter I was mostly with, looked at me like I was looped when I first pulled it out. But as I worked on projects & explained to her what I was doing, she grew more respectful as to the time & energy that I put into it.
When I was nearing completion to a kitbashed Trek starship, she wanted me to bring it in to see how it looked finished.

Converting the world, one person at a time!

I'm a closet aircraft modeler. My wife really supports my ship building, so when people come over and see them, I start getting tons of questions. The biggest is the "rigging" questions like, "thats relaxing" issues. Hey, I can do a lot of thinking while I tie clove hitches. But when they see my basement, I feel like I'm viewed as too immersed in the hobby and I must be neglecting my family. I have planes all over the place. From 1/4 scale remote control to 1/144 scale jets. But those are not seen because they are not "pretty". But I love them. Same with battleships.
I have taken my ships to art and craft shows and when asked what medium, I say plastic, and then get the "look" like, "this was a plastic toy model".

I'm also popular with my wifes friends since I can now do manicures. When I was seeing what my wife was paying to have her nails done I said I can do that. She gave me that" sniffin too much glue" look but I did some fills and she was very impressed. When I went to the salon for a haircut, the girls there asked how I thought I could do fills and colors, well, "I build scale models of ships and planes". They looked at me like I was really nuts, Then I brought in some of my work and showed them. I now may have a part time job at the salon.
I have been buying supplies a beauty salons and fabric stores since I was in jr. high. Boy was that always fun when I had to explain to the girls there my intentions. Better yet, when kids from school saw me there.

I always get weird looks for being in the hardware, automotive, or models section. Like they've never seen a woman before.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill I always get weird looks for being in the hardware, automotive, or models section. Like they've never seen a woman before.

Courtney:
I was in the Arctic a few years ago with one of our company pilots who just happened to be female. The refueller at one of the sites said to me:
"It's sure nice you let your wife fly the plane a bit."
I thought she was going to make him swallow the hose nozzle while I ROFLMAO!
Bruce

Wow, I don't know where y'all live, but down here in Kissimmee, no one has anything but the nicest stuff to say about my models and hobby!
My Dad and stepmom(they're in Italy) are happy, my Stepdad and mom are HIGHLY enthused(my mom loves crafts, so she and I often share our tools!), my friends enjoy listening to me go on and on about modeling mishaps, my gamer friends use my hobby tips to mod their PCs, everyone LOVES my modeling!

Maybe y'all need to move down to Kissimmee? Models(especially R/C, even though I don't consider those models) are VERY popular, especially with the Latino population(don't ask me why, they just are)!