A strange hobby for a girl

she popped into the Falklands GB thread for a moment...

Next time I join a forum, I'm doing so as a girl.  I think I got all of 3 messages, when I joined - let alone 3 pages, LOL.

-Fred

Gigatron

Next time I join a forum, I'm doing so as a girl.  I think I got all of 3 messages, when I joined - let alone 3 pages, LOL.

-Fred

oops. Welcome Fred!!

Next time I join a forum, I'm doing so as a girl.  I think I got all of 3 messages, when I joined - let alone 3 pages, LOL.

-Fred

Welcome.  Girls are not as rare in this hobby as you might think.  I have seen girls as young as 10 at shows showing off their builds to adults doing some very nice miniature work.  The thing is you see alot more Females working on miniatures, anime kits, and figure kits, then you do cars, planes, and armor.  Anyhow, welcome and show pics

Thank you for all your replies guys (and gals). I didn't really know what to expect but you all seem very supportive.

In order of replies:

SuppressionFire: Daunting task. You're not kidding! At times I would get so frustrated trying to fix someone else's mistake that I had to walk away for a while. The worst was trying to make new door hinges that kept snapping. I ended up melting a hot sewing needle through the plastic so the doors now have metal hinges. If I had known about scratch building when I started I could have bought two wheels but I found one wheel in my brothers old Lego sets the same size so that's what I used (have a look at my photos). I already have a new kit. Santa brought me a Revell Dumper Trailer that I've just started building to go with the truck.

ACESES5: Thanks for the tip. I actually sat on my bed one night and picked the chassis apart with a sharp knife. Three hours and two sticky plasters later I started to realise how much work was involved in model making.

Robtmelvin: I found when building the truck that I allocated a little bit of the day to myself and I really enjoyed my own company. I'm not sure what models I prefer yet. I've got a trailer to build and I would love to build a Concorde. The old wooden battle ships look fantastic with the sails and rigging but I think I'm too clumsy for anything like that.

Division 6: I never even thought about getting a few tips from YouTube. It might come in handy as I am struggling with a couple of things, especially with my painting.

CallSignOWL: Nice to meet you. I get the impression model making is second nature to you. I've only just started so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Sparrowhyperion: Thanks for your instructions. I already have a Flickr account so I tried to use that but managed to mess it up. I tried Photobucket a while ago but found it too confusing and give up. As Flickr didn't work I have spent a few days learning Photobucket. It takes me so long because I don't use my computer very often and I don't have anyone to ask when I get stuck.

tankerbuilder: I think I am a long way off going to model shows or contests. I wouldn't even know where to begin but I think I would be like a child in Toys R Us at Christmas time. I agree with your cousin about making something for pure enjoyment and not just to beat the competition but I guess if you are good enough, then you have got to give it a go at least once. It's probably one of the hardest things to try but I really like the idea of scratch building as I can't seem to find what I am looking for. I found some fantastic photos online of a blue and white truck towing a huge low trailer with the same colours and with a Case Excavator sitting on the back all mounted on a wooden base. It must all be scratch build as I found very little online in 1:25 scale except for a few metal tractors that are out of my price range and would be too heavy. Bruder and First Gear I think they were called. I also came across a Michigan loader from KFS (I know because I saved the pictures) and I thought that's perfect until I found out it is £200 and then it wasn't so perfect anymore but I fell in love with the truck so it is now my goal to be able to build something just half as good as that one day.

phoneguy: My sense of humour won't be a problem and I guess you know that your wife is always right? As for the threads, I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. That will take some time.

agentg: Airbrushing, never tried it, but I know my dad has a cheep one that connects to a car tyre. I'm sure that would do to have a go but I have no idea where to buy the paint to pour in. All in good time though.

tigerman: No, I'm still here. I'm just a little slow as finding each letter on my keyboard is a mini adventure in itself and it's amazing how many letters are needed once I start grouping them together to form words and sentences but I get there in the end.

Gigatron: Being a girl sometimes isn't the best thing that happened to me as I found out earlier. In a forum full of men it's probably best to be a man.



Right, my plan was to get my photos sorted out and on here tonight but things happened so it will be tomorrow at the earliest. I have 18 I think with lots of reading to go with them but if that is too many I will just post whatever I am allowed. If someone could let me know if there is a limit. I will post them in the 'Modelling Subjects - Autos' forum as I don't think the general discussion forum is the right place for them.
Just to give you all an idea of how my brain works I have included the following text that really belongs at the start of my photos. Hope it's not too much for you all to read.


Gratitude Where It's Due.
My dad deserves a huge thank you for his help and guidance without which this model would not have been built. Although the only 'hands on' work he did was to build a twisted chassis 20 year ago, he has held my hand doing everything from buying paint and wet-n-dry to showing me how to drill wheel pins out and spray paint with my hair drier. 
He also made me include the following words so people can understand what I'm talking about in my photos -  shock absorbers, drive shaft, axle, track control arm, track rod ends, cooler, air stacks, bulkhead, radiator crown, compressor units, fifth wheel. (Thanks dad) 

To build this truck I first had to take the chassis apart. Even after 20 years every location pin had a good hold so I decided to cut through them instead of ripping them apart. The drive shaft and one rear axle almost fell off but the levers on top of the axles and the shock absorbers all snapped. I snapped the frame that strengthens the chassis around the rear wheels but I was careful taking the front steering off in one piece. I noticed something wasn't right as the track control arm was rubbing against the front shock absorbers. I looked at the instructions and found two parts needed for the steering had been put on the wrong sides and everything else had been built around them so the steering also had to come apart and I snapped both steering arms (the parts that were wrong). By now I was fed up, I very nearly binned the lot but I kept calm, put it all back in the box and put it in the cupboard never to see daylight again. I was furious at the condition it was in, even if it was nearly as old as me and I had never wanted to build anything since I outgrew Lego. For three days I tried to forget about it until I decided that I'm not a quitter and I will not be beating by a box of broken plastic. It then became personal and I was determined it would end up looking like a truck (at least from a distance). So, job number one ..... make a cup of tea for myself and my folks (I am British you know) and to start at the beginning ..... "Dad, is there a shop where I can buy things to build and paint your old model truck?" "Yes Liz, it's called The Model Shop" (chuckle, chuckle, chuckle) "Ah, OK! So what do I need them?" .....

Recommendation:

If you think that you might like to build a wooden battleship (ships of the line) some day, I strongly recommend that you acquire a Heller "Victory" for your stash.

Your approach to your current projects tells me you are entirely equal to it when you can no longer resist the temptation should the box be in your possession. There is information on the build on the internet and oodles of research material near at hand for you (relative to my locale...that's why I will be building a "Constitution" first) and books galore.

In the meantime, get thee lots of 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, Mr. Surfacer 500 (bottle) and build.

Best of luck and welcome to the asylum.

Wally.

Elizabeth-Jane.. <--pretend its Tea..

Cant wait for the pics !

Elizabeth Jane

phoneguy: My sense of humour won't be a problem and I guess you know that your wife is always right?

Here we go!

Manstein's revenge

 

Elizabeth Jane:

 

phoneguy: My sense of humour won't be a problem and I guess you know that your wife is always right?

 

Here we go!

But Manny, he DOES know, he's got the badge to prove it!

Manny has the awards to give and he's shaking in anticipation to hand them out.

wow.... not to stereotype, but they type a lot too!  

LOL... Welcome aboard!

You mugs act like you 'aint never seen a girl...don't make me come up with a new award...

Welcome Elizabeth,,, glad to have you involved with the hobby - - -  All the best. Especially with the endeavor you've chosen,,   WOW,,  that sounds like some job.

I won't get into any lengthy details suffice to say if  you need help, there are plenty of talented blokes about.

Again,,  all the best and good luck with the restoration....  will enjoy seeing the results..   Cheers!

PS - - where abouts in England? I have family in Sheffield.

Bill

to the Forums Elizabeth. Lots of luck with the truck.  Like many of the guys said, "If you need help, just ask".

Jim

Manstein's revenge

You mugs act like you 'aint never seen a girl...don't make me come up with a new award...

No kiddin'.. Next thing you know, they'll be lettin' females on board ships,  fly fighters, and fly attack helicopters...

Ain't hardly worth goin' ta war no more..

Hans von Hammer

Manstein's revenge:

You mugs act like you 'aint never seen a girl...don't make me come up with a new award...

 

No kiddin'.. Next thing you know, they'll be lettin' females on board ships,  fly fighters, and fly attack helicopters...

Ain't hardly worth goin' ta war no more..

 

And after that it will be gays in the military, can you imagine such a thing

Manstein's revenge

You mugs act like you 'aint never seen a girl...don't make me come up with a new award...

Yes, welcome Elizabeth Jane, and dont worry about the guys, some of them dont get out much............

Fellas.... I think we just got called nerds!  We got compared to the cast of Big Bang... is this a good thing?

Bish

Hans von Hammer:

Manstein's revenge:

You mugs act like you 'aint never seen a girl...don't make me come up with a new award...

 

No kiddin'.. Next thing you know, they'll be lettin' females on board ships,  fly fighters, and fly attack helicopters...

Ain't hardly worth goin' ta war no more..

 

 

And after that it will be gays in the military, can you imagine such a thing

oh!! and them thar Women firefighters...!! sheesh.. what is this world coming to...!!

joeviz

Fellas.... I think we just got called nerds!  

smeagol the vile

 Anyhow, welcome and show pics

Man... I would get SOOOoo banned for the remark I wanna write here...

Hans von Hammer

smeagol the vile:

 Anyhow, welcome and show pics

 

Man... I would get SOOOoo banned for the remark I wanna write here...

LOL, go on, i dare ur.

I triple dog dare you.  nothing bigger then that.

Well, other than I infinity dog dare you!

DONT DO IT HAMMER!!!!

Welcome to the hobby Elizabeth. I myself am a young modeler. I'm sure you're not alone out there

Just want to let people know I have my photos posted in the Autos section of Modelling Subjects. All comments, query's, mickey taking and hysterical fits of laughter are welcome.

Bish

Hans von Hammer:

smeagol the vile:

 Anyhow, welcome and show pics

 

Man... I would get SOOOoo banned for the remark I wanna write here...

 

LOL, go on, i dare ur.

Nah... But it had to with her avatar,  the words the Smeaglett wrote about  "show pictures" and the word,  "ta-tas"...  

Hans von Hammer

 

Bish:

 

 

Hans von Hammer:

 

smeagol the vile:

 Anyhow, welcome and show pics

 

 

Man... I would get SOOOoo banned for the remark I wanna write here...

 

 

LOL, go on, i dare ur.

 

 

Nah... But it had to with her avatar,  the words the Smeaglett wrote about  "show pictures" and the word,  "ta-tas"...  

I think it might be ßreast if you keep that one to yourself

And I will try to find a better picture to use.