Why do you build?

My Dad build balsa wood planes as a kid in the 1940s and bought me kits when I was in grade school. I love creating something with my hands and mind.

 Plus that sniffable glue in the 1970s was awesome.

Hans von Hammer

 

Synister:

 

I am just curious as to why you guys build models? I build them because I am good with my hands and it keeps me busy, out of trouble, and actually saves me money. 

 

 

Keeps me from climbing a tall building with a high-powered rifle...

I only get annoyed now...

                "SHAD-DAPPPPPP!!!!!"

Austin finally closed access to that tower, anyway.

I can't help wonder why no Texas Guards units or police had helicopters  available that day.

Synister

I am just curious as to why you guys build models? I build them because I am good with my hands and it keeps me busy, out of trouble, and actually saves me money. 

Keeps me from climbing a tall building with a high-powered rifle...

I only get annoyed now...

                "SHAD-DAPPPPPP!!!!!"

Because I can...for now anyway.

And besides if I didn't build them I would be accused of having a kit/paint/tools/AM parts shopping addiction

VanceCrozier

 

Reasoned:

 

VanceCrozier:

...the first time I brought a full-size Bf109 home, my wife was slightly annoyed.

Come again?

 

 

OK OK - busted, I have never brought home a full-sized airplane of any kind.... But I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be pleased if I tried it either!

...aw....and I was hoping you had a DB-605 lying around the house

VanceCrozier

I blame my grandfather for the "modeler's gene", he was a mechanic in the RCAF during WW2, and continued working on cars & bikes until recently.

WWII RCAF mechanic?

Did your grandfather ever mention what he worked on during WWII?

Reasoned

 

VanceCrozier:

 

...the first time I brought a full-size Bf109 home, my wife was slightly annoyed.

 

Come again?

OK OK - busted, I have never brought home a full-sized airplane of any kind.... But I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be pleased if I tried it either!

VanceCrozier

OK, as a graphic designer I spend a great deal of time in front of computer screens, pushing pixels around. Building models lets me build something with my hands. Also a great interest in history & aviation design of course. I blame my grandfather for the "modeler's gene", he was a mechanic in the RCAF during WW2, and continued working on cars & bikes until recently.

Also earn a living in front of a computer.  I can completely scrap a program and start over with only a loss of time, or go back and fix any mistake after all is done.  And with the push of a button, create 1,000 copies of my finished product. 

Modeling is something very different, hands on, have to be careful as some mistakes can't be fixed.  The finished product is one of a kind.  And I picked it up as a hobby from my dad as a kid.

Paul

VanceCrozier

...the first time I brought a full-size Bf109 home, my wife was slightly annoyed.

Come again?

...the first time I brought a full-size Bf109 home, my wife was slightly annoyed. I've decided that scale models will ensure my safety!

OK, as a graphic designer I spend a great deal of time in front of computer screens, pushing pixels around. Building models lets me build something with my hands. Also a great interest in history & aviation design of course. I blame my grandfather for the "modeler's gene", he was a mechanic in the RCAF during WW2, and continued working on cars & bikes until recently.

MAJ Mike

 

Manstein's revenge:

 

It was part of my early-release deal...

 

 

Moral of the story: Don't post photos of your fiddely bits on Facebook.

...or photos of Cube Manny's ***......

Manstein's revenge

It was part of my early-release deal...

Moral of the story: Don't post photos of your fiddely bits on Facebook.

Over crowding had nothing to do with it?

It was part of my early-release deal...

MAJ Mike

...because attempting to read Dragon kit instructions gives me an excuse to go to the pistol range.

I suspect Smeagol's frustration over the Dragon instructions for his M-14 kit proves your experience is not unique.

Manstein's revenge

For the ribbons, trophies and medals...

..........Mein Führer.......

Please don't forget the all important , post award, victory laps at local club meetings.......

For the ribbons, trophies and medals...

Because I am an aircraft nut and modelling is as close I can get!

'Cuz I want to!  Seriously, I wanted to build a replica of each aircraft that I had worked on in the AF, since I really did enjoy that period (which was a long time ago btw) and I've been involved in aviation most of my life.  That has expanded to a few other types now, but I'm not very prolific.

Ken

An extension of my interest in anything military.  Especially the history aspect.  So far I'm aiming my efforts on stuff I've dealt with through my career, and my family members.

Acts as a nice escape too.

I also like that its acting as an inspiration for my son.  He likes what I've done and wants to make his own so we've made a couple dollar store wood kits, and yesterday we did a snap tite hummer.  Not bad for a 4 year old.

...why?

Before 3D CAD, building a model was the only method of viewing an airplane, tank, car, etc. from all angles , other than having the real object,

I do it for the trophy girls in Victory Lane at the end of the contests to congratulate the winners....Oh wait..sorry..my bad...

Seriously...for me, like some have said, each model is a snapshot of history, especially in the aircraft and armor arena.  When i went to the regional IPMS show a couple weeks ago with my 14 year old son, he would ask me what this airplane was and what that tank was and when and where were they used. it was actually a 2 day history lesson for him and I actually learned alot from those who built the models.

I try to learn something about each kit I build, whether it's a car, truck, plane or tank. By that, I mean, if i'm building a race car, then what makes the car I'm building different from others like it? Was it painted a special scheme for just one event? Was it a winning car?  If it's an aircraft kit, what makes the particular replica I'm building significat?  Was it a Mig killer? Has it been retired from service? What mods have been done to this particular version of aircraft that you might not see on others? There's always something to learn when you're building a model besides new techniques and tips.  For me, the more i learn about what i'm modeling, the more enjoying and satisfying it is for me.

Because it's....... "WINNING". Okay, that's getting old.

War movies got me interested when I was a kid. That led to reading history, finally to building the weapons used in war. I think most of us are interested in the weaponry of war.

I haven't looked too far back in 40 something years.

Decompression.

For several years, I wrote. Then I started writing for a living, and writing for fun was just overkill. That and I was craving something to do with my hands. Don't have the space or time for a project car (one day...), so I figured I'd give modeling a shot, as I loved it when I was growing up. 

That, and for the chicks, of course.

MAJ Mike

...and yet, what are the statistics of firearm crimes in the Windy City?

higher than kit building

...and yet, what are the statistics of firearm crimes in the Windy City?

MAJ Mike

...because i had a shortage of BB gun targets.

you're lucky the local bureaucrats let you shoot a BB gun in your area.

Can't do that around here.

Can't have fireworks, either.

Maybe that's the real reason kids stopped building plastic models?

...because i had a shortage of BB gun targets.

...because attempting to read Dragon kit instructions gives me an excuse to go to the pistol range.

Because I can't park a real F/A-18 on my shelf.

I feel like having a shelf with some well done models is like having a miniature museum in my house.  Each model is like a little piece of history with a story behind it.

I also feel like building a well done model is like building your own trophy that you can display proudly.