Why did you start modeling?

In my day it was one of those things young boys were supposed to do. In elementary school art classes we would have the entire last six weeks to bring something from home to work on. Most of us guys brought models.

I pretty much dropped out for about 30 years. Although all that time modelling was not forgotten. I did build 7-8 kits over that period of time. Fortunately I continued to buy models and store them for future buidling. These makeup about 1/3 of my current stash.

Because cars, planes, tanks and ships are NEAT!!!    and I wanted them all, in my room, in all different colors!   I could hang all the planes from my ceiling then turn off the lights at night and shine the flashlight on 'em so my gunners on the ground could see 'em.  What else you wanta know?  Not to mention BB gun practice outside....wait there was that old Renwal Washington that was cannon fodder in a overstuffed chair in the basement.  Each shot and the damage taken was a forensic study.

Originally, it was because I went through the usual phase boys that age went through of wanting to build model airplanes, combined with an interest in WWII since my dad had served in the Pacific.

Later, it was a form of fanboy expression and "practice" to maybe get good enough for a job at ILM.

Now, depending on the subject, it's a combination of the fanboy factor, wanting to have something that's not just a finished store-bought collectible, and having something other than just books for my interest in military equipment.

The cool artwork on those old AIRFIX AURORA MONOGRAM and REVELL boxes !

My grandfather was an airplane nut (flew for RAF in BoB, and was a flight instructor at least part-time for the rest of his days) - he built lots of models, and real planes as well.  I grew up building both with him, or at least 'helping' in his shop.   Building kits is a blast, but so is building a 1:1 scale airplane!  No one can tell you you need more of a detail wash on your instrument panel! 

I got away from it for a while in high school/college, but soon after, came across a hobby store and saw some kits, thought about how much fun it would be to build one again, and have been hooked again ever since.   Its just great stress relief, even to sit down and get lost in a kit for only 1/2 an hour.  Now I build some aircraft, some trains, but mostly armor lately. 

Jeff

Because I thought it would be cheaper than a drug habit.... Boy, wasn't I wrong!!!!

Seriously though, I got into it originally because my grandparents bought me a kit for Christmas when I was about 8. Got back into it for 'real' after college after I'd picked up a couple FSMs off the newsstand and got inspired.

I need something to focus my overly busy mind on or i find things to focus on that get me in trouble.

models are cheaper than shooting

Models don't make me dumber like video games.

Working on models was a better idea than murdering my Sgt. when I was on night shift.

Because I was bored...

I had a lot of extra time.

I had a large sum of disposable income.

I had a full head of hair.

I had unused rooms in my house.

I had the patience of a saint.

Today... I have none of those.

For the chicks, obviously...

First or second time round? First time round was because of my dad, he did it, so did it. Second time round, because i was bored and it was more socially acceptable than...other things