Somewhere in-between...

Hercmech

I find myself wavering between being really excited about building then not so much. I find that in my "down" times I buy more stuff be it magazines, kits tools, etc. I build slow anyway but occasionally I get to working faster.

Even though I have gone years between builds at various points in my life...I have always maintained my interest in the hobby.

Just my

I am in the same boat as Hercmech,

  I didn't actively build for years, but could never stop my self from thumbing through magazines or books about the hobby, and missed doing it the entire time. Every hobby store was a must stop and  even though I didn't buy anything, it was enough to smell the styrene for a while and remember for a while. And bore my better half(halves) with stories of plastic glories of days gone by. And to their credit, every ex who was made to wander a hobby shop with me, and to my present missus, who fully encourages my hobby, thank you :)

  Then when I decided to go gung ho and come back to it, I jumped all in, now that I am all in, and have more crap than I probably need to actually get on with it,  I can't seem to find as much time as I would like. Punishment from the gods of modeling for being a slacker for a few years in between maybe?

  Either way, it hasn't discouraged me, I am still accumulating crap and dreaming about  my "big" build, just hopefully I will find some time to build something to present in the Diorama Group Build I signed up for. And those really big sales at Sprue brothers have nicely filled my stash and my imagination. :) Now just time to smack father time around a bit.

  P.S. On a bit of a side note, (indirectly related to burn out maybe) I could never understand so many people wanting to build as fast as humanly possible, yes sometime a build just falls together, and once in a blue moon you challenge yourself to see how far you can push without stopping for a pee break :) but hey, that is just me. (there you go, an additional worth for free :)

Manstein's revenge

But I NEVER plan on being any further from the level of involvement than where I am now...I just enjoy this stuff too much, and most of all, I enjoy the folks in here that make it so much fun and interesting...

 

Agreed- some may say my build pace is almost non-existent, but when I do things like try to accurize a 1960 Hawk mold of a Gee Bee R-1 racer where all the engraved surface detail should be raised and all the raised surface detail should be engraved (plus scratchbuild a complete cockpit), producing a completed build every 1.5 years or so will happen.

I'm quite involved with my local IPMS chapter and I love going to shows and hanging out here to talk shop and look at others' work. I get inspiration from both these places, in addition to just looking at my stash. I envision the completed builds and that makes me want to crack open another box. Problem is, I gotta push through the current build first. Well, maybe it's not that much of a problem, but several here have mentioned this phenomenon as causing stagnation, and I'm with that group. Despite my build rate suggesting that I may be 'in between,' I think of myself more as being involved- it's just that my build pace is very......deliberate.

I'm a slow builder to begin with but then add work and well.... With two jobs I can work anywhere from 48 to 80 hrs a week. Sometime the last thing I want to do is work on the kits. 

I too have other intrests but most are/can be related to modeling. 

I think that most of us who hang out here want or intend to build more than we do, but often little trivialities like commitments to family and friends and the annoyance of having to make a living get in the way.

When we do get the time to build, sometimes “modeling inertia” steps in. You start thinking about how long and involved that pet “back burner” project will be—though you can't really bring yourself to cut corners and do any less of a job on it—or you're holding out for that one “last” bit of information or aftermarket part or perfect paint color before you start.

In the end, though, most of us here have been at it long enough to realize that the building is only a part of what we love about our little obsession. Most of us were only motivated to start building at all because we were bowled over by that interesting paint-scheme, or fell in love with the roar of jet exhaust, or just couldn't get enough of the stories of the people that operated these machines in times and conditions that baffle, terrify and amaze us.

Hanging out with others that feel the same way, that understand the obsession, is sort of our therapy. It helps us fit into a world that, peculiarly, has largely never heard of FS 595 or RLM or ANA standards, and somehow would rather watch another “reality” show than debate the shape of Spitfire wings or the true color of tank treads.

That's okay. Since they haven't been blessed with the “true faith” the way we have, they need something harmless to keep them occupied while we do the important stuff.

Manstein's revenge

many different hobbies, and even sports: golf, playing guitar, biking, hunting, flying, NASCAR, etc...

So you were the guy flying that Spanish built Ju-52 around the Midwest US..........you ought to visit Fermis sometime next hunting season.

You aren't the only one with other hobbies; for me-  metalworking, biking , but never flew anything with an engine.

I suspect folks who are prone to adopt one hobby will also adopt others.

I just like being busy.

I enjoy lots of things....for example:  I am a private pilot, but for every 1 hour in the air I probably spend another 10 to 12 hours talking shop with other people at the local airport or reading up on it...

I have been struggeling with my modelling of late. Last year i only completed oine build. My current build should have been finished a few weeks back, but is still some way off. Some of this is down to work and otehr things. But most of it is down to my lack of motivation.  I am still buying kits and AM, still planning builds, buying referance material etc. But i still find it hard to get myself going of an evening. I have questioned over the last few weeks if i really want to still be doing this.

I would say a break might do me good, but i have a lot of breaks, ranging from ever weekend to a few weeks when on leave. Last year i was even away for 4 months and i thought when i got back i would be rearing to go. But it was still hard to get in the right frame of mind.

I still love this hobby, i just think i need to give my head a good shake and get myself motivated.

carsanab

 

Manstein's revenge:

 

...this includes many different hobbies, and even sports: golf, playing guitar, biking, hunting, flying, NASCAR, etc...And I see nothing wrong with it...

 

I dint know you enjoyed BIKING?????

Cars require licenses & registration. Manny bikes to stay "off the grid".

Nope, no wavering here.  I've been building at about the same rate, 2 -4 per month for over 30 years.  Pretty good builds on average, at least I'm happy with them.  I belong to 2 local IPMS chapters and head one of them.  I'm have a great relationship with our LHS. My wife or daughter can go in there and they can show them what to get me for birthdays or Christmas. So I have no qualms about ever leaving the hobby even for a short time.  By the way,  my wife enjoys that I have this hobby, and has even gone to a couple of IPMS nationals with me,  and is looking forward to this years in Disney World.  I have more personal friends from the clubs than I do online.  This is just too impersonal and distant.  I use the net just for a little, and I mean a little research. I prefer books.

I do have very small periods, like 2 weeks,  max, when I don't feel like working on something.  But then I have a building jag when I can't stop, and get 2 or 3 going at once.  This hobby is pretty much my only hobby.  I hate sports, forget motorcycles and loath NASCAR.  We do go on nice vacations, so I do have a lot of activities outside the hobby some camping, but I prefer our vacation time in the mountains here in a nice condo.  I think I have a nice balance going on here.  Oh yes, being semi-retired helps a little, although I still got a lot built working full time.

Enough blathering.

Sorry, I built a Tamiya Swordfish a year or so ago. I have a Eduard Hellcat going now though.

Doug

Manstein's revenge

...this includes many different hobbies, and even sports: golf, playing guitar, biking, hunting, flying, NASCAR, etc...And I see nothing wrong with it...

I didnt know you enjoyed BIKING?????

I agree that's not fair to judge a modeller on their pace of building.  It's not a matter of being an undedicated modellers, it's a variable on time.  I am blown away at the rate some are able to build their kits and at the same time they look awesome, and they don't look rushed.  Personally I wish I had more time, but I don't and that's life.

Everyone have different lives an their time is spent accordingly.  I'm sure how you spend your time in 2008 is different from 2012 and there isn't anything wrong with it.

As long as you enjoy what you do and how you do it, that's all that matters.

I think I build slower than I'd like . That being said, when I started checking into my pace, I had an even dozen to throw at the "what did you finish in 2011" thread. Considering summer is often a write-off for me, not too shabby. Now at the same time, I'm plugging away at several kits right now, but still getting all excited about "something else in my stash" after seeing a great pic online, or reading a good article in a magazine. So, my slightly ADD brain thinks I should be building faster... but I'm probably in a good place.

I find myself wavering between being really excited about building then not so much. I find that in my "down" times I buy more stuff be it magazines, kits tools, etc. I build slow anyway but occasionally I get to working faster.

Even though I have gone years between builds at various points in my life...I have always maintained my interest in the hobby.

Just my

DoogsATX

That's unacceptable.

Members who don't build above a certain pace should be banned. And everyone else should be compelled to build the same kit.

 

I should note that the above is entirely tongue-in-cheek, since the internet tends to disguise tone and intent.

That's unacceptable.

Members who don't build above a certain pace should be banned. And everyone else should be compelled to build the same kit.