Edge of leaving modeling

[Luke1ab]

I do not know if this is the right place to post this so sorry if it is the wrong place. but i am really struggling to enjoy this hobby as much as i try to i just cant stay interested for longer then a few days. i have a lot of unfinished build threads because i sold a lot of the kits i have half made as i just couldn't find time or energy to finish them. maybe im too hard on myself too
Guess im looking for some advice or help because i have some great kits i want to build but its hard to do that when you cant enjoy the hobby

[alextheblue]

I do not know if this is the right place to post this so sorry if it is the wrong place. but i am really struggling to enjoy this hobby as much as i try to i just cant stay interested for longer then a few days. i have a lot of unfinished build threads because i sold a lot of the kits i have half made as i just couldn't find time or energy to finish them. maybe im too hard on myself too
Guess im looking for some advice or help because i have some great kits i want to build but its hard to do that when you cant enjoy the hobby

Hey Luke, this seems to be a very common problem. I've seen many guys get to a point where they start to question why they're in the hobby. Some take a break and come back refreshed, whereas other pack it in never to return.

Apologies if this doesn't sound too helpful, but only you know what is right for you. I too have gone through moments where I've wanted to pack everything away and I always blamed it on the old loss of mojo. But I came to realise, that like most things in life, there a going to be aspects of the hobby that you really enjoy and others that you don't. They key is not to get hung up on the bits that you don't like. Power through these as quick as you can and get to the bits that you do enjoy. If painting is your thing and you hate sorting out seams for example, then don't spend too much time with the filler and sanders. Just do enough so you feel like you've dealt with it and then move on to the enjoyable bits. And try and carry this through to your finished model. If you can still see that seam, don't beat yourself up about, pat yourself on the back on your great paint job. And if you don't finish, what the hell, you'll finish the next one.

It's been said on many an occasion, it's your hobby, your time and your money - do what you want. Most importantly, do what you enjoy.

Hope to keep seeing your great work on the forum bud!

[digger303]

I do not know if this is the right place to post this so sorry if it is the wrong place. but i am really struggling to enjoy this hobby as much as i try to i just cant stay interested for longer then a few days. i have a lot of unfinished build threads because i sold a lot of the kits i have half made as i just couldn't find time or energy to finish them. maybe im too hard on myself too
Guess im looking for some advice or help because i have some great kits i want to build but its hard to do that when you cant enjoy the hobby

Hey Luke, this seems to be a very common problem. I've seen many guys get to a point where they start to question why they're in the hobby. Some take a break and come back refreshed, whereas other pack it in never to return.

Apologies if this doesn't sound too helpful, but only you know what is right for you. I too have gone through moments where I've wanted to pack everything away and I always blamed it on the old loss of mojo. But I came to realise, that like most things in life, there a going to be aspects of the hobby that you really enjoy and others that you don't. They key is not to get hung up on the bits that you don't like. Power through these as quick as you can and get to the bits that you do enjoy. If painting is your thing and you hate sorting out seams for example, then don't spend too much time with the filler and sanders. Just do enough so you feel like you've dealt with it and then move on to the enjoyable bits. And try and carry this through to your finished model. If you can still see that seam, don't beat yourself up about, pat yourself on the back on your great paint job. And if you don't finish, what the hell, you'll finish the next one.

It's been said on many an occasion, it's your hobby, your time and your money - do what you want. Most importantly, do what you enjoy.

Hope to keep seeing your great work on the forum bud!

I will second that.... Lose my mojo regularly, but being a regular on this site helps me no end. The more I am engaged then the more I want to do. I do more stuff ups than a lot of guys, but hey I can live with it and like anything the more you do the easier it gets. Even becoming more enjoyable.
It would be sad to lose another modeler....In this case less isn't more.

[Timplastic]

I would think your being overly critical of your work that may be causing the problem.
I have had the same issues. My ideas of what I want a kit to be built and finished like versus what they actually turn out like is never the same and can be disheartening.
Now what the solution is can be harder to pin point. I have done some rather simple builds that has just been a build and finish. No added extras just the base kit built and picking a relative simple kit to build as well. Clearing out half started kits can also relive a lot of self pressure, feeling bad you have not made the most of that can weigh heavy

[Gary30]

Is there anything specifically you don't enjoy about it?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow, I thought I was the only one with “sell it all, pack it in ‘ thoughts
I second what alextheblue says
Step away, do some other things, family time, chores etc and see if the hobby calls you back

[chief5437]

I’m sure we’ve all been at this point to some extent. I go through phases where I can’t be bothered so I spend some time doing other hobbies (you’re not limited to just one, lol!)
Eventually something sparks the interest again and I’ll be eager to get back to the bench again!

TLDR: don’t get rid of your stuff, you’ll never know when you’ll want it again!

[Fridgy]

Wow, I thought I was the only one with “sell it all, pack it in ‘ thoughts

Been here quite a few times myself (then the scrooge mcduck side of my brain kicks in saying I would never recover what I've spent)
I took some time away from the bench, still continued to browse the forum and I found the mojo and interest started to come back slowly

[barrythornton]

I took some time away from the bench, still continued to browse the forum and I found the mojo and interest started to come back slowly

Thats how it goes somtimes.
Put the stash somewhere safe, and at some point maybe you will see something that pulls you in.

[shortCummins]

forget modelling for a while, I'm sure something will take your fancy and then you'll be back with a fully charged mojo!

perhaps it might be worth trying a different type of modelling? if you've never built any sci-fi, get yourself a BanDi Star Wars kit, or try building a sail boat, or maybe a resin figure, or maybe a kit-bash? Paul did a AT-ST in a German WWII get-up, try something that's different to what you "normally" would build and might teach you new skills?

I was "away" from the hobby for 20+ years, I don't "do something" everyday, I took the summer off but now I can't really understand why I left the hobby for so long

I guess the bottom line is that if your not enjoying it, don't do it, you'll either "get the itch" to start again or you won't, put the stash out of sight and see what happens, when the nights draw in and there bugger all on the tele you might just want something more interesting to do.

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[digger303]

When I started in modeling. I completed a kit with my children and it took a week I guess, but that was full on every afternoon. After that when I started the next one it lay on the table for weeks half completed. I eventually finished it mostly, put it away and didn't touch another model for 4 years, my stash was maybe 6 or 7 old Tamiya and Academy kits. Eventually I picked them up again and have been growing the stash somewhat aggressively for a time and not much building, but lately it has been not much buying and way more building or the time spent building. I'm a slow builder unless of course a unusual or uncommon one pops up for sale cheap
Don't sell your stuff is the take home message here....

[Gary30]

Don't sell your stuff is the take home message here....

Unless he has any old Tamiya 1/24 cars, then I'll gladly find a good home for them

[digger303]

Don't sell your stuff is the take home message here....

Unless he has any old Tamiya 1/24 cars, then I'll gladly find a good home for them

I'm looking for a AFV club lv4

[Gary30]

Don't sell your stuff is the take home message here....

Unless he has any old Tamiya 1/24 cars, then I'll gladly find a good home for them

I'm looking for a AFV club lv4

[OneSmallStep1966]

There’s little doubt that from time-to-time, most of us suffer from loss of mojo and/or interest in the hobby.
I was in that position last year, with stalled builds I didn’t want to finish and no desire to start anything new from my stash of other kits (mostly AFV).
What kick-started my interest again was the realisation that what I thought I liked building (AFV) didn’t interest me as much as I thought, so I tried something completely different and it worked.
I also realised that I am not a prolific model builder, and building back-to-back models doesn’t work for me, it just kills my interest. I’m now happy to build once in a while (which is good because my new found genre kits tend to be expensive), and i’ll take a break if needed, for example, my current project hasn’t been touched since July (other things to do), but I know I’ll finish it at some point because I’m enjoying it.

[digger303]

what's the verdict...did we do a good job ....are you staying..

[MarkB15]

Been there, currently am, Not packed my stuff away its just sitting there going finish me. That is my Mojo meter, when it gets High enough, I am back. I love looking at other peoples work on here. Once I got into my head that I will be as good as them one day, or if not then, I am happy with what I have done.
As Everyone says its your hobby, do what you want. Bear in mind I gave my grandson a spitfire and helped him build it, He then painted it himself. Pink! He Loved it.

[kitstarter]

I understand this. Been modelling for over 40 years and don't have much to show for it apart from a big collection of models and all the "gear" you need to finish a model. It's frustrating to see well-built and/or finished models of anything and admire those who can see a project through till the end. However I still enjoy the hobby - its relatively cheap - (mostly relaxing), you don't need to go out to pursue the hobby so get to stay in the comfort of your home, and you always seem to learn something from every model started. Or another way of looking at it, you buy a new model after researching if it's the best kit, spend more time on the computer researching the subject then actually spend time on the model it is a lot of hours spent for little money really.

And of course the eternal hope of having something half-decent to sit back and look at.

[kiwigav]

It would be such a shame to lose a fellow kiwi from the hobby. As everyone has said.... never say never and step away for while. just watch a few build videos on youtube when ever you can and pick your most enjoyed genre.

I personally have made the choice not to try and enter every GB or SIG, but just build what Im interested in and when I can

Watching others build the same things that interest you may or may not spark that mojo again. if you jump back in, dont be pressured by having to do regular posts, just build when you can and take your time, your pace is the right pace.

Hope this was helpful mate