Why do you model?

Post by **Lee** » Mon May 27, 2013 12:06 pm

I got back into modelling by accident really.

Use to model when I was 12/13, you know - build the model, slap some paint on it, then promptly destroy in battle with my soldiers....lol.

I walked passed my LMS a couple of years back and thought 'why not?', walked in and purchased a couple of the Airfix 1/72 starter kits (the worst ones of course, 40 year old moulds!) and was hooked again from there. I like modelling mostly because it de-stresses me and it's good to have a hobby with an end result. I run two businesses and can be very hectic, modelling helps me chill. Usually in the man cave with a cigar and nice coffee is the perfect end to a day

What about you guys?

Website · Post by **AlexModelling** » Mon May 27, 2013 12:33 pm

well.. I began modelling in the 80´s and trough the 90´s...
my daughter was born and i stoped for a while, then suddenly i stoped... life wasn´t easy and i had little time...
years have passed and i began to use youtube to see other modellers work and this will to return to this hobbie was grouing and grouing...
until last year.. i was walking downs the street and saw a toy shop and i was just seeing through the window when i saw a model from airfix... without hesitation i entered.. bought the model, paints, and tools and since then i´m always building models.. I was wounded on service and even so i used a Revells U-Boat 1/72 as therapy so... after my daughter and family i guess you can say that modelling is my life...

Post by **Paul** » Mon May 27, 2013 3:56 pm

AlexModelling wrote:well.. I began modelling in the 80´s and trough the 90´s...
my daughter was born and i stoped for a while, then suddenly i stoped... life wasn´t easy and i had little time...
years have passed and i began to use youtube to see other modellers work and this will to return to this hobbie was grouing and grouing...
until last year.. i was walking downs the street and saw a toy shop and i was just seeing through the window when i saw a model from airfix... without hesitation i entered.. bought the model, paints, and tools and since then i´m always building models.. I was wounded on service and even so i used a Revells U-Boat 1/72 as therapy so... after my daughter and family i guess you can say that modelling is my life...

Nice story Alex.

I started up after a 5 year break after I was in a major road traffic accident, I broke my collar bone and damaged my back I was real lucky to get away with just that as the driver of the car I was in had massive injuries.

Anyway this put a stop to my main hobby of shooting (I still suffer form the shoulder and back injuries now) so I started modelling out off our spare room and it went from there. It's a major part of my life now and I love it

Post by **schweinhund227** » Mon May 27, 2013 5:05 pm

Hard question...

part relaxation, part getting away from it all ??

part obsession ? and my fascination with the Mechanical part of it ! I love machines of all kind...

although I build mostly War machines... I don't like the War part ! Weird I know !

Norm.

Post by **coladito1** » Mon May 27, 2013 8:14 pm

got to agree with Norm, it relaxes me as well. takes me away from all the drama and crap going on in the world really. I don't really watch the news anymore because of that. I would rather build.

Post by **keith** » Mon May 27, 2013 9:35 pm

I like to make things be it in wood ,plastic or malt and barely

A man after all our hearts I'm sure.....lol

Post by **schweinhund227** » Mon May 27, 2013 9:40 pm

I like the Beer part as well! LOL

Post by **mac1785** » Tue May 28, 2013 12:09 am

I needed something to de stress from work so I went back to racing RC cars. However I am unable to do this at the moment due to health but I still need a reason to get into the workshop. I spent time surfing the net and came across sites like flory models and this inspired me to gcet back into making models.

Since then I have been on a journey of buying tools, paints and kits ( I dont know if this is one of the bits I most enjoy)

But now having started to complete kits I am getting more into improving my skills with every attempt.

One thing I will say I agree with the sentament stated on the Scale Model Addict site "completion not perfection"

Post by **Paul** » Tue May 28, 2013 12:11 am

mac1785 wrote:I needed something to de stress from work so I went back to racing RC cars. However I am unable to do this at the moment due to health but I still need a reason to get into the workshop. I spent time surfing the net and came across sites like flory models and this inspired me to gcet back into making models.

Since then I have been on a journey of buying tools, paints and kits ( I dont know if this is one of the bits I most enjoy)

But now having started to complete kits I am getting more into improving my skills with every attempt.

One thing I will say I agree with the sentament stated on the Scale Model Addict site "completion not perfection"

I like that mac as I always say "it's my model ill built it as I see fit"

Post by **Lee** » Tue May 28, 2013 12:38 am

mac1785 wrote: Since then I have been on a journey of buying tools, paints and kits ( I dont know if this is one of the bits I most enjoy)

One thing I will say I agree with the sentament stated on the Scale Model Addict site "completion not perfection"

Agree with both of those statements mac. I love to go online shopping for all my odds and sods....lol. Paul on the other hand is just plain addicted to paint

Post by **Paul** » Tue May 28, 2013 12:40 am

Lee wrote:
mac1785 wrote: Since then I have been on a journey of buying tools, paints and kits ( I dont know if this is one of the bits I most enjoy)

One thing I will say I agree with the sentament stated on the Scale Model Addict site "completion not perfection"
Agree with both of those statements mac. I love to go online shopping for all my odds and sods....lol. Paul on the other hand is just plain addicted to paint

Post by **MEU98** » Tue May 28, 2013 9:08 am

The reason that I started modelling is because of the movie Black Hawk Down.I loved the nightstalkers blackhawks,I have been playing war realated games and been watching war movies ever since that I can remeber (not that long actually I am only 15) but anyways I wanted to build a Mh-60 blackhawk.I went to my LHS and actually bought a TBM avenger by Academy the 1/72 scale one.And I have been modelling ever since.The funny thing is that I never got around building a blackblack hawk.

Post by **Modelpro72** » Tue May 28, 2013 1:56 pm

I model becuase it enables me to be somewhere else and away from the hassle of life (work). I've been modelling on and off sinse I was about five years old and I love every minute of it, apart from when my airbrush spits all over my nice new primed model!!! I do it becuase I love it, becuase I'm able to do what I want with my model and feel that I've acomplished something at the end of it. I do it becuase it lets you strive for a little bit more on your next kit, just that little bit more weathering or a new technique that you've just picked up. Lastly. I do it because I have found a bunch of really nice blokes that I can share tips and info with and understand that the smallest of questions means a whole lot to someone who doesn't know.

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Tue May 28, 2013 2:03 pm

Well for me it started when I was a kid, and I was bought an Airfix Gnat kit. I remember building it in the kitchen with my Dad.

I then started getting more and more kits, and a few years later I had a modelling desk in my room, I had purpose built shelves full of models, models hanging from the ceiling etc. My Dad even made me some shelves where the ends were shaped like a Spitfire. I still have them at my parents house.

As I got into high school my group of friends were getting into Warhammer, and for a while I kept with my scale models and resisted the urge to dive into Warhammer. I eventually succumbed and was a wargamer from then until last year when I got rid of a lot of my wargames stuff due to lack of space/interest etc. And decided to pick up a scale model again, which I did with a Revell AH-64D Apache. And now I am addicted again! Much to the humour of my parents who think its funny.

Post by **UKscalemodeller** » Tue May 28, 2013 2:39 pm

Relaxation and a sense of achievement (in the finished article) are what it is about for me.

I never sleep so well than after spending an hour 'building little planes' as it is referred to by my SO.

I have always had an interest in all things military, but especially aviation so that is where my greatest modelling enjoyment comes from.

Post by **SuperDryBeef** » Tue May 28, 2013 10:30 pm

I like moddeling because every single model has a different story that you need to learn in order to remake this model like it was during its time of glory( a little bit smaller ofc), a single model can teach you so much about history and the way they were thinking at the time.

I also like the aspect of doing something else than school, sport, working and playing simulator games .

It's an expensive hobby but it's all worth it when you like the subject and doing handy work.

Also I cant afford a real battleship, so the 1/350 will do the job

.

Post by **schweinhund227** » Tue May 28, 2013 10:42 pm

SuperDryBeef wrote:I like moddeling because every single model has a different story that you need to learn in order to remake this model like it was during its time of glory( a little bit smaller ofc), a single model can teach you so much about history and the way they were thinking at the time.

I also like the aspect of doing something else than school, sport, working and playing simulator games .

It's an expensive hobby but it's all worth it when you like the subject and doing handy work.

Also I cant afford a real battleship, so the 1/350 will do the job .

Most excellent!

Keep it up and don't forget to have Fun!

YouTube · Post by **Reddragon62** » Wed May 29, 2013 1:52 am

I used to be an avid model builder back when I was a young man.Then the kids were born, the job,the wife etc and I somehow could not find the time. I got back into the "life" because of a back injury and 10 surgeries later, I was in need of something to occupy my time so as not to lose my mind.

Enter scale model building again.

Although, it was so much cheaper back in the 80's! I find that I really, really love building models! Masybe I'll even give some of you youngesters a run for your money some day....LOL. dreaming...

Post by **Fasolly1988** » Thu May 30, 2013 5:31 am

Probably the reason why I'm doing this hobby is answered in my YT channel trailer but I'm gonna repeat it once again. I think that I'm a pretty creative human being with an open mind. I don't have a lot time for any kind of pleasure because I'm working hard to survive. After I decide to stop smoking tabacco I'm having fun with this hobby. Sometimes even better than sex

Post by **Kelvgood1** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:51 pm

47 almost 48, started when 7 or 8 ish, grandad in RAF during war and was a repairer on spits and hurricanes as far as I know, every time we visited I got a model, Airfix of course, and spent Saturday afternoons making them, hanging from the ceiling etc, when I got a paper round at 13 I was able to buy my own kits, my uncle at the time was a professional modeller designing and building large scale oil rigs and his owns home builds where large P51's, ships, etc so was a great inspiration, slowed down big time during my 20's doing one once in a blue moon but it was always there to relax and be in my own place as they say. started again big time a few years ago as family, job etc all settled, learning new things trying to make the models look like real things, buying new gadgets, paints, airbrushing etc, after all these years I still am not happy as their is always a mistake which I know about, practice makes perfect as they say.

Also Gerry Anderson and Thunderbirds, Capt Scarlet etc always amazed me with the models, Derek Meddings I believe was the main man behind the models

Enough ramblings

Post by **schweinhund227** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:10 am

Kelvgood1 wrote:47 almost 48, started when 7 or 8 ish, grandad in RAF during war and was a repairer on spits and hurricanes as far as I know, every time we visited I got a model, Airfix of course, and spent Saturday afternoons making them, hanging from the ceiling etc, when I got a paper round at 13 I was able to buy my own kits, my uncle at the time was a professional modeller designing and building large scale oil rigs and his owns home builds where large P51's, ships, etc so was a great inspiration, slowed down big time during my 20's doing one once in a blue moon but it was always there to relax and be in my own place as they say. started again big time a few years ago as family, job etc all settled, learning new things trying to make the models look like real things, buying new gadgets, paints, airbrushing etc, after all these years I still am not happy as their is always a mistake which I know about, practice makes perfect as they say.

Also Gerry Anderson and Thunderbirds, Capt Scarlet etc always amazed me with the models, Derek Meddings I believe was the main man behind the models

Enough ramblings

Awesome! G.A. Creations were part of my youth and he is in deed an inspiration! Thanks or binging this up! So much good memories !

Post by **Kelvgood1** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:06 pm

Last year off eBay got all the capt scarlet cars to make up, can't remember the mak but approx 1/48 scale, SPV my fav but holding off until I can do it justice, will update once I take the plunge

Post by **Paul** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 11:16 pm

Kelvgood1 wrote:Last year off eBay got all the capt scarlet cars to make up, can't remember the mak but approx 1/48 scale, SPV my fav but holding off until I can do it justice, will update once I take the plunge

Yeah I love the SPG too

SIG

Post by **gosselin2112** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:31 am

Where does one start? Well, my family has always been in the hobby. My father built planes and cars. My brothers built cars and when they got old enough, started restoring real cars. I guess somewhere little Russell got the spark for models. . . but not cars, ugh! Just kidding, I'll build one, someday.

I've always loved history, so building historical subjects was a natural thing for me. Does it relax me? Not sure. Keeps me focused, and the Mrs. always knows where I am. I think I am more interested in the challenge of building nowadays. It's not just building the kit, but finding ways to enhance it, whether that be scratch building or AM or PE.

Sorry for the deep thought (I also hold a degree in philosophy). That's an idea, The Philosophy of Model Building. To photo-etch or not, that is the question

Post by **Coen** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:09 pm

When I was a wee lad in the late 70's my Grandfather bought me a few kits to play with. A WWII Corsair, SR71 Blackbird, 1 or 2 destroyers, even a Blue Thunder.
I was 10 or 12 so I didn't have a tonne of interest, mostly I wanted to play with them and they took too long to build.
No one that I knew at the time was a modeller so I had no one to keep me into it.
So interest soon faded.

My oldest son showed an interest in modelling when he was about 14 (about 6 years ago now), and he asked for a kit for his birthday.
I obliged with a $60 Dragon King Tiger. Not knowing anything about Dragon's affinity for complexity, quality, or detail.
I was drawn in by the box art. I'd never built any kind of armour before, so I had no idea what I had just done to my son and I.
8 weeks later I had developed an addiction for modelling, a badly built and painted tank, and my son developed a mind case of interest.
Not an easy thing to do to a teenager. He still finds it interesting, but doesn't build.

Maybe he'll do what many of us do and come back to it in 10 or 15 years. For now he plays World of Tanks to sate his armour needs.
Why I continue to model is easy, I have a healthy case of PTSD. Modelling is a fantastic way for me to be at ease when things aren't so... easy.
Combine that with a hefty artistic streak, a perfectionist's drive and a love of history and Sci-Fi... well Huston we have a problem.

Post by **Paul** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:12 pm

Coen wrote:When I was a wee lad in the late 70's my Grandfather bought me a few kits to play with. A WWII Corsair, SR71 Blackbird, 1 or 2 destroyers, even a Blue Thunder.
I was 10 or 12 so I didn't have a tonne of interest, mostly I wanted to play with them and they took too long to build.
No one that I knew at the time was a modeller so I had no one to keep me into it.
So interest soon faded.

My oldest son showed an interest in modelling when he was about 14 (about 6 years ago now), and he asked for a kit for his birthday.
I obliged with a $60 Dragon King Tiger. Not knowing anything about Dragon's affinity for complexity, quality, or detail.
I was drawn in by the box art. I'd never built any kind of armour before, so I had no idea what I had just done to my son and I.
8 weeks later I had developed an addiction for modelling, a badly built and painted tank, and my son developed a mind case of interest.
Not an easy thing to do to a teenager. He still finds it interesting, but doesn't build.

Maybe he'll do what many of us do and come back to it in 10 or 15 years. For now he plays World of Tanks to sate his armour needs.
Why I continue to model is easy, I have a healthy case of PTSD. Modelling is a fantastic way for me to be at ease when things aren't so... easy.
Combine that with a hefty artistic streak, a perfectionist's drive and a love of history and Sci-Fi... well Huston we have a problem.

Brilliant post, thanks for sharing

Website · Post by **AlexModelling** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 2:47 pm

coladito1 wrote:got to agree with Norm, it relaxes me as well. takes me away from all the drama and crap going on in the world really. I don't really watch the news anymore because of that. I would rather build.

I dont watch news at all... working on the streets on a coutry wich is going trough on of the worst crisis in His 1000 years of history and don´t need the news to know everithyng is wrong... so building models also helps me forgeting this stressful life ( and somo personnal problems as well)

Website · Post by **AlexModelling** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 3:15 pm

Paul wrote:
AlexModelling wrote:well.. I began modelling in the 80´s and trough the 90´s...
my daughter was born and i stoped for a while, then suddenly i stoped... life wasn´t easy and i had little time...
years have passed and i began to use youtube to see other modellers work and this will to return to this hobbie was grouing and grouing...
until last year.. i was walking downs the street and saw a toy shop and i was just seeing through the window when i saw a model from airfix... without hesitation i entered.. bought the model, paints, and tools and since then i´m always building models.. I was wounded on service and even so i used a Revells U-Boat 1/72 as therapy so... after my daughter and family i guess you can say that modelling is my life...
Nice story Alex.

I started up after a 5 year break after I was in a major road traffic accident, I broke my collar bone and damaged my back I was real lucky to get away with just that as the driver of the car I was in had massive injuries.

Anyway this put a stop to my main hobby of shooting (I still suffer form the shoulder and back injuries now) so I started modelling out off our spare room and it went from there. It's a major part of my life now and I love it

Great story Paul

I was injured also in my shoulder, Im really sorry about what hapenned to you and i hope your doing well righ now... its always traumatic when you go trough a situation like that... hope your doing fine now... question: - Do you have dream about that?

Post by **Paul** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 3:22 pm

AlexModelling wrote:
Paul wrote:
AlexModelling wrote:well.. I began modelling in the 80´s and trough the 90´s...
my daughter was born and i stoped for a while, then suddenly i stoped... life wasn´t easy and i had little time...
years have passed and i began to use youtube to see other modellers work and this will to return to this hobbie was grouing and grouing...
until last year.. i was walking downs the street and saw a toy shop and i was just seeing through the window when i saw a model from airfix... without hesitation i entered.. bought the model, paints, and tools and since then i´m always building models.. I was wounded on service and even so i used a Revells U-Boat 1/72 as therapy so... after my daughter and family i guess you can say that modelling is my life...
Nice story Alex.

I started up after a 5 year break after I was in a major road traffic accident, I broke my collar bone and damaged my back I was real lucky to get away with just that as the driver of the car I was in had massive injuries.

Anyway this put a stop to my main hobby of shooting (I still suffer form the shoulder and back injuries now) so I started modelling out off our spare room and it went from there. It's a major part of my life now and I love it

Great story Paul

I was injured also in my shoulder, Im really sorry about what hapenned to you and i hope your doing well righ now... its always traumatic when you go trough a situation like that... hope your doing fine now... question: - Do you have dream about that?

When you say dream do you mean flashbacks/nightmares?

My shoulder is probably about 80-85% ok now still have some mobility problems, cold weather is agony (makes it stiff and ache), as too is any long psychical use, which brings about a pain which feels like a red hot poker being poked about in there. It was very nearly a compound break, so I have nice pokey piece of bone where it has healed that sticks up slightly which annoys the hell out of me somedays.

Myself and the driver were both very lucky though, we hit a stationary car side on at 70mph, the car we were in saved our life's.

This the car we hit (luckily no one in it)

This was the car we were in, like I say the car saved us.

My side of the car

Post by **Coen** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:31 pm

Paul.... You are one lucky dude. I've had to deal with the end results of that kind of accident on a few occasions. They weren't so lucky.
Good on ya and good on your car!

Post by **Nige201980** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 8:41 am

Well I remember when I was about 5 or 6 and my dad did a few models that he but up on the ceiling of my room which I do for my son who is 5 but I didn't start until I joined the air cadets when I was 13 that's when I started. I had a break while I was in the army and didn't start again until I was about 28 (33 now) but I don't have the money to do as much has I would like so when I've got a few spare quid I get myself a model and some more paints, I use the hairy stick. Any way for the last two years modelling as kept me sane and take me away from real life for a couple of hours. And now my son is getting into it aswell so hoping to pass on the baton good and proper as he gets older.

Post by **HamilkarBarkas** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:32 am

It all began in 1998 on my 8th birthday! I got a Revell Arado Ar 196 in 1:72 scale, my father built it and i painted it. I kinda liked it and bought another kit and then another and then...well, i never stopped

I always loved it to play with Lego so model building isn´t much different actually so i just took it to another level.

Post by **WebbyNZ** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:34 am

Great stories guys.

Stress releif and distractions from the outside world.
I built a couple of kits when i was a pre-teen
Then again a small handfull in the late 20's and back into it a couple of years ago full strength.
My wife does flax weeaving and sewing on her side of 'the cave' and i have my models on the other and they are all great distractions from work and other outside stresses and fustrations with the added benefit of something cool at the end of it that you can show off to friends and family.
The online communites (forums and youtube) have really helped with the focus (even if they do take time away from the bench) and help you realise there are hundreds and thousands of other sytrene addicts out there and have actually encouraged me to get involved with my local club which i'd encourage everyone to do.

Post by **Nige99** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 1:20 pm

I used to model aircraft in the mid 80's. Then joined Army Cadets and bought a Tamiya 1/35 U.S Army jeep and was hooked on armour!
I then joined the army and done 23 years service and didn't get much time other than on Operational tours, where you would get long periods of time doing nothing!

Once the tour was done the modells would get wrapped up into plastic boxes till the next stint.
After leaving the army 4 years ago Paul (admin) and i worked together in a gun shop, where all 3 of us was into modelling. We all would do builds in between customers coming into the shop.

So it was Paul's fault for getting me into this!!! i sold a few of my guns and started going mad buying kits

i will get some pics up on Monday and post it in my stash.

Post by **Paul** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 1:25 pm

Nige99 wrote:I used to model aircraft in the mid 80's. Then joined Army Cadets and bought a Tamiya 1/35 U.S Army jeep and was hooked on armour!
I then joined the army and done 23 years service and didn't get much time other than on Operational tours, where you would get long periods of time doing nothing!

Once the tour was done the modells would get wrapped up into plastic boxes till the next stint.
After leaving the army 4 years ago Paul (admin) and i worked together in a gun shop, where all 3 of us was into modelling. We all would do builds in between customers coming into the shop.

So it was Paul's fault for getting me into this!!! i sold a few of my guns and started going mad buying kits i will get some pics up on Monday and post it in my stash.

My fault

look at all the stuff ive bought

your bloody fault mate

Can't wait to see a pic of your stash

Post by **McClane187** » Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:07 pm

The reason why i found back to this great hobby is I can escape from all trouble out there... there is only you and the model and you have to put all your attention on this. Maybe it relax me. And of course the very nice people I met who loves the same thing.... there are so many great modellers out there all over the world who inspires me and I'm glad to have the chance to talk to them... that's fun...

Post by **Sturm** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 12:04 am

Studing military history is something I always enjoyed doing. Specially military aviation, I've been in love with aircraft since I was a little child. The reason I model? Well, I love building military machines that catch my interest and then do research about them. Another reason is can't do anything else, I can't draw, dance, and sure as hell can't sing.

But there is a problem I have that hinders my modeling hobby, I'm extremely lazy. Takes forever for me to finish my current build, other times I buy a model that caught my attention but then half way through the the build I loose interest and want something else. Anyways, I'm still working on my Hezter that was suppose to be for the Hunter SiG ( see what I mean I don't get things done fast ) but it's coming along nicely. Here's the link to my WIP thread.
http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?t=14972

Post by **Jagdpanzer** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 8:05 am

I've always been into history and particularly WWII. I quit smoking in 2000 and was reading a lot of WWII books to take my mind off the cravings in the evenings. I was walking past a model shop one day and thought "that requires so much concentration it will distract me from smoking". I bought a cheap set of Tamiya figures and was hooked from there.

I stayed with it for another 5 years or so but then family and work commitments ate into my time. Roll on 2014 and I watched some Youtube videos, pulled a kit I still had in the garage and I was hooked again.

I model now to de-stress from work and I enjoy the painting and creative side of it as I don't create anything at work.

Post by **Avgas** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:05 am

I built the usual two bob Airfix kits in the 60s when I was a nipper, always aircraft as I've always been an aviation nut. Then you become a teenager and life gets in the way. Joined the RAF, did twenty odd years playing with full size Airfix kits which satisfied my aviation bug. Left the mob, still stay around aviation as a hobby flying gliders and light aircraft.

Then a couple of years ago I was at Old Warden in the museum shop and they have a model section. I thought 'why not?' And bought myself a couple. After that I was hooked, still only buy aircraft though! It's also kind of nice to be in the no mortgage, kids off of our hands and both still working position to be able to buy anything modelling related without having to think about the cost. it's fairly cheap as hobbies go, if you think otherwise try flying as a hobby!

Post by **Akula1959** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 6:56 pm

That is a great question: Why do I model?

Like many others I have read, stress relief seems to be my biggest reason. I also have a huge interest in WWII, the US Civil War and as I got older other conflicts. I did a lot of modeling while in various psych facilities to pass the time. Now I use modeling and this mostly the research for a model, to hone my mind, find that new tid-bit of information I never knew before and to try and make my models a more honest representation of a real vehicle, partially as an homage and honoring of the men and boys who lived these times and partially to be proud of my own effort.

DonP

Post by **Damonkh** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:22 pm

I started modeling when I was 7 thanks to my dad. But, as I grew into my teens I got interested in... you guessed it.. GIRLS!!!
So, from there I joined the army. Not much ability to work at the bench. I did manage to get back into it off and on from 85-90's. Then in '98 I met up with a local club. They invited me to join their group builds on Friday nights. Boy THAT was fun.

Then 9/11 hit. I lost my job and had to move back to CA. I recently have unboxed all my gear and am saving to get new paints. I stumbled upon a thrift store find. Guy had about 2900.00 worth of models in big moving boxes. I offered him 120.00 for the lot.

So now I am itching to start up.

I do it because it is SO relaxing. I work hard everyday sitting at a computer and I just want to turn this crap off. I mean come on. Life is more than sitting in front of a computer or tv screen 24/7.

I love the ability to simply take a hunk of plastic and make something wonderful. To allow my creative side come out and know that there really is no wrong way to do something.

My wife is always frustrated with me because I am always seeing stuff and commenting on how I could use that in my modeling. Anyway that's my story and I am sticking to it.

Post by **Stokesy44** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:51 pm

Its good old fashioned hero worship for me. Whether its Luke's Snowspeeder or a D-Day striped Typhoon, its an homage to those who have gone before, to those who put it all out on the line - yes, even regardless of their cause. Those young men who stood as giants in the face of the whirlwind and said I will stand here, on this day!

That and the feeling of accomplishing something. When you sit back in the chair and rub your eyes tiredly, knowing the precious object on the cutting board is finished and you feel a strange sense of relief. You've thumbed your nose at the modelling Gods again, you've cheated their whims and avoided their casual moments of violence. When you've sprayed the underside of your Hurricane and watched in befuddled wonderment as the pre-shading disappears (bot not too much, NOT TOO MUCH), and the texture of the aluminium skin begins to sing its sweet melody. When you've wiped away the wash and the detail pops like gold being prospected from the river. When the PE that stuck to your fingers now sits proudly in the cockpit and you can see just how much better it is than the original kit parts. When your Dragon Tiger I is finished despite there seeming to be more parts still on the sprues than on the kit. When the sag in the tracks finally turns your weird looking piece of plastic into a 60 ton battlefield monster. When you've shown your wife your progress and she roles her eyes and puts a comforting hand on your shoulder, come to bed dear, it'll still be there in the morning. When your PR XIX Spit looks like its going 400 miles per hour while sitting on top of your book case, that's when you know. You just know.

Before and after all things, you're a modeller, my son.

Post by **panzerdodge** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 12:53 am

lol...very well said Stokesy. I got back into it like a lot of others for the stress relief and just the enjoyment of it. I now find myself very into the research and overall accuracy of the builds. Plus the history and stories that go along with it are also very interesting for me.

Post by **Lysus** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 6:21 pm

I did it when I was a kid, and now that I'm in a masters program and am reading an average of 12 books every 10 weeks, I needed to get back to doing something with my hands to unwind.

Also I kept buying kits every now and then over the last two decades "just 'cuz" and thought maybe I should build them instead of look at the boxes.

Post by **Les** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:52 pm

I started modelling again to pick up on chicks.

Post by **Lee** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 9:49 pm

Les wrote:I started modelling again to pick up on chicks.

BEST.ANSWER.SO.FAR....

Post by **burnie43** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:50 pm

I have been modelling since I can remember, I did have a break when I found out about the fairer sex but went back to it seriously in my late twenties/early thirties ...
why do I model ? I love giving life to my imagination and a dead bit of plastic and I have a real obsession with military stuff,,,,any kind although I prefer to build armour......I get lost in what I am doing so it;s a great way to forget about the stresses of life.( not that I have any now but back in the day it was great !)
And through this great hobby I have made many friends, learnt so much about history, visited some cool places and spent a f*** fortune !
Wouldn't change it for the world.
Great post Lee
Cheers
Mark

Post by **aur0ra145** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:09 am

I love making models of the great military aircraft that have fought in past and current wars. Gives me a little connection to the history. I respect the hell out of the pilots that flew these aircraft into combat. The greats like Olds, Boyington, Pardo, O'Hare, Rock, Rudel, Hartmann and so many others. Plus it keeps me out of trouble.

Post by **Willem** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 11:36 am

I started as a nipper in the 70s. On Saturday mornings I'd nip into Woolworths and spend my pocket money (50p) on an Airfix kit, those ones that came in the plastic bags. Then on Sunday mornings, my uncle Bob (ex-RAF) would always pick up the Sunday papers from the newsagent and bring them round along with a Matchbox kit for me and my little brother. These would be built on the kitchen table with the smell of Sunday lunch cooking.

Ah, nostalgia's not what it used to be.

As I got older my Saturday mornings were taken up by playing in the county youth orchestra and my pocket money started to be spent on records. I started again a few years ago when I was living in a little village in Derbyshire. I was spending most evenings in the pub and spending far too much money on beer so I picked up a Tamiya Spitfire on a whim and now I'm twice as broke.

I think Stokesy said it well. I like to read about the characters that flew and fought. I also come from a military family (I'm the black sheep that didn't sign up). My Dad was a Royal Marine for ten years, my brother is in the Army and two uncles served in the RAF (though neither flew). I don't know why I'm more interested in aircraft than anything else. Maybe it's just the functional beauty of a Mustang, Spit or Mosquito. It could be that Uncle Bob would get us into the VIP enclosure at the local air show. I recently started going to air shows again and was surprised to find that the mere sound of an old merlin engine could make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and bring a lump to my throat.

Weird huh?

Post by **Avgas** » Wed Feb 03, 2016 12:32 pm

I recently started going to air shows again and was surprised to find that the mere sound of an old merlin engine could make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and bring a lump to my throat.

Weird huh?

Nope.

We were lucky enough to have a two seat Spit based at our flying club (MJ627, http://www.waddingtonflyingclub.com/spitfire.html), now down at Biggin giving joy rides. Whenever they dragged it out and gave it an engine run or test flight the whole place stopped what it was doing. Of course you don't realise what you have until it's gone but when I used to take friends flying I would show them the Spit and they were to a man and woman awestruck that they could touch it and sit in it. There's something about Spitfires, it is of course a beautiful aircraft with an engine note to die for but it's what it represents from a historical point of view to most British folk I suppose. Iconic hardly scratches the surface.