They just don’t understand. I took my wife shopping for my next project. Big mistake! We went to hobby lobby, 30% off sale on models, 1 point for me. They had a 1:48 scale B-29 and 1:48 scale B-17, “They’re to big, where will you put them?”, lost my point. ok I picked three smaller fighters. " Thats to much money." she protested. " No honey I’ve been working side jobs to pay for models.“[banghead] Ya I know you can’t let them know your stashing money. I guess it was the air defense budget thing, you know, hide top secret budgets in $500.00 hammers.” I got the look, " You have a addiction to these Toys." Aaarg, " They’re not toys they are highly accurate models of historically significant aircraft. When Matheo is in school studying WWII he will be able to study a three diminsional representation of a B-29." She chucked " we’re not going to have a aircraft museum in the house." “Of course not dear.” I answered. It will have tanks , trains(my trains are another sour spot with her), spacecraft and ships. I thought, Steve’s Museum of Everything, the Smithsonian already has a descent Air and Space museum.Well I had gone shopping for two models for group builds, I found a good revell monogram A-10 but they didn’t have a F-14 model. Next stop Hobbytown. " Oh ,no. We need to go to Wal-mart for groceries, we don’t have time." she said." How much cash do you have, by the way?“” This A-10 broke me honey, I had to buy a hammer for one of my side jobs."
Tips from my excursion:
1: DON’T take her
2 I own a pick-up truck, a 1:48 scale B-29 and a 1:48 scale B-17 fit behind the seat with room for a couple fighters.
your money stash for models is “ABOVE TOP SECRET”
4.When all else fails buy her shoes
5 You can’t get help with a plastic addiction until you admit to having a problem. Never admit you have a problem. NEVER!
6.Hide all receipts, they have times and dates as well as cost. You don’t have to lie if they don’t ask. and it hard to get caught in a lie if they don’t have evidence.
any other advice for peaceful modeling in marriage?
fortunately, i don’t have a wife (well obviously, because I’m 14 lol [:D]) but my dad did call them toys once. I was in korea leaving for Cleveland with a buncha Academy models bought really cheap packed away in a box and I asked the worker at the Northwest Airlines place if i could get a couple fragile stickers slapped on there.
the worker was like “sure, what’s in there?”
and my dad butts in and goes “toys”
I through a fit right there in front of about 120 people
I’am not marryed so i cant help you there but i do have a vary understanding Ex-Girlfriend thant supports my hobby she bought a tamiya F-15E for me to build and didnt evan bat an eye at the price $124 and ive built her quite a few kits and a AM Helldiver for her dad so i guess iam one of the lucky ones.
I am blessed with a wife that supports my hobby, she encourages me in my endeavors. I showed her the interior of the fuslage of a Fokker D VII that I had painted with the Lozenge and stated that I wasn’t happy with the way the left side had out, it was my first attempt, and she told me to strip it and repaint it. She knows how much I spend on the hobby, and she is okay with that. I have a great and understanding wife. My only advice is to have a heart-to-heart with your wife and tell her how and why the hobby is important to you. Do that and your hobby will become important to her.
Yes–When we were first married, we since have come to an understanding. It’s not toys, it’s a hobby. I agree with Eric, have a heart to heart with her, and be open about your hobby. I know of modelers that have hidden it, and how much they spend, and it almost landed them a divorce, so be open, a have a discussion. My wife now accepts my hobby, and she even encourages me, even so far as to getting me tools for my modeling. Communication, that is key after trust in a relationship, even if it is a hobby
My wife is very understanding of my passion for this hobby although I do tend to drive her crazy talking about it. I will take her model hunting with me because we go to places where she can induldge in her craft pursuits. Also because she offers good advice of the kits I like to build, BUT most important thing here is she…Holds the Money!!! So I have to make sure she is with me! [:D]
[(-D] My wife called them toys at first too. Now she just says quit buying so many and build the 100+ you have.
I got around that by involving her in the hobby. No, didn’t give her any, just ask her: “what do you think I should build next dear?” She answers, I go off how I don’t want to do that one yet and pick the one I want to build. Then discuss with her what markings I want to use and why. She can see what you are doing, the intrest you have for it and maybe a better understanding for it in the long run. I let her buy a kit that she wants in the display case, and will get to it eventually[:D] Them Monogram B-17’s are still out of my ability to me.[:P]
I didn’t think anyone would take this as a serious attempt to decieve my wife. Her buying a $100 pair of shoes or me buying a $60 model would never cause a argument. Being a little sneaky about it just adds another diminsion to the hobby, I wouldn’t advise anyone to do anything that would cause damage to your relationship. I guess its like stealing a cookie from the cookie jar, it just tasted a little better, but now you know mom heard you, she just didn’t say anything. I hide bombers in my truck because it adds a little spice to sneaking it in and starting the biuld while she’s at the shoe store, But I know that when I need a touch of some strange color she will offer up her fingernail polish collection, and she does dust of the darn thing with a very soft touch.
I guess i got it pretty good, my fiancee not only doesnt get on me about my models but she acctually incourages it, she loves to check on my progress and marvel at how good its coming out, but this is for two reasons, 1)she used to build models with her dad and is trying to get back into it 2) she doesnt care what im doing as long as im home and not at the bar. see kids all you have to do is right in the begining of the relationship is show them how bad it could be, then they wont care if you spend your time at home spinning on your head singing the russian national anthem, as long as your not coming home at 3am smelling of vodka with billiard chalk all over your hands and clothes…and since we are on the subject one more thing NEVER EVER EVEN HUG A GIRL THAT HAS BODY GLITTER ON, THE STUFF WELDS ITSELF TO YOUR SKIN AND DOESNT LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU GET HOME!
Airmaster understands where I,m coming from . I bet he’s been married long enough to play little games with his wife. (Get your collective minds out of the gutter.)
I’m blessed my wife supports my modeling. In fact, she encouraged me to get back into it. For Christmas, she got me a P-40C, some AVG AM decals, and a signed photo of some AVG birds. Except for occassional reminders that we do need to leave some money for little things- food, mortgage, etc…, she supports me 100%. She does tease me every now and then about my stash, but it’s truly just teasing.
Heck- she patiently listens as I update her about the stuff here on the forum- that’s a patient wife! [;)]
I too am blessed to have a wife who supports what I enjoy. When we bought the house we currently reside in, a room dedicated to our crafts was one of the primary factors in making our decision of which home to buy, and she has no issues with my purchasing the tools needed to build what’s in my stash. However, since I shipped about 80 kits here from NY, the purchase of any new kits at this point will only earn me a punch in the nose (or so I’ve been told). [;)]
I can do ya one better, Jon. My wife has actually posted here (granted it was only once). [;)]
I’ve enjoyed reading all the responses to this thread. I thought it was only my girl that carried on with some of the things mentioned here - just shows it’s the Mars/Venus thing all over. She supports me, loves the attention to detail, admires the latest finished piece - BUT, given I have countless unfinished WRC, F1, tanks & a/c kits strewn from one side of the garage to the other, “say a very big prayer if I ever catch you bringing home another kit”. It just falls on deaf ears when I explain to her it’s another vital piece of the jigsaw which completes that part of the collection. I too hide new kits in the car, sometimes for weeks, waiting for the moment when she goes off to do the groceries or whatever…