This is my first post in almost two months, and in that time I have done almost no modeling at all. I just don’t have any interest in it at the moment.
Last week I thought I could break this creative block by forcing myself to start a new kit. So I pulled the Tamiya F4U-1A Corsair out of the stash and started working on it. I built up half the cockpit, and shot some primer on it. But my heart wasn’t in it, and I haven’t looked at it since.
Has anybody else experienced this kind of sudden disinterest in the hobby?
The last kit I finished (the 1910 Type B Omnibus, for the 80 Years of Airfix GB), was a really hard slog. I think I burned out on that thing. As I was finishing it I couldn’t wait to put it behind me and get back to airplanes. After it was done I thought it would be nice to rest for a few days before starting a new kit… and I’m still resting.
How do I break out of this funk?
Any ideas are appreciated.
Cheers,
Mark
P.S. Really? The forum software thinks - m o j o - is a bad word? So I have to space out the letters to get it through? Really? [*-)]
Yes,but don’t force it.It has to come back on its own.Why force yourself to do a hobby,supposed to be fun not a slog.Do other stuff,when it feels right,you will know.
You never know,a good war movie might inspire you,a model show,seeing some grreat builds on line.Just dont feel,I must get to the bench,that dont work…
The best cure is to walk away for a bit. But after you have had time off, see completed works of people around you to get the m o j o - j o j o going again. That’s what usually works for me.
I hate to hear that Airfix Omnibus might have made you go burnout. I loved what you did with that model, I really did.
This topic comes up from time to time, Mark. My [2cnts], I think that for some of us, the hobby is an on-again, off-again thing and I don’t think that is a matter for concern. But it is apparently bugging you so I hope you get some good ideas here.
One bit of advice I’ve gotten from folks here is go clean up the bench. That has worked for me a couple times. But you just posted a pic of you with your bench in the background and it looks ridiculously organized, so that might not work in your case. [:P]
edit: I didn’t mean to disregard Real G and Tojo’s posts above, I guess we cross-posted.
The Omnibus was totally outstanding but I can see how it could be draining. Maybe take 2 or 3 weeks off from modeling and go fishing, read books about your favorite modeling subject, or make home improvements. But I honestly wouldn’t be in a rush to get back into it. Sounds like a couple weeks away from the bench might be good medicine. When you feel like you’re ready to come back, get an easier Tamiya kit like the 1/48 Bf 109 that goes together over a weekend.
All good ideas, thanks guys. It definitely felt like I was forcing it, when I opened up that Corsair kit last week. Which is why I haven’t done any more with it.
I always give my bench a good cleanup after every build. I think maybe seeing it clean for so long has felt strange, like I’m doing something wrong. lol
One interestling thing that has happened in the two months since I finished the Omnibus, is that I have started playing classical pieces on the piano again. I’ve always played music every day, either with my guitars or my keyboards, but it’s been years since I’ve played any classical music. I’ve really enjoyed doing that.
It’s good to many hobbies. [:)]
Try something way outside the norm. I ran into AMS years ago and jumped into a few Tom Daniel builds - Red Baron, Beer Wagon… did a couple small subs. When you’re not familiar with the subjects you just build and it’s fun. Gotta get back to the joy of building. I will say my life got busy and I took probably 4 or 5 years off. When I got back into it I was only interested in building/painting/completing kits. Just for me and maybe you guys. I stopped competing. Don’t get me wrong - model competitions are great for the hobby - I just got lost in it. If none of that make sense just take a break. It’s a hobby. I have a couple pretty powerfurl 1:1 cars that I used to compete with sitting in the garage that I currently have no interest in. Not to mention a bunch of RC airplanes and helicopters. My hobbies change every few years, though I return to modeling regularly. Thats the beauty of a hobby - do it when you want to.
I think it’s called modelling block, like writer’s block. I had one give me a fit a while back and once I was done I waited a week or two to jump into another and I made sure to do a nice easy no frustration Tamiya model and it was just what I needed to get the juices flowing again.
That’s funny, because I was just now mentioning the same thing to my wife! I just came off a real modeling spree of finishing 7 or so models of several types and paint jobs, now I have two going, one with some detail painting, another, a Tamiya Pershing, inspired by the book “Spearhead”, that I just started. I just lost my desire to do simple things I just had done Not the first time it has happend. I just need to take a week or so off from modeling. Then after some time off, it comes back. This is normal for me, it’s good for me to hear that I’m not alone with this affliction. HA, ha.
Yes, usually it is a more complex kit and an involved project I that want to do certain things to that gets me to set it aside.
I will then build one of those neat Bandai Star Wars kits, or something similar to that to get through the “writer’s block” of building models. I’ll build these will minimal amount of painting. Since I’ve loved Star Wars since I was a 13 year old kid in 1977, these kits are so awesome to me.
You know what I do? I do something absolutely out of context. I go work on a train-(Real ). Or drive to parts of Texas I have heard of but never seen. Or and this is a good re-statrter, go to every Museum of a kind that has usually nothing to interest me .( A hands on Children’s Museum. An Art Museum etc.)
I’ve lost interest in building a few times and just walk away for awhile. I stopped for almost four years and just restarted earlier this year. It will come back eventually. Or try working on something you different from the usual.
That bus is incredible, but I can see how it could lead to burnout. Walk away for awhile, try something different, your stash will be waiting when you feel like building again.
Sometimes I get tired of the plastic, will then turn to the balsa and tissue airplanes. Check out the plans on outerzone and hippocketaeronautics. They are free, easy to download, and a scratchbuilding is just as easy (sometimes eaisier!) as building from the kits.
Whatever you do, stay in touch with us, we enjoy your company!
MrStecks; I’ll ditto what UP wrote - hope you continue to enjoy modelling and keep in touch. I, too, get to low points with the hobby. It’s usually from either frustration with a particular build or an overall feeling of what I call “small world”, where the process just gets more and more tedious. So like other’s have written, I go do another interest; bigger scale with differant demands and rewards.
Sounds to me as if your music brings you that joy. Look forward to your return!
My good friend and fellow forum member, when Mrs. Toshi had cancer, extreme depression set in. I stopped posting and building for a great length of time. FSM Forum members were wondering what happened to me? Sometimes you just have to get away from this hobby and remember, a hobby should be exciting and fun. So give yourself the space and time to heal your M-O-J-O!
As you may know, I have TBI Traumatic Brain Injury. This hobby has healed me especially my inner self. It also bonds my relationship with Ezra, my grandson.