As I was dusting my green army men, match box cars, toy train and models I was wondering if there was any official profile done on a “Tipical Modeler” and what it might say?
I’m not sure, I was thinking perhaps the descriptive “small minded” (pun intended) works well. 
My wife would probably say obsessive compulsive (gotta build…gotta build), anal retentive (super detailing freak), parochial (is there a more beautiful aircraft than a P-51? And how many 1/48 P-51’s can one person build?), and sometimes selfish (it isn’t a team sport, is it?).
At least I can remember my daughter’s names and birthdates…and my wife’s.
Cheers
LeeTree
Don’t forget we are prone to have sticky fingers.
Along the same lines. When you tell non-modelers you build models do they give you that “look”. I get it all the time so I must not fall in the category of “Tipical Modeler”
Oh, yeah, the ‘Airfix’ kind of look… “Poor guy, he’s still playing with Airfix models…” That’s when I get the closest to being a mass murderer…
I mentioned it to a cloeague at work and was promptly labelled an ‘Anorak’
A deeply derisive term in the UK, usually reserved for people who collect train numbers!
Oh well he spends all night in front of his PC at home writing programs!
Yup… I get the same thing. Thats why I don’t mention it normally, until I get to know the person a bit better. And still.
I’m an anorak and proud of it! And if anyone has any trouble with that, I can always scratch build a teeny tiny voodoo version of 'em… Muhuhahahaaaa
I think a lot of folks (who are ignorant of what we do) tend to view this hobby as infantile. I’ve had quite a few folks tell me that they used to do this when they were kids, using the attitude and speech inflection that maybe I would do well to grow up and get a life like them. Sorry. I’ll just be content to remain a kid, thank you…
Of course, the other side of this tends to be amusing. My family will receive phone calls from acquaintances wanting to speak to me, and my wife or daughter will say that I’m modelling, and these folks suddenly get the mental impression that I’m out doing a men’s clothing catalog shoot for Sears or something!
Gip Winecoff
I usually don’t tell people I am a modeler. I just wait until they come to my house where they can see my work. Once they see I am not just playing with toys they respect my hobby. The few I have told about this hobby have also given me the “look.”
But to answer the question:
I have notice primarily two groups of modelers at the model shop. There is a very closed minded group which thinks if you don’t build models their way you are doing it wrong. Luckily this group seems to be the minority. Often I hear modeler friends refer to some of these guys as “rivet counters.” And it is true these guys are always “rivet counters” but “rivet counters” are not always these guys. These guys are only interested in the finised product; “how accurate is it” “are the colors right” etc…
The second group, which seems to be the growing majority is a “build what make you happy” group, like most on these forums seem to be. Don’t get me wrong many of these guys are obsessed with accuracy, but they have the ability to respect the work of others even if that work doesn’t meet their personal standards.
My wife says I regress to puberty whenever I get out the glue …
Not sure if that is typical or not but there you are.
Bruce
Well, my missus just thinks i am totaly mad (she being a nurse), be it with kits - buy plenty - start quite a few -finish a couple, cars( recently bought a leaky, cold, slow, noisey,draughty old landrover and am selling my rangerover -very cheap if anyones interested) jokes-the ruder and cruder the better, and even my eating habits, i can’t see what’s wrong with fried egg and cheese sandwiches???. i must admit that i havn’t had anyone that i have told about my hobby give me “the look” i supose that most folk fall into one of two catagories, those that have built some kits when they where kids and have some respect for the skills that are involved and those that look on them as toys that are just for kids. i even took one of my kits into work to show a college of mine he is into space and nasa in a big way and i took the monogram X15 to show him and he was rather impressed, he even told me about a model shop within 10 miles of here that i didn’t know about and he was off there to buy a kit and have a go himself. anyways i talk too much (another symptom i suppose) so i’ll sign of now. Greg
I wargame, play Dungeons & Dragons, paint all kinds of miniatures and I do scale modeling. I probably watch the History Channel more than any other.
I guess I learned a long time ago not to worry about what people may be thinking about me[:D]
DJ
Here’s an observation I’ve made:
- put a bunch of model builders in a ‘forum’ like this and you won’t be able to shut them up. Some of the nicest, most sincere, and interesting people you will ever meet. Always willing to reach out to a fellow modeller and offer advice and/or support whether or not it’s related to models, or just life in general.
- put 'em in a big room together (in real life) and you’ll hardly hear a peep out of them. There are obviously exceptions to this, but in general my observation is that they are hard to get to know (in person).
Personal observations.
Murray
I think you are right Murray… But put models on the table and pass beer around and things will get a little moe intimate soon…
I concede to that Domi. A little ‘catalyst’ gets things going pretty quick…
Murray
Am I an “Anorak”? I collect the serial numbers and registrations of all the planes I’ve seen. And then I try (try being the key word here!!) to build a model of it! My wife doesn’t mind one bit because she says she know where/how to find me!!
Gregers:
Nothing wrong with fried egg & cheese, I have it all the time. Better with onions though.
You should try Newfie Steak …
That is a thick slab of bologna fried up with your favorite accessories. Personally I like mine with pickled eggs and sausages.
Bruce
Gosh, those culinary messages are getting too much. I’m off to the bathroom! By the way, ever tried a pickle (guerkins) and peanut butter sandwich??? My wife is into that… And she gives me weird look when I slap 1/2 inch thick layer of Nutella on my bread (without butter nor margerine!)…
I’ve gotten that “look” from lots of people surprised that their priest “plays with toys.” I ran into a member of my parish in a hobby shop and he looked at me as though I had grown a second head. The look changed when I showed him my USS Oregon in the store’s display case. Hey Gregers, fried egg and cheese, it isn’t just for breakfast anymore. Monsieur LeCren, you are a culinary genius.