I definitely fall into the obsessive/compulsive category.
It manifests itself in the little things like keeping my cds in alphanumerical artist/release date order.
Also the attention to detail in modelling tends to bring out the scientist/engineer in me and I often have trouble deciding when a model is truly ‘finished’.
At work I do get some funny looks when I mention my hobby and several of my colleagues consider me a ‘spotter’ (Not a particularly complimentary term used within the industry).
I take comfort from the fact that quite by accident I bumped into my head of department at the IPMS UK nationals last year.
It don’t matter. as my aunt (now passed away) always said “ya better enjoy it now boy, cause youre a long time dead”. So when I mention to someone that I build models and get the “look” I realize that within their own mind they are as warped as I could ever be (are not we all?[:p]) Model on…
G.L.
(although sometimes I feel like saying "Hey I also ride horses and carry a big .44 so %*#+ $@@)[8D][8D]
Is there some other way to do CDs but Artist/ Release???
Think you guys get funny looks for “playing with toys” try having been born "with alternate equipment"lol. My college roommate shook her head at me everytime she saw me tinkering at my desk. 'Course this may have been because I was using sharp tools and flamable chemicals and had dropped a dresser drawer and broke my foot within a week of us living together and am (you guessed it) accident prone[:D]
here’s an idea: let’s put together a list of questions and survey the people as to what they think the average modeler is like and answer them our selves to see the difference is. Anyone game??
I dont need other people to tell me i am crazy…i know that…my reaction after spending hours to scratchbuilt a model after thinking that i had misplaced the PEs and finding them once the canopy was closed affirmed this…
From life experience, I find that people who know nothing about our hobby do not see it as a hobby. They see it as a childhood passtime, hence when they learn that I’m a modeller they let out a high pitched “I did’nt know you did that!”
This is always followed by “is’nt that a bit nerdy?” [banghead]
There seems to be this problem that the rest of the world has with us: We’re all loners, we’re all unhappy/moody types with no friends, we never do anything or go anywhere.[:D] I think that’s the sterotype dealt with.
Now, the reality. We are all free-thinking individuals with varied experience in life who exchange intelligent points of view on a global communications network.[^] We are an incredibly resourceful body of people who whatever or wherever or place in the world are ready to lend a hand to another person we have never met before.[^]
That makes us a special bunch of people-and an example to others[^][^]
Now if only all the politicians who run our planet were model builders…
Think about it.[;)]
Well I’m 58 and I’m really starting to enjoy life, near retirement and I’m just a big KID, so my wife says. Ohhhhhhh well!!! You’re only a kid twice in life[:D][:D][:D]
Believe me, that ink blot thing doesn’t work. This one shrink I saw I thought I was seeing pics from an airshow. At another I was looking at armor tread and muzzle flash patterns. Well this got me sent to a third. I asked the dude where he got the pics of all the haze patterns for US warships in WWII. I made them all mad I’m being committed. LOL
Lets see, what am I???
I have a collection of matchbox cars on the self in my work area. (I’m 36 years old)
I shop at K&B toys and claim I’m shopping for the kid.
I’m and introvert
I’m an engineer
I believe in Star Trek
I have the Discovery Planes and History Channel as the only two channels programmed in my cable box.
All my vacations are planned around museums, hobbyshops, and airshows.
I can spend hours in a Art/Craft, Beauty Supply, or Fabric store wondering how I can adapt their merchandise to aid in my modeling.
Same goes with Home Depot and Lows.
I know what every line is called and is used for on a 19th century 1st rate ship of the line, the CV designation of every carrier in the US Navy, can tell the differences between an F4U-1 and F4U-5N, yet cannot remember how to give you directions to my house.
I will buy generic dog food, skip a root canal, and drive on three bald tires and only one brake so I can afford the PE set for my latest project.
I have all my hair, it’s just moving to my back.
I have a 6 digit figure mortgage, to afford the extra two rooms for my models.
My wife is 105, Brunette, and I think married me to fullfill a requirement for her psychology degree.
I can build, rig and paint 36" long frigate in 18 months, but will take me 12 years to finish painting my house.
I can airbrush in my sleep.
I spent 17 years working as a psychiatric nurse, and I can tell you there is no such word as “typical”… or “normal” for that matter. I will say this: the folks I know who are “serious” hobbyists-- meaning they spend a substantial amount of time, money and/or effort in pursuit of the hobby-- whether it’s modeling, woodworking, carving decoys, collecting train numbers or whatever, may seem a bit odd to some but are (in my experience) among the most well-adjusted individuals around. My guess is we all have an outlet for our stress, and as I pointed out on another posting, it’s hard to concentrate on what’s bothering you if you’re in the middle of numerous repetitive assemblies (as we armor modelers know well). The distraction is relaxing and clears your thinking, often allowing you to discover solutions to your difficulties. As a matter of fact, we often recommended a hobby of some sort to our psych patients (and no, not basket-weaving, either). Relaxation pursuits are also part of the usual care-plan for heart-attack patients.
On a personal level, modeling is just one of my hobbies, although granted it is by far my most serious; I also paint, draw, take pictures, do computer enhancements and restorations of photographs, and read. So am I “typical?” I don’t know. Should I worry about being labeled for my interests? I think not. Neither should you.[swg]
By the way, Happy New Year to all[:D]
Actually, that isn’t true in my model club’s experience. Since the first day I started going there, all the modelers that attend never shutup! In fact, the biggest complaint at our meetings is that there is too much talking going on during presentations and seminars! We are seriously looking into a microphone sound system just to be heard! AND, there is no beer present, but there are models, since we have both a model contest at each meeting. There is also a show-and-tell table where we display Works in Progress to talk about them or request assistance/ideas for where to go from where we are in the build.
Everyone not a modeler may look at us funny, but on the whole I think we are a happier, more educated, coordinated, and helpful bunch of people who are slow to judge those who make a sincere effort at anything they do in life.
I can’t believe my husband told people I eat peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. It all started in a galaxy a long time ago when I was younger and pregnant and had a strange midnight craving…[:I]
betty