I build because, you could say, I’m addicted to it. [:|][^o)] And I absolutely love the hobby.
Interesting thread, fun to read all of the various excuses …err, I mean reasons. [:D]
Mine is much the same as Wayne’s. Since I ‘retired’ from flying so many years back, my main hobbies have been photography and messing up my pc and getting it to work again.
When I jumped back into modelling last year, I had forgotten how doing something with my hands helps me to clear my mind.
Small world, indeed. For one of my next builds, I was planning on going a little more retro with the Monogram/Revell SNJ in Glenview NRU markings.
It’s a good hobby until some one destroys it.This hobby is the only one that brings people to an arena like gladiators to fight it out.No other hobby that I know of does this and I have lots of hobbies.Well,soon the Die Cast era will take over and we all just to sit and enjoy looking at real metal.
Competition Shooting is another hobby where individuals compete against one another. Die cast taking over? Hardly likely I think. That’s for folks who don’t have the time or skills to put something together, but do have the money to buy the finished product. The item is just something to display rather than the culmination of efforts to put it there.
To relax and decompress from real life.
My dad was in the USAF from 1956 - 1964, and because of that, I have always loved aircraft. He bought me my first kit when I was around 6 or 7 years old, but, even before that, I was told by my parents that I was always drawing airplanes (I don’t remember that myself). Once my dad bought me that first model, I was hooked. I didn’t build a lot during my late teens through early 20s, but once I was nearing the end of my Marine career, I started getting back into the hobby, and have never looked back. I remember buying a kit (once I got back into the hobby), building it, THEN buying the next kit. Then I read somewhere about the “stash”, and thinking, “Heck, I never thought of that…” Now, I have 105 kits in the stash. But, getting back to the main topic, I build to unwind, read a bit of history, and to see something that I helped create (remember, the model companys’ designers helped build the kits, too - just my point of view). Nothing like looking at the finished product that you put together, painted, and applied the decals.
Oh, man, that is FUNNY, Stik!
When I was a kid and I broke something my dad would show me how to fix it. If I broke it again he reminded me where the tools where. I guess I inadvertently picked up a love of building (fixing) things. Combine that with the rather unimpressive toys of the era and I guess that’s why I’ve always loved modeling so much. It wasn’t until I was older that I really started getting interested in the history of the vehicles that I was modeling but it’s a big part of it now.
My biggest regret about the hobby is that I never had access to any good reference materials when I was young. Every time I view a WIP on here it’s like a mini model building class for me. If I’d have been exposed to that for the past 40 years… I don’t know if I could do it well but at least I’d know that it could be done.
Great question, and lots of great answers. I returned to model building last year for something to do for an hour or two in the evenings. I enjoy working with my hands, but there isn’t much of that in the work I do. So model building is a great outlet for that. I enjoy the creative side as well as the history side of it. And when it’s done, I have the satisfaction of knowing that there is now a display piece where there was once a box of plastic parts. It helps me clear my head from the demands of my busy days, as well.
I got into the hobby after buying my Dad a model for a Christmas present, which he built while I watched.
The next one I got him he let me help, and after that I got to do a lot of the work, then I was off and running on my own.
Modeling lead me to loving history and reading, and it added another dimension to the hobby.
Oh I certainly love the history aspect of it. Research for any given project often takes me off on unexpected tangents. On a side note, on St Paddy’s Day, we went out with some family friends for drinks and dinner then returned home with them afterwards. The husband was ex Navy and served on Perry class FFGs as a Gunners Mate. After seeing my finished model collection, he mentioned that he would love to build a kit of one of his ship’s for himself. Now I have one in the stash along with the White Ensign PE set and Yankee Modelworks decals to make many ships in the class. I offered to build mine as a gift for him. After all display space is limited in my home, I get to have the fun of building it, and I am already researching his ship and liking what I found out. They assited USS Stark after she was missiled, (he was in on that) and later in her career they had a score against Somali pirates. Two big plusses in my book for subject choice. He did specify that their 76mm had a black painted barrel.
I love WWII history. I love WWII military stuff. I love building things. I love miniatures. I love painting.
I came to this hobby 2 years ago after a 25 year hiatus. I had been busy with my life. I still don’t have enough time to fully enjoy this wonderful hobby. One thing that I didn’t know: This hobby can be expensive!
When I came to this hobby, my wife was happy, thinking that modeling would be cheap compared to my other hobbies (golf, guitars, etc.). I thought so. By, was I wrong! My stash has 70+ kits. I’ve bought three Iwata airbrushes, numerous books, after-market parts, 300+ paint bottles, and so on.
I’m the happiest when I sit in my hobby room, building and painting.
Because I can’t afford to build 1:1 scale.
[dto:] You hit the nail on the head there, Roony!!
I like it for a variety of reasons. I’ve always had a facination with air and space craft, both non fictional and fictional, and I’ve always liked to have something to display to show my interests (I watched a lot of Star Trek as a kid… I still do). As I got older, it was more fun to actually build something, rather than just buy a pre-made replica. It means a lot more when you work on something yourself. I also find it relaxing, especially when I get stressed or depressed. It takes my mind off of whatever’s going on.
Also, I’m not much good at drawing or painting, so it’s a good creative outlet. And it doesn’t annoy the family as much my trombone does. haha
Two words: Shep Paine
you know after 25 years of building models I honestly still cant answer this question other than I can’t stop building models. When I finish one , I basically just lay on the couch , hold it and stare at it for hours. I think my interest in aviation and military has a lot to do with it. I am guessing its the same with a lot of others on here. I don’t really get into R/C or model trains , so I am not sure what it is about model building that interests me. I will tell you I am a software engineer, and i do like working with my hands on models as an escape from computers.
I honestly can’t give an answer to this question. Building models is just something I have always enjoyed doing.