After going through a lot of trouble on my 1/48 B-1B Lancer, and almost quittin work on it, I have wondered to myself; what is it that keeps us from just quitting a model when we get frustrated? I don’t know if others have this problem but a lot of the time even little problems like finding a good time in my busy schedule to drag the compressor, airbrush, and accessories outside to paint the cockpit (cockpit only, not the fuselage) of my aircraft can be discouraging. Usually I just force myself to go out there and do it, and then I’m real excited and happy when I see the progress I’ve made. So to me it seems that the idea of the finished model and how it’ll look really keeps me from quitting. Also seeing other people’s work is very very inspiring. So, to wrap it up, what is it that makes you continue building even if you get frustrated?
Nothing else to do!
I think its the satisfaction of knowing that you did put the time and effort into it and did the best that you could do and that you created something that not everyone has the talent, fortitude or patience to accomplish. That and the fact that you hve the ability to post photos of your completed project and share it with others who share your love for the hobby and recieve their accolades and/or suggestions for improving your skills in order to make a better one the next time.
let’s see, the magazines, the FSM forum, the references, and the reverse-psycology of my mom’s hatred for models!
If I get frustrated with a particular build, I just set it aside for a while & work on some other projects. Eventually the interest returns & I finish the build.
Regards, Rick
Wow this is spooky. The 1/48 B-1 about did me in too! I had to prop it on my shoulder to sand other parts of it. What a monster. I kept going on it because I had shown my progess at a club meeting and I did not admit it was getting the better of me. I finished it and then I gave it away. No place to put it.
I thought I was the only one who found taking compressor etc. outside for one little piece “tiring.”
What keeps me going is I like to try something different on each build. I try to make the next one a little better. Somtimes it works, sometimes not.
I truly can’t remember the last time I was frustrated. After 30 years, I think I’m past that. I am a firm believer that you know when a kit is going to come out less than your expectations. Sometimes, you build and you know that this one is a winner, everything goes right and there are no glitches. Other times, you work around the trouble and just accept it. Chalk it up on the learning curve and move on.
Some interesting replies indeed. matthew9 it’s good to know someone else is haveing the same troubles as me lol. I really wish I could set up a permanent spray booth or something, but my parents definitely wouldn’t like that being in their house.
rjkplasticmod I use to do the same thing, but then when others complained about me working on 4 different kits and the fact that I hadn’t finished one in awhile, I figured I’d just stick to a maximum of 2. Also what’s really funny is when my parents complain about the fact that I have about 25 unbuilt kits (mostly tanks and airplanes), and then I look at the numbers other modeleres put up, such as 150 and such…[:0]
crockett I see what you’re saying; I probably will have less and less frustration as I learn more skills and such, but as of now, I’ve only completed 4-6 good models and I’ve only been seriously modeling for about 2 years. Before that I completed maybe 10 aircraft, but those were all “slop the glue on and if the plastic color looks like the real color, that’s fine!”. I had fun building them years ago, but when I look back at them it definitely makes me shiver lol.
Well once again thx for the inspiration all!
Sometimes my excitement for the subject matter keeps me going.
[#ditto][#ditto]
Nothing else to add
something to do, I have just begun to teach my kids about modeling and their enthusiasum has resparked mine. I hope that model building will teach them patience. I have made many models, many bad, some good ,none great [:D], I find myself learning more with each build. I recently bought my first a/b and it opened a whole new world…guess its one of those unexplainable things that we encounter in life
It’s a modeler’s disorder. It is related to the other disorder where you keep on buying models even if you can’t build them all! LOL[:)]
One word - Masochism
The finished product.
I build so that I can see what it all looks like when it’s done, to see the bits of plastic come together to form a whole that’s just a bit greater than the sum of its parts.
Well, that and I love the smell of glue 
I have to agree with all the above. Sick in the head is the one thing I hear from my wife all the time. Masochism is a good way to put it, We sit hunched over for hours at a time and end up with sore backs seats and shoulders then go do it all over the next day.
Ben
I enjoy the hobby. That and I have too many models and reference books to just quit building models.
This is a loaded question from were I sit.It is like asking a truck driver why does he drive for long periods of time and away from home.Answer to this is,"Its in the blood."The same goes for modeling.You can put it down for awhile and then it hits you hard and you go back building.That is the way it is for me,Digger.
Several things keep me building, in no particular order:
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Seeing the positive comments that people post about the pics I post here.
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Imagining/picturing how good the model is going to look after having worked so hard on it; or after having used a new technique on it.
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Trying out as new technique to see how it will look.
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Being able to show off my work at my IPMS club meetings.
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Knowing that I’m so close to my goal of having 1000 models built keeps me going.
There are others, but these are my top five.
I’d have to say that the enjoyment out of finishing a build is what keeps me going, and these forums are what inspires me to actually finish the build…
I would have to say the the lack of money to buy the real thing. So what better way to feed my craving for WW2 aircraft and armor. The other thing that keeps me building would have to be the thrill of completing one and starting another.