It’s seasonal, winter time 4-5 hours on the days I build, slowly decreasing as weather changes. This summer the weather has been beautiful, unless you’re a farmer, and have had to make time to get anything done.
I may get some additional bench time in this week, in the evenings, because it’s going to be stinking hot outside the next three days. Even in the basement, it’s 70, but that’s better than upper 90s to 100. With temperatures like that, and an attendant humidity, it’s actually too hot to drink a beer, which is what I’d otherwise do.
Man, 70 degrees would be a real “cold front” here in Texas this time o’ year.[:D]
I almost always have time to tinker, my problem is motivation, however when the bug bites me I can spend an entire day building, bending, and filling, heck even sanding mold lines or seams is relaxing( not my favorite part). When it comes to bulk painting, fine detail,and weathering it’s all engines stop. Not sure why, do enjoy finally finishing something though. I have probably two or three hours a day I can devote, just lazy.
Chris, you’re not alone. Your situation sounds exactly like mine. During the work week, I might snag a half hour here and there if I’m lucky. Sometimes it’s even less than that. We have a big chest freezer right next to my work bench area. When my wife sends me down to bring up some ground meat, I might take a detour over to my bench and glue a couple of tire halves together or drybrush the instrument panel on my latest build before I head back upstairs.
The weekends can be a bit different. Friday nights and Saturday nights, if I do head down to my bench, are when I might spend a couple of hours working on a kit. But at the same time, if my family is up, I’d much rather be with them than sequestered away from them at the work bench. So as I think about it, my modeling time really consists of stolen moments throughout the week. It’s like the eternal question of “How do you eat an elephant?” or in my case, “How do you build a model?” The answer is “One bite at a time.”
Eric
Ha ! That’s pretty funny Eric - I’m the same way - with a basement workspace . . . I’ll go down in the basement for some reason, see “the next thing” waiting for me on the bench . . . and before long I can’t remember why I went down to the basement in the first place.
Really - It’s just the models - they kinda “jump me” - it’s not like I’m losing my memory or anything.
What was this thread about ?
[dto:][dto:][dto:][t$t] LOL! Do you know how many times I’ve been sent to retrieve something from the basement, got sidetracked at the workbench, then yelled at by my wife when I’ve forgotten to bring up what I was sent downstairs for in the first place? Too many times to count! But ya gotta sneak in those precious building moments any chance you get, right?
I think it’s been brought up here on this forum not too long ago about “model builder’s ADHD” or something to that effect. I love model building but if I just take it in small segments, it actually helps maintain my interest in the current build. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the occasional marathon session once or twice a year, but I’ll take what I can get when I can get it.
Eric
I usually get up at 4 every morning and have about 1 hour with the plastic between Mon-Thurs. Starting on Friday and on through Sunday things change up a bit since I’m off 3 days a week. I’ll get anywhere from 3-4 hours on those days. I get up that early so as not to take any time away from my family and besides I like being up that early anyhow. There’s no demand on my time except modeling when it’s that early so I don’t run into getting pulled away from the bench for a honey do or two. [;)]
Before classes started for me, if I wasn’t busy, two weeks would work. Now that i’m getting busier, I squeeze in as much time as I can to build.
I was given some good advise by a fellow modeler and tried for a while to make it a steady, regular habit of 60 minutes a night at the modeling bench. It worked pretty well in the winter.
I am currently planning on retiring at the end of October this year so we will see what regular and productive modeling habits I can develop after that date.
Sixty two days and a wake up!
I’m jealous
For me during the summer bench time is non existing. Too much to do outside. But usually around mid September I start getting the shakes and need time at the bench to sniff paint and glue. During fall and winter I can usually get a 2-4 hour session in the morning two or three times a week. And then a couple smaller sessions at night
It all depends what’s going on that day, but usually I’m a marathoner. I can spend quite a bit of time at the table. I’m a stay at home mom, so other than cleaning, cooking and running errands for both my parents since neither drive anymore, I have time. Sometimes I do get frustrated and then I know it’s time to walk away for a little while. I can’t do short sprints of it, if I start I’m there for hours.
2-3 hours max for me. 20 Min minimum.
I just posted a similkar question another area lol. I like to put at least a couple hours into a day, but i am finding it harder and harder with work and the idiot box(tv) teaming up with the couch, grabing my attention. After reading through here i don’t feel out of place, it gave me the motivation i needed, thank you guys!