lost my mojo

[Guest]

Hi all I seem to have lost my mojo, I can't seem to be able to work up the enthusiasm for build of late. It is kind of concerning me a little as I am in a position that I don't even want to go into the shed does this happen to anyone else and if so what do you do about it.

scott

[Guest]

What do I do about it Scott. You did it turned to SMF.

Well the first thing I do when this occurs is to give my model room a good clean out top to bottom. Always think that a clean tidy area is the best environment to get the enthusiasm working.

Then I make a list of the next few things I have to do on the model. Then I give myself a time table for those items that I strictly adhere to. Music on I work away. Pieces that fill me with enthusiasm. Spitfire prelude, Holst the planets, The Beach Boys. Then I am away.

Rather like a magnetism. Like poles repel (lose mojo) so you just have to reverse the polarity like poles attract. The magnets bang together. Think I go that the right way round. It is a long time ago.

Laurie

[PaulTRose]

what i do is walk away for while.....for me its normally a week or so then i get the urge to build again

for me its weird, i lose interest in actually building but am still interested in going on forums, trawling ebay, buying kits and bits, planning builds, just get bored with the building process

best advice is sit in front of the tv and start watching all the soaps followed by x factor....guarenteed cure to get you at the bench :P

[Guest]

Hi Scott I do a very similar thing to Lauri, when I loose interest I take some time out and do a major clean up.

Sometimes I wont go back to the modelling until I really become interested in it again, I never rush back into it until I`m ready or otherwise I become disinterested again.

I usually find the reason I become disinterested is due to the fact.....that it is the model I am building, so now I shelve that particular kit, and start another build...but I only do this when I`m good and ready.

I know everyone at some stage hits the wall, but everyone deals with it differently, some just need to take a little time out and re-charge their batteries, I do this by focusing on other things, I hope this helps buddy, the mojo will come back

[slupanter]

Hi. I've lost my mojo a few time . This is bad when you do it as a job too.

I agree with cleaning the room but I have found if you force it then you feel less inclined. I lost mine a while a ago and I just relaxed, I played some games, went walking with the mrs and read some book. Then, one day I was walking through Stratford, saw a rust lorry and BANG I could wait to get home and build my Panther.

[Ian M]

I think we have all been there at some time or the other. At the moment my mojo is packed away together with my modelling things.

Some times I get the urge to pack it all out and build some thing. I just cant at the moment.

What I have done in the past when the mojo gets eaten by the carpet monster or vanishes under the desk is have a good tidy up then grab one of those kits you have always pushed to the back. Some thing either big or complex. Or both. In no time you are totally absorbed again and all is well again.

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Scott

I think this happens to a great many modellers and i wouldn't beat yourself up about it. I've lost a little enthusiasm myself and i think i can put that down to a simple lack of time. I was saying in an another thread that i simply can't 'loose myself' in the build like I used to. And now it's simply, 'I'll fit this task in' before I have to do something around the house, for the business, family etc. With your young family I can imagine time is quite a precious commodity also.

This may be part of the problem the other thing I think is very important is to build for yourself. Building for yourself might seem a strange one but I think it's all too easy to be caught up in the hive of activity that is the forum and actually forget why you like modelling anyway.

Lastly, you've got great modelling talent Scott and I can't see you leaving the hobby. Maybe take the advice Laurie gives above, pick a new subject with a clean slate and start anew.

It's very difficult now to keep a track on builds (even old member friends) but I will try to keep up with any progress. Also, I'm thinking of doing a few AFV kits soon so I'll be able to keep you company. I've got a shed load of Shermans I'm thinking of starting as part of a D-Day build + a 1/16 panther. Although I'll be finishing the Spits and a 1/24 aircraft build before this.

Why not join the 1/24 aircraft build? (I think I remember you once building the 1/24 Trumpy FW190D?) I think there will be a few in that SIG so there will be plenty of support, It might be just what you need?

Anyway, hope you get your enthusiasm back soon (i'm sure it's just a passing thing) and hope to see you back building soon.

Cheers

Paul

[eddiesolo]

Yep, been there as I think 99% of us have at some point. It is like all hobbies, it is a hobby and it wanes at times. If you cannot be bothered, then don't do it for a while, tidy the shed out, clean out some old paints but just take a breather. It will return, just don't force it or you will end up with a half made model or a really badly made one. Maybe try a different approach to modelling, have a go at extreme weathering-one that it doesn't matter if it goes wrong, just have fun.

Si

[Guest]

I agree with all of the above! Personally, I do something else that's creative, but without the need for my perfectionist tendencies to come out.

Recently I made a sock puppet from a Poundshop - it took an enjoyable day to make & I .. I mean my niece loves it! :P

[Alan 45]

This happens to me all the time Scott ive learnt that doing some easy builds in between larger ones helps me and even doing them during a large build , during my 109 build I built two 1/48 aircraft and a 1/76 tiger , I find doing a small build is quicker so when that's done it gives you the mojo to do a bigger one

[Guest]

Thanks for all your help guys I will take these comments on board and I will leave things for a bit and hopefully the urge to build will come back. Cheers lads

scott

[Snowman]

That is pretty much how I build.......in spurts! I step away for a while, think about what I'm doing, want to do and so forth.

Some call it procrastinating, I call it "progressive resistance"!o_O

I'll get there in the end, but sometime it may take a while, as long as I'm motivated and clear about what I'm trying to achieve. It's very easy to get bogged down in the details, so it helps to step away to clear the head.

Don't hassle about it bub, when you're ready you'll step up again.

[Peej]

I have been building a Bristol Blenheim that just hasn't gone the way it should. Not been near the work area for a day or two, but decided the plane will go in it's box and I will start on some vehicles I have got. Looking forward to starting those later. Hope your mojo comes back soon!

[Guest]

Agree with everything above it is perfectly normal and part of the cycle, when we came to Canada there were all kinds of problems, plus my father died so I ended up back in England for 11 months wife didn't want me back etc. when I came back my life was hell and could not build anything, threw so many in the bin I did not know what to do with myself so I let it run until two years ago I just sat down and built now I am fine, so relax about and you will be fine,

[john i am]

May the force be with you soon.I don't really think about mojo when I've had my fill I walk away and wait for the urge to return I've had things I've started hanging around for ages and started and finished other models in between I just go and do other things instead anything can kick start you maybe a film you watch or a magazine you read anyways I'm sure you will get itchy fingers soon and don't forget to post when you do look forward to your return soon cheers John