Did you ever change what kits you like?

[Guest]

Hello guys, just thought i'd throw out some of my recent thoughts. (a lot of pointless waffle incoming, feel free to igore it)

So I came back to the hobby in January this year after many decades away from it and apart from buying paint/tools etc. I spent way more than I should on kits. okay there's only about 12 but still most of them being £30 or more and two at £50.

Anyway the point of this post, only now several months later am I realising what I like and don't like when it comes to models. My most surprising thing is that I'm finding vehicles far more fun to work on than aircraft which astounds me as back in the 70's 95% of my models were aircraft but now..well I have several kits like an A-10 thunderbolt 2, A-6 Intruder, A7A - Corsair 2, Stuka, Mustang, Mosquito, Sea Fury, Me 109, Fokker D VII, Tempest and a Dambusters lancaster but now I really regret going mad and buying all these as my interest in them has faded quite a bit. The wife keeps saying "All those planes you have, it's time you did one" but I look at them and there is no real passion in me to work on them, yet I just look at my Omnibus, Tank or Bulldozer boxes and I find myself thinking "ohhh!! I want to do that"

So my question, did you ever change what kits you enjoyed the most? did you go from tanks to planes, planes to tanks or have you always liked everything? Maybe it's just me being weird.

Quite frankly I would happily return half of these aircraft but sadly that's not possible so I'm stuck with them. One thing though, in typing this I have realised one of my biggest things that puts me off aircraft and I'm not talking about the dreaded PE. but cockpits! I dislike working on cockpits and that is usually the first thing in the instuctions. I find bulding them very fiddly and painting them a royal pain, so yes that's one reason but not the main one.

I'm just hoping one person says "yes Steve, I used to love xxx models but now I dislike them and mostly build yyy ones", then I won't feel so weird. haha

[Dave Ward]

I've changed my choice of models over & over again in the last 50years+ - about the only consistent thing is the omission of science fiction and fantasy! My stash reflects this, all sorts of flying, floating & land subjects.
It does happen that I may have two or more of the same models, either a) by mistake b) unable to resist a real bargain or c) for a diorama in the future ( which will probably never happen ).
I can see why modellers concentrate on one genre, but that would bore me!
Dave

[Andy T]

I haven't really settled on what I like best yet, and to be perfectly honest, I hope I don't. I enjoy building different types of models and wouldn't want to get stuck in one area.

Yes I started with a few aircraft, then did mostly wheeled armour, but am currently doing more aircraft again. However I enjoyed doing a "shiny" vehicle, really enjoyed a sci-fi build, and want to try all kinds of different things.

Don't feel like you have to specialise, or feel weird for changing your allegiance, just build whatever you feel like, whenever you feel like it.

[Waspie]

Like you Steve I'm new coming back into the hobby. Like you, in my 'yoof' I was predominantly a builder of fixed wing aircraft, usually old WW2.

My son bought me a Sea King two Xmas's ago thinking he would rekindle the hobby. He has vivid memories of his mum destroying my collection. The last was a Hercules, amazing how much damage a dusting can do!!.

Coming back into the hobby I thought I would fall back into the WW2 aircraft set. Then I thought long about which direction, if any, I would go. Then I thought rather than any specific genre I would start building things I had an association with. Helicopters, cars, even armour as I spent 20 years at Bovington, (Tank Central). Then!! If I complete the wish list I have in my head, I may dabble in a few naval fixed wing. OK - I know I went off piste with the Helix, yet to be started. But I have had contact with one. If can call getting 'mooned' at by the Navy of the USSR!!! (Don't ask!).

What I did find by building one, My Beetle build I don't like cars. So cars are off my list. For now. That could change of course!

I figured if I build something I have worked on or under as in the case of cars, flown in or had my ear drums pounded by tracks I may keep my interest going. Apart from the Wasp which is testing me no end. My theory is bearing up so far. SWMBO wants me, for some strange reason, to build an aeroplane! Why? No idea. If I do, as I have said on here, it would be a Bucc or a C47 both iconic aircraft of different era's. The C47 would have to be 'Puff the Magic Dragon'.

What I don't want to do though, is tie myself down to having to build something because I bought it and it's been sat there for an age. It's all about mood with me. How I feel about a build. After all - it's supposed to be a hobby, a recreation not a job of work.

Well that's my feelings anyway!

Doug

[Guest]

What I don't want to do though, is tie myself down to having to build something because I bought it and it's been sat there for an age. It's all about mood with me. How I feel about a build. After all - it's supposed to be a hobby, a recreation not a job of work.

Well that's my feelings anyway!

You nailed it! That is my feeling exactly! I need to feel excited to work on a model and if I'm not feeling a buzz for that one, then I'm better off not doing it.

[Geoffers]

Well, the first kit I ever built was an aircraft, an Airfix 1/72 Meteor with my Dad when I was around 6 or 7.

Since then I’ve built cars, ships, tanks and other military vehicles but nothing really interests me as much as aircraft.

I was pretty much obsessed with aviation as a lad, still am to be honest and I think that’s why I build models. It’s trying to replicate what fascinates me, and I can’t see me changing genres anytime soon…..you’re right though Steve cockpits can be very fiddly :smiling6:

Geoff.

[Ian M]

The only thing that I dont enjoy building much are Cars. I build the odd one here and there (see GB). They just dont get me going. Some of the old open wheel sports cars can just about spark an interest but never enough that I have bought one...yet.
I build most things otherwise; armour and aircraft Ships and boats. I do like a civilian truck here and there. A good challenge. Also like the odd motorbike once in a while.
I believe the phrase is "Jack of all trades, master of none""

[Tworrs]

Fortunately (or unfortunately) I haven't had a specific genre that I been consumed with, I just hop about, from subject to subject.
I usually battle to find a new subject to build.

[vizenz]

This is my hobby. In the best case, it helps me to reduce stress or even relax. So I mostly build what I feel like. If I get stuck somewhere or something bores me, I put it aside. Very often I finish it at some point - sometimes not.

But I'm pretty stuck in terms of themes. I like airplanes (I built countless of them in my youth), but somehow I've lost the connection to model plane building. I build almost exclusively military vehicles. But I won't commit to anything. At some point I see a model that I like and then I really want to build it - maybe a ship? or a dinosaur? - then I try it out.

I'm just a child trapped in the body of an old man! :tongue-out3:

Best regards,
Andreas

[Guest]

When I worked as a professional modelmaker (petro/chemical, ship) my main interest was afv's, I then went full out on aircraft as spotting was returned to. And then since working away the hobby went onto the back burner, although the kit buying did not. And with access to a lot of airports, and with delays waiting for cargo/loads the spotting took centre stage. Then since retirement it has been back onto afv's (and still the spotting plays a part of my life). So chopping and changing may not be good for the wallet/credit card it is good for the mental side of life. I still have about 30 unbuilt aircraft still to build and about 5 still to add to the stash, but I will get there....

[PaulTRose]

As a kid in the 70s i built lots of aircraft....occasional armour mostly braille scale.......i think the reason for it was thr majority of kits available to me was airfix in the village post office....revell was a bit rare.....tamiya was only just coming to the shores

I gave up making kits as a teen....had other distractions that most can relate to

So when i took this lark up again in 2007 id had all sorts of life experiences.......id had plenty of motorbikes so thats in the blood lol....so i like bike kits.......id owned plenty of cars...built a couple of kit cars......worked in the automotive industry......so its natural i like car models....always had an interest in military history and now a days military kits are easily obtainable

So now im older i rarely do planes even tho i have an interest in ww2 raf stuff

I find planes so hard to do compared to everything else lol

[Tim Marlow]

I’ve always built almost anything. I tend to have clusters of interest, tanks, bikes, cars, planes etc, but underlying that is my interest in figure painting. In my thirties and forties i concentrated exclusively on railways, but finally lost interest in my late forties when I decided to learn how to play guitar properly. I picked the hobby up again in my mid to late fifties after some mental health issues and have again built in most genres since then, but do seem to gravitate back to figures more often than not. One thing I haven’t built since my break is railway based models, and I can’t see me doing that in the future. I sold my railway stash in lockdown but kept my better books. Some of my stash dates back to when I picked up the hobby again, mostly eBay impulse purchases, but I’m not worried. One day a GB will come up, or I will spark that interest and I may build them. After all, they don’t eat anything and as long as you have space they aren’t a problem.

[Gern]

Quite frankly I would happily return half of these aircraft but sadly that's not possible so I'm stuck with them. One thing though, in typing this I have realised one of my biggest things that puts me off aircraft and I'm not talking about the dreaded PE. but cockpits! I dislike working on cockpits and that is usually the first thing in the instuctions. I find bulding them very fiddly and painting them a royal pain, so yes that's one reason but not the main one.

Put 'em for sale on ebay if you're sure you're not going to build 'em. Or leave 'em in your stash for a couple of decades - by which time they'll be collector's items worth a fortune!

[Waspie]

Put 'em for sale on ebay if you're sure you're not going to build 'em. Or leave 'em in your stash for a couple of decades - by which time they'll be collector's items worth a fortune!

Or flog em on here of course before offering them to all and sundry!!

[BattleshipBob]

I as many know only ever built StuGs, but I have sold all the kits and either selling or throwing out the accessories, paints, weathering stuff, will sell the many books as well. The money raised has of course been recycled into shops lol.

Personally I think it was a mistake to just stick to one thing for so long

So now intend to make floating things plus a sub of two. However due to various health issues and mum of course not done a lot

But whatever turns you on chaps. Just my opinion.