Abandoned another kit - is this hobby for me?

[Guest]

Hello my friends.

Well I've just given up the ghost on yet another kit and when I say given up I mean binned. I'm not the kind of person who would EVER return to something and I don't have a lot of space here so bin it is.

I was working on an Airfix Sea Fury. I didn't really want to as I found out that I enjoy working on vehicles far more than aircraft (because I find aircraft far harder, especially during the painting)
I was working on it because the wife said "You have more aircraft than tanks/etc, build one" so I begrudging started on the Sea Fury. I had the fuselage built and was working on painting it.
I didn't like the all red and all blue schemes so I went with the split green/grey one.. oh good grief what a nightmare its been.

I've sprayed it and resprayed it almost six times then tried to touch up the bits that wasn't right and it was a royal pain in the rear! I then start work on the undercarriage and promptly lost two of the pieces which are critical to the undercarrige. I did spend a good 20 mins looking around the floor for them but was I upset? Nope!! I was relieved because I can now use this as an excuse to give up on this kit and I have now done so and I feel happy about it... Good riddance

but.. I'm wondering, am I wasting my time with this? My current stash is 4 vehicles and something like 11 aircraft (including a 1/24 Spitfire) which I'm now deeply regretting buying.

So the question to myself now is this:- Do I try to ebay my aircraft, pay their crazy fees and get a few quid back and then stick to vehicles from now on, or do I pack my bags from the hobby and shuffle off to other things? I do enjoy this (mostly) but... maybe I'm not right for it.

[Lee Drennen]

I pack my bags from the hobby and shuffle off to other things?

Hey what about my GB? You were so excited to take part in it. Take a break till it starts in October that’s what I’m doing now. I’m taking a break from Modeling at the moment and enjoying the summer. Life is not about how many models you can crank out or buy there’s more to it.

[Mark1]

Sell the planes ,buy more tanks! Don't chuck the towel in with something you enjoy. I've started loads of kits that have ended up back in the box a few hours later, or cocked em up and slung them to one side and forgot about them, don't stress yourself out about it.
Could always try selling some kits on here rather than Ebay.

[David Lovell]

Steve too many people worry/compair with what other people do wich is a big no no setting doubt in what ever you do ,your not the first person to throw the dummy out of the pram take it from us we've all done it and still do ,if you go back through my armour under construction you'll find quite a few that ha e made me raise the white flag SO WHAT ,im not going to carry on with something that isn't giving me any pleasure ,ive also built quite a few that have given me much pleasure but I've no inclination to ever paint them just 100%enjoyed the process of building them the plastic police havent knocked on my door so far. Me and the other half have been together a long time long enough to do our own hobbies about the house she's aware of the stash just as I'm aware of the shoe addiction so don't speak of my stash and I won't ask why you've only worn that pair once sounds a bit harsh but why start to build something your heart wasn't in in the first place number one factor in this hobby is enjoyment no matter how far you go with it ,its about just sitting and enjoying what your doing .

[PaulinKendal]

In the circumstances, giving up on the hobby entirely seems a bit extreme.

There are clearly aspects of modelling that you enjoy, so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! Just be honest about what parts you enjoy doing and what parts you don't, and head down the right rabbit hole, not the wrong one!

(For example, I discovered I really love painting figures, rather than assembling models, so that's what I do. I have plastic kits I'll probably never build, but the aim is to have fun, not beat ourselves up over stuff we don't even want to do!)

[PaulTRose]

If you enjoy doing tanks but stress out over aircraft then the answer is build more tanks!

Dont give up the hobby just cos you find one genre of it difficult

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Only you can answer that quesion Steve. Everyone has a bad day at the office no matter what you do. I think you have to keep in mind that some of the work you see on this forum is being produced by some of the best modelers around and as David pointed out comparing your work with some of the top notch stuff can be frustrating. I think you do need patiance with this hobby and you can put hours of work into a model and then naff it up at the finishing post. It's all a learning curve. Not sure what issues you had with your paint but people on here are always happy to chip in with advice and take some of the pain away. Hope you stick around. Dig that Sea Fury out of the bin and save it. It may come in handy for a crash scene diorama later in your modeling journey.

[boatman]

Now stephen to me all THESE post all make sence so have a good read

Steve too many people worry/compair with what other people do wich is a big no no setting doubt in what ever you do ,your not the first person to throw the dummy out of the pram take it from us we've all done it and still do ,if you go back through my armour under construction you'll find quite a few that ha e made me raise the white flag SO WHAT ,im not going to carry on with something that isn't giving me any pleasure ,ive also built quite a few that have given me much pleasure but I've no inclination to ever paint them just 100%enjoyed the process of building them the plastic police havent knocked on my door so far. Me and the other half have been together a long time long enough to do our own hobbies about the house she's aware of the stash just as I'm aware of the shoe addiction so don't speak of my stash and I won't ask why you've only worn that pair once sounds a bit harsh but why start to build something your heart wasn't in in the first place number one factor in this hobby is enjoyment no matter how far you go with it ,its about just sitting and enjoying what your doing .

In the circumstances, giving up on the hobby entirely seems a bit extreme.

There are clearly aspects of modelling that you enjoy, so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! Just be honest about what parts you enjoy doing and what parts you don't, and head down the right rabbit hole, not the wrong one!

(For example, I discovered I really love painting figures, rather than assembling models, so that's what I do. I have plastic kits I'll probably never build, but the aim is to have fun, not beat ourselves up over stuff we don't even want to do!)

If you enjoy doing tanks but stress out over aircraft then the answer is build more tanks!

Dont give up the hobby just cos you find one genre of it difficult

CHRISB

[boatman]

Only you can answer that quesion Steve. Everyone has a bad day at the office no matter what you do. I think you have to keep in mind that some of the work you see on this forum is being produced by some of the best modelers around and as David pointed out comparing your work with some of the top notch stuff can be frustrating. I think you do need patiance with this hobby and you can put hours of work into a model and then naff it up at the finishing post. It's all a learning curve. Not sure what issues you had with your paint but people on here are always happy to chip in with advice and take some of the pain away. Hope you stick around. Dig that Sea Fury out of the bin and save it. It may come in handy for a crash scene diorama later in your modeling journey.

well said hawkerhunter (steve) as im havin trouble on my big tomcat an felt like raisein the white flag but i like a challenge an my stubbon streak takes over so my tomcat will get built an then be proud of it afterwards as has been said nearly every build has some probs on an its just up to you to raise to the challenge but do as your missus says an build a tank an if thats not enjoable then what do you enjoy JUST ASK YOURSELF an do it
ATB IN WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO
chrisb

[Guest]

Hey what about my GB? You were so excited to take part in it. Take a break till it starts in October that’s what I’m doing now. I’m taking a break from Modeling at the moment and enjoying the summer. Life is not about how many models you can crank out or buy there’s more to it.

I am still VERY excited for that! (Aircraft seem to stress/depress me more than anything. I so wish I'd not bought so many at the start, I just want rid of them now tbh)

Sell the planes ,buy more tanks! Don't chuck the towel in with something you enjoy. I've started loads of kits that have ended up back in the box a few hours later, or cocked em up and slung them to one side and forgot about them, don't stress yourself out about it.
Could always try selling some kits on here rather than Ebay.

I do want to sell them but it's not easy finding a buyer and ebay is such a pain to deal with.

Steve too many people worry/compair with what other people do wich is a big no no setting doubt in what ever you do ,your not the first person to throw the dummy out of the pram take it from us we've all done it and still do ,if you go back through my armour under construction you'll find quite a few that ha e made me raise the white flag SO WHAT ,im not going to carry on with something that isn't giving me any pleasure ,ive also built quite a few that have given me much pleasure but I've no inclination to ever paint them just 100%enjoyed the process of building them the plastic police havent knocked on my door so far. Me and the other half have been together a long time long enough to do our own hobbies about the house she's aware of the stash just as I'm aware of the shoe addiction so don't speak of my stash and I won't ask why you've only worn that pair once sounds a bit harsh but why start to build something your heart wasn't in in the first place number one factor in this hobby is enjoyment no matter how far you go with it ,its about just sitting and enjoying what your doing .

I have compare and never have. I know people keep telling me not to but it's not in my mindset to compare my work with others and never will be.
I just have two thoughts when working on a model: 1 - do I think it's 'okay' and 2 - am I happy enough with it to show my wife, nothing else
also lol at the shoes!

In the circumstances, giving up on the hobby entirely seems a bit extreme.

There are clearly aspects of modelling that you enjoy, so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! Just be honest about what parts you enjoy doing and what parts you don't, and head down the right rabbit hole, not the wrong one!

(For example, I discovered I really love painting figures, rather than assembling models, so that's what I do. I have plastic kits I'll probably never build, but the aim is to have fun, not beat ourselves up over stuff we don't even want to do!)

True, I think I just need to stop attempting aircraft but I have like 11 of them... how annoying

If you enjoy doing tanks but stress out over aircraft then the answer is build more tanks!

Dont give up the hobby just cos you find one genre of it difficult

Yeah true, I just need to get rid of these aircraft kits for sure.

Only you can answer that quesion Steve. Everyone has a bad day at the office no matter what you do. I think you have to keep in mind that some of the work you see on this forum is being produced by some of the best modelers around and as David pointed out comparing your work with some of the top notch stuff can be frustrating. I think you do need patiance with this hobby and you can put hours of work into a model and then naff it up at the finishing post. It's all a learning curve. Not sure what issues you had with your paint but people on here are always happy to chip in with advice and take some of the pain away. Hope you stick around. Dig that Sea Fury out of the bin and save it. It may come in handy for a crash scene diorama later in your modeling journey.

again I don't compare my work with anyone and never will. it's not my mindset.
Patience yes, perhaps I don't have enough I wonder if I can buy some from amazon. haha

well said hawkerhunter (steve) as im havin trouble on my big tomcat an felt like raisein the white flag but i like a challenge an my stubbon streak takes over so my tomcat will get built an then be proud of it afterwards as has been said nearly every build has some probs on an its just up to you to raise to the challenge but do as your missus says an build a tank an if thats not enjoable then what do you enjoy JUST ASK YOURSELF an do it
ATB IN WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO
chrisb

indeed.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input. After much thought overnight I don't regret binning the Sea Fury but I think it's set in concrete that I simply don't enjoy aircraft so will stick to ground vehicles for the foreseeable future! also I think passion and motivation is important for me, if I'm working on a kit that I don't care about or aren't excited about then I just want it to be done with. So from now on I'm going to stick with kits that I find exciting and that I really want to make.

[Si Benson]

My initial attempts at model making where not good and i ruined plenty of kits but I think that’s all part of it.
I enjoyed myself and kept at it. I still make plenty of mistakes after 15yrs and the odd kits gets binned still.

[Airborne01]

If it will invigorate your mojo Steve I'll assemble and photograph the 'Shelf Queens', partially completed and 'I can't be bothered to complete this...' models in my cave -you're not alone mate, we all go though lows and highs! Try something else for a while - even Plasticine modelling! Once modelling gets under your skin it'll stay there forever!
Steve

[Dave Ward]

That's what a stash is for! When the interest dies in a certain subject, then you have a fallback!
As to selling them? You might feel differently by the end of the year, so hang on to them. I have lost count of the models I've abandoned - either due to a fall off of interest, poor fit, or personal kack handedness - some are 'resting' in their boxes, waiting for the day my interest is rekindled - others are landfill !
If you're not enjoying a model - then stop! It's a hobby for your pleasure, and unless you're a masochist you don't have to go on and finish something that you have no enthusiasm for
Dave

[scottie3158]

You aren't the first and you won't be the last to bin a model. We all have the T shirt. If you prefer doing the vehicles then stick with them. As to selling them as the others have said wait a while. Or start a plane and if your not happy put it to one side and start a vehicle and revisit the plane as an when. Failing that trying selling them on here. Stick with it though and enjoy the hobby.

[Guest]

Thanks guys, great comments as usual. I'll hold onto them and see how I feel later down the line.