Scale Model Shop

**Guest** · 05 July 2010, 22:21

Interesting questionMartin. My main reason for getting back into it after many, many years was that I needed a hobby that I could actually do. Due to our circumstances in having a disabled daughter who is 17 but is really anywhere between 4 and 40 and has temper tantrums all the time, we don't always get out and about as much as we would like. My main hobby has been photography for many years on and off and I really love doing landscape work but as it often takes both of us, myself and my partner to be with Sophie in case she becomes too much of a handful, I could not just go out for the day taking pictures. Even when we do go out, one eye has to be on her all the time so concentrating on taking pictures is out of the question.

Last september, I finally had to face up to the fact that I could not have photography, or any other hobby that I could not do at home in the evenings etc. After spending a month trying to work out what I could do, I decided that the only logical hobby was modelling. I have to do something, for different reasons to you Martin but similar, I have to have something that takes my mind off the many issues that surround our lives and this hobby fits the bill perfectly.

Add to this the fact I found this amazing forum, it also took on a 'virtual' social aspect as well. Although we have a great modelling club in Peterborough, for the same reasons as above, I would not join it.

**Guest** · 05 July 2010, 22:31

Hi Martin good post, I used to make the usual Airfix/Matchbox back on the late 70's early 80's then progressed to Tamiya 1/35 scale tanks up to about 1990. Then after getting married working all over the country and then setting up my business I hadn't done another model. This was till seeing an advert on TV for a diecast tank collection which I decided to start collecting, the deal was that I cut down from 12 pints of beer a week to eight by the wife. Well I joined the forum which was linked to the tanks and I was amazed at the standard of models which certain members were doing. So after a little pushing from two guys in particular, I bought a Cheiftan Mrk5 and painted it in Berlin Brigade Urban camo. This was last year and now I've done quite a bit more, though learnt more from like minded people.

Then I was told about this forum and have really enjoyed reading and looking at what others have done, since I joined.

So thanks to Tiger from another site and 'Chuck Norris' aka Centurion for getting me back into models.

Cheers

Ade

**Guest** · 05 July 2010, 22:44

The reason I have come back to modelling is that it helps me relax and unwind in the evenings,plus it gets me away from the PC and the net. Being a full time carer to my wife,I needed someting that I could do and doesnt cost the earth to do. I belonged to a few other forums (not modelling) and I found that there was too much internal politics going on that I resigned from all of them. I am so glad that I have found this forum because we can have a laugh,not being serious,helpful and the members are brilliant.

Cheers Tony.

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 05:28

After loosing my father I needed something to take my mind off it so to speak. Now I find it a great way to relax after work a glass of beer tv on in the background and make a slow bit of progress!! in my case very slow!! I'm not sure why but I find the painting with a brush to be very relaxing. Also I enjoy photography so combining the two is great fun and at least these models don't whinge or complain about the amount of time it takes to setup one shot!!!

**stona** · 06 July 2010, 08:34

My dad managed to blow up the transformer for our scalextrix when I was about 10 years old. To appease my brother and I he bought us a couple of 1/72 Airfix kits,a Spitfire and a Hurricane. After a brief scuffle I got the Spitfire! Dad had made models so, with a little help, my brother and I assembled them. We soon had a reenactment of the BOB (featuring a few anachronistic jets and a Bismark) hanging from the ceiling. Like most of us I had a break due to "Life" and restarted again about fifteen years ago. My modelling has always been informed by my interest in history although (unlike history) I limit myself to WW2 aircraft. They are/were fantastic machines, come on,who hasn't flown a Spitfire around the kitchen,strafing the sugar bowl and skimming over the microwave? Last time I did it I got an incredulous (you're 52 years old for heaven's sake) look from SWMBO....who cares.

The biggest single development in the hobby has been the internet,doing what it does best,making information available. This forum is a good example of the best of that,a nice friendly place where everyone can share there projects and information and get the help and encouragement we all need.

I work away for weeks at a time and really miss my bench. My desert diorama is definitely calling me,then there's the Tamiya Spitfire, the Lancaster, and........etc. It is a great relaxation and as someone else has pointed out, really quite an economical hobby. I have a friend who used to race hydroplanes,now that's expensive.

Cheers

Steve

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 08:41

Thanks so much for sharing your reasons guys. It really does show what an amazing place this forum is. Just like Tony (msm2) i too had tried various other forums (non model making) and they were a nightmare with internal polotics, slanging matches and all the other rubbish you join a forum to get away from!!!! Thankfully have left all of them and now enjoy the fine company this place provides.

Graham, its strange how circumstances bring us somewhere, clearly you and your partner have your hands full with Sophie and its a real shame you have had to shelve your love of photography as a result, that said we would probably not have you on here as a Mod if it were not for Sophie so we have her to thank for your great input and participation to our fab hobby. The point you make about the "virtual social" aspect is a very good one, im sure there are many people who find it difficult to get out and socialise for one reason or another so a place such as this is invaluable. I know you would not want any praise for what you do to care for Sophie mate, but hats off to ya, people like myself are very dependent on the care and love we recieve from family and friends and often that intensive care goes un-noticed, so well done you for the care you provide.

Ade...i remember those ads for the diecast tanks...did you get em all? Well done to "Chuck" for bringing you here as well. There is certainly loads of inspiration to be found on here, hope the business is going well mate, never easy being self employed and running ya own business, people often think its a brezze, but i know from expierience its harder than being employed. Keep up the great work bud.

Tony, certainly is a great way to relax and unwind mate, i could not agree more. Being a full time carer is just about the hardest job there is, no matter if it is a wife, husband, or child the person care's for. Again, just like Graham i know you would not be looking for praise for what you do mate, but without people such as ya self people like me would have nothing so hats off to you bud for all you do.

Spot on with ya other comments for this place being somewhere we can ave a laugh, not be serious and the members are brill...well said mate.

Plastic Basher...sorry to hear about your Dad mate, just glad this great hobby helps you get through it all by relaxing and taking your mind of it. Your so right, the photography and the making of the models do compliment each other very well. I just have a point and click thingy, the rest is far to complicated for me lol. Love the bit about these models not whinging and complaining...keep up the great work mate.

Regards to all, Martin :-)

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 08:54

:cool2:Hi Steve, brilliant post, i still ave tears in my eyes laughing so much at being "caught" strafing the sugar bowl and skimming the micro:cool2: Your right mate we ave all done it and still do lol. Cant believe ya Dad burnt out the scalextrix, Dads dont do that do they :busted_red:, think i may have been there...whoooops. I think the Bismark would have looked great in the battle of britain lol. Good point on the internet being the biggest development in the hobby though, it realy has been invalueable in helping me develop my skills. Hope you get back to the bench soon mate...and thanks for a superb post, all the best Martin :-)

**Gern** · 06 July 2010, 09:50

I used to make models as a kid. They were never any good 'cos I didn't have the patience to build 'em properly. I just slapped 'em together as fast as possible so I could get to play with 'em! I'm not saying we were particularly poor, but for most of the stuff I wanted to play with, the ready made toys were far too expensive, so kits were the only option for me.

Today? Today I'd like to say it's the pleasure of creation (even in a very limited way), the relaxation of being able to forget everything else that's happening, some historical and technical interest - and all the other reasons you guys have already mentioned.

I'd like to say all that, but they're not the real reasons!

The REAL reason I do my modelling is 'cos I want to be 10 years old again and spend my life playing with toys! That sugar bowl's gonna be in serious trouble when I've finished my Mig 29 - and it'll have NO chance when my A-10 is done!

Gern

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 12:25

I have to say I think I am the later I just wana be 10 again with what I know now. I was lucky my mum and dad bought me a coulour portable TV and I sat on the end of my bed with the bottom draw from my chesterdrews (spelling still age10) sat next to me on the bed and a board on a chaire infront of me and many a night was spent watching tv and modeling.

Oh the good old days what memories. Now I am getting back to it but since the flooding in the UK in 2007 things have been hard there was a lad that died in a drain in Hessle nr Hull that drain is in our street and I was in the water with him. So the modeling is I think similar to me to take my mind off things but life still gets in the way most of the time but when I do get a chance to get a few hours in its great. You (or I ) see what I want as a finished model and all the way through the build it starts to take shape wounderfull feeling that is.

I dont have any children but a friend of ours has a 14 year old son and they dont do models so I am getting to help him learn how to build rather than kit bash and its a great thing to pass it on even though he is not my son it's still being passed on to another generation.

I will also add this is a fantastic forum full of nice helpfull people without all the crap of some other forums.

Thank you all

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 18:54

Hi Martin, I wanna tell you a story. Once upon a time when oh sod it! My late father introduced me to kit making when I was knee high to a table leg? it was the Airfix Cutty Sark, about 3 inches long on a plastic simulated sea for a base. He showed me how not to stick the parts to the table, floor, clothes and of course Me! The bug bit, when I recovered I took up buying Airfix planes, a whole 1shilling and 6 pence each about seven new pence whatever that means. I continued buying and sticking things together, then I stuck the models together progressing to joining the school model club, I left when they said I had to take my clothes off? but I found other like minded souls at school and began a new chapter where the scheme was to build WW2 planes and tanks etc, then one day someone suggested a real life burning crash of a me/bf 109, so the plane was duly plastered in lighter fluid set on fire and dropped from a great height, we were never caught but it was quite lifelike, the pilot did not bale out though! In my mid to late teens I moved onto USA produced car kits, work and the opposite sex, WHY? models are so much cheaper and occaisonally more fun. Where did I go wrong? Well marriage and children plus responsibility came along and my modelling took a back seat. As soon as the rugrats were out of the chew all in site stage I began the occaisional kit, still mainly cars and bikes. Then one day I received a tank and armoured half track for my birthday, oh wow no more shiny bodywork, so I entered the world of military modelling. I still built the solitary car but I had moved on. Due to personal problems ( which I shall not mention ) and redundancy, seperation, I entered a state of depression and anxiety, or thats what the doc said, I still reckon its swine flu! I have returned wholeheartedly to making models, as it is good therapy as others can testify to. And having discovered super glue, Yeh I can stick anything to anything else or anybody, mainly ME? But Even swearing when a part does a good impression of a leming and dissapears into the carpet, I love this hobby of ours, I buy kits because a) I want a replica of the real thing, b) a mag says it is a good kit? love to prove them wrong, he he and c) I love a challenge or I am mad, you chose.

I just want to thank all I have chatted to as this forum is really good, nice to see no elitests, no politics, and everyone is so helpful and friendly, once again thanks to all, and lets keep it that way.

All references to Mr L Tolstoy, sorry if it is too long, regard and sleep well Gareth.

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 19:03

As with most of us - made models as a young lad , found other interests as I got older ie - girls beer and football all ways been into motorsport because my Dad used to race cars from the early 60`s to the late 80`s , having followed Chelsea FC all over the UK and Europe and had a great time with my mates for 15-20 years decided it was time to settle down , got bored so started racing karts senior rotax max at MSA level for quite a few years even though I was self-employed and earning good money it was hard financially to keep up with the quick boys , retired from racing having lived a dream , I`ve now come round in a circle and back to modelling I am happily married with two little boys and have a great hobby again , never been happier but I still do beer LOL

Bottom line is - we all go round in a circle and end up modelling again , happy days.

Richy

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 19:50

Hi Martin, yes the collection is still going strong, so far received 40 models and just another 80 or so to go!!!!! I need more room.

Having a business was the best thing to do for my family and myself. Being an electrician I was sent all over the country and missed the 5 years of daughter growing up. So I set up with a few guys and now have others doing the running.

Anyways back to models, they certainly help me de-stress and now get to meet some very nice people.

So once a modeller always a modeller!

Cheers

Ade

**Guest** · 06 July 2010, 20:34

Some real inspirational posts guys, thanks for sharing, ive read some amazing stuff through this. However or whatever brought us all to this great hobby its a bonus that we all love it so much and have fun at the same time...keep up all the great modelling and thanks to all that have shared their stories, all the best and regards Martin :-)

**Guest** · 09 July 2010, 07:34

Wow that was a great read. Bakerbart said it right "Inspirational".

Looks like we all started as kids and took a break after finding women and beer.

A couple of months ago I broke my collar bone when I crashed my bike in a triathlon lol. Sitting at home with lot's of time on my hands, reading WW2 history I started to remember the days of my model kits.

I found a hobby shop and the moment I walked in all the memory's came flooding back. Didn't help that the old guy running the shop was super nice and helped me move boxes 'cos I had one arm in a sling. Not unlike this forum

I brought my 5 year old son in the next day and his eye's lit up just like mine did when I was a kid. The smile on his face was priceless. Model kits is all he's been able to talk about since. My 9 year old daughter wasn't so keen but turn's out she's a lot better than I am a kit building. She's built a spitfire and a FW190 1/72scale since and is now hooked.

My wife's been very supportive 'cos if I'm sitting at home building kits with the kids she knows I'm not trying to kill myself on the bicycle or doing an open water swim lol. I will start riding again but a little slower this time.

It's a great hobby and one that I'm happy to share with my kids. Every dark cloud has a sliver lining.

Cheers

Gavin

Scale Model Shop

So what brought you into this hobby?

So what brought you into this hobby?

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