What kick-started your return?

[Guest]

Most of us it seems, returned to the hobby after many years, having last made models as a boy (or girl). Just curious as to what prompted others to return.

For me, it was 3 years ago. The weather was as it is now, snow and ice, and being a keen golfer, I was getting a bit 'stir crazy' at not being able to get out on to the fairways. Then, like a light coming on, I suddenly thought, "I know, I'll make a model".

I was suddenly all motivated and like a boy again, and went straight onto the 'net looking for a kit. I only considered the one kit, it was going to have to be a WWII fighter. Little did I know then, just how much I was going to get obsessed :-)

[Guest]

I have had that many kick starts my bum is beginning to hurt!!!!!! Good question though.

My main reason for getting back to kit building was simple. My main hobby was photography, something I still love with a passion, and since moving to Peterborough on the edge of the flat fens, cycling. Both these combined in that I could go out on my bike and take pictures.

However, domestic circumstances started to restrict free time to go out and I soon reached the stage where I was unable to get out and about on my own for more than a hour or so per week. This made both my main hobbies untenable so I looked for something I could not only do at home but in the home. Even working out in the shed is limited which put paid to a foray into making dolls house furniture, so modelling, or at least kit building, was the obvious solution and here I am.

Circumstances still get in the way, I have to say that 2012 has been the worst year for me doing anything but after a bit of consolidation and re thinking, I hope that I will do a lot more in 2013.

[stona]

I started again longer ago,and probably younger (at the time!) than most.

It was the nature of my work which means that after being away,busy and with no chance to do anything for myself I would find I had periods in which I could please myself (we call it "resting").

With a young family etc I obviously couldn't afford to indulge myself in some of the more expensive pastimes I had been doing. Like you I was finding myself going a little stir crazy and came to exactly the same conclusion.

Modelling is a relatively inexpensive hobby. There are some major outlays like an airbrush,compressor etc but these tend to be one off. I've accrued tools and "stuff" over the years at a modest price. The biggest investments now are in kits but I don't have a large stash and very much buy to build.

I have spent more on books than modelling,though the two are linked.

It's fun. Anyone who denies strafing their workbench with a Spitfire is either sad or fibbing

Cheers

Steve

[spanner570]

I know exactly when I returned to this hobby....May 2009....my joining date here!

I hadn't touched a model kit since the mid 70's and never constructed a diorama. For some unknown reason, I was trolling the net for nowt in particular when I stumbled across this Forum, had a read and thought..."I think I'll have a bash at this modelling lark once again."

So there it is, and I'm so glad I did return too because I've met and 'tinternetted', some great people here on S/M.

Cheers,

Ron

[Guest]

For me it was after picking up the Airfix Battle of Britain 1/72 boxed set for my Son, I spent all my time modelling as a kid and naturally thought he would too....he gave one a go but then rapidly got bored and gave it me back and went back to his xbox.

I decided to build the rest rather than just bin it and the rest is history....Although I have to say that the quality & fit of half of the planes in the kit were so awful it nearly put me off again.

Funny thing is my Son now spends a lot of time building and painting models....He virtually lives in Games Workshop, I guess I was just trying the wrong subject matter and times move on...i'm now fed up of him nicking my brushes!

[Ian M]

Well its like this. I have a mate that had a bait boat, that he used while carp fishing, My other hobby too, we this boat needed fixing and having done that kind of thing as a lad, I got the job. In the hunt for the bits I needed I ended up in a model shop. This resulted in me buying a 1/72 scale Corvette HMS Snowberry. The rest is History.

Ian M

[Guest]

Made models 20+ years ago, stopped because of family/working life reducing time available.

Relocated to Scotland after selling up businesses and taking a sort of early retirement. After several months settling in i found i had extra spare time (even after satisfying myself with my other hobbies)

I racked my brains as to what i could do... remembered modeling ..... looked at all the forums online to get an idea of what the members were like and this one seemed the lesser of all evils so i stalked the forum for a few months and after realising that the modeling world had taken a huge leap forward in tecnology and technique i decided to join up to reap the knowledge on here.

thats the story of my decline into insanity.

[geegad]

well i started for the first time about 6 years now never built a kit when i was younger....ive always been interested in wwII.and it was about the time we were looking at getting the house we in now so no more night in brum so thats were it started for me from stopping in ...swapping the night life for plastic life and now i enjoy both

[Guest]

I`m arthritic and playing rugby and badminton have the way of the dead,and drawing although i`m okay at it,still not really my thing,and playing the guitar is now out the question,i remembered as a 12yr old i built a plane from airfix,and thought maybe i`ll give it a go,so here i am the of dropsy and messy work space,building stuff,and more thnx to the guys on this forum,the help and knowledge,plus the fact they are sort of friendly lol,i`m still building :respect4:

mobear

[Guest]

Your replies make for interesting reading, thanks guys. As has been mentioned, this forum, plus internet resources are an important factor in the enjoyment of the hobby. Forums generally are useful, but this one does seem to present a more friendly atmosphere than a lot of 'em. I really ought to try and involve myself more in the forum with builds etc, it's just that the fussing around with camera-lights-action etc has put me off a bit Maybe I'm lazy, or shy.

[Guest]

i was sitting in work one miserable saturday morning while the boss was holiday, and one of the other guys got his collection of warhammer stuff out of his car and started painting them, i sat there watching and thinking how sad he was for playing with toys....then i started to notice how much detail he was painting into these things and was amazed. he then gave me one that had not been started and said i could paint it for him as i was bored. day after i went into the local model shop and the rest is history

[stona]

Lights,camera,action ?

I take snapshots with an old Canon Ixus 40,admitedly a decent small camera in its day,but nothing fancy. I'm lucky that my workspace is effectively a conservatory which means decent natural light,even on a day like today.

I crop the photos (I usually have something in them that shouldn't be there!) and resize them for uploading and posting on the forum using the basic software which comes in Microsoft Office.

If I can do it then anyone can. There are some very capable photographers here but I am definitely not one of them.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

For me, returning to the hobby all started back in July 2011. I had broken my foot a few months previous in April and in June I suffered a Pulmonary Embolism due to my leg being in plaster and immobile! This really set me back for a good few months and all in all I had to have about 5 months off work until I was well enough to return part time.

As you can imagine there is only so much Jeremy Kyle and Cash in the Attic one person can take, so I asked my missus if she could buy me a starter kit model on her next shopping trip. A few days later my first kit for many years was built, a 1/72 Airfix Red Arrow, and I was hooked again. Without being too dramatic it really took my mind off things at the time and passed the days away with ease.

[Vaughan]

I can remember the exact date it was Fathers day 2011 my youngest daughter(21) bought me an Airfix Hawker Hurricane in 24th. The rest is history!

[colin m]

This thread makes great reading.

So my own story is, used to build as a lad, typical sort of thing, buy the model Saturday morning, finished by Sunday evening. Bedroom ceiling was full of my own airforce. Anyway, grew up got married kids / house / cars etc.

Then fast forward to December 2008, the wife asked what should the kids get me for Christmas - I had no idea, except there right in front of me (we were shopping at the time) was the Airfix Battle of Britain memorial set. " I'll have that thanks" And that was the start of a slippy slope back into models.