discussion I think I've become a collector

[Miko]

Hey guys, I know we lose our modelling mojo from time to time when real life gets in the way of our hobby, projects get stalled for various reasons like we need a part or paint or further research.
For me right now it's not that, I'm super keen on getting my brand new modelling space up to speed, I have everything I need in supplies, paints adhesives fillers and all the other little pots and jars of stuff needed to complete a model, I have all the tools I need, nippers and blades, tweezers pincers and clamps, lots of various paint brushes a few airbrushes and two compressors, files sanders and abrasives, and a drawer full of useful gadgets. A perfect environment to build kits with all mod cons and a stash enough to open a small model shop! I have lots of time and no real commitments preventing me for getting on, while I'm at work or away from home I imagine plans for builds I'm super keen to start when I get home, but, when I am home and sit in my perfect 'modelling studio' I could call it, the urge to actually do anything just isn't there?

But what is still there is the urge to buy more stuff, earlier I was looking at a super pricey camera just to take pics of my progress in model building, I have a corner with natural daylight lamp and a little turntable thingy to stand my work upon and record it's progress throughout it's 30 second rotation through 360deg, I'm at the point I running out of stuff to acquire! Did I mention I have a library of literally hundreds of books and publications related to research for modelling projects!

I enjoy reading research and journals related to 'clinical psychology', I'm no expert and I shouldn't self diagnose but I believe I'm experiencing 'oniomania' or compulsive buying disorder, it's a nuanced disorder with many possible driving factors but the dopamine hit from clicking the 'buy it now' button is very real, it can and does become an addictive behavior! However, I'm happy, it doesn't feel like a problem 'as such', I have a decent disposable income and a few decades of life left to enjoy my hobby, I'm hoping that will be building as well as buying!

So, do you guys suffer with 'retail therapy' too?

My latest acquisitions

Dspiae sanding sticks



Tamiya stuff, always good



A tiny panel lining tool



A tool I found on a Japanese anime figure painting YouTube channel

The little foam pointy tips are pressed on the little purple handle holder stick thingy and dipped in appropriate thinner and used as a delicate fine line paint eraser



Fine liner brushes with bristle lengths from 5 to 25mm, also used in figure painting, these are designed for 'nail art'



Miko (also my Girls und Panzer thing is becoming a retail therapy problem too, missus Miko says it's becoming and obsession!! Eeeeek! )

 

[Steven000]

I definitely know what you're talking about Miko. I have very limited actual hobby time and so I'm always thinking of projects on the train, at work etc... Frustrated by my lack of time I then buy more hobby stuff to cheer me up, which increases the lack of time frustration... It's an endless spiral. The sollution is to start/finish something - "just do it". I'm currently trying to finish some of my old shelf queens before buying a new kit I want and it got me back at the bench with a lot of mojo. Cheers

 

[PaulTRose]

I can definatly relate to all that

 

[Bugatti Fan]

We all lose our Mojo from time to time.
Maybe. Just maybe Miko if you just open a kit and actually make a start instead of thinking about it too much ?
Who knows?

 

[pjgtech]

As long as you can afford it, its not taking up too much space and you are not hurting anyone, then I don't see it as a problem?

NB: talking as a serial collector of many things, eg: tools, old gaming consoles, comics, computers, lego, meccano, knives, airguns, motorcycle gear, fishing gear, car gear, etc, etc...and now scale models.....and scale modelling gear.....

 

[PaulTRose]

I find when my mojo goes i dont try and force myself back into it...... I take a break (im still buying, planning, hanging out onhere, etc) then i pick a really simple kit but one i know will go together with no drama and make a start on it...... Cos i know theres not going to be any problems im notgoing to get frustrated or disheartened, and when its finished ok it gives the confidence a boost

 

[yak face]

Weve all been there miko ( both the modelling slump and the giddy high of buying something !) as mentioned if its not causing a problem then whats the harm . As for the mojo thing , i’m with paul , get a kit thats going to be an easy quick build and just rattle it off , a perfect example for me was the Tamiya 1/72 bf 109 e - a lovely little kit that goes together beautifully and looks great , gives the mojo a proper boost .

 

[boatman]

HI Guys well my mojo comes an goes now an makes me wonder how i spent 7 yrs building my big USS NIMITZ as I WORKED on that every day when home from work but yesterday i had a lazy day an dint want to do anything but today my mojo is back an im goin to force myself up to my modeling room to get that p/e railings painted an fitted if poss but must admit i was very tired yesterday but today its gonna be UP AN ATEM lol but i think im suffering this SAD thing due to how dark an gloomy the wheather is so bang goes the mojo but today its goin to be different
chrisb

 

[Miko]

I definitely know what you're talking about Miko. I have very limited actual hobby time and so I'm always thinking of projects on the train, at work etc... Frustrated by my lack of time I then buy more hobby stuff to cheer me up, which increases the lack of time frustration... It's an endless spiral. The sollution is to start/finish something - "just do it". I'm currently trying to finish some of my old shelf queens before buying a new kit I want and it got me back at the bench with a lot of mojo. Cheers

Yep, exactly that! The shelf queens are part of the problem, they are pricking my conscience to complete them, your 'just do it' philosophy is where I need to be for sure

We all lose our Mojo from time to time.
Maybe. Just maybe Miko if you just open a kit and actually make a start instead of thinking about it too much ?
Who knows?

Yep, this has been my thinking, in the shelf queens I have, the Sword Lightning in 'raspberry ripple' was about to enter a tricky painting stage, other minor details meant it was a stalled build, so, as a quick modelling fix to get me through, a simple quick build with nothing too complicated was in order, this is the ancient Hasegawa Lightning, normally I'd complete this in a day or two but a decalling issue meant I needed to order a newer more modern set, so while waiting for those to arrive I got the proto Harrier from Airfix classics range, that even more ancient kit needs 'a lot' of work to get that one right! So now I'm considering starting 'another' kit! This massively violates my don't start a new project before starting another philosophy!

As long as you can afford it, its not taking up too much space and you are not hurting anyone, then I don't see it as a problem?

NB: talking as a serial collector of many things, eg: tools, old gaming consoles, comics, computers, lego, meccano, knives, airguns, motorcycle gear, fishing gear, car gear, etc, etc...and now scale models.....and scale modelling gear.....

Yep, I can afford it, missus Miko is happy because my hobby keeps me quiet and occupied so no issues there, looks like your collector habit has entered a terminal phase, no way back for you my friend! Ha! but like you say, if it keeps you happy and can afford it, why not!

I find when my mojo goes i dont try and force myself back into it...... I take a break (im still buying, planning, hanging out onhere, etc) then i pick a really simple kit but one i know will go together with no drama and make a start on it...... Cos i know theres not going to be any problems im notgoing to get frustrated or disheartened, and when its finished ok it gives the confidence a boost

Makes perfect sense, I'm pretty much the same. I've been to peruse the stash for a simple no drama kit

Weve all been there miko ( both the modelling slump and the giddy high of buying something !) as mentioned if its not causing a problem then whats the harm . As for the mojo thing , i’m with paul , get a kit thats going to be an easy quick build and just rattle it off , a perfect example for me was the Tamiya 1/72 bf 109 e - a lovely little kit that goes together beautifully and looks great , gives the mojo a proper boost .

Yep, I've got the very thing out of the stash, I'm going to sit and stare at it for a while and see what happens!

HI Guys well my mojo comes an goes now an makes me wonder how i spent 7 yrs building my big USS NIMITZ as I WORKED on that every day when home from work but yesterday i had a lazy day an dint want to do anything but today my mojo is back an im goin to force myself up to my modeling room to get that p/e railings painted an fitted if poss but must admit i was very tired yesterday but today its gonna be UP AN ATEM lol but i think im suffering this SAD thing due to how dark an gloomy the wheather is so bang goes the mojo but today its goin to be different
chrisb

UP AN ATEM is sound advice for sure, and I also feel the effects of SAD on grey rainy days, for me, even if it's freezing cold, blue skies and sunshine is a real tonic for my mood

I pulled this from the stash, intended as a JASDF 'what if'



I'm going to study the instructions, watch some Typhoon stuff on YouTube then go sit and stare at this for a while at the work bench with sprue nippers in hand!

Hopefully I'll have something to show later

Miko

 

[boatman]

HI Miko well im sure you did a trainer vershion in 1/72 of the rasbery ripple lightnig but would love to see you redo it in the fighter vershion as the rasbery ripple vershion holds a special place for me as my dad was heavy duty crane driver up at RAF COLTISALL an he lifted the plane by name up on to a gate gaurd there but i think jermey clarson bought it to put at his place but not sure of this
chrisb

 

[Tim Marlow]

Part of it is having too much time……at least, in my case. When I worked, I always did some, every day. It was part of my evening routine. Now I’ve retired (actually six years ago now) I find procrastination rules, rather than getting things done. I’ve always worked better to deadlines, and now I don’t have any, I don’t get half as much done as I did when I had far less time….

 

[PaulTRose]

I pulled this from the stash, intended as a JASDF 'what if'

View attachment 1276379

Lol..... You think like me....... Ive been toying with a Tiffie or a Rafale in jasdf clothing

 

[Ian M]

Jep. I might not have built to much for to long but I have also been snagging a few along the way in my 'down time'. The Airfix Gannet being a good example.
I sit and look at the stash once in a while and pick one out. open the box and have a look. put the lid on and this goes on for a while and then I either just give up or grab one and have at it. Sometimes simple isn't easy though.
My current GB build of a van; less than 50 parts, real easy build. But being budgerigared by the paint. My spray booth has turned into a dust magnet. (On the third attempt now).

 

[Miko]

Lol..... You think like me....... Ive been toying with a Tiffie or a Rafale in jasdf clothing

Do it! make it a mini group build, it'll be a further incentive too!

Mine is on the premise of furthering the knowledge for our far east partners in the GCAP 'Tempest' project, a surplus Typhoon will act a station hack at Gifu airbase to discover how Europeans collaborate and put together modern military jets, Japan having only US influence since the end of WWII

I do have a 2x seater Rafale in the stash destined to be something out of Boscombe Down, ETPS maybe??

 

[Miko]

HI Miko well im sure you did a trainer vershion in 1/72 of the rasbery ripple lightnig but would love to see you redo it in the fighter vershion as the rasbery ripple vershion holds a special place for me as my dad was heavy duty crane driver up at RAF COLTISALL an he lifted the plane by name up on to a gate gaurd there but i think jermey clarson bought it to put at his place but not sure of this
chrisb

Hey Chris, as a 'what if' builder there generally needs a credible back story as a basis for any build, and a raspberry ripple single seater Lightning is a challenge to come up with something realistically probable?

As for myself building a raspberry ripple Lightning, I have a Sword 1/72 Lightning T4/5 ongoing at the moment, as for the one you've seen previously, this is more than likely this build from a over 15 years ago, it's a Matchbox T55 with an Airfix F1a ventral fuel tank in the colours of 145 sqn. Then based at RAF Middleton St George (now Sunderland Airport)
Strictly speaking it isn't 'raspberry ripple' officially know as MOD (PE) High Conspicuity Paint Scheme, this was introduced at RAE Farnborough after mid air collisions then needing low level aircraft to be more highly visible



However, speaking of Lightning F1a in 145sqn colours, this was indeed the gate guard at RAF Coltishall and the aircraft bought by Jeremey Clarkson who he tried to convince his local council it was to be used as a 'leaf blower!



Quite a claim to fame for your dad to have mounted this iconic jet as a gate guard at the first home of an operational Lightning sqn (74 (Tiger) Squadron) in 1960 [I think?]

Miko

 

[Miko]

Part of it is having too much time……at least, in my case. When I worked, I always did some, every day. It was part of my evening routine. Now I’ve retired (actually six years ago now) I find procrastination rules, rather than getting things done. I’ve always worked better to deadlines, and now I don’t have any, I don’t get half as much done as I did when I had far less time….

Procrastination is a problem I have too, but gotta have a reason to get up in the morning after retirement

 

[Miko]

Jep. I might not have built to much for to long but I have also been snagging a few along the way in my 'down time'. The Airfix Gannet being a good example.
I sit and look at the stash once in a while and pick one out. open the box and have a look. put the lid on and this goes on for a while and then I either just give up or grab one and have at it. Sometimes simple isn't easy though.
My current GB build of a van; less than 50 parts, real easy build. But being budgerigared by the paint. My spray booth has turned into a dust magnet. (On the third attempt now).

Sure seems to be a curse of the modern scale modeller!??!

 

[pjgtech]

I scaled down my collections when we moved as part of the decluttering process.
So got rid of my comics, gaming consoles, lots of IT related stuff, some fishing gear, lots of books and magazines (mostly hobby related), so my collections are much less now TBH, its mainly tools, models and airguns.

 

[boatman]

HI MIKO yes thats the one lovely model of a rasberry ripple lightning an as you say it is a trainer vershion as TBHO i liked the trainer vershion better than the fighter single seat vershion an yes thats the real lightnig my dad lifed up on to its stand with his jones crane as i was at the back with all the airman an cives whatchin as i wanted to be in the crane with my dad but he told me i could not as too many raf offices about for the photo shot an he also mounted the real spitfire on it stand on the round about near sepreme head qaurter an may i down load your pic of the real lightning ?
chrisb

 

[Miko]

I scaled down my collections when we moved as part of the decluttering process.
So got rid of my comics, gaming consoles, lots of IT related stuff, some fishing gear, lots of books and magazines (mostly hobby related), so my collections are much less now TBH, its mainly tools, models and airguns.

As with many of us, this reads very much like a child of the 60's and 70's! Halcyon days indeed!