Why do you build models?

[Oldmopars]

This may be a strange question, but as I look at my models and why I build them I wondered why other build.

What I see is a range of builders, it seems that some people build just to build. To have fun building. Other seem to build to display the models and have other see them, be judged at show. Recognition. Do you build just to keep your hands or you mind busy? Do you build to show off your skills to others? Do you care if anyone ever sees your finished project? Do you proudly display your stuff, or put it in a box to never be seen again? Do you build and sell to others to enjoy?

Is it something you do because it is an obsession, or a passing interest? Are you always doing it or do you get into it for a while and then take a break for a while. Is this your primary hobby, or do you have others. 

For me it is something I do while I work from home. Without going into a long explanation of my job, I have time where I am not actively engaged doing something with my hands. I spend a lot of time on the phone, and a lot of time waiting. So this fills the gaps. I can be on the phone with someone and be sanding a part, or gluing parts together. It keeps my hands busy. It also keeps my mind working. 

Most of what I build will never be seen anywhere other than here. I will put it on the shelf for a little while, then put it in a box to never be seen again. My family is not overly interested in them and I don't have any friends that care about the either. 

So, my budget for them is rather low and I may take a year to finish one, or 2 weeks. 

My other hobbies keep me busy. Motorcycles, Overlanding and Camping. I prefer the out doors, but when I am forced to stay inside, I build models. So, I get more done in the winter than the summer. 

 

What about you? Why do you build?

[Jon Haigwood]

First of all I don't build for contests, I build for myself. I enjoy doing the work and the challenge of trying to improve on and improve my skills and the "next" build. I try and get each one perfect but there is always something that didn't go well. If I tried to get each one perfect they would never get finished. .  

[Shelby 427 1965]

I've had lots of reasons to build models over the years. A big one was the "I'll never afford the real one, so I may as well have a model one".

Another thing is that I'm picky about cars - I like them to be a certain style or colour - and to have a model of one exactly how I'd have one if it were real is amazing to me.

Along with that, it's pushing myself - trying to be as good as I possibly can - and the fact that I've learned so many new skills from model making that have been of great use when doing my real cars, for example. 

They also keep my mind occupied - at times when I'm feeling low and dire, it's nice to have something productive to do to keep my brain from overthinking itself to death. 

I find it useful too for trying out new music or TV shows - I'll stick them on when working on stuff, to give me something to do while parts dry.

Lastly, for me anyway, it's tradition. My Dad was hugely into models all his life, and none of my brothers kept the hobby after the early years of childhood - I like to think a part of my dad will always live on after he passes through my love of the hobby he loved.

 

Thats just my views anyway.

[Shambles]

Interesting topic. My late, younger brother and I got into building models in the late 50s/early 60s. Something to do on those hot summer weekend afternoons in the south. We both were fascinated with the real car styling of that era, and through the 70s. We both continued building and collecting, on-and-off over the decades. We'd often compare our builds, but never got into shows or competition. I've gotten into and out of building over the years, depending on whether I had the time but I've always found it relaxing and challenging. I'll often have a ball game or race on tv while I'm building.

My brother and I did compete with each other in one area; building realistic-looking, wrecked model cars. It started early when our skills were developing. When one of us would screw up a build (glue on windshield, paint runs, etc.), we use a candle or bic lighter to heat the plastic and crash it into something. It's not easy to make plastic bend at sharp angles like sheet metal, or to make realistic-looking flat tires, but we got better. Although we both built hundreds of kits over the years, I only started photographing a few I had left or built recently. You can see a few on my website here: http://www.shamblesmodels.com/wrecked.html

My other hobbies have included playing drums with various bands, both on stage and in recording studios, 1:1 Corvettes, restoring cars, boats, and remodeling a few houses. I ain't getting any younger so my current hobbies are limited to modeling, watching good movies, and listening to the free, live music that goes on here 365 nights a year.

[Spruslayer]

I build to keep myself entertained.Being in my early 60s my mind still has ideas that my body cant back up.I still wanna climb that mountain,forge that river, play guitar in a smokie dive bar till the sun comes up but getting old has extinguished the gusto that requires.Plus the mental challenge of decoding some of the instructions,AMT???  will at least keep my mind from having the same meltdown as my body

 

[Oldmopars]

28 minutes ago, Shambles said:

Interesting topic. My late, younger brother and I got into building models in the late 50s/early 60s. Something to do on those hot summer weekend afternoons in the south. We both were fascinated with the real car styling of that era, and through the 70s. We both continued building and collecting, on-and-off over the decades. We'd often compare our builds, but never got into shows or competition. I've gotten into and out of building over the years, depending on whether I had the time but I've always found it relaxing and challenging. I'll often have a ball game or race on tv while I'm building.

My brother and I did compete with each other in one area; building realistic-looking, wrecked model cars. It started early when our skills were developing. When one of us would screw up a build (glue on windshield, paint runs, etc.), we use a candle or bic lighter to heat the plastic and crash it into something. It's not easy to make plastic bend at sharp angles like sheet metal, or to make realistic-looking flat tires, but we got better. Although we both built hundreds of kits over the years, I only started photographing a few I had left or built recently. You can see a few on my website here: http://www.shamblesmodels.com/wrecked.html

My other hobbies have included playing drums with various bands, both on stage and in recording studios, 1:1 Corvettes, restoring cars, boats, and remodeling a few houses. I ain't getting any younger so my current hobbies are limited to modeling, watching good movies, and listening to the free, live music that goes on here 365 nights a year.

I have thought about making wrecked models. Instead of melting the plastic, I am thinking of forming the fenders, hoods, doors etc out of thin aluminum like from dollar store roasting pans. I like the idea. Yours look really good. 

[stitchdup]

I think I might have had a couple of kits while I was a kid but i dont really count them as modelling such as I do now. The first time I got serious about building models was in my early 20s, as a sort of therapy to get away from real life (I was watching my dad die slowly from cancer) so it was escapism I guess. After he passed away I sorta forgot about models for about 15/20 years. Then about 7/8 years ago I found a revell escort rally car which remained unbuilt for a couple years before i even opened it. I finally opened the kit while needing something to take me away from real life again as I was caring for my grandmother who had dementia/alzheimers and passed away 2 years ago, however this time I had friends on the forums to keep me inspired, and I kept building but this time its no about escaping but actually having fun and creating something. So I guess you could say for me modelling was a selfish way of hiding that really became a passion.

[SCRWDRVR]

I started building as a kid I think most because of my interest in cars since that’s pretty much all I build. As I got older I built mostly what kind of cars I liked and when I got heavy into NASCAR all I built were cup cars, then the break, I didn’t build for about ten years where things in life just didn’t allow time. Now I’m back at it. I’ve always built for myself but I did enter one show when I was young, did ok but learned I needed to keep building for myself. I have my builds displayed in my model room but outside of that they are never seen except places like here with people I share the joy of the Hobby with.

[tbill]

I got back into it for something to do in the winter months , rather than couch potato in front of the tv. Found some local shows, entered stuff and won a few awards. I build for me, but if they look good to me, I’ll show them. As a result of this hobby, I’ve met some great people, found this forum, and have been to NNL east 4 times, none of which would’ve happened had I not decided to build again to pass time in the winter months.

[Tom Geiger]

I always say that I build to satisfy the creative voices in my head.  I love to see my ideas emerge in 3D in front of me on the work bench.  I try to build my subjects in a unique way, it's just my style, my art.   And I find it fulfilling!  

[GLMFAA1]

I've been building since I was a kid with two older brothers into models, Always interested in the challenge and enjoyed the challenges.

Years ago Chrysler auto workers had a slogan of "I buy what I build". I turned it around to "I build what I buy" just to upset the hoarders and speculators. I have always thought that the sculpture was worth more than the 5lb bag of clay.

greg

[wrenchr]

Great topic!!

Been building since I was a kid, my Dad was a big supporter of mine as a kid through my teenage years. He passed when I was 19. 42 now and building pretty regular now, through my 20's and 30's did not get much built...as others have said life got busy so hobby time was limited. What inspires me is my fascination of automobiles and modeling opens up all makes to me and as I get older I find it very relaxing as well.   

[Jantrix]

Modeling is both engineering and art. Which strokes both sides of my brain just right. 

[ewetwo]

I can't own the reals ones so these will do. LOL Less upkeep than the real ones also. Well except for my painting record. 

[THarrison351]

I never grew up. I'm still a 7 year old kid and I get excited and go vroom vroom vroom when I play with my cars! Just ask my wife!

Edited October 7, 2019 by THarrison351

[Shambles]

4 hours ago, Jantrix said:

Modeling is both engineering and art. Which strokes both sides of my brain just right. 

My thoughts exactly.

[Motor City]

I own more 1:1 cars than I can realistically drive on a regular basis, but the scale models are low maintenance (occasional dusting), and take up less room.  I would spend a lifetime trying to buy 1:1 versions in the right color combinations.  Also, I could never afford to buy and store all of the cars I'd like to own.  

[Russell C]

One reason I build is because I must be nuts. But the other two reasons are 1)  pursuing the ever-allusive goal of seeing if I can make something in scale (subcomponent or complete model) that might pass for being the real thing, or at least approaching that, if it was 24 / 25 times bigger.  2) I build unique things to mess with other modelers' minds. Usually always makes 'em laugh and/or smile at whatever offbeat thing I've created. I call that fun, makes it all worthwhile.

[martinfan5]

Because they won't build themselves ?

?

Edited October 8, 2019 by martinfan5

[peteski]

Because it is fun , and it keeps my otherwise idle hands occupied.

It all started when I was very young . . .

[Miatatom]

Started when I was a teen in the late 50s. Didn't pick it back up until I spotted a replica of the ship I served on in the US Navy. Still haven't finished it in 8 years. Being a retired amateur racer, I build mostly race cars, especially ones a significant historically. But I'm starting some custom stuff too. I don't even post pictures of many of the ones that I manage to finish. Usually too many mistakes in my opinion. So yeah, I build for myself. Can't get under a 1:1 any more so the bench is it, when I can stand that for a while. Bad bad back. Gotta keep something to do with my hands. Got that from my Dad.

[Bugatti Fan]

As a retired engineer, building model cars satisfies both my artistic leanings and my appreciation of the aesthetics of classic vehicles that I could not afford for real.

[Bucky]

Started when I was 8 years old. I had some toy plastic and rubber dime store cars, and my Aunt gave me my first model kit.....a Hawk brand Studebaker Lark, with a wind up rubber band under it. I've always been fascinated with cars....growing up in the 60's with all the glamorous TV ads for new cars helped fuel that. While the guys at school were playing sports, I was working on the farm, and building models as a way to relax. Back then, I just slammed them together, sometimes without paint. I've had a few lean periods, when work and life took priority, but I always came back to the hobby. Since the mid 80's, I've gotten a bit more serious about building......trying new techniques, different styles, adding more detail, even scratchbuilding, and kitbashing. I've entered a few shows, mostly NNL shows, but I build for me, primarily. I've had one build actually make it into a magazine, which I never thought would happen! I've built a couple models for other people, but I'm much too slow to make a regular habit out of that! LoL All my personal builds are displayed in my hobby room, and not in boxes......yet. Hahaha

Edited October 8, 2019 by Bucky

[Straightliner59]

11 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

I always say that I build to satisfy the creative voices in my head.  I love to see my ideas emerge in 3D in front of me on the work bench.  I try to build my subjects in a unique way, it's just my style, my art.   And I find it fulfilling!  

This is the most apt description of why I build. Like Shirley Muldowney said, when asked why she drag raced, "It's what I do." I get a vision/idea for something, and I want to see what it looks like. There's only one way to do that (Since I can't really draw)! I enjoy competing, but I have never built a model for competition--only to satisfy my own curiosity and desires. I enjoy trying new things, like forming aluminum sheet, building a chassis from brass, making a master, then casting it (like the Enderle injection setup on my junior fueler), or some crazy paint scheme, like on my current Firebird project. Modeling also helps me get away from what may be troubling me.

[TonyK]

I like cars and racing cars so I want to build replicas of them. I also like being creative. Every box you open is a mess of parts and you get to see it slowly come together as a completed project which makes me feel good. Building models is relaxing (most of the time) and never gets old for me.

I used to enter contests years ago which I felt drove me to doing the best I could when building. Won quite a bit and lost quite a bit but didn't mind losing when I could see what model beat me and maybe learn from that. I haven't done a contest in years and just enjoy building for myself.

I joke with my wife that model building keeps the mind sharp by following instructions and problem solving.

The finished models are in many display cases that I've built and no one sees them but me. Once in awhile someone sees them but you can tell they kind of scan them quickly and not focus on much which doesn't matter to me. Once in awhile I take the time to look at my finished models and appreciate all the time involved and think I did pretty good. Not an ego thing; just like that I can still build a decent model after all these years.