The upside of the hobby- What part or parts do you enjoy the most?

[James2]

We can find ourselves in negative thinking or down right complainers at times. Here's your chance to express why you take part in this hobby.

What do you enjoy and what keeps you motivated?

Edited April 19 by James2

[johnyrotten]

I could write a laundry list of reasons. Peace and quiet,  escape from day to day life, challenging my skills and abilities,it goes on and on. Lately I've just been content creating something I actually have an interest in, even if it's at scale.

[NOBLNG]

Everything that John said, plus I enjoy the camaraderie and friendly banter on this forum. Not to mention all the skills I’ve learned here. Thanks Everyone!🙂

[JollySipper]

It's great for a creative outlet, and a type of meditation for me! Plus, I really enjoy the paint process....... I get a lot of satisfaction out of making sure parts are clean, primer is smooth, paint is slick...... It's very rewarding when things go well.

[johnyrotten]

18 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Everything that John said, plus I enjoy the camaraderie and friendly banter on this forum. Not to mention all the skills I’ve learned here. Thanks Everyone!🙂

I second that 100%. 

[stitchdup]

i enjoy the fabrication and idea dumps at the start of a project. Whether its trying different wheels, chopping a top or even just sitting with the kit in front of me and letting the ideas flow out with no clear plan. I tend to lose interest once i get to the primer stage because by then i can already see it built up in my head so the will to carry on just drops as the work i enjoy is all done. I also like building phantom body styles that never existed

[Cool Hand]

For me its all about being able to create visual representations of my favourite style of cars. Im not much for accuracy, as long as it looks the part, that is all that matters to me.

Its good fun when the inspiration strikes and the mind starts processing and the build begins, digging through the stash or tracking down a kit. The most enjoyable part for me is the mock up stages, choosing wheels and getting the stance set.

Recently I have really been enjoying painting bodies and trying out different colours other than black.

Ive been very lucky and fortunate enough to have a dedicated hobby room, that is fully set up and well stocked with all my needs. Its like having my own small hobby shop. Thats my happy place where my mind is at ease and where I enjoy spending all my spare time doing something creative and every now and then put another one on the display shelf.    

Edited April 20 by Cool Hand

[johnyrotten]

2 hours ago, Cool Hand said:

Its like having my own small hobby shop. Thats my happy place

I hear that. I've accumulated a sizable stash of kits and supplies that "childhood me" wouldn't know what to do with. Now it's a matter of having time to actually build. 

[James2]

I have been building just for myself as of late, I find my bench time to be a means of escape. Kind of like being in the ZONE, I can put aside any number of life duties and just get lost in the moment. Like any form of art, the creating of something inspired by the mind and/or the heart is an accomplishment that brings joy, or at least happiness. If one is lucky, to find friendship along the way, then they have really accomplished something.

[Falcon Ranchero]

Gives me something to do. Also easier collecting right now than collecting real cars. But seriously though I find it nice and relaxing, painting away and gluing those pieces together until there’s a complete car. Plus I can try out my own colour combos or custom ideas.

[Mike C]

Besides building the models, it's the fun I have at the club meeting and contests.

[Fat Brian]

The funnest part for me is coming up with the initial idea and parts acquisition. Over half of my few hundred kits have all the parts I want to use in the box waiting on me to find the time to actually assemble it. If I could ever find a way to decrease my build time without sacrificing quality I could really make a dent in the stash. Another part is enjoy is building the bare plastic and scratch building. Really, everything up to paint is fun for me. Once it's painted the slog of actually finishing it starts.

[Tim W. SoCal]

  I have to agree with each and every one of the above posts, plus in the same vein, I REALLY enjoy the dreaming, scheming, imagining, researching, planning and acquiring (or finding in my stash) kits and aftermarket parts (plus hopefully soon-to-be self made 3D printed) for present and future builds. I still need to learn how to produce the artwork for custom decals so I can have a vendor such as STS print them for me. I am also a member of the San Diego Model Car Club, but due to my work schedule, can't attend the monthly meetings, which I miss terribly. That being said, it looks like I have about seven more years until I can retire and play my music and build model cars pretty much full time. I just hope I have enough time left on this earth after that to achieve my dreams...

Edited April 22 by Tim W. SoCal

[stavanzer]

40 minutes ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

  I REALLY enjoy the dreaming, scheming, imagining, researching, planning and acquiring (or finding in my stash) kits and aftermarket parts (plus hopefully soon-to-be self made 3D printed) for present and future builds.

A thousand times This! ^^^^

[johnyrotten]

36 minutes ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

I REALLY enjoy the dreaming, scheming, imagining, researching, planning and acquiring (or finding in my stash) kits

I've always enjoyed the "hunt" and dreaming up or finding a vehicle to recreate.

[Bugatti Fan]

Model making no matter what genre is good, not only from the relaxation point of view, but it is a great way of keeping your mind stimulated too. Started scratch building when I retired, having more time at my disposal and enjoy the challenges that form of model making brings, along with all the research etc.

[Keef]

I enjoy this hobby for a list of reasons:

1) I enjoy the peace and quiet of my “man cave” just me and some good music.

2) The camaraderie of the people on this forum (and a few others)

3) The fact that most of the kits I build are definitely out of my reach financially, so I can own those dream cars in scale and build them however I would in 1:1

[Mike 1017]

Chasing and capturing the Perfect Paint Job

[James2]

2 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

Chasing and capturing the Perfect Paint Job

Which seems impossible!

[Mike 1017]

In 20+ years I have 3 perfect ones

[Belugawrx]

22 minutes ago, Mike 1017 said:

In 20+ years I have 3 perfect ones

That's about where I'm at...keeps ya coming back tho....lol

[NOBLNG]

I enjoy hacking something up and reconfiguring it somehow to make it unique and “my own”.

[Mark W]

I like detailing, engines, interiors, the bottom of the chassis.

But mostly being here. Seeing everyone's work and I’m really in my glory when someone compliments mine!  lol

[KMcc]

Hands down, for me, the upside of this hobby is: NO DEADLINES.

Between running a business, remodeling my house, and having other people that rely on me, model building has become the escape from the deadlines I've been dealing with for 35 years. 

Most of my family and friends do not even know I started back into the hobby that I first got into as a kid. Mostly because they wouldn't understand why.

If I want to practice airbrushing, that's what I do. If I want to solid model a new wheel, that's what I do. I have many things to learn and get better at.

This Forum also seems like therapy: "My name is Keith and I'm a Model-holic." I have learned so much in the last five years on this forum.

I just wish I could get more than two or three hours a week at the bench.

Thanks guys!

[slusher]

I enjoy the building of the model like a journey it make me feel like a kid again no bs of the world and other things…