1932 fords

[E St. Kruiser50]

In the last couple of months there has been a lot of, what I call, negative thread topics, and an unprecedented level of bad-mouthing each other on this forum.

I thought I'd post a positive thread with "HOW GOOD I FEEL ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL HOBBY AND IT'S EVENTS".

I'm not a "POLYANNA" kinda person who walks around "LA LA LA EVERYTHING IS SO NICE AND WONDERFUL", because frankly and realisticly life isn't like that.

But that being said, for me after years of being at times negative myself, and not being the person I should have been to friends and loved-ones, I decided I wanted to change, and start enjoying more of the life I was missing because of my less than favorable attitude at times.

It was nothing more than a "intentional choice" to live my life different. I wanted to be happy and content, and bring that same kind of enjoyment and happiness into others lives too that were close to me.

For me this model car building hobby is the greatest hobby in the world - I LOVE IT - and the friends I have in this hobby are all the best. Very upbeat and positive. Always involved in doing something to better there community - me too, in their personal lives.

MODEL CONTEST ARE WONDERFUL <img src="http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="cool.gif" />

Sure, once in a great while there is an issue, yeah, sometimes we disagree on choices, I've even seen a few people go "BALLISTIC", but they usually get over themselves eventually and come back, a little more humble.

BACK-BITING - SURE, but oh well.

ARROGANCE - ABSOLUTELY

EGO'S - RAMPANT SOMETIMES

CHEATING - ONCE IN A WHILE - BUT THEY GET CAUGHT

The focus of the majority of the builders in our area, is to enjoy the hobby and each other. That's the main reason for the contests.

Many of us live quite away from each other, and the contests bring us together to swap lies, show off our stuff, AND EAT WAY TOO MUCH (THANK GOODNESS FOR THE HEALTH CLUB I BELONG TOO <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> )

Most of us here have mellowed out over the years, and if a new young "BUCK" with an attitude comes into our club, we just express to him the importance of the "THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HOBBY, AND THAT SHOULD BE HIS FOCUS" too for more satisfaction, and we live that by example, so he can see it in action, but we never criticize him or complain at him, we just nurture him and encourage him.

Same for the club meetings - WONDERFULL.

Even when there are discussions and differences of opinions we work really hard at respecting each others thoughts. We've had topics get really heated, but no one ever crosses the line to disrespect a members idea's or him personally - MUTUAL RESPECT - IT'S VERY COOL <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> .

I'm very thankful also for this forum and even it's imperfections and problems.

I hope the regulars here who seem to be generally negative and hard to get along with at times, would at some point see all the goodness and beauty in life there missing out on, and the friendships there not enjoying, and not take this all so seriously and be so uptight.

Life's too short, to live it in anger and bitterness - THAT'S JUST SAD <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /> .

Edited August 8, 2010 by Treehugger Dave

[Harry P.]

Dave, you're a lucky man! You have learned how to live and enjoy your life with a positive outlook and attitude. Not everyone is "wired" that way... but for those who are, count your blessings!

[Custom Hearse]

It's nice to see a positive post! Thanks Dave!

I've gotten to the point now where I'm building for myself. I don't enter contests anymore, because I don't need the glory, I'm happy with what I build. It may not be perfect, but I enjoy the ideas that bring it to fruition. It's (to me) a healthy way to live my life, since I don't drink, do drugs, or party.

Thanks again for posting this, it's nice to see.

[1320wayne]

I've had the pleasure of knowing Dave for the past eight years or so. Six of those spent living in the same part of the country, members in the same model club, traveling to model shows together and so on. I can tell you that Dave's attitude towards this hobby, and life for that matter, are truly genuine. His wholesome personality is infectuous. And just being around him makes you want to be a better person yourself.

Now I know this isn't a "how great is Dave" thread but to say that his words should strike a cord with most people that we need more positive outlook on life, each and every day.

Unfortunately, people will do you wrong in life, and in this hobby, from time to time. You must find the perserverance to move on from such incidents without making the situation even worse, for all parties.

There's a line from a movie that goes "What we do in life, echos an eternity". Now I know that life isn't as serious as a line from a movie but the statement still holds true that your actions speak volumes for who your are and how you are perceived by others. And although you should never worry about what others think of you, that still doesn't mean that it's o.k. to go out and act evil towards people on a regular basis. Find the good in people. If you can't, do your best to walk away and let the chips fall where they may.

Now that my philosophic moment is over I can get back to working on my next project.

Thanks Dave.

[E St. Kruiser50]

Dave, you're a lucky man! You have learned how to live and enjoy your life with a positive outlook and attitude. Not everyone is "wired" that way... but for those who are, count your blessings!

Thanks Harry Life and people are gifts to be cherished, or used and abused.

WE ALL GET TO CHOOSE .

[curt raitz]

I wish I had a club to go hang out with, I live out in the sticks in Northern California. But I love this hobby, no matter how many times I leave it I always come back.

You think Stockton may be in the "sticks", but there's a lot of modelers (and they be on this forum) who live within a half hour drive of Stockton...

I'm not sure about clubs in the Stockton area, but there are a lot of shows throughout the year within an hour drive of Stockton...NNL West, Good Guyz @ Pleasanton, NNL Sacramento, etc

Come by and check'em out

[RodneyBad]

Yes, I may not say much but I do love the hobbie..

What can I say?

I'm a Watcher and really slow builder...

But a good Stocker upper er....

[BKIN10SECS]

...This is what happend when I read this post...Thanks Dave.

[george 53]

Well it's about time Dave! We ALL need a little pat on the back occasionally. That's why I TOO love this hobby of ours! I love Model contests,even if I NEVER enter one, not my taste, but I DO get GREAT enjoyment and pleasure from seeing others hard work come to fruition in a model. Some are just more inclined to go that EXTRA mile to do the best they can. Bud was like that. He'll always be one of my hero's as are you, and a few others here. If we CAN'T enjoy our hobby, then WHY do it? I'm here EVERYDAY, just to see whats up in MY favorite world.I'll never be as good as ALOT of you guys, but that's not what's important to me. I just like to build. I gotta lot of stuff that would make guys drool, but I'll get to them sooner or later. For me painting gets me every time! You can leave a bum in his own clothes,an no one'll see him. BUT you put that same bum in a Armani suit, an he'll sure get noticed! That's how my models are. They'll stay in prime till I get the skill to dress them properly. But it in NO way reduces the pleasure I get from building them. And THAT'S what it's ALL about,really. I don't compete cause I CAN'T, I just don't prefer to. Yet I STILL love contests. I have NOT missed ONE meeting of the DMCC since I joined over a year ago now, I've met some of the BEST modelers in the hobby. Bud was a member, and Steve Perry is also. And BOTH of them have had center spreads in a magazine! For insperation, if ya need it, you COULDN'T beat these 2 guys! I LOVE this hobby, AND this Forum. I've had the pleasure of being in a community of which I feel is the BEST one on the planet! I got to meet The Big Kahuna, and he's a regular guy,like me, with a GREAT job! I got to meet an talk with you,Dave and consider you a good freind. I have MANY freinds here who do OUTSTANDING work, but just don't seem to get noticed, like by buddy Ed, He's just a FANTASTIC Diorama builder, but no one seems to notice. He doesn't care, he builds for himself. I LOVE that kinda attitude. The bickering that's been goin on is silly. Who cares WHAT the guys post, it's to be enjoyed or just ignored, I'm here for the long run, till Gregg or Harry throw me out, or till I go to the GREAT hobby room in the sky.Can't go to the hobby room in the BASEMENT, caz I've been THERE most of my life!!!

[E St. Kruiser50]

Can't go to the hobby room in the BASEMENT, caz I've been THERE most of my life!!!

YEAH HUH

Me too George - That's why we choose to enjoy life now .

[Jon Cole]

Dave...

You NAILED IT! It's good to read a positive spin on our hobby.

Currently, I'm stuck in limbo... no urge to build. I haven't worked on a kit since last spring. My only link to the hobby has been this board, but for a while even that went bad what with the negative garbage being strewn. I didn't want to be a part of that.

Now the coin has been flipped.

Thanks!

[cruz]

Let me just say that I don't consider models to be toys anymore!!!

[E St. Kruiser50]

Let me just say that I don't consider models to be toys anymore!!!

YOU'RE FUNNY.

YOU'D FIT RIGHT IN TO OUR CLUB REAL WELL .

Edited November 10, 2009 by Treehugger Dave

[cruz]

Let me just add that I too enjoy this hobby immensely. Even though I have been building for a long time, it wasn't until I moved here to Maryland about 12 years ago that I really got more into it. I have met a lot of good people specially since joining my clubs, it's a real inspiration when you have people sharing the same passion for building models as you do. There are times when I don't feel like being at the bench for one reason or the other but I am sure we all go through these little slumps.

[E St. Kruiser50]

There are times when I don't feel like being at the bench for one reason or the other but I am sure we all go through these little slumps.

Yeah, me too Marcos .

But all I have to do is just log into this forum and see what the rest of you guy's are doin', and I'm right back at it in no time at all

[E St. Kruiser50]

Speaking of loving this hobby, I will be in my first "contest" or "show" in December, the model will not be finished but it will be there. It will give me a chance to see what others are doing and I will get to talk shop. Did I mention I love this hobby

WOW - HOW EXCITING YOU'RE FIRST CONTEST .

You'll have to get back to us, and let us know what you thought .

Be fun to hear about it .

Edited November 10, 2009 by Treehugger Dave

[Porky]

Hey Dave, Let me start by saying that you hit the nail on the head with your view/outlook on life. You have to be happy in your own skin and do your very best to make all those around you that way as well, friends loved ones and even maybe this bunch of model buildin junkies here,,,lol,,,

Me I thank the Good Lord every morning that he grants me the chance to open my eyes and enjoy another day here on this rock with my friends and family, tooo many did not get that chance today. Think about it people. Life is way to short to go through it looking at the bad side of every thing. I know people like that, one of my best friends even, I can go hang out with him for awhile and well if I would let it it would depress me as well,,,but I just hope one day he sees the light and the better side of life.

As for this hobby of ours,,,well I think it is the best, as good as it gets. My 6 year old son is starting to build some simple kits now and to watch him get one together brings back a ton of memories from the past. I started building at about that age and pretty much quit when the teenage years, cars, girls and all came around and got back into modeling when my son was born and gave up all my big boy toys, motorcycles, race cars etc. I can say it was a very good trade because now some of my best friends were met through the modeling. A great bunch of guys to hang out with a couple nights a month at our club meetings, and yep I take the lil man along sometimes. The guys give me a hard time because he has taken more finished kits to the meetings than I have. But oh well I am having a blast with this hobby and can't wait to get to Atlanta this weekend. Hope to see some of you there.

Hope You All Have A Great & Blessed Day !!! & Remember Be Happy, Life's Toooo Short not to be !!!!

[93Z34]

One thing to keep in mind with not only this hobby, but in everything in life, if you look to find the negativity in something, you will succeed without having to look very hard. Sometimes it's easier to stop at the negativity than to look past that part to see the positives in something. Remember, you'll almost always see the grey in the clouds before you see the blue behind them. It's always worth looking past the grey to seek out the blue in everything.

Sometimes I think we forget that we are all different people here, from different backgrounds and different lifestyles. Does that make someone a bad person simply because they don't agree with an opinion or view we may have about something? Absolutely not. It just means that maybe someone is looking at something a bit differently than we're seeing things. Interpretation also comes into play. The way one modeler interprets something may not be the same way another hobbyist does. It doesn't mean there's a right and wrong, just a different point of view.

We all love this hobby for one reason or another. Otherwise we wouldn't be participating in it would we? We also are a very passionate bunch to boot. Sometimes our passions cloud our sense of reason when trying to make a point and we don't always use our best judgement, or choice of words. It's when situations like this arise that we should take a step back, take a deep breath and regroup for the good of not only ourselves, but for forums like this and the hobby in general. Failure to do that only further serves to do this great hobby a disservice that could easily be avoided.

Thanks for the postive thread Dave. We can all use more positives in our lives rather than negatives.

[Dave]

What a great thread! It just reinforces the way I've felt for years. Ienjoy building for me, for fun, for contests, for any reason at all. I just love to build. I dont have many kits so display, alot of what I finish are given to friends family etc. It's fun to , for me anyway, to replicate a vehicle a friend has, or mentioned they owned, build a copy and give it to them. I hit a few shows a year, love the fellowship and often good natured ribbing. I am pretty slack I admit to going to club meetings, there is a great bunch not terribly far, but not next door either! that I need to get off my but and attend a meeting. Work is more often than not keeps me from going. OK I might be ranting now, so I will sign off and go glue something before I head the bed.

[E St. Kruiser50]

I think it's great that there have been so many "POSITIVE" comments here about this hobby we all love so much .

With the world around us seemingly going a bit crazy right now with the events at "Fort Hood", and even locally here in Portland, and elsewhere, over the last few weeks, with shooters in several different events taking lives, wounding many others, and then taking their own lives, I think it's accurate to say that we all need a place to go and enjoy ourselves, to feel safe, and express our love of this hobby without the onslaught of more anger and bitternes that seems to have the world in it's grip right now.

Whatever we can do here to belive in the "GOLDEN RULE" of treating others as we want to be treated, I believe, will help us all keep our sense of sanity and friendliness here for each of our enjoyment of this hobby, and will help keep our friendships strong and respectful.

Edited November 11, 2009 by Treehugger Dave

[beefheart22]

Dave, I like reading your painting tutorials much better than your life tutorials. Glad you can make rainbows from ess-atch-eye-tee. Happy for ya. Really.

[Harold]

If I didn't love this hobby, I'd be a real masochist to be going at it for the last 20+ years .Along with my music, my dog and a few good friends I'm able to enjoy my life, but I always fall back on model cars because for me it's a great outlet for a. my creativity and b. my love of things automotive. I don't have the money or space that Jay Leno has (dagnabbit), but I can build an interesting collection and not have to worry about plates and insurance for all of them . Besides, I like to feel I've made a few friends and increased my skills by looking at how everyone here comes up with different solutions for their end goals.

[Guest arni]

I do indeed love this hobby of ours,for me it is a way to create my idea's in plastic.My average skill has been sharpened by boards such as this one.I recently posted my 2CV Dragster and got a few replies,but to be honest I wouldn't care if I got no replies.As I build for my own pleasure,I enjoy the challenge of building something different even if it is not technicaly correct.Take the 2CV for example,it has a transaxle designed to handle about 25 bhp! but I fitted a Mustang V8 to it.Nonsence in the real world but it works for me.

It is also a nice way to relax after all the b/s we all endure during a working day,sometimes if I get a quiet moment at work I think about future projects and kits on the go..If I am lucky a great idea comes to me (having seen my work,you guys would probably think 'crazy idea' LOL)

Allways look on the bright side of life,as the Monty Python song goes. Cos one day you wont be here! Enjoy the small things in life.

Recently I was approaching my front door,when I was met by three young boys who announced ''We're chasing cats Mr'' That put a smile on my face after a long day..

Just the other morning I was off to work,it was just getting light and there was a full moon ( I live about 1/2 mile away from a forest where several thousand crows,rooks and jackdaws nest ) I was greeted by the sight of several hundred crows cawwing as they flew from west to east.I just wish I had my camera on me..What a beautiful sight. :D

So enjoy your modeling,and enjoy life.

[Chuck Most]

I love this hobby because it allows me to escape the pressure and BS of my everyday life, not add to them! I can make these stupid ideas I'm constantly having into real, three-dimensional objects!

That's the esscence of it. Perhaps not as eloquent or detailed an explaination as some of yours, but it's what describes this disease I have best!

[Custom Hearse]

Dave...

You NAILED IT! It's good to read a positive spin on our hobby.

Currently, I'm stuck in limbo... no urge to build. I haven't worked on a kit since last spring. My only link to the hobby has been this board, but for a while even that went bad what with the negative garbage being strewn. I didn't want to be a part of that.

Now the coin has been flipped.

Thanks!

I know what you mean Jon. I've gone through a few slumps myself. It's one of the hardest things to get out of, but I have faith in ya! Just work on something that you don't have to do any customizing on, or scratch building... That's how I got out of my slump.

Love your signature pic! I watch that DVD often! My favorite is the "sedagive/ Abby Normal" Part! LOVE IT!!!