The Zen of Model Car Building - what drives you?

[sjordan2]

To me, cars can represent the height of art, architecture, invention, engineering, craftsmanship, you name it (and I prefer to deal with the great classics as opposed to more recent automobiles). And researching and building models of such cars is always an educational eye-opener that in some ways, makes you one with the car. It helps me immerse myself in the tone and history of different eras, in different countries. I've made a lot of friends around the world in this pursuit.

As for more recent cars, the hobby also brings back memories, when you wanted one of those cool rides and you remember what you were doing at the time - a great hit of nostalgia. Maybe you're in awe of the art and engineering of today's supercars or the flat-out excitement of race cars.

And, of course, there's the feeling of accomplishment, self-advancement, and pride in the final product. (At least, that's how I explained it to my wife )

These considerations are why I think there's nothing silly or immature about building model cars.

What's the allure of model car building for you? I don't know that I've seen a thread that approaches the subject this way.

[Dr. Cranky]

Skip, I love this thread idea. To me, it's the energy I derive from the styrene addiction. A new kit, the process of building, ending up with a 3 dimensional object that comes straight from the imagination. It's the creative process and much more. And I agree with all of the above.

[bbowser]

I don't know about the height of things, I just love cars! For me it's about cars I would love to own (if I was Jay Leno). Then it slowly became a skill to master, as opposed to throwing them together in 1 hour. I've gotten way more patient if nothing else, it is kind of like a Zen thing when I'm sanding or detail painting. I think it's also helped me in other areas of life, as the patience I've gained has helped with home improvement projects, projects at work, etc. Great question!

[Kit Basher]

This may not reach the depth you're looking for, but I just like to make stuff. It doesn't matter much what it is. I've been that way as long as I can remember. In that respect, model cars are just one more thing to make. I suspect that's why I can't just assemble a kit. I treat 'em more like raw materials. I agree with you about accomplishment, advancement, and pride. Whatever you make, if you do your best, you should feel that way.

[Harry P.]

For me it's the actual process of building... creating a miniature. It's not limited to model cars for me. In fact, I'd say that in the past several years I've turned to other subjects more and more, so that now actually most of the models I build are not of cars at all.

My recent models include a San Francisco cable car, several old (historically significant) locomotives, several highly-detailed wooden ships (including the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, and a Mississippi paddlewheeler), two stagecoaches, a covered wagon ("prairie schooner"), several WWI fighter planes, a few motorcycles, etc.

I still build cars too; model cars are what drew me into the model building hobby in the first place, but lately I'm finding myself drawn more and more to "other" subjects out there. But no matter what I'm building, for me it's the building process that I like.

[Chuck Most]

For me, it's just the simple enjoyment of turning an idea into a three-dimensional object. That's about it, Vern.

[Tom Setzer]

I have always built model, from the time I was six years old. My special love is car models, both static scale and Slot Cars. My static Scale passion is building as accurately as I can, and I am always driven to find ways to improve my skills.

I love doing detailing and researching to make my model as accurate as possible. I find that researching my builds, is a lot of the enjoyment I get from them. I also check out new methods for building, modifying and painting my models, that is another aspect of this hobby I truely enjoy, and I am always learning new tricks and techniques from the other builders on this forum and other media, and gatherings of modelers. I also enjoy sharring the things I have learned over the years. To Me this Hobby is a social hobby and I can't emagine doing it alone. I have made many truely good friends in the hobby!

Edited March 6, 2012 by Tom Setzer

[sjordan2]

Skip, I love this thread idea. To me, it's the energy I derive from the styrene addiction. A new kit, the process of building, ending up with a 3 dimensional object that comes straight from the imagination. It's the creative process and much more. And I agree with all of the above.

Skip, I love this thread idea. To me, it's the energy I derive from the styrene addiction. A new kit, the process of building, ending up with a 3 dimensional object that comes straight from the imagination. It's the creative process and much more. And I agree with all of the above.

I could have gone on forever, I should add that it''s also an amazing platform for personal artistic expression like your rustmobiles and the dioramas of others.

[Jantrix]

For me it's the meeting of two interests. I love cars - period. I also have a serious right brain need to be creative, to be artistic. Automobiles have spoken to people with the same afflictions since the first car rolled.

[Dragline]

The Zen in your title really drew me to this thread.

I call my modeling my "Zen Time" to people I speak with about what it is i do for leisure. So, to speak to that part, it is the "Zen" of having tunes on and the TV off. It's about creating this thing in my mind and in pictures I've cobbled together to get it as close as can be to what end I am seeking.

The "Zen" portion comes with the "mostly" relaxing feeling I get when I am whittling away on either the most hum-drum parting line, or attaching hand bent injector lines to the port section of a nitro fueler.

It's a sense of all is right in the world, and I am present at its center with my accomplishment, however insignificant it may seem to the overall build or the world at large.

"Zen" time is "Me" time.

Good thread.

Bob

Edited March 7, 2012 by Dragline

[Harry P.]

It's sense of all is right in the world, and I am present at its center with my accomplishment, however insignificant it may seem to the overall build or the world at large.

Beautifully stated, Bob. That says it exactly.

[Dragline]

Thank You Harry.

Bob

[vintagestang]

I just love cars. I build model cars mostly 60s and 70s muscle but I also love to restore a piece of history with real cars. I think it is the attention to detail and taking pieces of plastic and making something that resembles a real car. The scratch building of making an exact replica or weathering.

[Junkman]

What drives me is that the models aren't available ready-made.

[Harry P.]

What drives me is that the models aren't available ready-made.

Sure they are! Not all models come as unassembled kits. In fact, there is a much wider variety of models available in pre-built form as there will ever be in unassembled kit form.

[Terry Sumner]

For me it's the simple pleasure of making something with my hands. I've always been the type of person who loves to accomplish things with my own two hands. I like to be as independant of the help of others as much as I possibly can...yet I practically live to help my friends in their endeavors or with their problems. It's the primary reason I built such a huge garage/woodshop...so I can do things myself and for my friends. I'm always building something in wood for someone...or there is always some friend in my car shop using either my car lift or the bike lift to fix something on his car or motorcycle. And a large part of that is the camaraderie that goes on when friends are over in the garage and we're all in there having a bs session and a coupl'a beers. Modeling is just another one of my outlets for working with my hands.

[jayhkr]

Well for me it is the memories of my Dad and I building these models when I was a young boy. He got me started on them and I loved them. As a young boy I probably built 10-15 models all of which I usually bought with my allowance and he and I would sit down and paint and glue everything together. He showed me the patience it takes to build them. Now he is unable to build anything with me due to his age but I have retaken up the hobby for him, and me too! This go around though I'm going to start putting my own personal touches on them and make them my way.

[moparmagiclives]

I'm a very mechanical person, I need something to do with my hands. And if I'm not building with them, I've done it 10 times in my head already. It's a great way for me to get out my industrial frustrations out, and quiet my mind. I don't have the cash flow to do it with three little ones( two just starting school) in the garage much anymore, so the hobby bench has turned into my "church" as it were, the last few years. It's a lot of my interest all wrapped up into one little box, painting, building, automotive science, history and lots of childhood memories. The fact that I have something to show for it when im done isn't to big of a deal anymore, it's the journey there that I'm starting to crave. I have yet to sit down with a project and search out every angle and story of it like skip was talking about, but I'm almost to that point. I just haven't found the right subject to capture my attention that way. Soon I'm sure. I'm a car guy by nature/ family / and profession but I find myself looking at more and more non automotive projects as well all the time. In fact I just scored a "black lagoon" figure and a tank kit the other day on eBay.... Things are a chagin.

[Junkman]

Sure they are! Not all models come as unassembled kits. In fact, there is a much wider variety of models available in pre-built form as there will ever be in unassembled kit form.

What I meant is that many of the American cars rendered as model kits are not available ready-made.

[groo12]

I just love making stuff, being creative.

I paint miniatures, take photos, develop elearning for a living which includes some coding and that is surprisingly creative.

I want to create apps and take up woodwork.

I took up model cars because it just looked like fun and it is.

So no really specific reason apart from enjoying making.

[trogdor]

It's the satisfaction of looking at an object that was created by my own hands. I'm a woodworker by trade and it's the same driving force. Getting paid for my cabinet work is secondary to viewing the finished project. It's also comforting to know that hopefully what we build will outlast us and bring someone else some happiness or sense of pride of ownership. Although the internet has brought us together, it's also a nice time of solitude to work on a model, just getting lost in thought, clearing your head of other worries and concerns. The same applies to my woodwork. I tell people it's my happy place.

[Scott Colmer]

"It's my happy place." EXACTLY! It's amazing how the workbench compresses time. I recently took a day off work and planned a day at the bench. The 4 hours I had passed by in 15 minutes.

Here's how the Zen part works for me....I see it in my head, (Sometimes I draw a picture of it.) Then make it in my head (This is what I do when before falling asleep or on long drives), then I try it in real life. It may or may not work the first time. If it doesn't work, I repeat the process.

Scott

[Dr. Cranky]

I love this thread! :wub:

[charlie8575]

All of these things, for me, are to some extent true.

Vision...imagination...the satisfaction of creating something. The pleasure of building something that I like.

Being able to build a car that I might be too young to have driven when new...and "order it" the way I'd like it...colors, trim, options.

Having a shelf-full of cars...that look like cars, as opposed to the junk we have now.

This is where I draw my pleasure; my realizations, my extensions of me, something that all our models are.

Charlie Larkin

[randx0]

Models, it seems, have been around me most of my life.

As a practicing model builder I have found an outlet and a compass.

Building models has taught me a lot of lessons but I have yet to acheive the enlightenment that I am seeking .