Builders Block What Do You Do?

[slusher]

l have not really been to the point l didn't know what to build next or in a not building mood. What do you do to get back to your normal building???? l have been messing around with a proshop prepainted kit some to try to get back building again....

[Jordan White]

Look through a book about a subject you find interesting until you find something you haven't built yet or never knew about. Or just do like a normal modeler and go to the local hobby shop and browse until you get an idea.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'll get burned out on some of the longer projects, and often find it helpful to just start throwing wild ideas together, not necessarily anything that will ever get built. Sometimes though, they take on a life of their own and get added to the rotation. The creativity of doing something different is what gets me back in the build-mode.

[Harry P.]

Easy. Forget about it and go about your life.

When the urge to build comes back (and it will), then build. In the meantime, don't worry about it. It's a hobby... it's supposed to be fun. You can't force fun.

[blueoval92]

i go shoot stuff lol, that or work on my big block ford 460 and think of possible vehicles it could one day sit inside, then realize that i probably wont have that vehicle for real so i build a model of it instead.

[Bartster]

Ace's & Harry's ideas have both worked for me. l have been Ace's route more often, but right now real life is keeping me so busy that l'm DYING to build something! l guess it's like an absence makes the heart grow fonder kinda thing. Bart.

[jbwelda]

i look at the stupid barnabas collins van thing i just got and wonder what it would look like as a rat rod surfer van with the ardun head flattie from the 50 ford pickup i also got, channelled low over the white metal 32 chassis i have lying around here. and with a camshaft as the spreader bar for the front horns. pics to come.

[slusher]

Easy. Forget about it and go about your life.

When the urge to build comes back (and it will), then build. In the meantime, don't worry about it. It's a hobby... it's supposed to be fun. You can't force fun.

I'll get burned out on some of the longer projects, and often find it helpful to just start throwing wild ideas together, not necessarily anything that will ever get built. Sometimes though, they take on a life of their own and get added to the rotation. The creativity of doing something different is what gets me back in the build-mode.

Thanks Harry and Ace really good advice. Ace l guess thats why l am toying around with that proshop is to keep me at the bench until it hits me again. enjoying everyones advice

[Tom Setzer]

Seeing the great builds other people on this Forum are doing, ussualy is enough to motivate me to get started again!

[randx0]

a model club meeting helps too.

[Jeff Johnston]

you wait...eventually something will spark and you'll start to build. I have had it at times over the years and basically I just wait. I build when it strikes me and I don't when it doesn't.

Although it does help me if I am not interested in anything to paint a body and get it polished out. That does sometimes make me want to keep going when it has happened.

[crazyjim]

I can't say that I've ever experienced builders block. I just keep on going.

[cobraman]

For me, if I don't feel like building I don't build. I am not the best builder to begin with and I found a long time ago that if I am not "into' the building process and build anyway I just don't do my best work. After one of the 2 model magazines arrive in the mail I usually get a spark to get back to the bench and also stopping by here and seeing all the great work that is being done can also light a fire and get me going.

[rmvw guy]

I like what Harry said so far the best. What I sometimes do is just get an old project back out of the box and inspiration comes back. Often times I give up on a project and put it away ( maybe for years), then when I get it back out I see a simple solution and just build it. The result is instant gratification and I'm ready to move on to something new.

[gtx6970]

Turn the lights out a come back when the urge hits. My longest hiatus ,,, lasted 10 years.

Untill last night I hadn't touched a model in almost a month.

Kids and there activities , plus starting a business will do that. I get to work that works on the 1/1 scale versions. It's great , I get to play with old muscle cars and spend other peoples money.

[checkmate]

Easy. Forget about it and go about your life.

When the urge to build comes back (and it will), then build. In the meantime, don't worry about it. It's a hobby... it's supposed to be fun. You can't force fun.

Yep exactly, in the past I've walked away for up to 6 months but always come back to it, been doing it since I was 8 so it's pretty much a part of life for me. Although in the last decade I think a month has been my longest spell, I go out to the shed and play 1:1 cars till I run out of dollars than it's back to the cheaper version.....models.

Never work to a schedule, just do what I want at the time which explains the dozen or so half started kits on my bench.

[Dr. Cranky]

Recharge and re-inspire by taking the time off to feed your head. Read, watch documentaries, go places, travel, take photographs . . .go to car shows. All these things will help.

[Junkman]

Vodka.

[Guest]

When I get in a slump, I grab an old AMT metal axle kit,glue the hood shut and build it as a curbside. With those, all I have to concentrate on is the paint and interior. Maybe you could try something different with your paint work (I know how good you can paint). Maybe try a type of paint job you've never done before. learned a few years ago that not every model I build has to be detailed. It's all about having fun and you certainly can't force it.

[Guest Johnny]

Well, your done. Pack up all your models and send them to me and move on to something else!

Everyone has it at some point and it won't be the last time.

Just take a break from it for a while and as a rule you will start to feel the need to build shortly thereafter.

I find when that happens that I can sometimes jump start the urge to build by rebuilding a glue bomb or doing a parts box build.

[1272148]

after one of my long projects I try to work on some weird projects for a few months before I go on to another massive project, I try to fit in fun simple projects too during my long builds, in fact I sometimes have so much fun during my small builds they turn into big builds

[Modelmartin]

I have NEVER had builders block. I always have a million ideas. On occassion I have not had the time or energy to get to the workbench. When that happens I will just sit in front of it for 5 or 10 minutes and go over some of my current projects. I know I will get back to it and I always do.

Once, many years ago, a fellow model club member told me he didn't know what to build next - he didn't have any ideas. I stood there in stunned silence!

[mademan]

If I ever get stuck on a 1:25 project, or have no want to build. I go work on 1 of the 1:1s..... helps having a few fullscale projects around too.

[Tom Setzer]

Recharge and re-inspire by taking the time off to feed your head. Read, watch documentaries, go places, travel, take photographs . . .go to car shows. All these things will help.

You should always feed your brain,and a good book is a great way! I'm always researching Ancient/Medievll History and Military History.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Tom Setzer

[tubbs]

i really never run out of things or ideas, hence, the millions and millions of projects i have started. i guess what happens to me is a true "builders block". when at the bench, i have mental lapses on just how to make my idea a reality. kind of "oh, what part from what kit will work for this?" or just how to go about scratching something up. hope that makes sense.

Edited August 23, 2012 by tubbs