freakshow12 Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Just curious to what you guys think on this subject. I have been building models for over 30 yrs now and they are a big part of my life and who I am. Problem is, lately I can't get motivated or excited to work on anything. I go to my work space and look at all the stuff on the bench that is in every stage from the idea stage to the final touches stage and just can't work! I just sit there and look. I examine parts, I think, I just can't seem to push foreword. The rest of my life is great, maybe I work too much, my kids keep us busy with sports and stuff but geez. Maybe I just need to start a simple build? I know I can't be the only one who has felt like this before. How do some of you guys forge through it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffs396 Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Is the Torino gonna suffer because of this Fred? LOL We all go thru this at one point or another, but car modeling is in our blood! You'll get your MoJo back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingSix Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Happens to me every time the weather warms up, but I know I'll be back again when the leaves start to change... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakshow12 Posted November 27, 2013 Author Share Posted November 27, 2013 No Jeff, the Torino is all I am interested in at this point. It's very close to being ready for pics of final suspension mockups. Then I will tear it down and send it on. Check that forum tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 The easiest way to deal with it is to just put it aside until you get the urge again. Could be a week, a month. a year... whatever, but if you like building model kits, the urge will come back. Until it does, don't worry about it. The "problem" will solve itself. There's nothing worse that forcing yourself to build a model. At that point it goes from "hobby" to "work," and that defeats the whole purpose. Let it go until the urge comes back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 The easiest way to deal with it is to just put it aside until you get the urge again. Could be a week, a month. a year... whatever, but if you like building model kits, the urge will come back. Until it does, don't worry about it. The "problem" will solve itself. There's nothing worse that forcing yourself to build a model. At that point it goes from "hobby" to "work," and that defeats the whole purpose. Let it go until the urge comes back. I agree. Even if you never get the desire back, and sell everything model related you have, so be it. People come in and out of this and many other hobbies all the time, but if you're no longer interested, spend your time doing something else. Life is too short to make yourself try to do something your heart isn't into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmvw guy Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 You too? I've been in kind of a slump lately. Our club desolved for one thing which was a huge part of my motivation. I'm looking on here and finding myself reading through most of the off topic posts, which probably dosen't help. Where is the insperation? I'm waiting to feel it. I think Harry is right, "There's nothing worse that forcing yourself to build a model". I hope it returnes but, in the mean time I am working on other projects around the home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 I myself have been building on and off for 50 years. I have quit building no less than 4 times. I sold off everything including tools. Eack time I started up again and had to purchase everything all over. Now I just put the stuff away and wait till the mood strikes again. This forum has helped a bunch in keeping the motivation going. Still once in a while I will stop for a week or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 (edited) I think Harry is right, "There's nothing worse that forcing yourself to build a model". It is a hobby and it's supposed to be fun, a passion, and a lift from everyday life. If it's not those things, there's no reason to do it. For my own work, when I get disinterested or ticked off at a build, I put it aside and work on something else. There are often three or more builds on my bench at various stages. When I'm not motivated but want to work, I'll go up to the bench and look them over. Soon I'm hacking on one of them. When I've had enough of everything, and the model room is a mess. I'll pack up everything and clean the room. Once the bench is back to new, I feel better. I keep all my unfinished projects (yea, like 30 or more) in boxes on the shelves directly above my bench. When all else fails, I'll just go through some of the boxes and grok the projects. Eventually something grabs my interest, whether it's a small step, or something that required a skill that I didn't have the last time. Next thing I know I'm working on something. There are times I'll work on something a day or a week, only to box it back up again. But it's one step closer to completion for the next time. Edited November 27, 2013 by Tom Geiger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingSix Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 It is a hobby and it's supposed to be fun, a passion, and a lift from everyday life. If it's not those things, there's no reason to do it. For my own work, when I get disinterested or ticked off at a build, I put it aside and work on something else. There are often three or more builds on my bench at various stages. When I'm not motivated but want to work, I'll go up to the bench and look them over. Soon I'm hacking on one of them. When I've had enough of everything, and the model room is a mess. I'll pack up everything and clean the room. Once the bench is back to new, I feel better. I keep all my unfinished projects (yea, like 30 or more) in boxes on the shelves directly above my bench. When all else fails, I'll just go through some of the boxes and grok the projects. Eventually something grabs my interest, whether it's a small step, or something that required a skill that I didn't have the last time. Next thing I know I'm working on something. There are times I'll work on something a day or a week, only to box it back up again. But it's one step closer to completion for the next time. That is pretty much how I handle it, when I get a "block" .. there is zero sense in forcing it, you'll never be happy with the results. But being on this board and a few others helps a lot as far as "keeping the ideas coming" .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Repstock Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 I just push on through. If I had to be in the "mood" every time I sat down, I'd never get anything done. My projects are usually drawn out and time intensive. I feel like I owe the family a completed project every now and then to justify the time I spend on it. It is just a hobby, but if I'm not moving forward, I feel like I'm wasting my time. I also find that completing some little part of the task sometimes makes the whole project look better. This is just me, I'm not implying my way is the right way, just an opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 I feel like I owe the family a completed project every now and then to justify the time I spend on it. When I go through my unfinished projects I've come to the conclusion that I've invested more hours in the models that aren't finished than those that are! Still, those are models that I developed skills on that went into models I actually finished. And any time spent at the bench is time well spent, nobody said you had to finish anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 I get in a "building slump" every now and then, and usually it doesn't last long. As for lookin' at your projects or model kits, they won't get done by lookin' at 'em is what I tell myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Repstock Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 When I go through my unfinished projects I've come to the conclusion that I've invested more hours in the models that aren't finished than those that are! Still, those are models that I developed skills on that went into models I actually finished. And any time spent at the bench is time well spent, nobody said you had to finish anything. Nobody on the board has, but the wife... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 (edited) I've found that when I'm getting burned out on anything, whatever it may be, a couple of long hikes or some other intense exercise usually makes me see things in a better light, and helps to get me back on track. Just doing something else entirely different helps the model-building interest re-awaken too, which is why I guess I'm lucky in having a lot of interests. There's always SOMETHING that seems like fun. I also tend to run up against blocks on models sometimes, especially if I'm not entirely sure how to progress to get the result or effect I want. Having multiple projects in various stages of completion usually allows me to find another model to make progress on while waiting for the muse. Edited November 28, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 When it happens to me I just try a different type of build or model build....factory stock,custom,crazy,diorama,drag,farm,construction related or try a different build theme...you just need something to inspire you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDano85gt Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 This happens somewhat often! i have tons of kits tons of wip's various stages and i get to the bench and sit and all i can do is stare stoooopppid at my "stuff" or BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH as the wife calls it (junk as well) if only she knew how much fun it is!! I Tend to get out of these slumps simply by hooking up with other members via talking on the phone or texting and texting photos back and fourth of progress and tossing ideas back and fourth and this gets me motivated again especially when i get good comments and feedback from the forum here and people crying for more more! and updates! lol i've got "partner" builds going on with Bartster, and a very soon upcoming friendly buildoff with EvilBenny! All i will tip everyone off about that is it involves ford Escorts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lombardo Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 When your passion returns, you will know it.........don't push it......it comes and goes, just like everything else in your life, it is all a series of ebbs and flows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Whalen Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Hi, Finishing a build is a great motivator. Other motivators that work well are going to model shows, events that have the type of car you enjoy (for me its drag racing or hot rod shows), discussing your build on here with others as they will always have suggestions that help, and trying a new idea or technique. Ultimately - it the motivation isn't there do something else for a while till the motivation comes back - you'll know when this happens as you'll find yourself thinking about model building whilst doing something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakshow12 Posted November 28, 2013 Author Share Posted November 28, 2013 Wow. Thanks for the imput guys. Seems like I am not alone in this slump thing. Lots of good ideas here. I think some of it is that winter is solidly set in here. My 1:1 cars have been in storage for quite a while and I am just bummed out. I work about 70 hrs a wk on average then we chase our kids around and when that's done well I usually am too lol. I think the first thing I am going to do is give my area a good cleanup( I did get some new to me shelving) then I am going to get this take a turn Torino wrapped up as I am eager to see what we can turn out as a group. I will see how that goes and keep you posted. That's why I love this forum. We look out for our own. Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbill Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 i'm just back into building, and I use it to wind down from life. some days I come home and right to the bench I go and get tons done, other times, I sand one seam, then come here and a few other places, and then do something else. I find if I don't set a goal where plastic is concerned, it comes together by itself, as in, I sit down and putter and before I know it, something got accomplished. when it seems like work, let it set, it'll be there when you're ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 it'll be there when you're ready. Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 1. buy more kits 2. read off topic posts until you decide you cannot take it anymore and you might as well build something 3. sit in your hobby room and consume some vegetable matter, then look around and I guarantee it won't be long before you pick up something and start working. totally works for me. one love jb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymcminn Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 I'll tend to get burned out on building a type of car and will move on to something different for a while. I've gone from classics to muscle cars to hot rods to customs and am now in my exotics phase. The nice thing about having a big collection is that there's always something in the stash to choose from when I'm in the mood for something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercman Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 What I'll do is build something different. Maybe a plane or ship, or a figure model. Somethiung just to break the monotony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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