How do I get over this DANG Builder's Block?

[SlotDaddy1963]

Does this happen to anyone else?

How do I get past it?

Backstory... I have been building models, in one form or another since I was 12. From cars to military, back to cars, back to military, to slotcars now back to cars.

I have always had a thing for accessories and, I guess the word is peripheral, items for my models. So much so in some cases that I get BIGGED down in them and loose sight of what I wanted to do in the first place.

A few months ago I sold ALL (75) my slotcars with the intent to start building 1/25 cars again... I bought several kits and broke out some of my older stuff too. Started watching ALOT of YouTube videos and everything. But I got side-tracked with making 1/25 guitars (I got the "Stacy David '32 Roadster" and saw the guitar in that kit and, as usual, went overboard)I got a flathead ford built and that's as far as my car building has gotten ALL YEAR!

I start these "side" projects and get into them pretty heavy, run into a snag, and instead of working thru or around the problem, move on to another "side" project.

Adult A.D.D. maybe? I have never built any kit right out of the box as far back as I can remember.

Been my problem for a long time.

Am I alone in this, or do any other members get this was? ...to any extent?

Any help or opinions would be appreciated, greatly!

Thanks,

Chuck

[Ramfins59]

It's pretty normal for most of us to go through a "building block" every now and then. Last year was my most productive building year ever in that I finished a total of 21 models. So far this year I think I've only finished 3, and I haven't touched anything in almost 3 months.

Once the weather got nice I started spending more time outside and doing some household chores. We've had a Handyman do a bunch of jobs around the house that I'm unable to do and I've been chatting with him and watching and learning while he's been here. I just haven't had the desire to sit at my basement workbench these last few months. Now that Fall is right around the corner I know that I will get back to my bench because it won't be as pleasant outside. I've got dozens of 1950's car kits, promos and old builtups to work on to try to enlarge my collection.

I'm pretty sure that after this Labor Day weekend I'll be back to spending 4 or 5 hours a day at my bench cranking out the cars again.

I wouldn't worry too much Chuck. Your desire and drive to build will return as strong as ever before you know it. Try jumpstarting it with a simple Snap Kit or a quick Box Stock, or even a quick Curbside Promo to get those juices flowing again.

[randx0]

It sounds to me like you like to work on other stuff . Just enjoy that . No one says you have to complete anything. As long as your finding the time to exercise your creative side and having fun doing it ,it doesn't matter man , just go with it.

[slusher]

I am there now with 3 builds on hold until my drive returns.

[blunc]

don't feel bad, I've been on a 30 year hiatus due to life, other hobbies (I really like building computers...) and lack of space to resume my (30 year old) projects.

One of the silver linings is that I get lots of ideas from this forum and the urge to pick up my exacto and get my old projects finished so I can move on to some fascinating ideas I've been percolating.

[SlotDaddy1963]

I do enjoy the part of it that lets me do a variety of things I just wish I could get something FINISHED. I think part of my problem is, to some extent, my strong desire to resin-cast

these side projects. For the most part you really CAN'T finish if you're just going to break it back down to replicate them. The Guitars, the mower etc.

Heck, I've even got a washer and dryer in the works... I scratch-built a pair YEARS ago and now they look just awful, LOL I originally made them to go in the bed of a pickup I had made a hydraulic lift-gate for... and, as per usual, didn't finish.

I think I'm going to rule out, from the start, casting ANYTHING that doesn't get finished first. It's not like I get anything cast anyway

[southpier]

maybe "peripherals" is your hobby. just go with it and see where it takes you.

[ZTony8]

My motivation to build waxes and wanes too, just like the moon.Best thing I can think of to bust a slump is to get a simple snap kit and spend a weekend just detail painting it,practice your foiling on it,and maybe throw on a coat of pearl clear if it's already molded in color. I did that a few years ago with a Revell '57 Chevy snapper and it came out looking great.I still admire it every time I pull it from it's storage box.

Edited August 29, 2014 by ZTony8

[JTalmage]

It sounds silly, but build a few snaptites. I'm doing that now, but I'm painting them and making them as nice as I can. It's fun and quick, and plus it gets kits out of the way that I've put off for a while. Check out my '94 Camaro thread and my '74 cuda thread. 2 models in almost 2 weeks.

[crazyjim]

Not a problem - just send all your kits to me and I'll take care of them. LOL.

I've been fortunate in that I've never experienced "builders block". I started building model cars in 1958 and haven't stopped yet.

[SlotDaddy1963]

Picked up a revell snap-tite Impala police car and I can't even bring myself to just build the dang thing... got a police computer in the works for the front seat, along with making some custom decals:

maybe my wife is right (don't tell her I said that) and I should embrace the inner OCD

edit: sorry for the swear

Edited September 4, 2014 by SlotDaddy1963

[StevenGuthmiller]

Sounds to me like you're just getting side tracked because you're trying to get too detailed. I used to have that problem myself. I would concentrate on heavy detailing & never finish anything. Some guys can spend 3 or 4 years on a build with no problem at all. But if you're like me & have the attention span of a hamster, you just keep jumping from project to project never finishing anything because you lose interest. What I've done for the past few years is to just concentrate on simple builds. Curbside or simpler builds of more unusual subjects keeps my interest long enough to finish them up. At least that seems to have helped my production. I used to finish 1 or 2 kits in a good year, now I average 1 per month. I understand, it's not a race, but unless I can keep my attention piqued, I just as well give it up or I'll have a whole shop full of unfinished projects that I'll just have to get rid of someday. Steve

[Speedfreak]

Maybe you should start your own 'after-market' company, specializing in the things you like to build and work on. Unique accessories for models.

[blunc]

there is NO SUCH THING as too detailed.

Edited September 12, 2014 by blunc

[southpier]

I prefer to think of it as "shipfitter's disease". not a bad affliction, but one with which must be dealt.

[Guest]

Whenever I start getting burned out on a detailed build, I grab an old kit (usually an AMT metal axle), glue the hood shut and build it as a curbside. When you're only concentrating on the body and interior, they build up fast! When they're setting on the shelf, they look as good as anything else.

[oldnslow]

I probably have a dozen builds in different stages, build until you hit a snag, then either work thru or move to another until you work out what you need to do to the first. The adult ADD problem is probably common to all of us at some time or another.