Why do we build models

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Why do we build models

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26 November 2012 at 11:40 #37861
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
I am in a philosophical mood today and have found myself considering why so many different people take up model building.

We all know that its a very expensive and for the most part lonely pastime. and yet there are thousands of model makers beavering away in sheds, spare bedrooms and dining rooms creating some amazing models (most of which will never be seen by anyone else)

After much thought I have distilled my own reasons down to keeping my brain active with challenges that are still within my physical capabilities.

SO THE QUESTION IS……WHY DO YOU BUILD MODELS?

I'm not looking for deep and meaningful explanations just the simple basic reason that drives you forward.
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26 November 2012 at 11:40 #7973
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
26 November 2012 at 12:41 #37862
david the newbe
Participant
@davidthenewbe
hi paul

a good question i do it for the achievement knowing that at the end of the build i will have something to be proud of and if any one asks where did you get that from its nice i can say i build it

dave
26 November 2012 at 13:14 #37864
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
Like motorcycles……….it's in my blood…………….my grandad taught me how to carve and whittle model boats at the tender age of 8 just after my life had been saved from drowning by a lifeboat man…………..and it was a way even in those days of releasing energy for me.

I couldn't give it up for the life of me.

neil.
26 November 2012 at 13:17 #37865
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Because it's the only thing I've ever tried that I'm any good at!
Seriously, when I was ten years old I hero-worshipped the guy who lived next -door. He was 17 or 18, built control-line model aircraft; played guitar; wore cuban-heeled winkle-pickers and drainpipe pants; had suede 'brothel-creepers', a drape-coat with a velvet collar, a DA haircut and rode a 250cc Matchless. I won't tell you about the weaponry he carried in that coat – I didn't find out until we were having a pint after work about 15 years later. By that time I had designed my first model kits and was playing paid guest-spots on vocals and guitar in local folk clubs. I never did make the winkles and B-Cs etc but I had outgrown my hero and the modelling was now a permanent part of what I did and who I was.
Since then I've dropped modelling (wife #1 objected to it) and taken it up again; changed from aircraft to boats and been catapulted into model electronics – from which I'm on the point of retiring – but I intend to start modelling again as soon as my new workshop is finished. I've even bought someone else's kit to build! It's in the blood, Paul, and there's no getting away from it. Like Mum used to say, it keeps me off the streets!
Dave M
27 November 2012 at 08:11 #37872
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Always been making things, and when Berengar was given a cheap Woolworths RTr it rekindled my interest in boating again. As we couldnt run it with real boats, I dusted off my 25 year old HMS Jersey and finished the similar vintage manchester , and made the landing craft for him so we could all boat.

Making models is one thing, but making models that DO things is so much more satisfying. Modelling is fitted in between various other things and so my penchant for variety rather than railings. There is nothing more satisfying than turning up at the pond with the wow factor.

Obviously now I have a mansion to keep up from the proceeds from MB articles, but it wont stop keeping in touch with the common man.

Ashley
27 November 2012 at 10:11 #37875
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
'In the blood' is a recurring comment and I have to admit that I feel a similar urge to be creative but the term implies an hereditary trait that I simply can't apply to myself.

An obvious conclusion is that we have some deep seated need or desire to create miniature versions of real life objects but whether it be boat, car or plane I still fail to understand the underlying driving force that pushes us to create these objects.

In some cases it can be simply assigned to the pursuit of money with which to maintain our mansion lifestyle but for the rest of us I still feel that it is something more ethereal.

Looking forward to comments.

Paul
27 November 2012 at 11:53 #37876
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Childhood, I reckon. Does everyone who makes boats used to be a closet Airfix modeller?? I still have a small box of airfix planes I made as a lad.

I hope that Berengar will be a "dad that can" (eventually, of course) rather than one who doesnt, even if he doesnt do too much at the moment, as he seen me make things for him since he was a very small boy (particularly proud of my Bob the builder yard) and building double extensions (foundation-up) on me own.. I know plenty of people who dont, and they dont do much else either.

Obviously the money is a draw and nowadays I would not get out of bed to fiddle with the latest craft if i knew it wasnt going to add another east wing or something to the pile.

Mind you a Rolls like Colin has for boating would be nice.

Ashley
27 November 2012 at 13:02 #37877
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
You do mean sausage rolls don't you Ashley?

Colin
27 November 2012 at 14:55 #37879
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
yes, yes Colin… of course sausage rolls..

The car park still has dents in it, it isnt used to such heavy "sausage rolls", we park our cycles and trailers on the grass

Ashley

I find hobbies come and go, Music has always been there, with the Sea cadets as a marching band, then a 5-piece gigging band, orchestra, the Surrey Yeomanry association band and various others (including my own)…motorcycles earlier on, girls of course (what a time waster), but making things, models or castles for my soldier collection/whatever…that has always been there somewhere.

Time is the thing of course. All the better models (to me) seem to be made by…more mature modellers. They have the time and dedication. I would love to be able to produce a really good model, but i just dont have the time, or more properly, am unable to devote the time needed to produce a really good model.

Mine are built to a standard.. the paint is crisp, all the details fitted are crisp, and the models have a good sense of proportion and "that extra" that instantly defines the model as being a….whatever, and so I do the different, to compensate partly, but being different is what I like to do.

Ashley sorry if thats a bit long winded
28 November 2012 at 21:00 #37895
Peter Fitness
Participant
@peterfitness34857
I've been building models for as long as I can remember, starting in the late 1940's with balsa model aeroplane kits I used to buy from the local newsagent for about a shilling. They were static models and everything had to be carved from the supplied balsa block and sheet. I progressed to free flight rubber or Cox powered models but got sick of retrieving them from the only tree in a 150 acre paddock! After marriage, and children, I eventually returned to aero modelling, this time RC, although I built an extensive array of plastic models kits. As my reflexes slowed I turned to model boats, where I am today.

As to why I build models – simply because I like it and have always done so, no other reason. Like Ashley, I have always made "things", ranging from a 40' x 20' farm shed to furniture, wooden toys etc, and will continue to do so for as long as I'm able.

Peter.
29 November 2012 at 09:24 #37901
John Shire
Participant
@johnshire55937
Colin

Which model of Rolls Royce do you drive?

I have a modest collection of classic British cars consisting of a 1930 Bentley Speed Six, Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 3, 1997 Bentley Turbo R and a 1951 Bentley S1 under restoration

My every day car is a Bentley Arnage T but I don't really like it as it doesn't have the style of previous models and I am always keen to know what other Rolls drivers think.

John

Edited By John Shire on 29/11/2012 09:29:30
29 November 2012 at 14:22 #37906
John Shire
Participant
@johnshire55937
Colin

Paul has just explained what Ashley means and I have to admit that I was confused by the sausage roll comments but now I understand the joke although as a Rolls Royce aficionado I do think that it is a little extreme that you converted a Rolls Royce into a fast food van.

John

PS I can appreciate you calling it Colin's Rolls.

Edited By John Shire on 29/11/2012 14:23:51
29 November 2012 at 14:37 #37907
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
John, .

I was going to reply pink and six wheels but you have the truth of it.

I may have been wrong on the day Colin graced our pond then, it must have been a Daimler…

Ashley
29 November 2012 at 14:56 #37908
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
It was a Mazda 6 actually Ashley…..

John, Ashley has a somewhat offbeat sense of humour to go with his very entertaining models. Sounds like you have a collection of cars to envy there.

Colin
29 November 2012 at 15:26 #37909
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
Posted by Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 29/11/2012 14:56:40:John, Ashley has a somewhat offbeat sense of humour

OFFBEAT……….he's positively crackers!!!
29 November 2012 at 17:36 #37910
Boatman126
Participant
@boatman126
Hi

I build to live. I have been building models to commision for over twelve years now and have completed over 180 boats.

Most of my models are built to commision for private boat owners who love to have a model replicated of their own boat.

I have taken commisions for many many different types of boat.

I do not see much of my wife as the workshop has to take priority.
29 November 2012 at 17:38 #37911
Boatman126
Participant
@boatman126
Sorry I forgot to mention, all the models I build are scratch built.
30 November 2012 at 17:51 #37933
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Boatman126

Your driving force is financial and I suspect that many modellers would envy your ability to turn a hobby into a source of income. But what was your driving force before you started to build commissions?

Paul
1 December 2012 at 17:34 #37971
Boatman126
Participant
@boatman126
Hi

Yes you are correct although I still love the idea of creating something from nothing.

To turn a flat piece of timber into a wonderful shape that replicates a real boat and gives joy to the new proud owners is a hard but wonderful job to have.

My driving force before I became involved full time?

I guess the pleasure of working with my hands as I and my farther before me have always done.

It is never the quite the same doing the modelling as a job of work, some of the fun is lost. Although to see a customer with a tear in the eye when he/she sees a perfect replica of his/her own boat makes it all worth it.
3 December 2012 at 06:40 #38003
ARTHUR COLLETT
Participant
@arthurcollett48040
Reading through all the comments on to how and why we build models one thing is very clear. We all have the urge to create. there is no limit to the creative mind. I started a few years ago when i swopped a radio control racing car at the track for a partially assembled Smit Nederland. This build went horribly wrong for the owner and i had to improvise on most of the superstructure.

Building models is my mind therapy. This is where you create. This gives me the chance to switch off from the daly workload where you create for someone else.

Model car racing …. Something in the past.

Improvise Dont Compromise

Regards

Arthur
15 December 2012 at 09:30 #38182
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Why do we do it?

Not so philosophical today.

I agree with Arthur about the mental exercise which I enjoy especially when I am designing but I tried to do some prototype building yesterday and gave up with cold fingers when conditions became to extreme in my rain lashed shed. It was one of those days when the power kept tripping out, the heater refused to do anything more than get vaguely warm and the saw blades snap.

I do envy Bob with his converted bedroom and as for Dave M in his custom built fully heated, super deluxe workshop with hot and cold running handmaidens……well I can dream!

Paul

Perhaps I should take the easy option and become a website monitor or better still an editor

Edited By Paul T on 15/12/2012 09:32:45
15 December 2012 at 14:10 #38185
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Perhaps I should take the easy option and become a website monitor or better still an editor

In which case you'd be on duty 24 hours a day Paul….
15 December 2012 at 15:54 #38186
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
What!……..24 Hours a day?

Just think of all that overtime!

Bob
15 December 2012 at 16:09 #38187
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
And no opportunity to spend it Bob!

Colin
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