This ain't "kid stuff," kiddo! :-)
Then came the moment that recovering addicts pray never happens: He began lurking the aisles of hobby stores, searching for ever more obscure historical models, then buying them and building them at the desk where he once graded papers. He also noticed side effects. “Building models helps my hand-eye coordination, and following instructions and reading specifications sharpens my mental powers,” he says.
Great post Tom, I always thought highly of fellow modelers. Now we have expert insight why! Thanks for sharing!
Knew this well years ago. I am 50 now, and still building and researching. I know that when I get down, next to appreciating my wife and my dogs, a session having some modelling work really helps me.
Dan.
Just as I suspected: modeling DOES do beneficial things to your body and soul!
Vindication !
Thanks for posting this, Tom. Excellent.
I'll just say I wouldn't have had the career I have, were it not for modeling setting me off studying history and asking questions.
There is a growing body of evidence that activities similar to modeling can help stave off dementia, maybe even Alzheimer's, by keeping a greater variety of neural pathways open. I am certain that, say, watching football on TV does not do this! There is Alzheimer's in my family history. I hope modeling will help keep my brain together. Even if not, I hope the mental health argument will at least work on my wife to placate her after the next hobby shop credit card charge!
Thanks for sharing Tom. As far as I can tell the only real side affect is AMS, which as we all know can be very difficult to escape. 🙂
There is, actually, a cure for AMS. Realize that 99.99999999% of the people who will ever look at you model only know enough to say "nice model." All AMS does is deny you the opportunity to enjoy what you're doing. If you're doing all that because you want to, for your enjoyment, go ahead and do it. If you're doing it for the response from others (which 99% of AMSers are doing it for) you are ruining your own good time. The late Al Superczynski was right: Make your model the way you want.
OCD and Aspergers (common conditions among people in this hobby) are super-powers when you know what they are and how they affect you and what you can do with them. When you don't know, they're a curse to you and everyone who has to deal with you. Therapy helps. I speak from experience. Putting my Asperger's to work on my writing makes good books that sell and make money. Keeping it under control in my hobby creates fun.
As a firm believer in the therapeutic aspects of this hobby (and to be fair - many others) I support wholeheartedly the views in your post, Tom. This hobby has developed my hand/eye co-ordination, memory, computer research skills, sense of history, and just plain old-fashioned satisfaction in enjoying the results of my labours. Since my wife is a botanical artist we even have complimentary interests in many respects. I have been modelling for some 65 years now & it has been an enjoyable experience all the way (although I can't say the same for my credit card!).
The bonus is that you get to meet so many other similarly afflicted people!
Thanks for this Tom! Good to hear others are finally catching on !