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.
Michel Verschuere said on January 5, 2019
Great post Tom, I always thought highly of fellow modelers. Now we have expert insight why! Thanks for sharing!
Dan DeSilva said on January 5, 2019
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.
Jeff Bailey said on January 5, 2019
Just as I suspected: modeling DOES do beneficial things to your body and soul!
Robert Royes said on January 5, 2019
Vindication !
david leigh-smith said on January 5, 2019
Thanks for posting this, Tom. Excellent.
Tom Cleaver said on January 5, 2019
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.
August Horvath said on January 5, 2019
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!!
Gary Wiley said on January 6, 2019
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. 🙂
Tom Cleaver said on January 6, 2019
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.
Tony Prince said on January 6, 2019
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!!!
David Mills said on January 6, 2019
Thanks for this Tom! Good to hear others are finally catching on !