Scale Modeling In The Time Of Corona
Self isolation, social distancing, work from home...it looks like ideal time for scale modeling.
Sounds like a wet dream of every modeler, but somehow it is not working for me. Maybe it is because I use this hobby as a decompression tool at „normal“ times. Usually I fight with daily routines for my bench time, I plan what I will do (priming, masking, etc...) days ahead considering limited free time.
Now, when situation is completely different, and there is a lot of free time available, I don't have that need for scale modeling...I fell like..nah...I can do that canopy tomorrow, or just sit at the bench looking kit instruction and actually doing nothing.
Or, maybe it is due that I don't have kit stash, and not sure that I will be able to find next one, so I'm hesitating to finish current one 🙂
How do you deal with it?
Regards,
Dušan
You probably just "burned out". You need to do something other. Not modeling. Read a book, for example. ))
Yes, I know...I don't have a problem dealing with my free time without scale modeling. I'm just curious how other people feel about this hobby in this changed times.
Gluing-up little plastic airplanes, cars 'n stuff...awesome ANYTIME...awesome ALL THE TIME. Dusan, you are READY, man. Keep the glue pot open and the X-Actos sharp.
ok, tonight pre-shading all the way...:)
I've been dividing my time between building WWII Navy planes and reading about the US campaign in the South Pacific, for inspiration. Just finished "Neptune's Inferno" about the Guadalcanal campaign, now reading "A Dawn Like Thunder" about Torpedo squadron 8.
Nice, staying in subject.
Neptune's Inferno was an excellent read. I've delved a bit into fiction this past week with "Crash Dive" which is a fast paced WWII submarine thriller series that I can't seem set aside. It really makes me want to build up a Revell 1:72 Gato, just like any piece of non-fiction would do, for any other subject matter... Read about this.. want to build that now... so on... haha Gotta love hobbies, whatever way the wind blows!
Herewith an unpaid self-serving advertisement:
e-book editions are available for "Pacifiic Thunder: The US Navy's Central Pacific Campaign August 1943 - October 1944" and "Tidal Wave: From Leyte Gulf to Tokyo Bay".
Just sayin, y'know? 🙂
Modelers might be a little better off mentally for the social distancing, we do it already to some degree. It helps me being already retired. Reading a book is also sound advice. As they said in the sixties " Hang in there".
Working from home, and by default having limited ability to socially distance myself from those whom I'm responsible for (household), I have had little additional time to direct to models... However, that said, I painted my first SEA camo this past week on a Super Tweet, and feel thoroughly accomplished. Also wrapping up old builds that have (for some time) only need trivial little things completed.
All that said, still trying to balance house work, responsibilities, among other things I normally don't have time to do..
Well I understand how you feel. The forced aspect of it all, the uncertainty of the immediate future, all adds to a feeling of futility about even things we normally enjoy. This I think is natural. I experienced it leading up to and during the 2nd Gulf war. I was generally a happy sailor, but bit by bit I stopped doing the daily things that brought me joy. Exercise, reading, listening to my (I'm dating myself) walkman. When would war start? Do the Iraqis really have WMDs? I am the Chief I must set the example for my sailors, I must remain vigilant! Yadda yadda. This actually increased my stress, but once I MADE myself return to my few pastimes, I was once again a happy sailor, even though the future was still uncertain. This is an unnatural situation we find ourselves in, and it is hard, and scary. Just know you are not alone in this feeling and it is ok. My advice is if you can, just start something, anything! It may help. I told my sailors then, and my work crew now "Control the things you can control, and try and not worry about the rest". Easier said than done, but the more things you find in life you control, even now, the more empowered you will feel. Just my two bits. Hang in there man!
Thank you all for your comments. I think that you maybe misunderstood me, maybe cos of my English. I'm not in a problem dealing with my time, nor I'm in a panic regarding this virus. I just expected that I will be enjoying this hobby more, as I normally do. I find it interesting how our brain changes due the circumstances. Different environment asks for different stress relief tools.
Thank you all again.
My club has launched a Corona Virus group build on our web site, so we can weekly interact with one another through this time. It's been a great way to stay connected. We're also going to hold our monthly club meeting via a Zoom call.
Hi Greg, could you please explain what is actually "group build"? How it works?
Thanks Dusan
Yep, IPMS Stockholm has a Skype group so we can sit at our kitchen tables and communicate what we do or think about. The annual expo normally held in April will be a virtual display of pictures of the models we intended to display.
Hi Dusan,
I hear a lot of stories about people frustrated with the corona curfew. Some predict that there will either be a baby boom in 9 months or a tsunami of couples breaking-up. Not me...
I enjoy the evenings just as before, reading or modeling. All external contact here in Belgium is over internet or some other cable means right now. In general, I think modelers like us have a better escape than others. After all, the workbench is there for all occasions: To relax after a full day of work or as a cave where you can hide from family members you've seen too often during the house-arrest time...
I just want all of you to stay put and healthy! We will prevail, together we can handle this and stop the spread!
I think It is purely psycological. It turns out that limited time acts as a booster to our passion for building. It also may have to do with the fact that model building was a part of everyday life, in some sort of balance with it. Now everyday life has changed. We do have more free time, but we have very few everyday activities "out there" that we had before, so the balance has changed, each of us reacting differentely to this change.
Since this hobby is our second life, I know that no matter how little motivated I feel sometimes, it will all become magic when I sit at my building desk...
...and all these smells of the funny stuff we have at our workbenches will add to the inevitable romance...
So go build something, my friend! For as long as you like. Use all of your free time if you wish, or use the time you used "before".
Now, where is my MEK bottle?
Stay safe Dusan and keep smiling!
All the best!
On Sunday alone I got the cockpits for my single and dual seat Mig-21s built. Got my A3D almost ready for the fuselage halves to go together and got the resin cockpit of my S-3 Viking prepped to fit (Black Dog did a great job) and also gave the front office a base coat. (Although as of now I don't have the correct grey for the rear cockpit yet.)
What I have found is that while I really enjoy solitude (a good thing, since I'm a writer) what I enjoy is voluntary solitude - the kind I can break with a sit-down with a friend over coffee, a run to the LHS to hang out, etc. Having to plan like you're assaulting Omaha Beach to go out the front door is not the same thing.
Right now modeling is in third place:
Taking care of SWMBO now that she's back from the nursing home while she recovers from the hip replacement surgery at the beginning of the month after she fell.
Writing two book proposals, finishing a book and doing two major articles (thank goodness writing is a job best done at home, alone). We need the income.
Did some modeling. Am going through the Shelf of Doom and deciding to either finish or finish off the projects found there.
Tom is right. There is a difference between choosing to have some down time and being forced to have down time. I have found the key is to pace yourself and not burn out on one thing. I work on models for a couple of hours. I read a lot. I work on my N Scale railroad, and then I splash paint on a canvas (I'm not good enough to call it painting). My wife and I walk for an hour each morning, which only works if you live in a place that is letting you do outdoor fitness. Of course, it is difficult to actually get some time without worrying about what is going on, but exercise helps, along with a model or two. I have found that limiting the amount of time I spend watching or reading the news has a very positive effect on my mood. As far as getting models and supplies, I have found that a lot of the mail order model companies are still shipping, so I have done my part for the economy by ordering stuff. Best of luck and stay safe!
I din't bother to read the above comments, but, I kinda feel like we need a "self-quarantine" group build. Anything you build while "hunkered down" thoughts?