Timely Reminder: Stow Your Projects Securely

Ground shear after the 7.1 Quake on 4 Sep 2010 @ 4:35am

Okay guys my home town Christchurch New Zealand was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. Aside from the fact that it was damaging to property, I can only describe the sight of my modelling bench and garage as modelling mayhem!

On my bench, the drill press had fallen over onto the wall where fortunately it stayed! I had models in varying stages of completion on my work bench (still do!) The models on my shelves were safe and stayed where they were. However I had one on a bookshelf, one on the top of a pile of boxes in an open model box itself and one on a display base I had made. These three models had shown that kits of aircraft have all the aerodynamics of a falling brick!

They nose dived onto the ground and proceeded to break apart, nothing irreparable but distressing none the less! So I thought that it’s a timely reminder on keeping the work bench tidy and the models safe if your not working on them rather than what I currently have with them spread out all over. Time to get or build somewhere to store the partially completed models while I work on the one I want to finish.

Also I think it a good time to make a comment on what most modellers suffer from from time to time, namely lack of motivation or interest in finishing a particular model. You’ve struck a problem with the model , the decals are cracking to pieces, the paint work has peeled or is not turning out how you want. There are fit issues your having trouble working out. you lose interest or worse become frustrated and bored and so you go off to do other projects. I think that if your having troubles with a kit put it down and walk, away being frustrated with a model is a sure way of making it worse, take a deep breath push away from the work bench and go do something else.

Get a snack or a drink, look over your research, go look at the models you’ve finished and try to relax. If after a break your still wound up I recommend you leave it for the next day. It’s surprising how easily you can work out resolutions to problems after a good rest and you can look at it objectively. Things that are obvious to you now that weren’t the night before when you were over riding the urge to bin the model and or stomp it to little pieces. Our hobby is about patience and learning new skills but most of all it’s about ENJOYING building model kits.

This is what we do to de-stress, relax, unwind to get some peace in our busy lives. (Well at least for me) So if it stops being that and becomes something else time to give it a break for now. I’m the first to admit sometimes completing a model that has tormented me during the build is never easy, but I’ve also found that sometimes you need to persevere to finish a model. I have made it a goal to finish my models and not to leave them almost done. I have quite a few I need to finish and I’m working my way through them. I’ll get them finished clear my bench and start a new project.

Which will most likely be where to store the completed models, I’m trying to find them good adoptive homes, if you know of someone wanting one let me know! Till next time Cheers!

Happy Modelling

NzFlyBoy

by NZ Fly Boy

Avid WW2 aviation enthusiast and modeller. Been making model kits since age nine and I now model mostly ww2 model airplanes. (my wife is an understanding one!)