Corinthian Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 ...and it feels good. Well, not all actually. I didn't sell kits that were given to me by you guys (because that would be an act of ingratitude). I also didn't sell the half-built ones because, well, no one would buy them anyway. What I sold were kits that I bought by meself and never built. Kits that I thought would be great when I would build it, but eventually just became clutter in my room. Kits that I am no longer interested in because newer, better model kits exist. Kits that I do not have time to build now or in the future. I feel like I've broken a barrier of sorts, breaking that piece of the past when I was morbidly obese and didn't care except focus on my little plastic things which no one other than people in the same hobby really appreciates. And that isn't saying much since people in the hobby can also be particularly vicious, nasty backstabbers who just spoiled the hobby for their anal retentiveness. No longer am I itching to get a new model kit. Nor am I salivating for the latest one churned out by the factories. I see a model and I go "Hmmm... Ok." at best, and utterly dismissive at worst. No, it's not because they built it wrong, or it's inaccurate. But rather I just recall my time with the hobby club and just how anal retentive some people can be, and that spoiled the hobby for me. I guess I didn't want to end up like them, like the perpetual loser (yes, I'm being frank here) who continues to work in low paying jobs because he hasn't really progressed beyond model kits. Yep. He was so absorbed into the hobby, he could no longer deal with reality. Sure, "the hobby saved my life!" he once told me, but man... did it, really? Methinks it just enslaved him further. I say, he's got no life now except plastic.... I recently sold all my unbuilt kits to fund the bike restoration project as well as to pay the bills and some other stuff. I was recently informed that all my kits were sold (I sold it through a friend as I have no more contacts with the hobby "universe"). And so I now have some money, albeit little, but still money for the bills and added pocket money for my first trip overseas next month. And having sold it, it feels *really* good. Going on a hiatus from the hobby was one of the best things I've done. It was getting self-destructive, an unproductive sinkhole that just sucked funds and time and life. Mountaineering started the end of the hobby. Then mountain biking further put the nail on the coffin. Will I build again? Yes. When? I really dunno. As for now, I don't really GAS. I just don't want to end up like the loser guy I mentioned earlier. And at the rate things are going, I won't be.
sunday Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Glad to read that. Getting rid of negative habits is very good.
Corinthian Posted October 24, 2011 Author Posted October 24, 2011 Oh, and it has resulted in a marked improvement in my health. Since I took up mountaineering and mountain biking, I noticed my resistance to flu has become better. Before, every year I would get sick of the flu and be down for an entire week. Now, while I still get the flu, it lasts only for a few days, and I am ok enough to go to work, not needing to go on leave. Plus, I gained more friends, met more people, and learned much much more ever since I stopped the hobby.
Archie Pellagio Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Good to hear! I've just startedt packing again, going through some boxes I packed up three years ago, I found some kits I've been carrying around with my since I was a teenager, but haven't built yet. Italeri 1/72 Hellcat, Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire MkV and F4U-1D I keep telling myself I'll build them when I get the chance to brush up on my skills... Well Its been a while!
RETAC21 Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Will I build again? Yes. So I said 24 years ago... but...
DougRichards Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Good to hear! I've just startedt packing again, going through some boxes I packed up three years ago, I found some kits I've been carrying around with my since I was a teenager, but haven't built yet. Italeri 1/72 Hellcat, Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire MkV and F4U-1D I keep telling myself I'll build them when I get the chance to brush up on my skills... Well Its been a while! The kits will probably be fine, but the decals will, in all likelihood, be crap. Even Tamiya decals decay over time.
Guest JamesG123 Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 So I said 24 years ago... but... Yeah, I still have an M-51 Super Sherman sitting incomplete on the top shelf in my daughter's room, 5 years after starting it. Plus a scattering of others of which the youngest is a decade. What is sad is that its a perishable skill. My fine motor dexterity is shot and when I tried to build a 72nd scale M1A1 in A-Stan, it looked like crap. Oh well... We move on.
Archie Pellagio Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 The kits will probably be fine, but the decals will, in all likelihood, be crap. Even Tamiya decals decay over time. I'm not that old! The Corsair is from 1998 and I think it was a brand new off the production line kit then, the other two I bought more recently when I tried to get back into it but kept putting it all off.Mind you I remember building kits as a kid that were at least that old and they were generally fine, oh well, they get another year in the aging cellar at least now! I guess the big thing for me is most of my paints were bought last millennium...
Rickard N Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Phew, I thought the MerkaGavin was a gonner /R
X-Files Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 And that isn't saying much since people in the hobby can also be particularly vicious, nasty backstabbers who just spoiled the hobby for their anal retentiveness. Douchebags exist in every subsector of our species, the trick is to glide across the tops of their heads like a frog across lillypads. Will I build again? Yes. When? I really dunno. As for now, I don't really GAS. I just don't want to end up like the loser guy I mentioned earlier. And at the rate things are going, I won't be. What next, airsofting? At least that'll be a step in the right direction for your big Hank Scorpio scene.
mnm Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 Tomas, in all sincerity you probably did the right thing. Not wishing to discourage anyone, but this is part of the unbuilt kit collection of a deceased modeller. The family sold the bulk for peanuts.
Guest JamesG123 Posted October 24, 2011 Posted October 24, 2011 He could have opened his own hobby store...
Corinthian Posted October 25, 2011 Author Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) What next, airsofting? At least that'll be a step in the right direction for your big Hank Scorpio scene. Oh god no! Actually, several (read: many) of the guys at the hobby club are walts in differing degrees. From the forgivable (i.e., they just play airsoft), to deplorable (acting out as if they were real soldiers, going around with their airsoft attire and trying to look cool and such because they are in uniform). That's another reason why I left - it was getting to be full of walt types already. What's next? Am thinking diving. Or at least learn to really swim. I have this pipe dream of doing a triathlon, but it's only a pipe dream as I really don't know how to run hehehehe mnm: that is just... sad I guess. Before I sold the kits which were stored in my cabinet, I see them and think it was such a waste of money to spend all that much on pieces of plastic that doesn't give as much as fun as before. I didn't want my small room to be a storage area just for plastic. It was a bad reminder of the time and money wasted, and so these had to go. Seeing that pic you posted, IMO it is also a sign of selfishness. Why keep so many when you can't build them all within your lifetime? Might as well sell it for others to enjoy. Edited October 25, 2011 by TomasCTT
Sikkiyn Posted October 25, 2011 Posted October 25, 2011 Major Kudos ol' chap. Just don't go over-board with the fitness... in everything, moderation....
Corinthian Posted October 25, 2011 Author Posted October 25, 2011 Major Kudos ol' chap. Just don't go over-board with the fitness... in everything, moderation.... Thanks Sikkiyn. Yep, everything in moderation, that is the plan.
DougRichards Posted October 25, 2011 Posted October 25, 2011 I'm not that old! The Corsair is from 1998 and I think it was a brand new off the production line kit then, the other two I bought more recently when I tried to get back into it but kept putting it all off.Mind you I remember building kits as a kid that were at least that old and they were generally fine, oh well, they get another year in the aging cellar at least now! I guess the big thing for me is most of my paints were bought last millennium... I recently started a Tamiya Buffalo in 1/48, only to find that the decals broke up when I tried to apply them. The kit was only about 10 years old.
mnm Posted October 25, 2011 Posted October 25, 2011 mnm: that is just... sad I guess. Before I sold the kits which were stored in my cabinet, I see them and think it was such a waste of money to spend all that much on pieces of plastic that doesn't give as much as fun as before. I didn't want my small room to be a storage area just for plastic. It was a bad reminder of the time and money wasted, and so these had to go. Seeing that pic you posted, IMO it is also a sign of selfishness. Why keep so many when you can't build them all within your lifetime? Might as well sell it for others to enjoy. Well, Tomas, I suppose I shall be on quite firm ground if I say that only a small minority of models will end up finished and on a shelf or cabinet. An even smaller minority will be exhibition quality. No selfishness there, they wouldn't get built anyway, prectically all modellers I know are like this one, it's only a matter of more or less bulk. The last time I went to an exhib. I saw a number of models that were gold plated, oops!, I mean crammed in PE and resin components, and were complete crap! What's the purpose of say spending a fortune in cockpit interiors when you can actually see them through the gap between wing and fuselage? Having got rid of a lot of stock myself in the past due to personal circumstances, now I buy only what I really need for the short term, the rest may well stay on the shop shelves.
Yama Posted October 25, 2011 Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) Tomas, in all sincerity you probably did the right thing. Not wishing to discourage anyone, but this is part of the unbuilt kit collection of a deceased modeller. Did the pile of unbuilt kits fall on him...? I guess I'm a weird one, I have never really had a big backlog of unbuilt models. Had a bit some time ago (some which I bought from a guy who was selling off his huge stack...) but worked through most. Now I have just three kits unbuilt, plus some unpainted Warhammer and Battlefleet Gothic minis and no plans to buy more until I have painted current ones. Guess lack of space & money really helps here... Edited October 25, 2011 by Yama
X-Files Posted October 25, 2011 Posted October 25, 2011 Thanks Sikkiyn. Yep, everything in moderation, that is the plan. Moderation, the careful balancing of one's life - allow us to introduce you to the 'Hash Run'http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-17/travel/29428397_1_beer-drinking-megan BP will be along to explain the particulars, including how not to vomit on yourself.
nexus6 Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 Glad to hear your getting right into the outdoor activiities Thomas. Its a great feeling when you start to gett properly fit, Im just starting to rebuild my fitness after a shoulder injury and im looking forward to being able to enjoy my rides rather than just complete them. Im in the process of downsizing my model collection, i have way to many now as i sold my buisness but kept all the model kits from it. hopefully ill get a listing together and put it up here for people to browse. I have a dream of buying a carbon fibre or titanium bike ( i also want a steel singlespeed). maybe if i really cull my collection i will be close to affording one.
Corinthian Posted October 28, 2011 Author Posted October 28, 2011 (edited) I have a dream of buying a carbon fibre or titanium bike ( i also want a steel singlespeed). maybe if i really cull my collection i will be close to affording one. Same here, I dream of owning a custom titanium frame bike. The closest (and cheapest) ones are those built in China, and they are quite cheap (relatively speaking) with good quality. My next bike, though, would be a custom-built cromoly steel MTB with 29er wheels. As for single speed, I've tried a full rigid 29er version, and I must say, I understand why people like it. So simple to operate, no need to mess around with gears, and the big wheels helps in making it a comfy, pure ride. Of course, some climbs would be killer but then that can be fixed by more riding and training. Here's wishing your sale of model kits will be profitable enough to help you acquire those bikes. Edited October 28, 2011 by TomasCTT
nexus6 Posted October 28, 2011 Posted October 28, 2011 Same here, I dream of owning a custom titanium frame bike. The closest (and cheapest) ones are those built in China, and they are quite cheap (relatively speaking) with good quality. My next bike, though, would be a custom-built cromoly steel MTB with 29er wheels. As for single speed, I've tried a full rigid 29er version, and I must say, I understand why people like it. So simple to operate, no need to mess around with gears, and the big wheels helps in making it a comfy, pure ride. Of course, some climbs would be killer but then that can be fixed by more riding and training. Here's wishing your sale of model kits will be profitable enough to help you acquire those bikes. when you say affordable , how much are you talking about? in australia a non custom titanium frame is arount $1800+. i have been looking at some of those chinese carbon fibre frames, they are under $500. im very tempted to give one a try. single speed is both fun and an awesome workout. currently im using my old giant 26inch hardtail as a single speed, its pretty good but a 29er would be better. I know a guy who was building a salsa El Mariachi, that was a very nice looking frame and quite a good price at the time.
Guest Jason L Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) I've got one of those "ebay" frames or whatever. They are decent-ish. They tend to crack pretty fast though so you have to inspect it frequently. Titanium is IMO a waste of money. Edited November 4, 2011 by Jason L
nexus6 Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I've got one of those "ebay" frames or whatever. They are decent-ish. They tend to crack pretty fast though so you have to inspect it frequently. Titanium is IMO a waste of money. i picked up a titanium frame and thought it felt fantastic and would like to own one, why dont you like them? im not a real hardcore rider, i tend to do more crosscountry. Id just like to get a light weigth frame with some flex to give try out. Id be interested to hear your opinions on Ti
Guest Jason L Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 i picked up a titanium frame and thought it felt fantastic and would like to own one, why dont you like them? im not a real hardcore rider, i tend to do more crosscountry. Id just like to get a light weigth frame with some flex to give try out. Id be interested to hear your opinions on Ti Well, titanium can be great, it's just very expensive for what it is - ie the same price as a carbon frame and a well designed carbon frame is going to win hands down every time and you can generally get a similar "race ride" quality out of an alloy bike for less. Titanium bikes aren't know for pedalling stiffness either and if i want a flexy, springy ride steel is so much more available.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now