Build burnout

[bluenose2]

Hello Les here. I need some advice. I have hit the wall with my current build. The 1/72 Revell Snowberry. I have the full set of DJ Parkins photo etch for this kit. It has become a struggle to stay focused on this project with all of the detail in the etch kit. I have been building for 56 years and originally though this would be a good tour de force. Now I don't know, I now just want to pack it away and really not look at it again. Should I just gut it out or should I shelve this kit for much later after a breather? I have other easier kits that I am really looking forward to build. Any help would be good.

[DenPink]

Hi Bluenose2

 

If I was you and I hit a brick wall and continued with the build I think I would make mistakes and I would not want that.

One mistake will lead to more.

 

I would do one of two things, take a rest from building and refresh your mind.

Or start another build.

 

But in the end it is up to you what ever you are happy with.

 

 

Denis.

[justsayrow]

I build in bursts.

 

4-6 months I'm at the bench up to 10 hours a week. And then I can't drag myself into the model room. It passes. Not sure the trigger but it passes.

 

Then I get back at it!

[RichardG]

I personally would shelve it and take a break. Despite its frustrations, you're supposed to enjoy this hobby. Gutting it out should be left for life's difficulties.

 

All the best,

Richard. 

[CDW]

I have put models away to finish at a later date before. As long as I only waited a short period of time I was okay. Wait too long and I never got around to it again. I look at it this way: Model building is my hobby and should be fun. If a build is not fun for me, what's the point of trying to see how much pain I can endure? 

A lot of this decision depends on what exactly is the issue. Is it an issue of too much tedious work? Take a short break then get back to it. Or is it an issue of ill fitting parts and losing interest because I think it's turning out to be a pig? I am not above unloading a kit project that has become a monkey on my back. I'm all to happy to put that monkey on someone else's back who likes monkeys.    

[druxey]

Yup, take a mental health break, as others have suggested. When you do go back to it, just look at a few small steps at a time and don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the apparent immensity of the whole project,

[EJ_L]

Breaks are a must. Whether it is to work on a different build or to do something else entirely it is good to take a break. When I force myself to do something I tend to make mistakes or not put the effort I could into it. Unless I'm getting paid to do something, I work on my own schedule and when I want. I actually try to take breaks even when I don;t want to sometimes. It is refreshing and clears my head as well as builds up the desire to work.

 

Shelve the project for a little while. Work on something else and see if she starts begging you to come back.

[overdale]

Les, I build these things for a living and wouldn't dream of taking on a job that didn't allow me enough time to factor in 'burnout breaks'. I never work on any project continuously. I always take a break at regular intervals and go and do something else. 

 

I learned this a long time ago at art school so don't worry, you are not alone!

 

Dan.

Edited October 24, 2016 by overdale

[Jaager]

Looking up what this is:  a 20th C. steel warship at a large scale for this type of vessel  -

 

A warship has been the most complicated example of technology of its culture for at least 500 years.

It incorporates just about everything the technology can build.. All other types of plastic model subjects would rate as a

sub-assembly on a warship.

 

What you are doing is all about the detail. You pretty much need to be obsessed and

inspired to do it correctly. Unless you are doing this for pay, you don't need to

endure the agony if you are not driven to do it. 

 

You could work different skills and try a wooden cutter or pilot schooner and see if the inspiration comes back later.

[jud]

Think about placing that project on a cart that can be wheeled around your shop, with shelves for components and paint, also  with a light , easily removed and replaced plastic film cover. Park the cart where it is conspicuous but mostly out of the way and start a new build. When it's time, you will be taking her out of mothballs, may do that several times before completion. If you are done with her, attempt to find someone who would like and has the ability to finish her, make her and all her paints etc. a gift to them, may hook another into the hobby.

jud

[Robin Lous]

Same here Les.

 

I worked on it for over a year. Lots of scratchbuilding, lots of Perkins pe and lots of other stuff. Perkins pe not easy to work with btw.

90% finished, but it's untouched for 2 years now. 

[bluenose2]

Hello Les here. Thanx everyone. Time to take a break and then work on with the HMS Beagle. No photoetch blizzard.

[Jaager]

How far are you with HMS Beagle?

Since there are no NMM plans specific to Beagle - except the frame construction sheet,

I am thinking that the kit is for the 10 gun brig class - taken from Cherokee - Rolla - or another sister.

 

In the refit for the 1831 voyage - the deck heights were changed - the stern altered - a mizzen mast added -

AND - if you look at Marquardt, the frame diagram - while all other station timbers were 9" and the space 4" -

in section 0 - B  - the timbers are 10" and the space 6".  On an original build, this would make no sense.

If, however, they wanted to lengthen the ship for the voyage, placing a new section amidships would be the way.

I am thinking that Marquardt fit 3 is 68" longer than the kit hull.  If you have not started, you can patch in an additional

mold in the 0 space - just duplicate the dead flat mold.  The deck gear should fit better.  If you raise the bulwarks and decks ,

you could mimic the 1831 version by doing it the way the ship yard did.

[bluenose2]

Hello Jaager, Les here. I have started to work on the items for the top deck of the Beagle and am enjoying it. I have the Marquart book and see the things I need to do to get it up to snuff. My issue with the Snowberry was the staggering amount of etch. I wasn't prepared for the time required. Just wore me out. So as to the Beagle, the conversion work probably won't get me bogged down. The work shouldn't require as much time and effort to make some of the upgrades. After some pondering I have realized that trying to ultra detail every thing to death may just get you thrown under the bus. I took a close look at the first ship I built. The Dikar, Bluenose. I knew nothing and had no reference material, just built it OOTB. Just applied my background in plastic modeling. I know there are many inaccuracies and at a show it would get picked apart. But she's still a sweety pie.  

[Geoff Matson]

Breaks are always good. For me they seem to refresh my attitude and I return to the build with a new attitude. The one thing I promised myself is to finish my build before I start a new build! 

[mtdoramike]

Hello Les, I think your problem is the other kits are calling to you. I try and not have any other kits around while I'm building a specific model. This keeps me focused on the project at hand rather than looking at future projects thinking they might be easier or I just need a break. The problem is when you take a break, that same project will be waiting for you and you will start feeling guilty for not buckling down and finishing it. This forum is full of models that were started with good intentions, put aside for various reasons, but the main reason is usually lost interest if the builder is honest about it. I have to say here that after close to 20 years of building models and 30 or so ship models that I finished, I don't have a single model laying around that I didn't finish. No brag just fact. Now, yes, I too have those days where I don't really want to mess with the model and even weeks. But I try and push myself to spend a minimum of an hour a day on the model even if it's just to research the build.

 

Like today for instance, I went into my work room, attached a couple of pieces to the model, only to realize that I did it wrong and had to straighten it out. That is when I called it quits for the day. But the two days before, I spent most of both days on the model. I have bought soooooo many models from friends, ebay, forums and Craigslist where they were started with good intentions but the builder fell short and didn't finish them. Some I was glad they didn't finish because the work was so bad, others I couldn't understand how someone with such a gift for modeling couldn't stay focused long enough to finish the project.

 

 

mike   

[bluenose2]

Hello mtdoramike. Good advice.  I keep new builds packed away so I can't peek. After this build I will go back and finish the Snowberry, as it will complete my WWII collection. Wasn't tired of the basic build really, just the amount of photo etch I bought for it. That's going to get scaled back to preserve my sanity so I can Keep Calm And Carry On.

[michael mott]

Hello Les I think a good number of us go through periods of low motivation on our projects. The rest or change of pace or subject matter can be so refreshing.

The intensity of what we do sometimes can feel like too much, The most important thing in my view is not to beat yourself up over it. The work most of us do is a hobby and it is meant to be enjoyable and relaxing, if it not either then do take a break. The inspiration to get back will come soon enough.

 

Michael

[Seventynet]

Hey Les, I think Mike has hit the nail on the head - too many other kits are calling out to you! I shelved my Victory for a while mainly because I made a bad decision on what to line the gunports with, kind of like a last straw. So after a year of non-stop toiling on her I just moved on to several other kits, three of which I've finished and at least another on the road before I re-engage with the Vic. For me variety is the spice and tackling some models that can be finished in a month or three timeframes. Don't worry about moving to another kit I say.

 

Best, Ian

[mtdoramike]

Hey Ian, I did the same thing on my Vic and lined the Gun Ports then sanded the hull down which made the gun port linings disappear. So I had to go back, rip the linings out, paint the lining planks red BEFORE I installed them the second time, which made a huge difference. That was about a weeks of added worth of work to fix that issue. I had to step back for a few days before I fixed. I hate having to do something twice.

 

 

mike 

[MartinB]

I also have reached build burnout. I have spent the past 18 months scratch building the Cutty Sark as she was in her Australian wool clipper days. It has been 50% research and 50% build. It recently took me a couple of weeks just to draw up rudimentary plans for her cut down rig (masts and spars).

Hull and deck furniture complete. Masts almost complete. And that's it, I've had enough. Lovingly wrapped her up to keep the dust off. And in a year or two, I will go back and finish her.

 

According to an internet search. Hobby: An activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.

 

I shall return when the mood strikes...

 

Cheers

Martin

Edited November 25, 2016 by MartinB

[Pierretessier]

Not sure about ship building burnout but certainly got hangar burn out in my RC Plane days. The one thing that got me back on the bench was crashing or hard landings. Had no choice, if I wanted to fly I had to build. Not sure what I'm gonna do now that I'm getting into static models.....

[Altduck]

Pierre said "Not sure what I'm gonna do now that I'm getting into static models....."

 

Get a cat or a grandchild.

 

 

Richard

[CDW]

Hi Pierre

 

I just switch from one type of modeling to the other. I'll build static models for a few years, then switch back to flying models.

Besides, I have too many great model aircraft to build and finish just to quit. Several Proctor models including a Jenny. The 1/5 scale Pica Waco, a 1/5 scale Arizona Models DH-1, a 1/5 scale P-51 Mustang, and many others.

Edited November 30, 2016 by daddyrabbit1954

[-Mike-]

Hi Les

I feel your pain. That's probably me stood next to you at "The Wall" ! Over 2 years on my current build and just when I'm beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel, bang, interest just dribbles away a bit each day until you reach the point you don't go to the bench at all. I've had it once before, it does comes back - in it's own sweet time.

Extremely frustrating though.

[Kevin]

Did this build ever get back to the table?

[GrandpaPhil]

On 10/23/2016 at 9:28 PM, CDW said:

I have put models away to finish at a later date before. As long as I only waited a short period of time I was okay. Wait too long and I never got around to it again. I look at it this way: Model building is my hobby and should be fun. If a build is not fun for me, what's the point of trying to see how much pain I can endure? 

A lot of this decision depends on what exactly is the issue. Is it an issue of too much tedious work? Take a short break then get back to it. Or is it an issue of ill fitting parts and losing interest because I think it's turning out to be a pig? I am not above unloading a kit project that has become a monkey on my back. I'm all to happy to put that monkey on someone else's back who likes monkeys.    

Same for me.  

 

That’s also why I don’t typically do commission builds.  Model building is supposed to be fun.  I burn out very quickly when I have to build.

Edited July 21, 2019 by GrandpaPhil

[mtaylor]

On 7/20/2019 at 11:23 AM, Kevin said:

Did this build ever get back to the table?

I'm not sure, Kevin.  Les has been posting but not to that log.  You might PM him.