SPA Modeler

For the last 18 months or so ive been severely lacking in motivation. And for the last 3 years the best ive managed was getting to the fuselage buttoned up. Ive got 2 kits on the bench at the moment. 1 with partial paint, 1 just glued together.
I want to build. I want to make these kits. But i dont seem to have the energy any more. I look at the boxes and just feel a wave of exhaustion.
Im wondering, do i hang up my airbrush for a while longer, put everything away and see if it comes back later down the track? Or do i try something to get the bug back now?
What do you guys do when you're lacking in motivation?

Build something you really want to build. Something that is going to keep you interest up. Don’t build just to build, build what keeps you wanting to finish it!

pzl66 wrote:Build something you really want to build. Something that is going to keep you interest up. Don’t build just to build, build what keeps you wanting to finish it!

Yep - good advice.

Having been suffering from a total loss as well (and just getting back into it) I can only say what's helped me.

1. Keeping it relatively simple
2. build something that goes together well and isn't going to give you too many issues
3. Try and keep progress up. A stalled build for me kills my mojo quicker than anything - hence points 1 and 2! Nothing builds motivation more for me than a build that progresses quickly and looks like it's going somewhere.
4. Post it up here - SPAMs a great place for support!

Good luck

pzl66 wrote:Build something you really want to build. Something that is going to keep you interest up. Don’t build just to build, build what keeps you wanting to finish it!

Hey, Mike! So good to hear from you! What Kevin said. And what Portman said. Keep it simple. I think for bit, you will have to “force” yourself back until it reconnects.

Build something outside your normal subjects. Cars, submarines (low parts count), sci-fi, space rockets, or even those silly, yet cool egg planes/tanks/ships.

I’m gonna write what I do. This will dovetail with the advice above to a great extant.

1. Acknowledge that you are no longer interested, or in a rut.

2. Pick four model kits you want to build—no limits of scale or whether you own them.

3. List the kits on paper - put ‘em in a hat.

4. Close your eyes and pick one.

5. Build that kit!

6. Acknowledge that you will do all of this again in the future.

This way, you free yourself of what is on the bench. What is on the bench or in your line up of builds has lost its appeal for the moment. However, you could always write the name of one of those kits on your list and you may go back at it again. That is entirely up to you. What is missing is the vision and what I am giving you is how I seek my own vision. This is why my model choices tack with the breeze of my intuition. And I think that is what you need to ultimately trust—intuit your choices. Pick the most exciting kits that you want to build. Reboot your third eye. And just go for it.

BlackSheep214 wrote:Build something outside your normal subjects. Cars, submarines (low parts count), sci-fi, space rockets, or even those silly, yet cool egg planes/tanks/ships.

^^^ This. I had what I called contest brain (others call AMS) which eventually lead to taking about 4 years off. There were other reasons contributing - life got crazy busy. Pick something fun, set 0 expectations and finish something. I dove into Tom Daniel's cars (Red Baron, Beer Wagon etc). Brought the joy back. Now I build just for the shelf and show you guys. I don't compete any longer. Competitions are great and really showcase the hobby. My brain wasn't built for it I guess. It's really gratifying to finish kits. BTW I spend about 60% of my hobby time not building models. Research, examining kits, looking through decals, planning builds, hanging out here etc. Lot's of ways to enjoy the hobby.
Lot's of good advice from the folks here. My hobbies tend to cycle. Static models like we do here, I was into RC planes and helicopters for a while. Then the 1:1 race cars, fishing, boating, skiiing, camping, playing guitar - goes on and on. What bootstrapped me back into building kits was my wife got interested in sewing again so we built out our multi-purpose room and do hobbies together. 1/2 the room is her sewing gear, 1/2 is my stuff - oh... and 3 aquariums. The beauty of a hobby is you do what you want when you want and are beholding to no one (unlike work!)

I had my bout of competition induced AMS as well. I got completely bogged down in builds trying to get things “perfect”.
What worked for me:
- build something you are passionate about
- when coming out of a rut: build a good quality kit
- enjoy the process of building, don’t (over)focus on the end result
- if you think it is good enough then it is good enough

Oh, I forgot one last thing: ask yourself what you is holding you back?
In my case it was trying to achieve a “perfect “ model: unrealistic high expectation.

But it could be something else for you. This comes from the Theory of Constraints: focus on resolving the bottleneck to solve the problem.


So, what is holding you back?

Oh yeah... those Tom Daniels Design kits are always the best. No muss, no fuss. Just plain old fun and enjoyment without worrying about accuracies.