"What Do You Work On When You Don't really Want To Work On Anything?"

cleaning up over 140 Booklet of General Plans of US Navy ships saved on my computer as i have paused work on my OBB build. currently working on CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk.
 
I make these:

This a rifle tote. Airgun enthusiasts use them to carry air rifles around field courses. This one is for two rifles or one rifle and shooting sticks. It is highly adjustable for different makes and models with the elevator screws (leather padded) in each holder. Delhrin runners along the back and front for scooting around on the ground.
Tote Side View.jpg

This is a Rifle Maintenance Cradle. Wood is walnut and tiger. I thread the wood bolt. Leather protects the rifle and this device is highly adjustable as well.
Cradle Walnut and Tiger Front.jpeg
 
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Every 5 to 10 years I get into a zone where I won't make sawdust for a year more or less. I have no idea why this happens, but it does. To fill the time otherwise spent actually building a model, I really enjoy doing research, drawing plans and writing about ships. Costs nothing and keeps the mind active.
Allan
 
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Note: I've set this post off in its own thread as it is rather off the original topic.

I find it interesting that we refer to our hobby as work. When I first began to build models (aged eight), did I talk of work benches and tasks and progress? I don’t think so. I think I simply ‘played with my Airfix kits’.

After school I went to work in a factory. I hated it and definitely had to be paid to go there. Work, I discovered, was something unpleasant and compulsory (if I wanted to eat!).

Later, in the RAF I was allowed to service and repair my country’s aircraft. I’m quite sure I never said “I work in the Royal Air Force” or I work on IX Sqn.” It didn’t feel like work at all. Sometimes it was unpleasant in those Lincolnshire winter winds and it was definitely compulsory but to be honest, I’d have paid them for the privilege of being a member and playing with those fabulous machines.

It became work much later when I was lumbered with staff type jobs in pleasant heated offices. Something I didn’t enjoy but was forced into by military discipline and financial need.

After demob I was a bookseller in a large bookshop. I didn’t ‘work in a bookshop’; I was a bookseller. It was another job that I loved to do and I took most of my wages home in paperbacks. :D

I won’t bore you with my entire CV because it’s a long and varied one but I think you are probably getting my point already. Work = unpleasant. So why do we speak of this hobby as work?

I have other hobbies. I like to walk the hills with my dog. I can’t think of a plausible way to describe owning a dog as work. I play with him. I train him. I care for him. I never work on him.

I’m learning to play the guitar. Sometimes it’s a bit boring. I suppose I might say I’m working on my scales but usually I’d say “I’m playing guitar” or “ I’m practicing”

I read a lot. I don’t work on a book. I just read it. I enjoy cooking so I don’t work in the kitchen, I cook there.

All the the things I like to do are by my definition of the word - not work. Except modelling. Why is that?

Perhaps it’s because I’m retired. I have no real work to do and maybe I miss having the status of a working man so I elevate my hobby of playing with toy boats, planes and tanks into ‘work’ to fill that empty place in my self-image? If I do, it’s not something I’m conscious of. I’m rather proud of my status as a retired bookseller, airman etc etc etc.

Perhaps calling our hobby ‘work’ is something that modellers of a certain age all do because we all unconsciously feel this need to still have the dignity of a job and copy each others’ use of the W word to make it so.

Or perhaps it’s because a lot of time spent in the hobby is actually unpleasant and boring. Sanding the char comes to mind.

Work and play - two little words that we hardly notice coming out of our mouths and once you start to notice them they raise so many questions.

But that’s just me ruminating after a rather fine home made dinner and what do I know about anything?

Not much. ;)
 
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So that’s a model canoe?

20+ years ago, I restored or rebuilt four full sized wood/canvas canoes. I still have two; a 16ft 1915 Old Town Charles River and a 17ft 1944 Old Town OTCA.

Roger
 
Roger Pellett said:
a 16ft 1915 Old Town Charles River and a 17ft 1944 Old Town OTCA
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Yep. Not exactly sure which model yet but I'm leaning towards a Peterborough.
Those are some real gems! I'm sure you keep them indoors and safe!
I've been kicking around the idea of playing with some skin on frame boats and canoes. Looks like a lot of fun. I just need to find the time...
 
Smithy said:
Note: I've set this post off in its own thread as it is rather off the original topic.

I find it interesting that we refer to our hobby as work. When I first began to build models (aged eight), did I talk of work benches and tasks and progress? I don’t think so. I think I simply ‘played with my Airfix kits’.

After school I went to work in a factory. I hated it and definitely had to be paid to go there. Work, I discovered, was something unpleasant and compulsory (if I wanted to eat!).

Later, in the RAF I was allowed to service and repair my country’s aircraft. I’m quite sure I never said “I work in the Royal Air Force” or I work on IX Sqn.” It didn’t feel like work at all. Sometimes it was unpleasant in those Lincolnshire winter winds and it was definitely compulsory but to be honest, I’d have paid them for the privilege of being a member and playing with those fabulous machines.

It became work much later when I was lumbered with staff type jobs in pleasant heated offices. Something I didn’t enjoy but was forced into by military discipline and financial need.

After demob I was a bookseller in a large bookshop. I didn’t ‘work in a bookshop’; I was a bookseller. It was another job that I loved to do and I took most of my wages home in paperbacks. :D

I won’t bore you with my entire CV because it’s a long and varied one but I think you are probably getting my point already. Work = unpleasant. So why do we speak of this hobby as work?

I have other hobbies. I like to walk the hills with my dog. I can’t think of a plausible way to describe owning a dog as work. I play with him. I train him. I care for him. I never work on him.

I’m learning to play the guitar. Sometimes it’s a bit boring. I suppose I might say I’m working on my scales but usually I’d say “I’m playing guitar” or “ I’m practicing”

I read a lot. I don’t work on a book. I just read it. I enjoy cooking so I don’t work in the kitchen, I cook there.

All the the things I like to do are by my definition of the word - not work. Except modelling. Why is that?

Perhaps it’s because I’m retired. I have no real work to do and maybe I miss having the status of a working man so I elevate my hobby of playing with toy boats, planes and tanks into ‘work’ to fill that empty place in my self-image? If I do, it’s not something I’m conscious of. I’m rather proud of my status as a retired bookseller, airman etc etc etc.

Perhaps calling our hobby ‘work’ is something that modellers of a certain age all do because we all unconsciously feel this need to still have the dignity of a job and copy each others’ use of the W word to make it so.

Or perhaps it’s because a lot of time spent in the hobby is actually unpleasant and boring. Sanding the char comes to mind.

Work and play - two little words that we hardly notice coming out of our mouths and once you start to notice them they raise so many questions.

But that’s just me ruminating after a rather fine home made dinner and what do I know about anything?

Not much. ;)
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Well put..seems to me, you know a lot!! Lv Florida Wed , ahead of hurricane season,, for NY..WORK (oops!} I mean LABOR,err..you know what I'm saying.. on my !/30 Royal Caroline.. The OKESA will stay in FL drydock...Admiralty style,,doesn't stand a chance if the waters be risin'
 
When I don't feel like working on things, I lurk around the forum and see what others like Doc K has done, or what aircraft Dean has completed in his collection.

Or maybe I work on my model railroad stuff, that is often neglected while I work on ships.
 
Writing articles for a ship modelling magazine like now in the moment about ropes and rigging and sometimes play a game on my pc (Homeworld, old but still one of a kind)
 
Steef66 said:
Writing articles for a ship modelling magazine like now in the moment about ropes and rigging and sometimes play a game on my pc (Homeworld, old but still one of a kind)
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I still remember the first time I watched the intro of Homeworld and they played the aria of Barber's Adagio for Strings, and was just like, "Oh my god! This is AMAZING"
 
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