Why do we build models? Why don’t we build models?

Two very good questions, I wonder if I can come up with good answers.

I’ve always believed that we are driven to create with our hands and to create in general.  Using our fingers and hand eye coordination must stimulate the pleasure center in our brains.  Certainly we are visually stimulated.  Like Roy in “Close Encounters”, building a model of Devils Tower so he can better hold an idea that haunts him. We create scenes, mostly imaginary or sometime as an attempt to recreate a scene that had an effect on us in life.  But there’s more to it then that, more levels.  Heck you can create a scene by opening a box of ready to go, assembled, pre-painted Chinese plastic or a bubble pack of perfect miniature trees assembled by some remote village in Central America.  Those items get made to milk the money from the impatient.  That’s a harsh statement.  Surely there are hobbyists out there who are driven to create but just don’t seem to have the time.  Of course they miss the point.  A hobby is a focused waste of time.  It’s time we need to step away from the everyday grind of survival.  We hope that opening a box is a first step along the path of creation and some day they will open a box where there is more to challenge them.  Challenge, there’s a good word.  Does this mean that we should all get a lath and start machining gears and drive wheels?  I think at some level we all wish we could.  We all find a place of comfort on the food chain and most of us push our selves as high as we can.  Why else would we spend 20, 40 or 60 years in a hobby?  In the last several years, I’ve noticed a lot of hobbyists making the leap to becoming manufacturers, us included.  Creativity, pushing individuals to see if they can make it better, if they can compete.  Certainly the unstable economy has had a hand in this as people try to expand their earning base, sometimes failing financially but succeeding creatively.  That’s another story for another time. Back to the basic thrust of this rant, Why build models?

The simple answer is “Challenge”.  We are driven to challenge ourselves.  My brother recently showed me what he’s working on.  One of our distributors is attending an N scale convention and wanted to know if we had some built samples she could use.  Well no, not being in N scale, we didn’t have much, but Dave saw a challenge and now he had the motivation (need) to try something so he jumped in and started building in N scale.  The results were pretty outstanding.  Not just the beautiful rendition of an amazingly small warehouse with miniscule wood steps, but the obvious rush of pride and satisfaction he felt from conquering the challenge.  He was beamingly proud when he unwrapped it to show me, and rightly so.  He did what he wasn’t sure could be done.  When I’m designing a new kit (right now I’m finishing up some “critters” for our new disk), I sometimes have to make a part that I just can’t imagine building.  I ask myself all the time, who would be crazy enough to build this?  Truth is, lots of people, just to see if they can.  So that’s really what our hobby is about.  Finding, facing and conquering a challenge.

Some folks need mountains.

It really doesn’t matter if the challenge is how you weather that wharf scene or how you open the bubble pack, some day you will be driven, you’ll be ready for a model made from card stock.

Why don’t we build models?  A much tougher and sadder question.  I’ll get to that later.

Comments

[Jens from Germany]

My modeling "career" started with such a challenge. I came across a drawing in a model railroading magazine and asked myself if I can build that model (doublestack container car) or not. It turned out I could and it was fun. Next project was mining dump truck I built. This time no drawings, just photos. Again I ended with a model that was looking pretty well (to me). More models followed and, short story, I found out that everything could be build - its just a matter of how much time and patience I was willing to invest.

But meanwhile my motivation has changed. Now I am building models for the purpose of having something that my fellow model railroaders don't have. Its the easiest way to avoid my layout looking like being orderd in pieces from Walthers...

[Ben]

And is there a picture of this N scale warehouse? Would love to see it!

-Ben

[Dave]

The warehouse isn't 100% complete. About another week and I'll have some pix.
Dave

[Jduv]

I started making your cardstock models with the Idea I was going to make a bunch of them for my train layout so I made them with just enough detail to keep them looking realistic. I have recently found myself layering siding and roof materials in order to achieve the most realistic buildings I can. I agree whole heartedly with your assessment of the hobby, cardstock models have become a natural progression for me, I used to build plastic models, and then laser cut wood models and I moved up to master kit scratchbuilt wood models and have ultimately landed here building cardstock models. Even though it would seem that I would have moved from cardstock models to scratch built models, cardstock is such a natural material for creating realistic models my progression was to cardstock. The big question is what is next ?

[Dave]

I understand the path. Early on people were always refering to paper as "background kits" I think most folks at this time realise that paper is foreground all the way. The same guy that talks about the 3 foot rule will get caught with his nose 8 inches away from our kits.

You ask a good question. If we had more resources (money) I've always had an idea for the ultimate kit which would be a combination of laser cut and embossed paper. I know the results would be great. maybe if we get big enough, I'll roll some thing like that out. My original plan was to do embossed bricks and boards but the cost for dies was way to high.
Thom