Why do I like this hobby......

[Wolverine Tanker]

I sometimes sit back and reflect on what I do with my spare time and why. I asked myself, Why do I like this hobby more than the countless others I've had in my 58 yrs. of life ? The answer is layered like a really good chocolate cake.
I really enjoy how these pieces of steel had a moment in history and how a lot of people go through a lot to recreate those moments in a smaller scale. I like adding my own personality to my tank and the fun of doing it yourself. I enjoy seeing how others make fine details that would be overlooked by most non RC modelers.
But I enjoy the most is pretending that I am a commander and I have 50 tons of tank at my command and fighting the enemy. It relaxes me and takes me away from this screwed up world.
Some of the things that I have learned from this hobby is:
Patients for one. Having to wait for parts to come from far away places cause my local hobby shop doesn't carry anything in 1/16th scale.
You can tell how successful your new paint job is on your tank when you are on you hands and knees outside looking for add on parts that you forgot to glue or tie down on your tank.
I find myself arguing with someone from thousands of miles away about what Michael Whitman's numbers where on his tank and when.
But I found that this hobby is made up with people that are willing to help out a guy that has no clue how to hook up his new sound board.
So like a good chocolate cake it has layers and so does a good hobby.

[RobW]

I'm wondering if we're all moving to 1/16 as the bits in 1/72 are too small to see and pick up..... I'm trying to get back into the hobby to slow myself down and relax but also to have a challenge of building some different stuff. The M3 will be finished eventually!

[KevJ]

I have yet to experience this hobby properly as its still early days and all new to me, its amazing as this forum is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to advice on what era to model our tanks on. I love this forum and I must admit I'm hooked and I'm just about to start the build on my M4A3 Sherman.

[KevJ]

Hello KevJ. Looks like you and me both with the sherman first build, I'm still collecting up the required bits and bobs I'll need, plus I'm pretty busy with real life, so, looks like you'll be starting long before me. Yes, there's a wealth of information and experts to help on here, it's so fantastic. Good luck with your build.

Mick.

Thanks Mick I'm at the same stage collecting different bits like bedrolls, crates, jerry cans and camo netting. Still early days and looking forward to the build but it won't be rushed as I want it perfect.

[43rdRecceReg]

I'm wondering if we're all moving to 1/16 as the bits in 1/72 are too small to see and pick up..... I'm trying to get back into the hobby to slow myself down and relax but also to have a challenge of building some different stuff. The M3 will be finished eventually!

There's probably a lot of truth in that, and I'm sure many here would agree. Perhaps the tank scale goes up incrementally, with the decade, and by the added wee 'disabilities' and sensory loss that ageing brings. Thus: for the '40s'..a boy-racer virility tank, is a must-have item; just to prove you still have 'it'. Then in the '50s:' regular visits to the optician, and pain killers for creaking joints, mean it's time to abandon 1/35 altogether and head for 1/16. The 60s, even 1/16 tanks are beginning to look small in the garden you're spending much more time in, and the neighbours are complaining that the tank's new 50 watt speakers are now on full volume....
The 70s: if you survived your first stroke or heart attack, it's definitely time to get a 1/8th..or better still.. 1/6th scale tank to tow your wheelchair around
After that, you probably won't be able to remember where you left that tank....
Und so ist das Leben...

[RobW]

If I make it that far I'm thinking a bit bigger..... http://www.berrybrooksteam.co.uk/for-sa ... cale-so207 None of those batteries to charge either. Suspect I'll get told off by SWMBO long before then!

[43rdRecceReg]

If I make it that far I'm thinking a bit bigger..... http://www.berrybrooksteam.co.uk/for-sa ... cale-so207 None of those batteries to charge either. Suspect I'll get told off by SWMBO long before then!

I'm sure you'd cut a contented image on one of these beauties, sporting a white beard down to your knees, a bespoke hearing trumpet, and a grin a mile wide (filled with dentures..of course )

[RobW]

Talking of this hobby.
I only had one and a half walls to plaster in my kitchen today, I can plaster a whole room in a day, I was so busy making a largish parts order with Dave, writing emails and occasionally looking in to this forum, I only did the half wall lol.

Mick.

Too warm to plaster anyway....

[43rdRecceReg]

Talking of this hobby.
I only had one and a half walls to plaster in my kitchen today, I can plaster a whole room in a day, I was so busy making a largish parts order with Dave, writing emails and occasionally looking in to this forum, I only did the half wall lol.

Mick.

This hobby sucks you in like quicksand, Mick. In time, you'll be lucky to even get the plaster ready for your mortar board before the computer calls you, like a seductive siren, back to the forum... or rctank.de; or Dave; or links from ancient threads to exciting new model tank related websites...
In time, even the walls...if and when they're ever finished, will sport pictures of Tanks; or support shelves full of tanks and tank bits, instead of kitchen accoutrements. Bye bye: Mary Berry, Tom Kerridge, and Jamie's quick recipes books, and hello to:
'The World at War'; 'Fury'; box sets of Wehrmacht antics; tank reference books; Bottles of 70 proof spirits, for when projects get tricky or frustrating, and a picture of Michael Wittmann.....to replace the one of Jimi Hendrix or Bob Dylan..

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning,
Replace that picture of Wittman ( if you are of an Allied bent ) with this fellow. His ceaseless glower will urge you on to greater feats of tank building frenzys. ( He's about to get a wine bottle to either imbibe from or to smack pesky enemies upside their helmets with )
regards,
Painless