When?

[ShutterAce]

Ok everyone, when do you build? Do you have a set block of time? A schedule? Or perhaps you just grab whatever time you can.

 

I ask because I almost never get the time at the bench I think I'm going to be getting. Granted I've got a 16, 13, and soon to be 10 year old vying for my attention. I'm just trying to find that happy medium where I can squeeze in some bench time too.

 

One possible solution for me is getting up early and hitting the bench before I leave for work. No one else would even be awake. Has anyone tried that approach?

 

I'm all ears. Sock it to me!

[Guest PetrolGator]

When I can.

 

I commute to work one hour each way, hit the gym after, and usually spend time with the wife. My dedicated time is usually when she's in school at night and when we don't go out to get drunk spend time with friends.

 

I'm usually busier when approaching show season down here.

[aAzZ09]

I usually build on a weekend Jim, when I have fewer interruptions except for working on the lawn and/or house chores like some other folks. I'm an old buzzard now, so sometimes I don't have the energy I had 40 years ago when I could turn out more models. If I have to emulate older modelers that were in IPMS years ago that have come and, unfortunately, gone, I'll consider that a compliment. Best,

 

Mark

[Rusty White]

I would usually build after everyone has gone to bed. Both kids have since moved away, so I work on models after any honey dos have been done.

[RGronovius]

Seems like the only uninterrupted time I have is Sundays when the wife takes the kids to visit her mom. I do yard work, turn on the game and tinker a bit with my kit that catches my fancy.

[ghodges]

Whenever I can, but not as often as I could. I have most evenings free as my wife teaches evening classes at a local college, but there's plenty of evenings I just don't go out into the garage!

 

GIL

[Mark Deliduka]

I try to find time wherever I can.

 

I do go in the early morning to work on something quick and simple before any job I get. Even if it is only a small step or two on one model, that's just a little closer to getting something done.

 

Sometimes after work I'll slip into the Hobby Room for an hour or three to unwind after a job. On my days off, I'll spend anywhere from three to five hours in the room getting things done. Then again, I have no kids to command my attention, and my wife works two jobs so I have plenty of time away from her.

 

The only dedicated model building time I have is once a month when I open up a Knights of Columbus Hall on Friday morning to set up the tables for the Hobby Day the following day. As "pay" for setting everything up, I get to spend the rest of the day at the hall building my models alongside any of my friends from IPMS or AMPS that choose to join me over the course of the day. I also come in and build during Hobby Day the next day, allowing me almost 24 hours of uninterrupted modeling time. Several of my IPMS and AMPS friends also join me on Saturday too. After all, that's why it's called Hobby Day: Any Hobby is welcome. If it weren't for those Hobby Days (which are held every second Saturday of every month) and Hobby Day Eves, my Dora would still be under construction! 99% of the work I did on Dora was done at those Hobby Days.

 

I don't know if that helps but I'm glad to assist in some small way.

[RLFoster]

Good question, Jim.

 

For me, the answer will vary depending on the time of year, my current motivation level, and the exact stage of progress on the build. Since I'm fully retired with no family, I really have the capability to build whenever I want, but I usually try to limit my bench time to a maximum of 4 or 5 hours per day. I know...poor me.

 

Back when I was still working, there were times when I would try to put in about 30 minutes to an hour in the mornings before leaving for work - depending on whether I was at an appropriate stage with the model. It was a nice, peaceful time of the day to build. My best model progress was always between the time I got home and dinner time. For me, this used to equate to a good 2 hours every day. With your family situation, this would probably be a less than perfect time.

 

Other than some dedicated time over the weekend, your two choices are probably going to be either before everyone else gets up or after everyone else has gone to sleep. In both cases you're looking at the possiblity of cutting into needed sleep time and that's not a good thing.

 

Good Luck,

[Zglossip]

I'm a ranch hand so I'm up at 5 and leave at 6 so I don't have time to model in the morning I work till 4 or 5 at night . between family time when I get home and work around my own farm I maybe get to work on my model 1 or 2 hours a week , I have been so busy this week I haven't been able to work on my model for a week and a half . wish I had more time but I don't work before play I guess that's just life .

[Spruemeister]

I'm a ranch hand so I'm up at 5 and leave at 6 so I don't have time to model in the morning I work till 4 or 5 at night . between family time when I get home and work around my own farm I maybe get to work on my model 1 or 2 hours a week , I have been so busy this week I haven't been able to work on my model for a week and a half . wish I had more time but I don't work before play I guess that's just life .

 

x2 There's no such thing as regular hours in Ag. In a couple weeks I'll be doing the 12 hour day thing for a month or so. No build time till the snow flies and the temp hits "holy crap I didn't know it could be this cold". Right now I sneak in 20 minutes in the mornings here and there. Not enough to accomplish big tasks like airbrushing or major assembly.

 

Rick L.

[Zglossip]

I'm with you rick alotta work in the spring , summer and fall from crops to driving cattle and mending fences there are some long days. the winter months is when I go back to 8 hours and get to do a lot of my modeling .

[seanmcandrews]

good topic !

I work 6 to 2 with about a 40 min. drive so if I can get myself up at 4 I'll get a good hour in of work.

Even if it means only making a part or two and gluing them together I keep reminding myself it's progress. Baby steps!

With the start of a new school year I can sometimes sneak in an hour or so before everyone is home and the night time routine begins.

 

Sean

Edited October 7, 2014 by seanmcandrews

[Bubbajoe]

we own a stables (50 horses) spring and summer is the busy season around here. show season starts in april and just ended last weekend. I work 6 and 7 days a week, up at 4 go till around 6 pm. I do more building in the fall and winter .lately i have been getting up early making coffee and working on a model for an hour or so before i have to head out and feed the ponies.then sneak and hour or so while i make dinner for the family, yeah i do all the cooking. then i'll get some time in after dinner ,but this depends on how rough a day i had, most times i just sit and contemplated working and end up watching something online instead.