Large Scale Central

How many hours?

General Discussion
#1

Today I was sitting on my butt, working on a project, and my mom asked “How many hours are you going to end up putting into those cars?” I replied that “I didn’t think that was an important criteria.” I have been working off an on on that project for weeks now. I just pick it up and do a little something, then put it down and go do something else. Bit by bit the project will be completed.

How many of you get asked about your projects? How long will it take? When will it be done? (Devon we know your answer) Or other questions about your hobby projects, that you really haven’t considered the answer to them before.

In my mind, this is my hobby, its how I relax. Time invested in a particular project isn’t the measuring stick I usually use. I am more concerned with it turning out the way I want. And finding relaxation and stress relief in the doing of the project. That is why I seldom impose deadlines on any project I am doing. Once my hobby becomes a “have to”, then its too much like work, and I don’t need nor want that from my hobbies. Oh sure I would like to have certain things done, some of which have languished for years. But if I am not in the mood to do that project, then I am probably going to work on another project instead. Maybe its ADD, or maybe its just the fact that is my hobby, and therefore I will do what I want.

#2

People used to say Boy that’s a lot of work!

I’d reply, Nope it was a lot of fun! [Now it’s fun to Still be able to do it].

My answer is: Until I’m satisfied, because I’m doing it for me.

Is it (are they) done yet? Mom told me to ask…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

John

#3

John, I usually get accused of having a lot of patience, to build some of the stuff I built. No. I just take a lot of breaks.

Those cars will be (probably) be done by Devon’s deadline. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

#4

The only person who would ask is my wife…and she never asks! :wink:

Let’s see…3 current projects:

Garden railroad construction: I’m on year #7. No track laid yet.

1/29 scale LV passenger train: year #12…I just bought the 7th and final Aristo heavyweight…kit bashing of cars begins this winter.

Bachmann 2-8-0 being kit bashed into a 2-8-2: year #5: almost done! Some final detailing, then it’s ready to paint.

Scot

#5

Amen. People ask me how many hours I have in a project and I have no clue. I don’t want to keep a log, I just want to enjoy the process.

#6

Bruce Chandler said:

Amen. People ask me how many hours I have in a project and I have no clue. I don’t want to keep a log, I just want to enjoy the process.

Bruce I did keep a log on a project I was building for someone. When I got past 100 hours in the log, and the model, most of the diorama and frame for the case was done, he skipped town. I never did finish that thing. That was the first, last, and only time I kept track. Its amazing how many hours can just evaporate while I am trying to hammer out this detail, or that detail. Maybe that’s why I was crowned “King Butt Modeler”. Too many hours sitting on my butt, detail hammering.

#7

Scot Lawrence said:

The only person who would ask is my wife…and she never asks! :wink:

Let’s see…3 current projects:

Garden railroad construction: I’m on year #7. No track laid yet.

1/29 scale LV passenger train: year #12…I just bought the 7th and final Aristo heavyweight…kit bashing of cars begins this winter.

Bachmann 2-8-0 being kit bashed into a 2-8-2: year #5: almost done! Some final detailing, then it’s ready to paint.

Scot

Are you familiar with Devon?I think you and he have a few things in common! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#8

Ah, young grasshopper, life is not focused on the destination, it is the journey that is of importance.

#9

Bruce Chandler said:

I don’t want to keep a log, I just want to enjoy the process.

just that!

i don’t care, if my workbench is full, or half full, when i die.

and if i am not interested anymore in a project, i have been “working” on, it waits patiently untill i am interested in it again.

i once mentioned to my wife, that i am modelling very slow. she meant, a hobby is a timefiller to keep boredom away. and, under that aspect i am to be considered a very efficient modeller, if i am modelling slow.

#10

David Maynard said:

How many of you get asked about your projects? How long will it take? When will it be done? (Devon we know your answer)

relentlessly

#11

Scot Lawrence said:

Garden railroad construction: I’m on year #7. No track laid yet.

I suddenly feel better about my progress.

#12

My tiny outside layout came up in 2005, I’ve been indoors with and without a layout ever since. If it wasn’t for the pizza layouts I don’t know if I would even still be on here today.

#13

I only keep track of time on a project if I’m doing it for someone. I’d like to know an approximate value of my work.

#14

My philosophy is:

If it’s truly important it’ll get done quickly, whether for myself or someone else.

If it’s not, well, there’s way too many things in life to enjoy and appreciate, to pass them by,

so it’ll get done when it gets done…

#15

Dave I agree. Bob, it can quite disheartening sometimes. I built a doll house kit one time, and what I got paid for the work, probably worked out to around a dollar an hour.

#16

I usually work for a dollar or less per hour on my resin figures and details. Maybe they suck and are not worth anything or maybe people are capable of making it all themselves and don’t need to buy it from me. I did on one occasion figure out my cost. At $1 per hour (includes making the master and the molds, not just the casting) plus materials I have about $4 in each figure. I am not running a business I just make extras until the mold gives out and sell them off. With figures hard to find cheap in 1/20.3 I hope I am helping other modelers out by making things that no one else sells. Plus the $$$ help fund my next offering.

People do not appreciate the time and effort involved with garage manufacturing. I let the rude ones pay for their education.

One dude on E-bay told me my passenger figures should sell for about $1 each that he can buy plastic Cowboy / Indian sets for way less and my set of 20 for $100 was outrageous. I sent him links for Ozark, Bridgemasters and Fun & Games…then put him on my blocked buyers list. Hehhehehhe I am a bad boy.

As many of you have said we do this hobby for fun. Time is irrelevant. The real payoff is when someone says “this is great thanks for sharing it with us” and my personal favorite: The greatest compliment one model railroader can pay another “Seeing what you have done has inspired me”.

You jokers inspire me everyday. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

#17

Allow me to contribute to this conversation with my own take. When I make a painting for someone on commission, I frequently don’t show them the painting for two or three weeks. Why? Because most people resent paying a couple of thousand dollars for something painted in a few hours, like three or four hours sometimes. Very few people understand they’re paying for a lifetime’s worth of experience in building skills and content and facility.

I used to dream about making railroad structures on the side for extra money and because I enjoy it a lot. My experience is that the work comes out to about a dollar or two an hour, just like you guys are saying. I don’t think I would enjoy it for very long at a dollar an hour.

Second, I get very annoyed and defensive when people look at my railroad layout and insist on shaking their heads and telling me, “Man, that’s a lot of work!” It sounds more like a criticism to me than a compliment. A compliment would be, “Wow, that looks really realistic!” or "Boy oh boy, it sure looks like you’re enjoying yourself! (Whereas when a collector looks at a painting of mine and comments about how much work must have gone into it, I take that as a good thing and smile and have to stop myself from saying, “You bet, mister, that painting of yours damn near killed me…haven’t slept for days getting it just right.” Ha!)

Like I said, just my take on things.

#18

John Passaro said:
“Man, that’s a lot of work!” It sounds more like a criticism to me than a compliment.

John,

I think you are incorrect with the statement above. I would say that to you and mean it as a compliment! It reflects your patience and commitment to the project. Now if I said “Hey John, how much time did you waste on THAT thing?” That would be a criticism! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#19

Time spent on anything you enjoy, wether it be your job, a hobby or just hanging with friends telling tall tales of daring do, to me is almost priceless. It is that time which will be looked at with a smile and to me it is priceless. I enjoy my hobbies , except right now there is a deadline on a piece of woodworking I am currently working on , and that deadline is causing me some stress, but otherwiseit is relaxing fun and even butt modeling is rewarding,and worth doing as long as possible

#20

I just agree when they folks say it was a lot of work, because it usually took a lot of time. Not really work, but I get the gist.

What annoys me, is when folks say “I could never do that.” I know its supposed to be a compliment, but in my mind, each and every project I do, is just a series of simple steps, all strung together. I do not have super powers. I don’t have mad skills. I have simple skills that I have honed over years of error, error and some success. I firmly believe, that if someone would take the time, go slow and easy, they could, with a little practice, do what I can do.

On my current project, one of the first steps was to carve off the molded on grab irons. That’s a simple task, if done slow and easy, with some sharp blades. But if one were to hack at it, the damage done to the car body would be difficult to repair. As it is, because I took my time, and a lot of brakes, it took me most of the afternoon and evening to do a car. So far, I am able to fix the minor damage I have done to the cars, with 2 coats of primer, and enough sanding to take the primer off the flat areas of the car. The first 2 cars show no visible damage after the third coat of primer. Easy? Yes and no. The hard part is going slow enough so as to not hack up the car.