Staying Motivated

How do you guys stay motivated. I have watched with great interest Robert Storicks building of the P-47's and seen others finished products. Bob takes a few minuntes to build his and many, like myself, seem to take much longer to build. I know my desires are strickly for CLPA and I hardly ever sport fly. So my planes are always flapped stunter and takes all my free time to complete. I have read where some spend a few minutes each day building some component or piece.

I am going to take a different approach and build a Vampire for an
ST G20/23 I have. I am trying to find some component that is missing from my "Routine". When I do fly I enjoy the sessions and typically get something new from each flight.

I truely love this hobby and could never build all the planes I want. Does anyone else ever have the same concerns.

Once in a while I too have to take a break from building and/or flying. That is why I have a ShopSmith wood working machine. Another thing to encourage me is to just take the kids out and let them fly. I do the fueling and starting. Later, -DOC

Well Zuriel,
"Ya got's ta work on 'em everyday".
Seriously, I do work on something basically everyday. My shop looks like a mess, actually worse, I only "clean up" a couple times a year. Can't take the time to keep everything "clean". Mainly when I can't put anything else on the table or benches, and I can't walk through the shop. Sounds messy I know, and a *little* embarassing, but I just go down to the shop, work, and go back upstairs.
I take a weekend, or a day or two when I'm on a vacation, and get everything put back up if I am at a point to start a couple new projects. Obsessed?? Maybe. Do I enjoy it?? DEFINITELY!
As a H.S. teacher/coach, I get some extended Holiday times through out the year. I can start working when my wife leaves for work, and only come up for air when she calls me for supper. Then it's back until I am so sleepy that I can't focus. have a clock, but never look at it.
I'm pretty sure I have always had A.D.D., but no one had ever heard of it when I was a kid!

I was blessed to be raised by older people who made or fixed things instead of replacing them. My Grandfather had excellent mechanical skills and he started me building/fixing things before I can remember.
He aways made me do the work and do it right. This has made building toy airplanes real easy, and tremendously fun, to do.

Just enjoy what you do, and do it on your time.
Bill <><

LAST EDITED ON Dec-06-04 AT 08:54 AM (CST)
 
My problems are related to focus and distractions. I know I must be suffering from adult ADD..... have all the symptoms.

An example. I get started building.... decide a fixture would help this step....start to build the fixture can't find an item.....decide workshop could be better organized.....start to organize the workshop and find an engine I forgot about...decide that engine needs to be broken in.......you get it! This is not a joke!

The other problem is lots of other interests competing for my time. I enjoy golf, fishing, cars, motorcyles, machining, stuka stunting...... the list goes on.

As a result, I currently have three planes in various stages of build and am flying ARF's and purchased planes.

Let see.... what were we talking about?

Dick,

I think you nailed it. I get easily distracted. I don't have so many other interests, but family takes priority and I find I work too many hours and spend too much time driving there and back. Like Bill Little said, I definitely love the hobby.

Another thing is, last year I went to two contest in Dallas. Man if I had a local support group like that I would be totally spoiled. I have a good friend I fly with, but he and I find out our mistakes the hard, and sometimes expensive, way. There is a certain amount of fun in that too.

I think if I had a group of flyer that always showed me the progress of the new plane I would, with my shear competitive spirit, always try to be a step ahead or even.

I'd just like to get something built instead of participating on this forum. It's too easy, and it's addicting. I think it's the Nintendo for older adults.

Hello Tom,

I too was thinking the same thing while making my last response. I have been out to the shop since then and glued some parts together.

What are you going to build? I have an Impact on the board right now with the wings and tail nearly completed and starting on the fuselage side now. Like Dick Fowler noted, I am intentionally leaving the engine in the box until I am ready to start breaking it in. Just too tempting.

My focus will be on the classics for awhile. I want to build some of those old famous designs that I never got a chance to see at the NAS Hobby Shop. Sounds silly, but I thought I might try my hand at some of the old jet designs. The Thor (AAM 5/67) is the first one I will try to build. It's a personal thing with me, because I used to daydream with the April and May, 1967 AAM issues. (I lost them since, though.) Then I thought about building every one of the I-Beams (there are several jet versions - Novi, Sting Ray, etc.). On the other hand, I sure would like an Impala. ??!!

I bought the PAMPA Classic and Old-Time plans books. It's kind of like catalog shopping - "I want this one, and that one, and that one over there ..." In reality, I guess I'll be lucky to get the balsa wood cut out just for one in the next 6 months.

Just like Christmas - I'll be in Memphis on the weekend of the 17th to 20th, but there's probably no way I'll have the time to look you guys up.

Tom, I bet you will LOVE the Novi III. The one with the anhiedral stab/elevators which had differential movement. Mine flew fantastically. Would do the whole pattern in 20/25 mph winds and never break into a two with a Fox 35 stunt in it. I loved it. The Novi IV flies better but is not an I beam,

Bigiron

>I think you nailed it. I get easily distracted. I don't
>have so many other interests, but family takes priority and
>I find I work too many hours and spend too much time driving
>there and back. Like Bill Little said, I definitely love
>the hobby.

Well, you know, it *is* just a hobby, after all. If you really don't feel like doing it, then don't. It's done for enjoyment, and if you don't feel like ti, don't force yourself. There's no need to feel guilty or apologetic for it.

I often go for months without really doing anything in relation to model airplanes, aside from my PAMPA duties (soon to be over with).

Hi Dick,

I know exactly what you are talking about! Building is about the only thing i can stay really focused on. That and coaching during a game.

As to the golf part. I once had a Golf Club repair and manufacturing company as well as being the teaching professional at a course here in the Pinehurst area. (home of the 2005 US Open)
Now I find "special" tour only parts to build with in my "spare time". Got a couple of tour played wedges (both Wilson's, one from P.H.) and just built a TM driver with a head and shaft that are not available to the public. It is fun to find sources for these items!

Now, my grandchildren are starting to take a lot of my time, which I dearly love.

Still, I love a slightly chilly night in the Fortress of Solitude with my balsa and glue.
Bill <><

Friends,
You know it is these threads more so than the building threads that insight my interest..Because I know first hand how this hobby can affect one if not careful, and/or if the approach is not assessed and re-assessed periodcally. I have also witnessed the casuality rate from some very profound talented stunt flyers ..I do believe(,may sound too psychological for some)that this hobby does attract a certain personality profile, a profile that can be vulnerable to the difficulties around expressing their gifts of creativity, and the desire to be competitive. For myself, I know that I fall into this category..I have walked away from this event more than once, and I have developed some personal insight into why this occurrs for me..I am always amazed and struck when I return and the elite few are still at it..The Fanchers, Whitely, Urtnowski. Walker, the list you all know well..It was never the lack of motivation that affected me, it was always how I responded to significant issues that we still discuss today..Issues like judging, and for me, I always struggled with attempting to fly airplanes at a level that they were not capable of..The personal disappointment, the frustration, and sense of failure as a result of this really impacted my outlook and eventually my motivation to continue..
I am also aware of how my building capacity never equaled my flying capacity. This descrepency drove me crazy..So for me, it is always what is affecting my "motivation" and what "healthy" goals have I set for myself that will allow me to maximize and sustain my involvement in this hobby..I do not belive their is one way to approach this event, however, I do belive that personal awareness is a must for me. So I don't lose perspective on the wonderful gifts this hobby can cultivate, and has created for me in the past..The most important is friendships..David Midgley and Rick Campbell have demonstrated this reality by offereing to fly me to the NEST X-MAS party next week so I can see my "adopted" father "Woody"..I was blown away by the sincerity/genorsity, and clearly reminded of why this event is what it is..It is also why I need to consistently re-evluate my involvement, because for me, it is the friendships that need to be high on the priority scale. Hopefully, this will be the motor to my motivation to remain..My current motivation seems to be more broad than past attempts. I am able to see the long-term benefits, as oppossed to the short-term. I have attempted to package it from a complete different perspective. Yes the building, flying, and competition are aspects that incite my juices, but I need to keep the bigger picture alive, and as I get older I realize how important it is for me to have the quality of friends that this event allows me to have and create..If I am able to internalize this belief, I believe my level of motivation and reasoning to continue with this hobby will have so many positives that It will be much harder for me to just walk away..Finally, I think boundaries are so crucial here, knowing when to back-off, without removing yourself totally..I am finding that being back on the West Coast presents a whole different dilemma, meaning that you can fly year around!!The East Coast guys have a time out period, or a building period..We dont', I have to structure that on my own. The seasons will not do that for me, not here in So. Cal..Anyhow, I hope I have made some sense, and shed some light on the issue of motivation. It is an essential varible to the longevity and/or response regarding how we approach our hobby...Thanks David..

I'm allot like Dick, I like lots of things. Some years back I ollked around the shop and there were started projects in every available portion of horizontal space. I was strange because I wanted to do something but felt overwhelmed by the amount of work to finish it all up. So, I sat down and figured out what I enjoyed most, airplanes, motorcycles and engine building. Everything else was ejected from the shop and placed behind the back burner or tossed. Then I prioritized what was left and placed them on the back and front burners, cleaned the shop and went to work with the resolution that I'd never have more then one like project going at the same time after I got the current stuff finished. Amazingly I've maintained that resolution with only 2 minor violations for over 20 years and with that I got more competitive as well as more expert at my chosen activities. During those 2 violations the projects underway were boxed up and stored rather than laying around getting hangar rash.

Its really odd now tho see my Dad's shop. He used to ride me constantly for having multiple projects going at the same time. Now I live by his advice and he has multiple projects (lots of multiple projects) littering his shop.

Hi Randy,
I really believe that is a great part of the draw of this hobby. We can all do what we want and enjoy. And even be a *little* successful if we want to be.
Would be real boring if we all had to do things the same way and build the ame planes, etc., sorta like NA$CAR has become.
Bill <><

Not sure how your comment applies Bill.

>Not sure how your comment applies Bill.
>
>Randy Ryan <><
>AMA 8500
>SAM 36
>BO all my own M's

Hi Randy,
Oh it was just a thought on how you wrote that you now work on only one project and how I wrote that I not happy unless it looks like a category 5 hurricane just hit my work shop. I haven't set down and counted the projects I am building right now. But they all get finished. At least so far.
As to the NA$CAR analogy, I just menat that other than the decals and engines, they all run the same car. Common chassis, Dodge and Taurus have the same templates, etc. We can all be different yet all enjoy this hobby.
Better?
And your Sabre still looks beautiful.
Bill <><

LAST EDITED ON Dec-06-04 AT 07:37 PM (CST)
 
Bill,

Now I got it! Like the old song goes "Different Strokes for Different Folks". Glad you can operate like that, but it just depresses me and I can't think straight. Heck, I even stop during projects (often) and put tools back and clean up so I don't fell so crowded. Just me I guess, but its is the way I keep motivated, except when I'm detailing a model, that's hard. All my modeling freinds say I'm a little too close to the edge anyway.

Thanks for the kind words on the Sabre, I'm pretty happy with it so far and It looks like it'll come out fairly light if I can keep from getting carried away with clear.

I just got through looking at your drawings of the color scheme and nose art. Please take your time and get that done as pretty as the rest of it already is! It looks like it will have just the right amount of authentic looking color.
Is it bound for VSC?
Keep it up,
Bill <><

I'd love to make VSC but Brodak is probably the farthest away I'll get from Michigan. VSC is in my future, unfortunately not my imediate future.

Thanks

>I'd love to make VSC but Brodak is probably the farthest
>away I'll get from Michigan. VSC is in my future,
>unfortunately not my imediate future.
>
>Thanks
>
>Randy Ryan <><
>AMA 8500
>SAM 36
>BO all my own M's

Randy, don't wait too long. Areal gentleman that I could depend on for help when I needed it is no longer here. I first met him when he was still recovering from heart surgury. He had an old ignition engine and a fox. Him and his brother made it to VSC just to specktate one year. His brother lived in El Paso. He was going to compete the next year. We spent that summer and fall working with his plane. He had that old ignition setup where he could start it on two flips. But, in January before VSC god called him to the eternal flying circle in the sky. His wife still has the plane and his brother has the engine. I still miss him a lot even tho I only knew him a few years. -DOC

LAST EDITED ON Dec-06-04 AT 11:46 AM (CST)
 
>How do you guys stay motivated. I have watched with great
>interest Robert Storicks building of the P-47's and seen
>others finished products. Bob takes a few minuntes to build
>his and many, like myself, seem to take much longer to
>build. I know my desires are strickly for CLPA and I hardly
>ever sport fly. So my planes are always flapped stunter and
>takes all my free time to complete. I have read where some
>spend a few minutes each day building some component or
>piece.
>
>I am going to take a different approach and build a Vampire
>for an
>ST G20/23 I have. I am trying to find some component that
>is missing from my "Routine". When I do fly I enjoy the
>sessions and typically get something new from each flight.
>
>I truely love this hobby and could never build all the
>planes I want. Does anyone else ever have the same
>concerns.

Remember I am not new at this hobby. I have 35-40 years experience so that might have something to do with the speed of my building. Also when I decided to get back into this hobby I went out and bought all the machines necessary to speed up the production.

I also have a full time job as a Harley-Davidson mechanic so I'm doing that for at least 40 hrs per. My job cuts into my building and flying time.

As far as painting goes I am in the Statesmen M/C and one of my club brothers has a body shop so I have access to a spray booth although I have painted my SV22 in the garage. Myself I tend to think of the finished product and that motivates me to get it done. But the biggest thing is you must spend the time. As soon as the weather breaks I will spend the same amount of time at the field. (I don't want to look like a putz at the next nats)

Of course I like Bill came from a family that fixed things instead of buying new.

This is how I stay focused.

If your new at this set small goals and try to reach them in the allotted amount of time. Remember I am a mechanic and I work on flat rate. (flat rate is a given amount of time for a specific task). As you set you goals and are achieving them you can set the bar higher. Remember except nothing less than perfection!! You will thank your self in the end.

For example Say to your self I am going to get the elevator done tonight. Sit down and build that part and nothing else. Sit back an admire it. Think how good it will look on the plane and the next night set another goal and so on. Soon it will be a work of art. As long as you have accepted nothing less than perfection through all the steps it will be what your mind envisioned.

So keep SANDING!!! Sanding is your friend.. Any questions just ask...

EDIT:

By the way how's your friend coming on my old VIPER?? inquiring minds want to know at least mine.. Tell him I still have the engine that came out of that plane. It has a special shaped exhaust.

Bob,

No slight intended with the few minutes remark...just admiration.

Thanks for the reply.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-06-04 AT 12:07 PM (CST)
 
One of the best things I have working for me for motivation is first: goals I have set for myself, Second: videos running in the shop. Say what you want about Windy videos it is like have company in the shop while I get stuff done. Al Rabe, Bob Hunt, Bruce Hunt, even my own. When watching flying videos It Makes Me Want to Practice! When watching Al's and Windy's building videos I learn lots of things and get inspired.The videos also keep me in the garage working.

Richard Oliver

Hi Richard,
The VCR is always on in the shop.
Bill <><

LAST EDITED ON Dec-06-04 AT 01:49 PM (CST)
 
This is my motivation.

KEEP IT SIMPLE!!! MAKE IT EASY!!!

If you notice, my designs are made so an infant monkey could put them together. This makes for fast work and short work sessions. I feel good when I see results. Getting to anal about building and bogging down on little "noise" details is a sure way to STALL!!! Usually a bad turn will in the building will lower my sails, so I try to eliminate them.

I use foam wings, laser cut parts, self-jigging assemblies, and molded shells (even though blocks can be fun to carve if you can find the wood). Build the same design more than once, you will get better at it.

This is always a problem for me to keep going on a project. I never give-up once I start a plane, but I do take some long breaks between building sessions. My problem is that if something doesn't turnout perfect I get pissed and start over until it's how I like it. It's of little value to finish building a plane if the wings are not perfect, so I cut out the parts and build a new one, some wings just don't cooperate! So to help me with wing consistency I’m going the Tom Morris way of building wings.

The main thing for me is to start out with a nice kit to begin with. You know that when you purchase an Umland, Richards, or RSM kit they will pack the box with light, straight wood. On the other hand, a Brodak kit means that I will have to make some trips to the store for some wood before beginning the project….not a big deal really.

If great wood, great customer service, and awesome laser cut parts don’t motivate…..you are a lost cause my friend )

Funny thing with me: I lost some motivation a short time back, was in the midst of some projects in various stages. Opening a lower cabinet door that had been blocked with a couple of different scale sizes of unfinished wooden Tethercars, I found the tanks and wheels I needed for the Ringmaster (Perfect) and the Mustang! (Veco)
I was sanding immediately following the boxing-up and storing of said Tethercars in the "camp" trailer. (wife calls it the 'redneck trailer')

24 years ago I got beguiled by computers when the company I worked for went into CAD and I, as a Design Draftsman saw a big opportunity rushing at me. I put all my hobbies on hold and spent every waking hour for the next 19 years working on improving my knowledge of computing, running our CAD system Running the drawing office, running projects and designing some very interesting machines. Then, some 5 years ago, I found myself working for a boss who hated computers and was very unhelpful to my goals despite my working 10 to 12 hour days to keep up with both the design work and the CAD support. When it came to a head I blew and went to the top and asked that they decide which of the 2 fulltime jobs I was doing they wanted me to give up. so I then spend a very restful year looking after the CAD - started going home on time, making a mandolin, playing music started flying my old combat models again got a better boss and now I get home from work and rush into the workshop to get on with my Mo'Best. It is the building that I enjoy - the creative action I just love building and am probably too slow because I tend to savour the tasks and not rush.

I make the instruments I play and play the instruments I make. whenever I get playing with muscians better than me I think yes, but could you make the instrument you are playing.

I have grown out of the competitive phase and no longer get sad at losing but I enjoy the social side of competitions and, although I havent competed for some years, that will change next year.

Regards

Mike

I keep a TV, VCR and DVD player in my shop. I'll work awhile and sit down and watch some of the ballgame or a movie or whatever. I go back and forth. I work on something till I don't fell like working on it anymore then go to something else. I will sometimes work all day Saturday and Sunday and every evening for a couple of weeks. Then I might go for a week without setting foot in the shop. Just depends.

Because of my set up, I have to sort of plan building sessions. If I'm going to work in the shop on a week-night, as soon as I get home I have to fire up the heat out there so it will warm up enough to work (at least in the winter). I keep it at about 45 to 50 degrees most of the time and just start up the main heat source if I'm going out to work. In the winter, that means starting the heat and coming out in an hour to check it's warm enough.

I go though phases of building and flying. Since I don't have a consistent flying field (yet), I often can't really plan flying sessions. It's drive by to see if the place I fly locally is being used. If not I fly and have to be ready to vacate at a moment's notice. Not conducive to maintaining interest.

I hope to have my own flying circle by next summer, but we'll see.

>I keep a TV, VCR and DVD player in my shop. I'll work awhile
>and sit down and watch some of the ballgame or a movie or
>whatever. I go back and forth. I work on something till I
>don't fell like working on it anymore then go to something
>else. I will sometimes work all day Saturday and Sunday and
>every evening for a couple of weeks. Then I might go for a
>week without setting foot in the shop. Just depends.

I never watch anything important. I listen to movies I have listened to maybe 150 times (I never watch the screen). My favorites are Brain Candy, The Wedding Singer, Billy Madison, and Forrest Gump.

Just to keep me company.

Building the same type of thing every time gets you in a rut, which is sickingly boring. Recently I started getting a bit bored after building a series of R/C planes which were a break from building 4 controliners. I started my break by building a ship in a bottle (my sixth)as a gift for my wife's new brother-in-law we were going to meet for the first time, then built an IMS rubber powered FF ornithopter. I followed that by building 2 out-of box craftsman type HO scale MRR car kits, then freelance cross-kitted a couple HO passenger cars to get something that's not commercially available. And I'm going to spend part of my vacation day Friday snaking out the bathtub drain
Variety is the spice of life!
Now, if I could only get out to the field for some long term flying. Nothing helps you find space for new planes like lots of flying.

In '82, I was qualified for the Team Trials at Taft, CA, in F1A glider. Agonized over the design and various details. I can't start anything until I have all the danged details figured out. Finally, got started, and with some jigging, fixturing and mass production (relatively speaking), designed and built three identical F1A's, plus designed and made the towhooks with a new integral automatic timer start. None of this done with any fancy tools, beyond a Dremel with speed controller and drill press attachment. Besides working 40 per week, I did almost nothing else. During breaks at work, I'd make lists of tasks to do, and put them in logical order, for best efficiency. In 45 days from starting, the models were ready to test, and testing went pretty well, but I didn't make the team. I was too darned tired, and caught a flu bug that really did me in. After that, I decided that I wouldn't ever rush another model project. One of these days, I'll get one finished.... Steve

I go through building phases also. With addition of my first daugter ALL building came to a screahing halt. That is just fine with me. Spending my evenings with her are a pleasure that I have never had before now. However as of late I am feeling the bug coming on strong. It is winter and the rains are here and the gloomy skys mean building and electric RC is all I will get to. I have a Firebird Commander Electric RC plane. That thing is so much fun.

Anyway one way to stay building motivated is to have a plan for each building session. This is how I ususally do it when I have a plane going that I want to get done in a certain amount of time. Dont make it crazy but just have a plan. You have built a few planes and as you build more you will really learn how long it takes to build parts. Once you have a plan then you can see your future with ease. It may be a long way off but that is just fine. As Brett said this is a hobby. A plan is a sure fire way to get good progress in a short amount of time. Just lay out an idea of how much you want to complete in a certain amount of time and plan accordingly. Some sessions maybe real short an hour or less. And some maybe the long sessions. But once you have completed that plan for the session shut it down and go inside and hangout with the family. The next day get on that plan. Without a plan the end will seem so far away.

I have a VCR and a couch in my shop. I fell asleep on the couch once and dropped the sanding block right on my nose. I laughed outloud at myself at 2:30am on a Saturady.

Football games are great to work through. Cowboys are about to get throttled while I work on an IMPACT. There is so much down time you can always catch the play and just listen to the rest. Dont try it with hockey. You just end up starring at this screen or gluing the wing in crooked like I did. The other night I was all gung ho to build. I go out and flip on the TV and on AMC was The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Probably seen it 200 times. I realiezed that I just stood there and watched it for an hour straight, no commercials for some reason, with a flap in my hand that I never worked on. Once my feet got tired I just went in and wathced the movie from the comfort of the couch. That movie loops me in every time. Some of the greatest lines of all time are in that movie. "There are two kinds of people in this world. Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig." Windy videos are great too. RO movies are good but I always end up watching. Al movies are good too.

Make a plan for each session it really keeps in you in one direction during that project. Soon you will get a really good system that you use each time you build. You will refine it as you go and the models will turn out better and better each time.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-07-04 AT 12:20 PM (CST)
 
Brad,

Yea, it's mostly just background noise. I do stop to watch ballgames for a bit sometimes, but it's usually just noise. I like building to baseball games. It's the only sport I can listen to and follow. You really don't have to watch much. Something cool happens, you can always stop to watch the replay.

I am now really motivated to build my Green Box Nobler. Just had a heart procedure (implant of an ICD), and probably won't be able to drive for another month, and probably won't be released to fly for the same time. Nothing to do BUT work out in the shop. What's really awful is that I can't do heavy housework like vacuuming, etc. Don't know how I'll deal with that..<>.
Glen