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 Rank: Master       Groups: Registered
Joined: 25/11/2018 Posts: 1,284 Points: 3,878 Location: Southeast UK
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Hello all,
For some time now I have been actively evaluating what it is that I get out of my modelling as a hobby and more to the point, actually taking part in active discussion and the showing of my work on a modelling forum? This is the only forum that I am posting on and indeed was my very first, when I subscribed to and completed the DeAgostini McLaren MP4/23. I have left and returned several times under new usernames as some of the older members on here will be aware. Each time I left it was because of a negative atmosphere, which was instigated by a certain individual who no longer has anything to do with this forum. I have seen many good modellers come and go on here and at one point this was a buzzing place and what's more great fun and an inspiring group to be a part of and I really enjoyed it, but alas, despite trying to galvanise some interest from other members through my own posting of builds and after several repeated calls for more engagement, over the last few months this forum has seriously deteriorated to the point where I feel like I'm walking into an empty room whenever I look in? For me there just doesn't appear to be a desire on my part to be here anymore.
Besides that which I mention above, I am also going through a change in my outlook on life in general, with my family now grown up and living their own lives away from myself and my wife, and increasingly I'm feeling that the fun aspect of modelmaking is becoming less and less for me as the months go by. I have also, for the last 12 months been engaging in a pastime that I used to take an active interest in when I was younger and am now finding it more appealing, more fun, and more interesting than being at my modelling bench for hours on end. Whilst I don't intend to stop modelling completely, I will always dabble, I strongly feel that the time is fast approaching when it is something that I do just every now and again and without it having a such a big demand on my time and money. I wince sometimes when I see the price of some of the kits that are coming out nowadays and whilst they are undoubtedly lovely kits, to my mind they are not worth the asking price and even more so when I am losing interest and may never actually build them!?
So, to cut a long story short and after a lot of thought I have decided that after I have finished my current build of the fantastic MFH 1:12 Eagle Gurney-Weslake, I will be moving on from modelling online, on this forum or any other and taking my life in an altogether different direction, where modelmaking is just a passing interest. When and if I build models in future it will be just for my own private enjoyment and I will take as long as I need to build a model, maybe not picking up my tools for months at a time, if at all. I have a large stash of kits, books and other modelling ephemera and will be selling most of that off over the next few months, just keeping a small handful that I believe I will build eventually.
There is still a little way to go with my Eagle Gurney-Weslake build, but the end is getting closer every time I post another update. I figure I have at least another month to go yet, maybe a little longer, but the end will come.
After that I am moving on.  
Kev
Per Ardua Ad Astra
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Rank: Master   Groups: Registered
Joined: 21/04/2011 Posts: 1,076 Points: 3,257 Location: Buckinghamshire
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Hi Kev,
Your message is very sad (to me anyway) but at the same time, totally understandable.
All our lives and attitudes change and I sometimes feel that it is actually quite a selfish pastime because it doesn’t immediately engage any other member of the family or friends, apart from fellow modellers.
Over the last six or seven months, I have been experiencing health problems and my model making has dramatically decreased, sometimes not even trying to make anything for days, maybe weeks. Like you, I regularly come onto this forum and almost nothing has changed from the last visit apart from members putting up posts about non-receipt of parts issues or adverse comments about admin etc.(which, by the way, I find very unfair considering the times we are all experiencing).
I am hoping that very soon, I can resume modelling more regularly and posting progress on my build diary.
In the meantime, good luck Kev and I wish you well with your new activities.
Regards
Chris
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Rank: Administration  Groups: Administrator, Administrators, Forum Support Team, Global Forum Support, Global Forum Support Team, Moderator, Official Builds Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 1,928 Points: 5,796 Location: UK
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It’s been a helluva couple years, hasn’t it? I’m really struggling with keeping my mojo going, but I’m selling a lot. My latest surgery seems to have given me a bit of a new lease, and I’m busy with my other passion, restoring wooden canoes. I’ve been building a much modified MFH Bugatti T-35 MM for my fathers birthday this last Feb. I just can’t get the boost.
The EG is looking amazing. That’s the perfect place to hit “pause” on the hobby, albeit perhaps permanently, and go enjoy the family. It really IS the most important thing these days.
Stay well,
Mark
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 I know where you are coming from Kev . Since my mum died a few months ago and getting the estate sorted I have totally lost my mojo and have gone back to my other passion of fishing. Just sitting by the lake and taking in the nature is really helpful. Look after yourself mate and enjoy the new hobby Martyn Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
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 Rank: Vice-Master  Groups: Registered
Joined: 25/08/2012 Posts: 997 Points: 2,813 Location: Down in the vale of Bedfordshire
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Hi Kev, I feel where your coming from. It’s hard trying to balance everything and with what’s happened over the last couple of years I think we’re all looking at live a little differently, trying to take more time to do what we want, be it an old hobby or something new. I’ve gone back to my old hobby of cross stitching where I can still be with the family in the same room instead of sitting by myself in another room, I’m only building what I want and when I want it’s one reason why I’ve not posted a lot lately as modelling has taken a step down. I have a FB page that I update with photos now and then, I like it as I can just update some photos and leave again. My Favourite Building:- 1919 https://forum.model-spac...=339517&#post339517 -
Current Build - 0-6-0 https://forum.deagostini...=351803&#post351803 Enterprise D - https://forum.deagostini...=posts&t=35768&
Built:-. HMS Bounty, RMS Titanic, MP4-23, Flying Scotsman, Aston Martin DB5, Honda CB750, Mustang, R2-D2, Jaguar, DeLorean, Testarossa, Stage Coach plus many plastic kits.
Dry dock no room to display:-. Bismarck, U96.
To build:-. HMS Hood. HMS Victory. Cutty Sark. SoS, Lancaster bomber. DR1 Triplane. JU-87. Plus many many plastic kits.
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Rank: Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 25/11/2018 Posts: 1,284 Points: 3,878 Location: Southeast UK
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Hello all,
Thanks guys for your kind words and understanding, very much appreciated. It seems that everyone of you that has commented know exactly where I'm coming from and that is comforting to say the least.
I won't be stopping modelling completely as I said, just downgrading its' importance in my life and removing myself from the online modelling scene, and when I get to the end of my MFH Eagle Gurney-Weslake build I will stop being active on here, but I don't intend to end my membership at that point and will leave it open for a while.
I will give you an insight into the pastime to which I am returning by showing you a pencil work that I did for myself last year when I first took up the sport again after many years. I am excited to be doing this again, not the art, which I've always been good at, but the sport that the picture depicts. It brings back many happy memories from years gone by and I am becoming ever more keen in my pursuit of the sport. It feels good to be out and about along the coastline once again!
The subject of this artwork is my new interest - lure fishing for Bass along the Sussex coast!:
Please do not copy my artwork, it is protected by copyright!
A new update for my Eagle Gurney-Weslake is not too far away and hopefully will be posted in the coming days, though I am away from home for four days over the coming weekend, so I may not get time, but we'll see?!
Kev
Per Ardua Ad Astra
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 20/01/2011 Posts: 605 Points: 1,744 Location: Canberra, Australia
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I am getting the same way Kev, with nothing much happening with the truck and trailer. I have quite a few kits in the stash and will very slowly build them, but won't be posting anything much about them on here or my own forum, (which is dead anyway).
Have fun in your new pursuits Kev. :)
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Aw Kev! I was so sorry to read your post but I can understand your feelings. I really enjoy your diaries and loved to see how you, like myself just can't resist up-grading and scratch building to go the extra mile. All of your builds especially the latest F1 car are not just models, they're masterpieces (especially when I can nick ideas off them!)  I haven't done any artwork for years now, used to do commission drawings and water-colours of pets from photos for a while (so much easier than human faces!)and your fish drawing is excellent. I wish you all the best and hope you'll still pop in to share your comments and advice from time to time! Best of Luck. Robin. First wooden ship: The Grimsby 12 Gun 'Frigate' by Constructo Second: Bounty DelPrado Part Works Third: HMS Victory DelPrado Part Works 1/100 scale Diorama of the Battle of the Brandywine from the American Revolutionary War Diorama of the Battle of New Falkland (unfinished sci-fi), Great War Centenary Diorama of the Messines Ridge Assault Index for the Victory diary is on page 1
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 Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/07/2014 Posts: 4,269 Points: 12,713 Location: Scotland
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So sorry to see you going Kev but good luck in your new pursuits all the best mate will miss your comments Regards Phil COMING SOON =1/72 Italeri diorama`s Battle for the Reichstag and Stalingrad battle at the tractor factory 1/16 Trumpeter King Tiger with loads of extras ON THE GO= refurbishment of 1/25 Tamiya tiger 1 , amt Star trek kits and space 1999 models
So Much to Build,But What a Hobby!
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Rank: Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 25/11/2018 Posts: 1,284 Points: 3,878 Location: Southeast UK
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Many thanks Tony, Anthony, Robin and Phil for your kind wishes much appreciated.
Just a few days ago, when the new policy towards Customer Service enquiries was announced, stating that all CS issues were to be addressed solely by PM to Admin, I have to admit that I thought great, I've changed my mind, and I think I'll stick around after my Eagle Gurney-Weslake build was finished after all, as the forum would likely now revert back to being a Technical Support and modelling forum?
However, despite that new policy change it seems that CS issues will be allowed to continue to be posted live on the forum. There have been JUST four posts on the live forum in the last 2 days, which is dreadfully boring by any standards and even worse, of that four THREE are CS complaints, none of which have been deleted?!  
So, I'm sorry to say that I WILL DEFINITELY be moving on at the end of my current build. I have an update ready to be posted today, but to be honest I don't know whether I have the enthusiasm to even post it - so it can wait! 
Kev
Per Ardua Ad Astra
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Rank: Administration Groups: Administrator, Administrators, Forum Support Team, Global Forum Support, Global Forum Support Team, Moderator, Official Builds Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 1,928 Points: 5,796 Location: UK
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Hi Kev,
I did not delete them, but I did move them into the Moans, Groans, Gripes and Complaints section. I thought this was a good compromise, as it keeps them all in one place, and the VIEWER has the option to simply not open those topics and responses. This SHOULD keep everyone from being ambushed by complaints that are imbedded in the rest of the forums.
I reformulated the policy with your criticisms in mind, so it’s a pity you’ve chosen to move on anyway.
Mark
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Rank: Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 25/11/2018 Posts: 1,284 Points: 3,878 Location: Southeast UK
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Hello all,
Whilst I am enjoying my old pastime of fishing for Bass along my local coastline, it is getting harder to catch them given that we are now moving into winter and away from the main season for catching this sporting fish, so I will not be going fishing much over the winter, which means my modelmaking will come back to the fore for a while until next spring.
I have also noticed that since the complaints against DeAgostini have been largely removed from the forum, there has actually been a marked upturn in the amount of discussion about modelling taking place along with some new builds starting up and more engagement from the members also becoming apparent?
With that in mind, having said that I would become less active on the forum after my current build was finished, I have decided to stick around on the forum for the time being and to see how much more progress can be made towards restoring this forum to what it once was just a few years ago - a buzzing place!
With my MFH 1:12 Eagle Gurney-Weslake build nearing the end, I have been thinking about what to put up as a new build diary? I have also to finish my Hasegawa 1:48 'Voyager Space Probe' before the end of the year for those who were following and I will be doing that alongside my new build diary, which can be found here:
https://forum.model-spac...amp;m=343957#post343957
All the best guys, keep building those models and let's see them on the forum!
Kev
Per Ardua Ad Astra
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Your announcement goes to show you know how to keep a fellow modeller happy Kev, great to hear you'll be sticking with us for a while longer. The display of your skills, knowledge and experience would be sorely missed by many I'm sure..... Regards Alan
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Nice to hear you will be staying Kev, as Alan says, you skills would have sorely been missed. Mark
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