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[kendalboatsman]

Morning,

One question that has always puzzled me is the time taken to build a model boat. I have never logged the hours taken to build, if I had a little spare time I would do a bit more on whatever my current build.

So the question is do any of you actually log the building time you  put into a model ???? You often see boats advertised for sail with people stating the rough number of build hours taken.

I am new to this forum having joined a week or so ago., already I have noticed a fascination with puffers :-\. Can anyone explain this please?   

Thanks
Clive

[DickyD]

No to both questions Clive   ???

Richard

[RickF]

Clive,

To me it's a hobby - although not my only one. Since retiring last year I have escaped from the world of deadlines and time sheets and, short of tasks imposed by the DSM, I do much as I please. The last thing I worry about is how much time I spend doing anything!

On the subject of puffers: they are small and quaint and make lovely large-scale models. My interest lies with the late Victorian navy, which has similar appealing prototypes. Who wouldn't want to model them?

Rick

[roycv]

Hi all, some years ago I restored a 20 inch loa yacht which was in poor condition and kept a log.  I spent 55 hours actual work, and realised at the end I was working for £2.00 per hour.  If it were mine I would have junked it, but it was a family thing and I had given a fixed price, which I thought would put the guy off.
The result was I learnt a lesson!  The yacht ended up better than new (originally constructed during WWII) and the family very pleased.  And my wife somewhat surprised that anyone was prepared to pay me for my bashing around in the shed, albeit not a lot.
regards to all Roy

[KenP]

No, I don't log the hours spent.  My hobby is building model boats, the time spent on an individual boat is not relivent.

[Bunkerbarge]

I think unfortunately some people seem to think the more hours that has gone into a project the better it is and so it helps top justify a price.

I would suggest that most of thse figures are pure fiction and there are very few people out there who actually log thier time and lets face it what has the length of time got to do with the quality of the finished item?

It may mean nothing more than the builder was a bozo who had to everything twice to get it right!!

[tigertiger]

It may mean nothing more than the builder was a bozo who had to everything twice to get it right!!

OI!!! I resent that




 

[Bunkerbarge]

I did say it may mean.....

[roycv]

Hi all, A very well known and respected modeller gave a talk to our society some years ago,  he was introducing us to building in plastic.  As he talked he constructed a part of the superstructure of a destroyer he was making, I have never seen anyone since who could cut with such first time accuracy and assemble at such speed.
Speed and accuracy is possibly what separates Professionals from the amateurs.
I know I would starve if I had to earn my living making model boats!
regards Roy

[justboatonic]

Never keep a log of how long I take to build but that shouldnt stop anyone who wants to. Think we'd all be surprised how long we do spend building if the truth be known!

I'd only keep a log if I was intent on building a 'show' model as this may be of interest to people who would see the model etc. Besides, even now most people ask me 'how long did it take to build?' when they see you down the pond!

[Roger in France]

I think if I kept a log it would stress me. "Am I being self indulgent?". "What else could I have done?" "What else should I have done?" etc. Its my hobby, it's fun, to Hell with counting and accounting. The question is a bit like the other theme of "Do you tell your partner the true cost?".

Roger in France.

[kendalboatsman]

Hi Roy,

I wish I could cut accurately in plastic never mind quickly. I believe the key is a very sharp knife but it still doesn't seem to help me much. Mind you I think I can do a better job than the person who built the Lotse I am rebuilding. Have also just dug out my minicraft jigsaw to try and do a better job cutting out the windows. The builder had only cut out 6 of the 25 windows in the superstructure and put decals on the rest.

I get the impression then that people who know how many hours they put into a build are a very small minority. My enjoyment is from building so I don't care how long it takes in the end. I do like to see them working at the end.

Clive

[Colin Bishop]

I spend a hell of a lot more time thinking about it rather than doing it (modelling that is!  ). Do those hours count too? I've never kept a record, it's a hobby!

[bobdoc]

I think logging hours of work must be very difficult. I often have two or more projects on the go at the same time, moving back and forth between them opportunistically as glueand  paint drying, supplies on order or just a general whim applies

It's a hobby: we should be into it for our own satisfaction and pleasrue - that our efforts sometimes give pleasure to others is a happy byproduct.

I wonder what would happen if we asked anglers how many hours it takes to catch a trout or a salmon. I expect we'd getthe same sort of answer.There is satisfaction in the product, but the is challenge and pleasure in the doing.

Chill out and crack on!

Bob

[John W E]

hi all,

  Sometimes you get so engrossed in your model building.....you lose all track of time, until someone tells you it is 3 a.m. in the morning and then says to you to stop making a noise  do you realise you have spent all day since 10 a.m. doing your model and you have done nothing else all day long apart from your model!    All you have asked for are sandwiches and cups of tea - and life can be so solitary as a model cant it at times. 

Aye
John E
BLUEBIRD

[catengineman]

hi all,

  Sometimes you get so engrossed in your model building.....you lose all track of time, until someone tells you it is 3 a.m. in the morning and then says to you to stop making a noise  do you realise you have spent all day since 10 a.m. doing your model and you have done nothing else all day long apart from your model!    All you have asked for are sandwiches and cups of tea - and life can be so solitary as a model cant it at times. 

Aye
John E
BLUEBIRD

Hi Bluebird,
Is there any chance that I could bring my build to your place?   I read with fascination that you get tea and sandwiches while you build
At the moment I seen to be in sort of bad books with the boss that all I get is "ARE YOU STILL OUT THERE! :'( :'(

As for the time spent on working on a model I don't take any notice (most of the time I'm at work and so I get paid for the privilege)

Richard.

[Bunkerbarge]

I get a cup of tea and a kiss! :-* :-*

[Roger in France]

I get a cup of tea and a kiss! :-* :-*

Hello, hello...what's she been up to? Maybe the kiss means "Thanks for being out here, why not stay a bit longer, then I can do what I like".

Roger in France.

[White Ensign]

I have recorded once the building time of a model- be cause I wanted to know how much it takes "really". Most people due a show ask you: "How long does it take", and all the guesses you use to hear I doubt very much.
I was astonished how much it was and putted it into a relation:
I know a guy, who is doing the SMS Seydlitz (battleship WW1), scale 1:100 and he is working on it for about 15 years!
Sounds incredible, but he spends about 10 hours per month at his model, though 15 years is nothing.
My HMS Lord Nelson took me 3500 hours, spend in 4 years, that is a different relation.

About the missus with the kissus......- I just had once the coffee and sandwich service....., perfectly hit the time when I had started a new epoxy mould and the time was running out....
To say it with a commercial spot:

1 Kg of Epoxy-mould: 29,95
Casting time: 25 minutes
A ruined pattern: 50 hours
A missus who can wait............ UNPAYABLE!


Jörg

[roycv]

Hi Bunkerbarge is getting the kiss as well part of the perks of being at sea?

Kendalboatsman, Hi, there is a special cutter for plastic that takes a small groove out of the plastic instead of cutting.  I find it very good.

Going back to hours spent, I have been months trying to simplify the introduction of RC to a sailing boat.  It is nearly done now and I think "How come it took you so long"!
Off to workshop now, regards to all Roy

[kendalboatsman]

I think unfortunately some people seem to think the more hours that has gone into a project the better it is and so it helps top justify a price.

I would suggest that most of thse figures are pure fiction and there are very few people out there who actually log thier time and lets face it what has the length of time got to do with the quality of the finished item?

It may mean nothing more than the builder was a bozo who had to everything twice to get it right!!

On the subject of expensive goods and building things twice, I remember a documentary on car manufacturers about ten or twelve years ago. At that time the most efficient car plant was the Vauxhall factory on Merseyside, the least efficient factory was a Volkswagen plant in Germany. Apparently the majority of cars built there failed quality control and had to be partially rebuilt. The suggestion was, that be the reason Volkswagens cost so much more than the average car is that they are built twice . I think it means they are either badly built in the first place or that quality control is exceptionally high. I suspect the latter LOL 

Clive 

[roycv]

Hi Kendal...... I visited  BMW in Munich about that time and was told that there were many people involved in rectifying faults from the production line.  Whilst I was there it seemed that all the guys on the line had a tin of what looked like beer  and were openly drinking.

I was later informed by my son in law that there were as many people involved in rectification in BMW (Series 3 at Munich)  as there were producing Nissan cars in Sunderland!  He was a Senior Manager in Nissan and probably prejudiced, but  nevertheless well informed.

I owned a Nissan Primera then and had it for 7 years, never went wrong apart from some dodgy wiper blades sorted out in first few months.
I now have a Honda CRV same good experience, no problems.
I enjoy going to factories and never miss an opportunity.
regards Roy