It is with great sadness that because of small minded and back stabbing members of The Scale Model Makers Club Based in Scotland I have decided to end my lifelong hobby of modelling.Their attitude has sickened me and put me off modelling and all aspects of the hobby.Thanks to all who I have chatted to in the mess hall and replied to my posts

Goodbye Ian sasman21

Ian - hope you reconsider and not give up your participation in the hobby. Any and everyone who's ever been involved in "organized modeling clubs" have gone through these times - that's why the hobby seems so solitary. Even in wonderful places like this Forum you'll run into negative people who only seem to want to take issue with you - but that too passes in time.

The greatest thing I've learned through participating here on this site is that the hobby is truely Global - and much bigger than the local club down the street. Enjoying my time here has given me a different perspective, and allows me to enjoy the local scene - in its proper context. Keep on building for yourself and your personal enjoyment - and damn the torpedos!

Gunnie

Thanks for the kind words but at the moment I have no interest in kitbashing as I do not want to be associated with people who I have done nothing but done favours for.The main instigator is the Guy I took to Germany to drive Challenger 2's with th SCOTS DG's 2 years ago and this is the thanks I get

My advice would be not to let other people interfere with your enjoyment of your hobby. Be glad to be rid of them, and just go back to building models for the reasons you started it in the first place. The models are just plastic, they don't have opinions

Gunnie,
Those are words of wisdom to live by. Yes we must push on an model for our selfs.

Sasman21,

What is this that I am hearing?? because of some idiots you are giving up your hobby, my friend I hope you just have a case of the flu!?!?!?

I don't know what happened in Scotland but I can't believe that you let yourself be put off of this great hobby.

Listen in my younger years I have put the hobby aside because people (I don't know how old you are ) found this hobby childish and I listen to that argument for 15 years! Last year I could not resist anymore and restarted the hobby, then I found a modeling club where I thought that I could learn a lot because a few of the members where real price winners a national and international competitions. Man I was wrong, I remember that I took my first tank there after 15 years (an old Italeri Sherman) and they literly drove my in the ground, there was nothing good about it, it was just good for the trash bin. Believe me as I tell you that, at that point, I also was willing to give in again (ask around here a few of the old timers still remember this story I think), but I decided to look for another club and took my tank there, and you know what?? Ok it is not and never will be a price wining piece but those fellows gave me pointers on what to doe, in fact they took the tank out of my hands and showed me how to drybrusch!

But in the end, what counts is the fact that I love to look at the tank and say to my self, well done Ronny, that is the point, having fun!

If the club you where or full of idiots then let them be, just have fun, that is also the beauty of this forum, it is international beyond believe but we all share and learn!

I am sorry if I seem t ramble about, but I am always sorry that someone want to stop his/her hobby because of the opinions of others

Stay with us, you won't regret it!

Well - leave him behind and move on Brave Soul! You drove Challengers? Sounds really interesting to me - and I'd wager other AFV modelers too. I've not had the fortune to drive the real vehicles I model in scale. Sabot (Rob) has offered me an invitiation - and one day I'm gonna pop-up on his doorstep and ask: "Gunnie DRIVE NOW!?!"

No joking Ian - it sounds like you did the guy a favor and it hasn't been repaid in kind. That's a terrible shame, but don't let it color who you are. Just rise above it and move on.

Gunnie

Never allow your joy to be stolen Ian. We've all pretty much had the same experiences at different levels throughout our associations with clubs in the past. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking clubs because they can be great places to increase your skill and knowledge of the hobby but only if they are a supportive group of people. There always seems to be a couple of people who do not give back anything but grief.
So say goodbye to the person who causes you pain......his loss.
Say goodbye to the club if you must....their loss.
Retain the hobby you love.....your gain.
Stick with Armorama (a supportive club)....our gain.

P.S. the nice thing about Armorama....when one of us gets to be a pain....click - gone.

Ian,

I totally agree with the folks above. If you enjoy it, do it. You can't let a couple bad apples spoil the bunch. I know that I have run into people at shows who were overly critical and I can unerstand your frustration. If I were in the same situation, I would leave them behind and keep on modellig for your own pleasure. You don't have to please others, just yourself. As a college student, I find modelling an excellent way to get away from work for a bit and relax.

Though I have never joined a modelling club, I think I can hoonestly say that I have found that people on this site are very helpful without being overly critical, which helps build your confidence in what you are doing, not to mention your skill level. I know that if I invested years and years into something, it would take a lot to get me to quit.

I hope you reconsider and hope to see you around the site.

Ian,
Finding this Great site (I now think of as my extended Family) Has gotten me back into the hobby. I had tools & kits just laying around with no ambition to build. I don't have the luxury of a local club (but from what i've heard I'm Glad) Don't let a bunch of Jerks do this to you.
It's YOUR hobby too.

Ian,

Although I understand your bitterness, it is no reason to give up on YOUR hobby. Sit back, drink a beer and build a model or 100's of them for YOUR OWN personal satisfication!!

Do not ever forget that you've got a ton of friends here too!

It is nice to know that people who I have never met consider me a friend and are concerned enough for a total stranger that they take the time to post a message giving me support that I feel I CANNOT stop kit bashing and so I thank each and every one of you for restoring my faith in modellers the world over

THANKS GUYS (yes there is a tear in my eye)

Clubs are a good way to share ideas, compare finished kits, and help each other find missing parts or reference. Hey wait a minute, that's what we do here! No need to leave home and let others tick you off. Build for you, not for anyone else. Don't give up your hobby; that will make you even more miserable in the end. Chin up dude, we are here for you.

Patrick

sasman21,
I am glad you have reconsidered your decision. It is so important to keep doing the things we enjoy regardless of what others say. For me, the building models keeps me sane.

GROUP HUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGG #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-) #:-)

as we say in Scotland
here's to us
whau's like us
damn few an they are aw deid

I'm glad you reconsidered. :-) I have never been a joiner myself. But here we have all manner of modellers. No matter what our skill level, our age, our national origin, our financial state, we all enjoy the hobby together. I'm glad you'll be here to enjoy it with us.

Ian,

I was greatly saddened to read your original post, but then I was greatly moved, and not entirely surprised to read the rest of the thread. I am a new modeler (though a "mature" one), and I have never even considered joining a club, Armorama is all the club I will ever need, it's all here, friendship, advice, criticism, group builds, even competitions.

Why do you build? Is it to enter competitions? If that is not the main reason then I question whether you really need to be a member of a club and attend shows etc. I build for myself, and I suspect most others do too, it's nice to share your results though and it's easy to do that here.

I hope you do decide to continue building, and I look forward to seeing your work, maybe get your comments on mine, and hopefully meet you in the chat room smetime.

Good luck.

Roger

Ian, I to have experienced the frustration you are experiencing. I left modelling for several years only to come back. Like other board members have said, you must do your modelling for you. Don't do it for your ungrateful club members, don't do it to win contests. Do it because YOU enjoy it regardless of your ability level.

Once I applied this attitude to my own modelling, I have discovered that I enjoy it much, much more.

Please reconsider leaving the hobby. You will gain nothing by leaving and will lose your lifetime of experience and enjoyment.

Best regards,

Brent Sauer

Ian
Having read your posts and those of the others,I fully agree with what was said to you and i'm glad you've reconsidered your decision.I've found everyone on this site to be both friendly and helpful,it's like being in a worldwide club.
Just enjoy your modelling mate and stick two fingers up at those that try to upset you.
Use my little signature as your motto.
Regards
Peter

I'm a newbie here, but certainly not in the world of scale modeling. I was never interested in joining any modeling clubs. When I discovered this site sometime last year, it rekindled that feeling that putting models together gave me as a kid. I know I should post more, but I'm still busy reading the features!

Anyway, I'm personally glad you decided to stay with the hobby. I agree with everyone else who stated that this hobby is for you! Your own personal enjoyment! :-) Now get back to building something!

-Matt

Hey Ian,

Glad you got it worked out, there is always gonna be low lifes and BS artists around, ya gotta sift through all the chaff to find the good stuff. Besides, Karma usually pays back in kind far better than our feeble and short sighted efforts. I know if I didn't have my models and all the fine folks I have met in Cyberspace and out and about, I'd be up on the roof with a Magnum showing off some of my Marine Corps talents (I would try to pick a law school, of course, I believe the Bard was right when he penned, "Kill all the lawyers........").

Go out, Whack a few grouse, bring them home to work on while you enjoy some of your country's favorite soft drink, chow down and go back to mangling the plastic.


Peace Bro,

through this hobby, the Internet and of course, Armorama, I have friends and a business partner all over the world. I would trade what I do here for nothing else. People like those here are the salt of the earth and provide us with friendship and companionship... albeit at a distance. You guys, in this thread, showed me that we are closer than many people who know each other every day, and really do care...

So... keep it up...

Hi Ian...Glad to see you changed your mind ....I have been a member of a club for over 25 years here....I have seen clubs come and go...I have walked out of a club not to show my face for a couple of years ,(because of idiots) ..BUT last week was my 40th birthday and I looked around the table all my friends were people I met because of modelling! Hey even my best man at my wedding was a modeler...What I'm trying to say is you don't need a club ,but choose the few friends you have in modelling and invite them over ..We do that here every month ...We bring all stuff we bought and drool for hours just talking about kits and other stuff...Of course a couple of beers might be consumed too...Of course these are the people that are allowed to critisize and kick my butt if they think I could do something better...Okay you guys are becoming part of my everyday planning too ..Not a day goes by that I don't look in to see whats going on..Keep modelling ...don't let anyone make you stop your passion !! I had a girl friend who wanted me to stop modelling....I MISS HER SOMETIMES...lol (before I was married of course )

Richard

To Ian and everyone who has responnded,
My experience with clubs (as it states in my bio) was long but limited to only one.Thats
over now because there aren`t any clubs where I live now that I`ve moved. I can honestly say, I don`t believe anyone would have gotten such a warm response as you`ve been given here.
The point I`ld like to make though, is that regardless of clubs, competitions, freinds and other people in general, modelling fulfills some basic needs that, frankly, other people have nothing to do with. Wanting to learn through reading,create through building,and of course your artistic outlet released are all personal requirments.
And of course that ever present tingling feeling that you get when you open that fresh new kit....how could you even consider....A farewell to modelling? A farewell to arms....
maybe.A farewell to fareweather freinds, certainly......but never, afarewell to modelling!
glad to see you`ve reconsiderd Pete