Very well stated. And cost aside, we can pursue our hobby rain or shine, day or night, winter or summer.
At a model railroad show back in the 90s, SWMBO got bored and plopped down next to “granny.” She asked Granny if she had a problem with her hubby ‘playing with models.’ Granny said no, and explained that:
He is home at night
When he comes in looking sheepish with something under his coat, she knows it s a boxcar and not booze/drugs/porn
I experience a steep increase of SWMBO’s approval of my hobby during cold seasons.
The reason behind-I am a heavy smoker and because at home I only smoke in the living room, I always have a window opened, even at subzero temperatures.
By pure coincidence, the living room also harbers the sofa, on which SWMBO spends up to 75% of her time home(mainly taking her beauty naps). She weights 48 kg. and feels always cold…
Thus a typical cold season conversation between us goes like this:
SWMBO: I’m cold, close this window!
Me: I won’t, I’m smoking!
SWMBO: Then stop smoking!
Me: I can’t, I feel like smoking!
SWMBO:Why don’t you go in your HOBBY room AND DO SOME MODELBUILDING?!?
Yesterday, I answered to her last question/proposal that I quitted the hobby and will never build models again
Usually I came back from work with my wife and kids in the car. But sometimes I came back at home in my scooter, so that’s the moment I sneak the stuff in home. I leave it in the storage room, not only modelling kits but airsoft stuff also, and when I need something I go down to the storage room and pick whatever I need. She doesn’t know if I had that item or not.
Another trick is with my friends. If I need something to sneak, they buy it for me and I give them cash when we meet, so there’s no bank movement.
Modelling is not the main of my troubles. Airsoft drives my wife crazy because is much more expensive than models.
oh i believe it!,in our model club there was a member who passed away when i joined 5 yrs ago,he had a huge stash,his daughter donated them to our club,we sold them off to members to raise money for her and the club,i believe the finalcount of kits was around 1200!
When the kids where young, I swear the wife could smell if I had cash in the wallet. Would only ask for some if I had cash without looking and no she wasn’t looking at the account online to know either.
This thread is kinda’ depressing, I hope most of these stories are exaggerated for comedic effect.
As a dude who spent much of his 20’s and 30’s holding down barstools and throwing good money after bad, there are a plethora of worse things I could come home with besides a model kit.
Hilarious, yet at the same time, depressing thread.
A lot depends on how the spouse/significant other was raised. My wife of 37 years has no creative interests outside of baking. Although she’s supportive of my bench time and contest/show attendance, she doesn’t understand the allurement a hobby can have on a person.
On the other hand, I introduced my daughter to model building at a young age as a way to share the hobby and spend time with her. After a few years she lost interest, as many do. However, as an unintended side effect, she not only supports her husband’s interest in it, she’s returned to it, wherein she and the hubby sit at the kitchen table building and painting kits for their Warhammer 40K wargaming armies. My son-in-law owes me, big time.
Back to the original topic: Luckily for me, I’m not into ‘hoarding’, and only keep a small stash. One reason is this–when a subject strikes my fancy and I wish to build a scale rendering of it, I prefer to get the latest-and-greatest kit available. Too many times, on this and other sites, I’ve read “The 20 year old [put manufacturer name here] kit is full of inaccuracies and you’re better off getting Takom’s/Dragon’s/Meng’s/etc. latest offering.”
For me it’s rather simple, I get $8 a hour working at the local military museum and $10 a week for keeping my overall grade average in school above an A. I can use that money for whatever kits or paints I want and save up for something bigger… like a 1/72 U-boot!
Perhaps, you may skip the “kinda’” … And there is another forum thread where someone is claiming that he hates painting, hates building but only does it to annoy his wife which gives him huge pleasure???
There may be an element of exageration, and even humour, in these statements especially when written or said in the presence of that wife so she can also enjoy the joke. Continuing the flow of anti-woman and anti-partner remarks on an open forum may be slightly different.
Imagine a female modeller who visits this forum. Would she be inclined to join?
We had some great female modellers on Aeroscale. We seem to have lost them all, why would that be?
I seem to be in a luxury position with a partner who “allows” me to explore my aviation and modelling interests in the same way that I respect her hobbies and interests. None of our interests has ever come at the expense of our real life together, and from us contibuting our equal share in the household.
I would NEVER hide a purchase for her, because I don’t have to as I do not exagerate, and because the relationship is SOOOO much more important than any model kit. If you would discover that your life partner is hiding purchases from you: what would that do to your trust of that partner? what else is (s)he hiding from me? That goes in two directions, you now.
Maybe that could be a big step forward compared to sneaking in models, hiding new purchases…?
Sounds like a nice relationship.I have been married 40 years and my wife supports my hobby and interests.She has accompanied me over the years to
USS New Jersey
USS Intrepid
USS Midway
Dayton AF Museum
Smithsonian
Aberdeen
Armor Museum in Danbury
Just to name some.
When we travel to a show,I usually drop her at a mall to enjoy,then we have dinner together.She will enjoy looking at my new stuff as I do with her purchases.
Likewise,I enjoy going with her to many cultural things that she enjoys,along with our mutual interests.
So all and all our hobbies and associated purchases have worked out.
I’ve never had to sneak any kits; my wife buys me some for birthdays and Christmas. In fact, the first time she saw my stash I was worried but all she said was, "That’s a lot of models’ and walked off to play with the dog. She also said nothing much about my creating a hobby room in the basement. As long as I’m making her happy she doesn’t care. Plus I can’t say crap about all the stuff she buys now.
