Enthusiasm

I am curious about how much time "the brotherhood" devote to our hobby of model engineering and I think this should also include those that concentrate more on the construction of workshop equipment as well - an equally challenging pastime!

We all use varying degrees of precision in our hobby but I think that a relatively coarse scale of precision might suit a survey of how much work is being done "up the shed".

So can I suggest a level of interest within which you might fall. I'll keep it simple, it goes from 1 - 5.

1. I'll do it when I'm ready.

2. I'll do it if she lets me.

3. I'll do it - I promise (and you don't!)

4 . It'll be done by morning come what may (could involve a red face!)

5. Its done.

What number are you?

No.1

Cheers Derek.

I am not a number - Andrew

Hi Stuart

It's a hobby and I do it only for enjoyment. Sometimes I feel like spending lots of time, sometimes I go for long periods without any workshop activity. If my wife has something that requires my attendance she has priority - it works the other way too. I stopped working to deadlines when I finished work and my objective is to have an interesting and fulfilling time - to do so means that others in my life also need to further their ambitions. Where would you put me on your scale?

Norman

Edited By NJH on 01/02/2013 22:52:26

Here goes!

What is the question?

Are you asking about level of precision in the work done in the shed, or the speed with which you tackle jobs for 'er indoors??

Dimmos like me need more precision in the question, S.C!

I'll admit to not really understanding the question either - Andrew

Can't put a single number to it.

Level of interest and priority is high, time available is short.

Level of expenditure shows commitment but output does not justify it, the only justification is pleasure.

Amount of available time spent on Model Engineering extremely variable.

An accumulation of Model Engineering interests has lead to a large collection of 'under the bench projects' waiting their turn.

It will be completed 5 to 10 years later than expected.

Hmmm, I have heard of business models, maybe I need a hobby model?

Nigel

Hi Stuart,

I will have to agree with Andrew and Chris, but in the cold season I usually spend a few hours in the workshop each day. Just finished a simple wobbler.

Regards

Thor

For AJ and CJ aka "The Prisoners" - you made me laugh. and Norman, you are not a number either - you are just normal Norman. Have a nice weekend all. ATB - Stuart

All of the above!

Russell.

That's good, at least I achieved one useful thing yesterday. Right, back to the workshop, I'll be in there all weekend and it's **** cold, but at least I'm getting paid for it.

Regards,

Andrew

PS: Stuart - greetings from a fellow Bedfordian.

Andrew J - I'm curious, a few threads back you mentioned a WH Allens skeleton crew that are now working out of a block in your old school. Which school was/is it?

I know what you mean about everything being bulldozed. My form room at my old school in Bedford is now Argos and the last place I was employed in the industry in Bedford was the Vauxhall die plant in Ampthill Road. As you probably know it has been flattened to make way for a Morrisons store. We quite like to shop in Morrisons so my first shopping trip there to buy a crust instead of earning one will probably feel a little strange.

ATB

Stuart

Stuart,

I was a service engineer with ABB and worked in the Amphill road GM plant servicing and repairing the Welding Robots.

By the way you missed off when health allows

Martin P

Hello Martin - small world what? Not quite sure what you meant by "By the way you missed off when health allows wink". Can you clarify? - Stuart

I obviousely clicked on the wrong smiley but this year my health so far has not allowed me to stand in my cold workshop hence the health comment, I'm also local to Bedford.

Martin P

Martin - Sorry you are not feeling so good - hope you get better soon - ATB Stuart

Sometimes I run into deep sand. Lots of projects, but they all seem totally stalled. In teh last couple of years I have discovered a few things that help:

1. Do something you have been putting off, then reward yourself with a short, simple job which will rapidly produce an end result.
2. Write out a list of projects and identify the one big issue stalling each on - that's what made me bit the bullet and get two laser cut flywheels to bring two stationary enhgine projects back to life.
3. Accept your limitations - I can't paint like Chris Vine and finish a job before I'm dead, so I have to accept the best I can do. Doesn't mean don't try your best, but does mean don't put it off because the end result won't be perfect.
4. Clean up your workshop. I set myself the challenge of seeing how many things (from drill bits upwards) I can put away in a half hour.
5. Take a side step and give some attention to DIY, make a plastic kit, play some music, take a few photos. Remind nyourself you do model engineering for fun and you don't HAVE to do it.
6. Read some back issues or surf the forums. Sooner or later you'll get inspired by someone else's good idea.
7. If a tough problem is holding you up, sleep on it. Mull it over with a cup of hot chocolate, and doze off thinking about it. Chances are you'll wake up with a solution.
8. If you really get stuck, talk it over with someone who doesn't have a clue what you are on about. Their niaive questions will make you look at the problem from a new angle - this has really helped me solve some difficult computer issues!

The first three of these I have found invaluable at work, where the sheer range of tasks needing attention can become overwhelming.

Neil

I'll keep it brief 'cause I've already had a b*****king for cluttering up this forum with information about schools in Bedford.

W. H. Allen Diesels are in the Pilgrim Centre, on Brickhill Drive. It used to be Pilgrim school, excellent buildings, but second rate as a school.

I'm afraid that I didn't then, and don't now, know Bedford very well south of the river. There must have been other grammer schools in the area, as most of the people I went to school with lived north of the river, or in villages to the west and north of Bedford.

Regards,

Andrew

Andrew,

Now there is something I didnt know, I've lived in Bedford area for 24 yrs and thought they had competely gone, even my mate who did his apprenticeship there didnt know. I volunteer at a museum in Wales called IF who has a large running collection of Allen Diesels **LINK**

Martin P