Hobby time again
I like making things.
As a kid I used to make loads of models from Airfix or Ravell kits. As I grew a little older I graduated to the larger models which I finished off with detailed painting.
I also made one or two airplanes from balsa and doped paper. It was nice getting high on the dope vapours.
After getting hitched, my creative urges took a different turn and I concentrated on installing central heating from scratch and also making furniture.
Lately I have returned to making stuff from kits. It’s the local hardware shop that’s to blame. They started selling kits which intrigued me so I had to have a go.
So far I have made a marble run, a functioning telescope and a Tourbillon clock. Sadly, the latter doesn’t run properly and it requires a bit of a rebuild, if I can discover how to do that. It is incredibly complicated.
My latest one is a lot more successful. It’s another clock and has been running for quite a while now without a hitch or a glitch. It is very accurate which surprised me.
I showed it to Herself and she promptly claimed ownership so it’s now resplendent on her window ledge.
I called it Wol in honor of Winnie the Pooh’s companion – an owl with a spelling problem.
All my latest models are pure plywood. There are a very few non-wooden parts such as a few steel axles and a few springs. Wol also has an additional battery motor. and metal hands
They are amazing kits and require considerable attention to detail and a lot of dexterity.
I’m taking a bit of a break from making them now, but I have already got my next couple. One of them is another marble run which is a bit more complex than the first one I made.
The other is a fully functioning printing press which looks intriguing.
I’m looking forward to that one.
I think the ‘doing practical stuff’ may be an age thing. As a child just after the war my early years were spent ‘helping’ my father on DIY and household stuff, he was practical and tradsmen were scarce with all the rebuilding going on, furniture and fittings were also expensive compared to nowadays. Then like you, weekends were spent with Airfix kits, Meccano, model planes etc, and I liked making marquetry pictures – until I was old enough to get an old car, travel outside the village and discovered girls, sitting at home doing handicrafts lost some of its appeal. Since settling down with she who must be obeyed we have made 3 house moves, each time to a ‘fixer upper’ involving replumbing, wiring, rebuilding and any jobs needing attention. Rebuilt a couple of classic cars but am now devolving back to handicraft sized indoor projects. The latest being a radio kit to reprise my electronics. It works, but is probably the crappiest radio I have ever encountered! That clock looks fun, but I’m not sure I have the patience.
It’s a sure thing that I don’t have the patience.
What goes around, comes around…. enjoy the relaxing time for yourself and then pass on your “creations” to a loved or unloved one!!!!