This morning I sat down and started creating but instead of writing text and editing photos - 263 pages and 5,291 photos so far over the past 3 mths but I am NOT counting! (lies, LIES!) - it was measuring up plaban.

Measuring up plaban is hardly “creativity” Linc!

But wait, there was more!

Then I carefully divided my measurements to form 2 even rectangles, then I carefully marked them out in soft pencil and then, wait for it, I scored across them with a Hasegawa Scribing Tool to be able to snap them out. I thought I may as well get some practice in some of my noob skills like scribing…

Examining my work, I felt it was a little rough along the snap lines so gently and carefully ran a file and then a sanding foam to give them a nice, clean edge.

So deep in the moment, I lost track of what I was doing until my inner monologue stepped in to take control. “Dude, c’mon. This is for a demo, it’s plaban. Hurry it up, deadlines are waiting!”

Smiling to myself, I wondered what just happened? Why did I just work so diligently on the small task of preparing a couple of rectangles of plaban? How could I enter a state of deep focus on such an otherwise light-weight task?”

Because I enjoyed it. A great deal in fact. That’s so weird!

“But I have been super creative for months and months now, to the point of feeling quite drained and exhausted… what’s different and why is working on plaban, not even a really cool kit, bringing me such a smile?”

The little voice replied again, “You are using your hands to make things. This is who you are, this is what you do. “

Aha!!! Why is my inner monologue waaaay smarter than me? Perhaps because it’s the one paying attention to what the other smart people in my life, in books, are telling me?

I remember reading something a while back about how it’s important for humans to make things, especially with our hands. I think that is something that brings all of us as plastic hobby kit enthusiasts together. The sheer joy of making something with our hands. Tanks, Planes, Ships, Monsters, Aliens, Stompy Robots. We make them with our hands and we really, really enjoy it.

This made me think about when we see people arguing or getting upset in our hobby. Recently I witnessed someone flip out in our Paint on Plastic Facebook group because a member had recently discovered faux metallic wax packaged for sale to plastic model enthusiasts. As another Ancient Living Human, yes I know this stuff has been around for decades. In fact, seeing as most of my Japanese mentors are at least 10 to 15 or more years senior to myself, as were their mentors for them, I have the benefit of knowing many things from their experience as well so my knowledge base far exceeds my age. I never feel anger when I see new people discover things. Quite the contrary, I am so happy to enjoy the discovery with them. Do re-packaged products bother me? No, not at all. As a small market, we have always had products repackaged for us. Does it amuse me? Yes of course! The latest one I am chuckling about being “NEW!!” drybrushing paints. It’s hilarious but I also see the good. If it helps a new modeller get into drybrushing and re-discover this wonderful technique and then they see in one of my videos that I use this really weird paint called “Humbrols” for drybrushing and they let me know I am doing it wrong, not only is that pure gold comedy but also helps to open up a world of education for the new modeller.

I often wonder if the angry or complaining people are doing that when they are building things? Or is it possibly that they have been misled by the self anointed tech gods, small g, that they are supposed to be endlessly discussing their beloved hobby in virtual “social” places with their finger taps instead of actually taking part in building things?

Today, this became obvious to me in a strange moment of clarity. Instead of letting it pass by, I put down the airbrush and ran over to the computer and let this fall out through my fingertips.

Nothing has made me as happy in the past couple of months of “work” as sitting down and working on a couple of pieces of plaban.

Makes me think, is the real path to enjoying our hobby just making cool stuff? Avoiding the arguments, nitpicking and complaints?

Just “Make Stuff & Get Happy!” ?

Reminds me of Troy McClure from the Simpsons with his inspirational book, “Get Confident, Stupid!”.

Maybe this, but happy and not so much with the stupid. :D

Thanks for reading, happy modelling to you my friend,

Linc

Get Happy Ralphie. Make Stuff!