What does everyone do for a living?

I've often thought about why I like this hobby and I think it comes down to the fact that it combines so many things that I enjoy - attention to detail, working with my hands, cars (duh!), graphics/design, actually creating something. I'd even go as far as to say it's an artform.

I've also just been fortunate to land a new dream job at a company I absolutely adore, Subaru (Canada). I'm a huge fan, I own a 2004 STI, which I probably bought directly because of Colin McRae & the SWRT. I even wore STI cufflinks to the interview!

I searched the forum and I hope it's okay to bring up this subject. The last thread I saw was about 10 years ago. I'm curious as to how the skills needed for modeling translate into your day-to-day life. Surely there must be some overlap. I wouldn't be surprised to find people in similar vocations.

So how about it? What do you do for a living? I'm one week in as front-end web designer/developer for Subaru Canada. Been in web design for about 15 years.


Robert

Well my current job has nothing to do with models, as I work in a large warehouse with DIY products. But before that I was a panel beater/paint sprayer in the automotive repair industry, so I think my interest in cars, sparked off by that job, started me off making models. My main reason for starting models was Tamiya Model Magazine. I saw a copy in Beatties (local hobby shop in the UK now dead) way back in the early 90's. It had the recently released, at that time, Tamiya Alfa Romeo 155 on the front cover. Once I saw that I bought the magazine and a few kits. After building them I really got the modelling bug and have had it ever since..

Don't think my real job had anything to do with why I build model cars .. since I started building at 8 years old and had no idea what a real job was!

I'm a retired Structural Engineer, BTW.

Full time job is social worker and part time job is in auto parts. No influence on my modeling other than needing to relax after work.

Rob

I now work preserving and restoring rare metal objects from 3000BC to 1800AD. Some of the work is very close to model making - brazing, soldering, filling, colour matching, colour washing etc...I love it! :smokin:

That is truly fascinating!
I don't hang -out in this particular subforum, but I work in antiques restoration. It's very interesting to come across someone who performs museum -calibre work.

I'm a shopmanager from a supermarket in the netherlands. So i have nothing to do with cars or bikes in my job. Although i drive a motorcycle. But i like to create something, although my models aren't that detailed as some around here.

been a vehicle nut since i was a kid (used to have my grandpa bring me to the highway just to watch the trucks passing by, then eventually went to cars). however, my education and current work is in no way related to my love of cars. studied home education in college and even managed to get a license to teach in high school. my current work though is in an outsourcing company.

best i can do with real cars is just minor repairs, mostly mechanical. and i am absolutely terrified with electrics on the car, lol.

University didn't work out in the end so I am trying to climb the ladder at the part time job I had. Now working there full time becoming a shop assistant manager in a drugstore/pharmacy in the Netherlands. Nothing to do with any passions I have, but it provides a steady income.

I'm an Aerospace Design Engineer but my heart is car shaped. My life revolves round cars and I would love to be able to compete in stage rallying but sadly it is so expensive. Building scale model cars (I mainly build rally cars) is a very satisfying hobby as like my job I love the precision and small detail. I have found this forum to be the best and some of the skills and scratch building is truly outstanding.

I built models when I was a young kid and then got the bug many years later when I bought a Tamiya Celica Safari kit. I have now progressed to an airbrush and hopefully taking my models up the scale a bit. I love transkits and being able to build something that is not mass produced. Sadly the high street model shops are all but gone but the internet makes shopping a global experience. It's fantastic to see models from Model Master and guys like Belkits fulfilling the void of new rally car models. Keep it up!

Product designer, freelance.
Lately I design almost only air compressor body shells, in the consumer's target (so those you'll find with a body.....) and I have a past in the graphic design and architecture area: this is the reason becouse I sometimes mix old school modeling techniques with some of my professional skills: 3D modeling and proto, graphic design (PE parts and decals): but sometimes I get also the chance to test my modeling skills on my regular job, doing "solid" presentations (read filling and painting prototypes...) of my projects... :)

... so in my life job and hobby are married... sometimes the job is the man and sometimes not... :)

Well I'm a Signwriter by trade & do design work also. My job has def helped my modeling career, i use cut vinyl graphics for masks, have printed my own graphics etc at work. Sadly I'm yet to do graphics for an actual race car but have done many vehicle wraps etc (even won national awards for some of them!)

My job has absolutaly nothing to do with modeling, I am a shop manager in a Kitchen suply store. I sell Washing machine's refrigerators freezers dishwashers etc etc...

But this is just temporary as i am going to school and studying for a sales manager. hopefully I can start my own business in the future or atleast be the manager in a big store of some kind.

Electrical engineer at an engine assembly plant- I deal mostly with automation, barcode scanning, and engine computer programming/testing. At home I do almost all of the car repair work, bunches of bicycle maintenance stuff, and some on the house - electrical, water/gas/drain lines, crown molding, stuff like that.

So lots of hands-on stuff. Problem is that it doesn't leave much other time to spend on models!

My job is actually car related, I work for a tier 1 supplier of the automotive industry, selling things like window regulators, seat adjusters and latch systems to all major OEMs. I design packaging solutions, implement logistic processes, negotiate delivery terms etc.
I use my hobby as a contrast, to to something practical besides all the time in the office in front of a computer screen.
I don't only build car models however, also jets, ships and spacecraft, as I'm generally fascinated by technology. But cars are my main focus though.

Like the TS, I'm also a web developer (front-end, freelance). I can see a lot of the skills that I need for my job come through in modeling as well, like attention to detail and things like design. I love cars too and those are the main reasons I like modeling I guess.. :)

Im a supervisor for a model shop (modelzone) in Scotland. Yes, that does mean i get a nice discount on all my kits/supplies :D

I worked as a union painter for over 13 years and find myself at Home Depot now. Started models as 8-9 year old and didnt pick it back up until 15 years ago :banghead:

I am a audio engineer mostly live sound concerts ect. But I also edit audio for the internet and radio. I started building models at 8-9 mostly planes and armor till I saw the movie Corvette Summer then switch to cars till about 18 then started back in 2006 I like building motorsports kits I like a lot of types of racing.

Model making is a hobby I picked up from my dad when I was little. I still remember my first car model, Jaguar XJR9, which I barely pieced together. Now I'm a Microbiologist. 1/24 and 1/43 scales are nothing compared to the bacteria and proteins I work with.

I build cylinder heads for a top fuel drag racing team. I work for Zizzo Racing and Peak Anti-freeze/ Motor Oil is our top sponsor. We are currently racing 12 of the 24 NHRA events this year in the US. Building the heads involves making sure the CC volume is within .2 of a ml across the head, adjusting spring pressures, and machining/rebuilding after a run.

At the track, I build the top end left side and tear down after each run. It take a team of twelve to get this done in 75 minutes so we can run again.

So I guess model building has a lot to do with love of the car and a true dream job.

48499

48498

I'm a Fuel Truck driver hauling Jet fuel around Southern Ontario Canada.
Used to be a Combat Engineer in the British Army,built tanks & stuff early on but got sick of seeing green everywhere then got posted to Hameln,Germany & got the DTM bug along with F1.Thats all I build now along with big trucks.

Civil Engineer here.

Heating and Air Conditioning technician, B-2 license full time. Trying to obtain my D-2 and eventually, hopefully my S-2. Lowes plumbing specialist part time.

I have been asked to work at a hobby shop but declined the offer. Thats what i want to do when i retire.

I'm a US Marine. Guess that helps with the discipline part of modeling lol never built them as a kid, first one was built when I was 18 during a typhoon in Okinawa. Ever since then the bug got me. Would love to go back there for more models :naughty:

Heating and Air Conditioning technician, B-2 license full time. Trying to obtain my D-2 and eventually, hopefully my S-2. Lowes plumbing specialist part time.

Question - why is it so hard to buy HVAC parts from retail stores? I can buy any number of other harmful things, destroy my car and my house otherwise, but God forbid I try to replace a single stupid part on a furnace!

I'm the software development manager for a company producing banking and lending software. Started off as a code monkey and worked my way up.

I've been building since I was 8 or 9, started with aircraft. When I was 14 my father purchased his first Porsche and the fire was lit. Now I build a combination of Sci-fi and 1:24 Le Mans racers, with the occasional cool aircraft or 1:12 F-1 car thrown in.

Just about to retire from 34 years teaching.
Also....
Session guitarist for 45 years, recorded with many bands etc, still occasionally work as a cabaret guitarist.
Written 2 novels - 'Worter on the Water', the other one is now a movie.... 'Shadowland, the Legend'.
Write articles for a few modelling magazines.
Illustrated many books and calendars.
Did some animation for the BBC back in the mid '70's.
Was the team signwriter for the JPS Formula 1 team back in the late '70's early '80's. Did all the JPS graphics etc on the F1 race boats and transatlantic yachts 'Le-Jaby Rasurel', 'Fleury Michon' and 'British Heart'. too.
Did the gilding work on the throne for the Sultan of Bruneii.
Run a part time garden railway business -
http://www.rail-roadmodels.co.uk
Been building models, mostly cars, since I was about 8 - 58 now.

Life is very busy - never dull..... None of the above is a wind-up....
(I've been very lucky - right place at the right time)

Roy.

I refinish natural stone. Granite counters, marble, limestone and travertine floors, etc. Grinding, repairing, polishing, sealing and everything else. Sometimes we spend weeks at a time in a house. I'm so used to sanding stone, maybe that's what I always sand through the soft paint on my models.

Just about to retire from 34 years teaching.
Also....
Session guitarist for 45 years, recorded with many bands etc, still occasionally work as a cabaret guitarist.
Written 2 novels - 'Worter on the Water', the other one is now a movie.... 'Shadowland, the Legend'.
Write articles for a few modelling magazines.
Illustrated many books and calendars.
Did some animation for the BBC back in the mid '70's.
Was the team signwriter for the JPS Formula 1 team back in the late '70's early '80's. Did all the JPS graphics etc on the F1 race boats and transatlantic yachts 'Le-Jaby Rasurel', 'Fleury Michon' and 'British Heart'. too.
Did the gilding work on the throne for the Sultan of Bruneii.
Run a part time garden railway business -
http://www.rail-roadmodels.co.uk
Been building models, mostly cars, since I was about 8 - 58 now.

Life is very busy - never dull..... None of the above is a wind-up....
(I've been very lucky - right place at the right time)

Roy.

WOW!!! RESPECT!!!!
Signwriting the F1 Lotus's in 70s & 80s!!! Double WOW!!!
So when we have a Lotus question just ask you!

Question - why is it so hard to buy HVAC parts from retail stores? I can buy any number of other harmful things, destroy my car and my house otherwise, but God forbid I try to replace a single stupid part on a furnace!

It's not hard and you can buy pretty much anything but you have to buy them at a supply house. Most plumbing supply houses sell to the public. Most supply houses only sell to licensed techs only. Once you get to ac refrigerant that's where you need a license to buy. I think the main reason for that is job security for the industry. Although I don't understand it either when you can buy anything else.

If all else fails, eBay to the rescue.

It's not hard and you can buy pretty much anything but you have to buy them at a supply house. Most plumbing supply houses sell to the public. Most supply houses only sell to licensed techs only. Once you get to ac refrigerant that's where you need a license to buy. I think the main reason for that is job security for the industry. Although I don't understand it either when you can buy anything else.

If all else fails, eBay to the rescue.

Some things I can buy locally, but other things not, even something like a furnace circuit board. I doubt they'd sell me a gas valve either. I had to replace my ignitor recently and had a heck of a time just getting one of those! Can't use eBay when you need it immediately! I might do what my coworker did, he bought one of each of the innards online - ignitor, flame sensor, gas valve, circuit board, etc - and stockpiled them.

/Thread tangent off, sorry guys! :)

CG artist, 20 years of experience,
currently - 3d model making for films, ads, and so on.
Catch a "model bug" in middle 80's, have an
25 years of oblivion, and now back in, making up
with the modern tech and materials

Chartered Building Surveyor.

Model making began at a young age assembling Airfix aeroplane kits my Dad brought me from the local newsagents when he picked up a paper. I have always been a car enthusiast thoguh and when I realised that there were model kits of cars available, the switch was immediate.

Working for the Shipping industry, financial and business development positions. Studied Electronics Engineering in London, UK, a father of 2 small kids that take over most of my free time now. I was introduced in the hobby at the age of 12, from a father of a schoolmate. Started of with building 1/72 scale airplanes and 1/24 cars. I left the hobby for more than 20 years and three years ago I slowly started buying kits again, renewing also all of my equipment and tools. The only thing I am missing now is time!

Design engineer in the motorsport industry, but started building kits when I was four years old...

Gaming commission officer at a casino full-time; retail clerk part-time. Model car builder since I was around 6 or 7. Car nut ever since I can remember.

Started out building models when I was 5 or 6. I used to go into my Dad's room and open the closet just to look at the models way up on the top shelf with my brother until one day my Dad finally gave my brother and I a kit each to build. They were 1/72 aircraft kits. I don't even remember what type but I do remember it was nothing more then a glue bomb when I was finished.

Never the less I was hooked.

It did not hurt that my Mother worked for a well known model train structure manufacture doing all new kit development and design. I was subjected to models from an early age and never really had a chance.:biggrin::biggrin: She used to drag us along to all the trade shows as kids. Damn that was rough:grinyes::grinyes:

Somewhere along the line I decided cars was what I wanted to build and eventually zeroed in on Tamiya kits. My brother went the route of armor and also eventually decided Tamiya was his maker of choice.

My first paying job at 14 years old was a part time position at the local hobby shop. Surprisingly enough that shop has changed hands a couple of times but it is still around today though selling mostly diecast models some 35 years later. While working at the hobby store I made little or no money as it all went into kits I bought.

I guess you could say it was models that lead me into the area of work I spent the majority of my life doing thus far.

While still in high school I worked in a body shop doing paint prep. I worked in that industry for 3 years eventually working my way up to painter before moving on into a position as a mechanic on an offroad racing team. I actually started there sweeping floors for the most part but eventually managed to gain enough respect to be able to be allowed to work on the cars. When I left there after 4 class championships I was lead mechanic as well as head fabricator for the team.

I milled around in the Offroad arena for another couple of years before I went to work as a fabricator for the Nissan factory GTO racing team in the IMSA series. I worked for Nissan for one season before moving on to work for TWR on the Jaguar GTP cars. After winning the Daytona 24hrs and Lemans 24hrs in 1990 I was let go due to a personality conflict with the head engineer. "Bolt Neck" the team used to call him because he looked like "Frankenstein", Ian Read was his name.

From there I did a little Indycar racing and then back into Offroad racing. I've done a few stints working for Robby Gordon in both Offroad and Indycar. I've also spent a lot of years in the restoration world restoring old aluminum bodies Porsche race cars from the 50's. After many years fabricating I decided to try and learn something new that could also expand my net worth in the motorsports industry. I learned how to make 3D cad models with the help of a good mentor named Stan Robinson and a program named Solidworks.

Now I spend most of my time drawing in 3D doing special vehicle design for a civil and military defense company in Scottsdale AZ. I also make resin scale model tires for sale. That really is my only link to the hobby anymore other then frequenting the forums. I don't have as much time as I'd like to build anything. Seams like the older I get the busier I get. I thought it would be the other way around :lol::lol::lol:

Great story! I hope 'Bolt Neck's not into modelling!! I would dream to work in the motorsport industry. Robbie Gordon's Hummer is an awesome piece of kit. He is a strong competitor, I would love to see him get a good result on the Dakar. It's a not to be missed viewing every January.