Workschedule - how to plan projects

[356speedster]

With two small kids and a time consuming job, its hard to find the time needed for finishing kits, so I've made a simple workschedule to make it easier to plan the workflow in projects.

Take a look at it here: Workschedule

Since I'm quite new to this hobby it would be nice to get some feedback from builders with experience.

The schedule is not ment to be a step by step guide, but as a help to quickly find out what to do next if you are in the middle of a project and want to get things done.

BTW: The idea came up after reading the inspiring thread The Dino 36 hour Challenge by klutz

[freakray]

When you start managing your hobby like it's a project, that's when the hobby stops being fun.

[blubaja]

Knock over all of your piles of model boxes. Whatever box opens and spills over the floor is the next kit

[willimo]

Originally Posted by blubaja

Knock over all of your piles of model boxes. Whatever box opens and spills over the floor is the next kit

And whatever breaks is your first subassembly.

[MPWR]

Will you do my taxes? Please?

This may not be the best approach to building kits. While I certainly understand the value of organization and the scarcity of availible time, modeling as a hobby is rife with things that just won't go as scheduled. It's therefore impossible to plan other things based on completion of early things. Unless you really enjoy schedules, it's also likely a very efficient way of removing the majority of fun from modeling. It's a bit like scheduling the completion of a jigsaw or crossword puzzle. If you're holding yourself to a schedule, when do you relax and enjoy it?

Fun as Stevenski's Dino post was, I think few of us (Stevenski included) would hold it up as an example of how to build. He was really just trying an unorthodox way of treating his Advanced Modeler's Syndrome (an afflicion he developed in record time). I'm fairly certain it didn't cure him.

I think perhaps the best advice that can be offered would be to start simple and take things as they come. Even those of us who have been doing it for years can't really predict how long a project will take.

Oh, and by the way- I'm really not sure that you do want an E30 M3....

[hirofkd]

I'd schedule a little more time on filing and test fitting. I usually group a kit in four sections: exterior, interior, engine and chassis, and spend at least one day (2-3 hours) on each. Also, I suggest that you start the exterior first, and work on other sub-assemblies while waiting for the primer, body color and clear coat to dry.

[alakai]

I agree that a structured timetable approach may not be the best way to assemble the model... it can take the fun out of the build and make it more like work than a hobby. However, being in a similar busy situation myself (work, family, etc.), I think the idea of creating a workflow of a project has merit. You at least have a step by step process of building a model efficiently, therefore maximizing the time you spend. I can't even count how many occassions I've wasted time by jumping around steps in my project build.

[RallyRaider]

I often schedule projects in my head. Haven't stuck to one yet.

[Lownslow]

i work 10 hour days so when i come home im too tired to work on them but the thing about my job is i get to think about what i want to do to my cars while im at work so when o come home i lock myself up for about 2 hours get something achieved then walk out. i do the most damage on a weekend

[Raceman]

i would never make a plan for how long things would take for building models or for certain stages of building because in the end you will never be happy if something dosn´t turn out the way you want it to,sometimes it takes longer than you think.It should stay a hobby,take time.

[Mean_B16]

Wow that is one heck of a time table graph? I actually agree with the thought a liitle bit but each modeler definetely has there own style and routine. I have been building now for about 20 years and I have learned and improved the most after finding this site, scratchbuilding became my new passion. Only problem with me is sometimes I get so indepth with the details that after 2 years of off and on progress I don't always remember everything I wanted to do and usually move to something else since I would get modelers block pretty easy. My orange EG HB that was my last model completed (and only one in '05) was the first time I actually made a type of schedule, or really I just made a list of all the plans I had and I organized them by "Engine", "Engine bay", "Interior", "Chassis" and finally the "body" (I have found that with so much custom work it is easier to build from the inside out ending with the body, this way I know it will all fit after the customizing) After I made my list the model really came together in record time, I have started making list for all my current builds now and it really helps me focus and does not take any of the fun out of it. In fact is is making me even better and definetely more productive

[freakmech]

woah dude, thats take=ing the fun out of it. besides it never works like that. you have no time allocation for stripping bad paint, finding that missing tire, etc.... Just build at the pace your comfortable with and if you spent less time online youd have more time for models, kids etc....

[GabrieLN]

I have a work schedule like that too. I break up model building into days and allocate a small section of model building task to them. I do not have to build everyday though. The reason for doing so is because i tend to want to rush things through and cut short "drying and waiting times" so a work schedule will actually slow me down and tell me that i have done my fair share for the day and it's time to stop before i get pissed at myself when i see the final product all screwed up. LOL.

[freakmech]

Originally Posted by GabrieLN

I have a work schedule like that too. I break up model building into days and allocate a small section of model building task to them. I do not have to build everyday though. The reason for doing so is because i tend to want to rush things through and cut short "drying and waiting times" so a work schedule will actually slow me down and tell me that i have done my fair share for the day and it's time to stop before i get pissed at myself when i see the final product all screwed up. LOL.

You are very wise my friend!

[GabrieLN]

Originally Posted by freakmech

You are very wise my friend!

just had to find solutions to curb my "lack of patience" problem and to prevent my room from getting filled up with more slip-shod builds. LOL